R23-MILLION STAKES FOR CHAMPIONS SEASON 2013

Africa’s Greatest Horserace - The R3.5Million Vodacom Durban July
(Photo : John Lewis)

CHAMPIONS SEASON
4 May 2013 - 27 July 2013

Champions Season in KwaZulu-Natal is a three-month feast of superior racing offering feature race stakes in excess of R23million in a programme of 45 Graded, Listed and special events, headed by Africa’s greatest racing spectacle, the R3,5million Grade 1 Vodacom Durban July. Champions Season launches on Saturday 4 May at Greyville, with the running of the Colts and Fillies Guineas, as well as the Drill Hall Stakes.

The great news is that the stakes pot for the Champions Season feature races has been given a R6million cash injection, which represents a 28% increase on previous levels. This news follows hot on the heels of Gold Circle’s announcement earlier this year of an across the board stakes increase of between 10% and 11% for all minor races in the province and the news that this year’s Vodacom Durban July will be run for a stake of R3,5 million, making it the richest horserace on the continent.

The biggest Champion Season increases are the R500,000 added to the Vodacom Durban July stake, while the Daily News 2000 also gets a R500,000 cash injection and this year will be run for a stake of R1,5 million. The stake for the Woolavington 2000, run on the same afternoon as the Daily News 2000, has been increased to R750,000. The stake for the Gold Cup, the country’s most important race for stayers and final feature of the season, also goes up by R250,000 and will carry a stake of R1,25million.

Other significant increases for the Grade 1 races include the Golden Horse Sprint and Mercury Sprint, now both worth R750,000, the SA Fillies Sprint, up R100,000 to R600,000 and the Garden Province Stakes, up R250,000 to R750,000.

Added to Champions Season this year is the KwaZulu-Natal Breeders’ Day scheduled for the Saturday before the July when the KZN Breeders Million Mile worth R1million will hold centre stage. The Million Mile will be backed up by seven other races, all with a stake of R200,000.

Running from the beginning of May to the end of July, Champions Season provides a comprehensive mix of events catering for all the needs of the thoroughbred population with major contests for two-year-olds, three-year-olds and the older horses from sprints through middle distance races to the strong-winded stayers.

Celebrating the importance of the classic races for three-year-olds, special meetings are staged for the KRA Guineas and KRA Fillies Guineas over the traditional 1600m as well as the Betting World Derby and Betting World Oaks over 2400m, races from which great champions of the future could emerge.

The four big Champions Season meetings are :

GOLDEN HORSE SPRINT RACEDAY
Scottsville Racecourse
Saturday 25 May 2013

The only race meeting on the Continent featuring four Grade 1 sprint races, this day draws the finest sprinters in the country.

RISING SUN GOLD CHALLENGE RACEDAY
Clairwood Racecourse
Saturday 8 June 2013

The Grade 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge is an open weight-for-age race over 1 600m and a major event for horses seeking a run in the Vodacom Durban July.

VODACOM DURBAN JULY RACEDAY
Greyville Racecourse
Saturday 6 July 2013

There is not an owner, breeder, trainer, jockey and groom that has not conjured up dreams of winning Africa’s Greatest Horse Racing Event and for most, just to be involved in the prestigious event is something very special. If you have a runner you have a chance and that chance comes once a year and for most owners, possibly once in lifetime.

Supporting events on the day include the all-new KZN Breeders Juvenile Million. With a stake of R1million, it is for juveniles graduates from the KZN Yearling Sales and is run at level weights over 1300m.

The Grade 1 Garden Province Stakes is an important black type-earning event for fillies and mares at weight-for-age over 1600m for a stake of R750,000.

The Golden Horseshoe and Golden Slipper are Grade 1 events that each carry stakes of R600,000 and are for two-year-olds at level weights over 1400m.

The Grade 2 Gold Vase carries a R400,000 stake and is an open merit-rated handicap over 3000m.

The Grade 3 Campanajo 2200 is an open merit-rated handicap over 2200m with a stake of R300,000. Celebrating the first winner of the Vodacom Durban July in 1897, the field is usually made up mostly of runners that never made the final field for the premier event.

SUPER SATURDAY AND GOLD CUP
Greyville Racecourse
27 July 2013

The meeting brings Champions Season to a close in spectacular fashion with four Grade 1 races headed by the R1,25 million Gold Cup, an open handicap that is the greatest test for the cream of South African stayers over 3200m.

Extract from Sporting Post

Click here to view
Champions Season Calendar

IN WRITING : LADBROKES GOLD CUP 2012

In Writing (ARG) wins the Ladbrokes Gold Cup (Gr1)
(Photo : Gold Circle - Footage : Tellytrack)

LADBROKES GOLD CUP (Grade 1)
Greyville, Turf, 3200m
28 July 2012

FINAL RESULTS

#	LBH	Horse	Kg	MR	Dr	Jockey	Trainer
1	0.00	IN WRITING (ARG)	57.5	104	11	F Coetzee	Dean Kannemeyer
2	0.75	PRINCESS OF LIGHT	56.0	100	10	M Mienie	Geoff Woodruff
3	1.50	BLAKE	58.5	106	1	K Neisius	Dean Kannemeyer
4	2.50	SEAL	60.0	112	17	R Fradd	Gavin van Zyl
5	3.00	GORONGOSA (IRE)	56.5	101	12	A Delpech	Mike de Kock
6	3.10	JEPPE’S REEF	52.5	89	19	R Danielson	Mike Bass
7	3.60	SAGE THRONE	57.5	105	5	S Cormack	Colin Scott
8	4.85	KOLKATA	54.0	94	6	P Strydom	Sean Tarry
9	5.35	ILSANPIETRO (BRZ)	59.0	108	15	K Shea	Mike de Kock
10	5.40	SOUL MASTER	56.0	100	9	M V’Rensurg	Geoff Woodruff
11	6.65	VETTEL (ARG)	55.5	105	7	A Marcus	Mike de Kock
12	7.40	ASLAN	56.5	100	4	B Lerena	Sean Tarry
13	7.45	THANKS JOHN	54.5	94	8	S Randolph	Mike Bass
14	7.50	HEYOUNEVERKNEW (BRZ)	55.0	97	2	A Forbes	Corne Spies
15	7.75	CAPTAIN’S WILD	57.0	102	18	K Teetan	Mike de Kock
16	7.85	TOP SELLER	57.5	105	16	M Byleveld	Vaughan Marshall
17	7.95	CROC VALLEY	55.5	98	3	G van Niekerk	Mike Bass
18	8.20	GOLDEN PARACHUTE (NZ)	53.5	91	14	M Yeni	Mike Bass
19	11.45	SUN CITY	54.5	94	20	G Hatt	Corinne Bestel
20	14.45	CAMPO DE SANTANA	52.5	89	13	S Devoy	Corne Spies

DOWN TO THE WIRE

SOUTH AFRICAN RACING SEASON
1 August 2011 - 31 July 2012

Who would have thought a youngster like Gavin Lerena could come and snag a Championship from two world-class riders like Anton Marcus and Anthony Delpech? It’s a tribute to the work of the team at the South African Jockey Academy near Summerveld, that we’ve just received the news from Hong Kong of Dougie White’s continued dominance of their championship (this was the nineteenth year in the last twenty, that a South African has earned what must surely be one of the most sought-after jockeys titles in the world). And win or lose in the next couple of days, Lerena’s rise to prominence is another signal to anyone who will listen, that all is well with the quality of rider emerging from what has to be the most successful academy anywhere in the world.

The intensity of the rivalry at the top of the Jockey’s log has caught the attention of racing fans to such a degree, they’ve overlooked how tight it is at the top of the Breeder’s log. Nobody owns a monopoly on a championship, even though we’ve had seven in a row, and particularly not when you’re up against the combined muscle of some of the nation’s wealthiest individuals, Markus Jooste, Bernard Kantor and Chris van Niekerk, who with others are the investors at Klawervlei. They run a mighty good show down there, they have an advantage in their number of runners, they have the redoubtable Captain Al and the top-class National Emblem among their proven sires, alongside a battery of outstanding internationally-bred performers, and hanging on hasn’t been easy.

We guess this is what championships should be about, tooth-and-nail affairs that go to the line, and this one is little different. Every penny counts, and while we should never forget, what Mannequin has done in her career in chalking up her twelfth victory Tuesday, she not only brought unbridled joy to Paul Matchett, Pat Magee and JJ van Niekerk, but she also made it that little bit tougher for the opposition, who have a “heat-seeker” on our backsides for the title. We all have a number of entries in the big races on Saturday, and anything can happen. That said, we wouldn’t want to be changing positions with anyone else right now.

While the Gold Cup is obviously the focal point of the day, it is surrounded by three other Group Ones, as well as a stellar card of lesser Stakes races. Clearly, the quality race of the day is the Champions’ Cup, where a number of the prime adversaries from the Vodacom Durban July renew their rivalry. We have two contenders for the event, the old favourite, Pierre Jourdan, and Black Wing, who was an unfortunate second in a million rand event the week before the July. They seem to have discarded Black Wing as a contender, if the betting is anything to go by, but punters would do well to remember that just over a year ago, Black Wing ran some of the nations’ best three-year-olds very close in the Daily News 2000 (Gr1). While his subsequent form hasn’t quite lived up to that billing, Brett Crawford says he’s in good shape and at his best, none of us should be surprised to see him in the money.

As for PJ, the press seem to think he’s the third best in at the weights, despite his 60kgs, (Castlethorpe is the best handicapped, with a 2.5kg advantage off the same rating, while Whiteline Fever should only be receiving a kilo at weight-for-age, but instead has 3.5kgs to play with).

PJ’s trainer, Gary Alexander says: “He’s come out of the race well, and at the weights he has a shout. He’s fit and we’ve freshened him up. The main thing is he’s looking good and moving well. If he’s moving well, he’s always dangerous.”

On the July: “He hit his fetlock when he jumped, so it took a stride or two for him to get going and by that stage Robbie (Fradd) had no alternative but to go on the fence behind them.”

In this light, beware of PJ. He was named for one of South Africa’s favourite bubblies, and he might just be ready to fizz.

www.summerhill.co.za

THE LADBROKES GOLD CUP

1945 Owners Gold Cup Trophy
(Photo : Summerhill Stud Archives)

LADBROKES GOLD CUP (Grade 1)
Greyville, Turf, 3200m
28 July 2012

South Africa’s most famous staying race, the 3200m Gold Cup (Grade 1) sponsored by Ladbrokes, brings the KwaZulu-Natal Champions Season to a close Saturday at Greyville Racecourse.

Some years ago, Sotheby’s auctioned the 1945 Owner’s Gold Cup trophy won by Hartford’s Salmon, and since its rightful home was here at Summerhill (which incorporates Hartford these days), we felt we had to buy it. So prized were these pure gold trophies and so magnificent the craftsmanship, we had to venture a king’s ransom in order to bring it home.

That’s what people were racing for in those days, and it was the knowledge that there were just a handful of these left in the vaults of the Durban Turf Club, which led us to propose to our old friend Alec Foster back in the 90’s, that we try to breed a Gold Cup winner. Being the sportsman that he is, Alec proceeded to do just that, the fruits of his endeavours being Cereus’ cruise in the 2002 renewal.

In all, we bred four horses with that in mind, one of them a nine time winner at distances up to a mile (we obviously read his pedigree wrong), one a Champion Three-Year-Old filly of her year and a dual Oaks winner, Icy Air (the recipe was right there,) and the other one damn near did it again. He was Amphitheatre, whose stirring victory in the Gold Vase (Grade 2) on the eve of the race cost him a 2kg penalty, which in the end cost him the Gold Cup as well, as he went down a neck in the dying strides to Highland Night.

Summerhill and Hartford have a distinguished record in the race. No property has produced more than three winners outside of ours, which has strung together a total of five all told, commencing with Salmon, Cosmonaut, and Alhambra, and in modern times Cereus and the Champion Stayer of two seasons ago, Desert Links.

Sarah Whitelaw looks back at the rich history of the Gold Cup :

“Over the years, the Gold Cup has been won by a host of horses - from complete outsiders to genuine champions. It is also the race which has many times determined the country’s top stayer (although sometimes it is the sole deciding factor - which makes the choice rather unsatisfactory).

The Gold Cup was first run back in 1926, when the race was won by Sun Lad who carried all of 6 stone 8 (or 46 kgs!) to victory. Sun Lad went off at odds of 9-1 and was owned by leading owner-breeder Sir Abe Bailey, who appropriately bred and owned the great staying sire Son In Law. The 1926 Gold Cup was one of just two wins for Sun Lad during the season, and he is unlikely to be regarded as one of the race’s better winners! The first Gold Cup was contested over today’s distance of 3200m and was worth a total of 2,000 pounds.

The first horse to win the Gold Cup on two occasions was Humidor, who was victorious in 1933 and 1935. Humidor scored his first win carrying just 50kgs, winning as a 5 year old. Runner up, Candican, was giving the winner over two stone! Two years later, the imported son of Galloper Lad carried 52.5 kgs to ensure himself a place in the record books. Humidor was more impressive in his second win - winning by a length, with another five lengths back to the third placed finisher.

While Candican put up one of the greatest weight carrying achievements ever seen in the race, another gallant effort came in 1930, when Glen Albyn (Bridge of Earn) ran second under 9 stone 10 - or 136 lbs. He was beaten just half a length, giving the winner, Artist Glow, one stone.

To date, four horses have won the Gold Cup twice, but the last horse to win South Africa’s premier staying race in consecutive years was Highland Night (Badger Land), who won the race in 2002 and 2003. Only once, has there been a dead heat in the race - and that was back in 1977 when Don The Stripe and Pacer shared the spoils.

Since 1945, the greatest winning margin in the Gold Cup has been the four and a half length winning distance put up by Devon Air (Sparkler), who triumphed in 1984.

Felix Coetzee, who partners In Writing in Saturday’s big race, has a magnificent record in the Gold Cup. Coetzee has won the marathon event on no fewer than six occasions, incuding three years straight with Devon Air, Voodoo Charm and Occult.

One rider who enjoyed even greater success in the Gold Cup was the late Charlie Barends. He captured the event seven times - and won it in back to back years with Chez Monty (1949 and 1950).

There have been a number of stallions who have played a major role in the history of the Gold Cup however, Hobnob (Gyr), widely regarded as one of South Africa’s all time leading sires of high-class stayers, never sired a Gold Cup winner. He did sire three placed horses in the big race. This lack of success is puzzling when taking into account the fact that Hobnob sired three Gold Bowl winners, two SA Derby winners and numerous Oaks winners.

Champion sire, Foveros, is one stallion who certainly made his mark on the Gold Cup. He sired Gold Cup winners Aquanaut, and Festive Forever, while he is also damsire of 2007 winner, Thundering Star.

Dancing Champ is another to make a real impact on the 3200m feature. Sire of two Gold Cup winners (Castle Walk and Space Walk), he is the maternal grandsire of the 2004/2005 winners, Major Bluff and Reveille Boy.

Back in the 1940’s, the sire Montrose, by English Derby winner Coronach, dominated the Gold Cup. Over a five year period, the offspring of Montrose captured the great race on four occasions! In total, Montrose sired four Gold Cup winners, who captured the race on five occasions. His Gold Cup winners were His Lordship (1948), Chez Monty (1949 and 1950), Ladys Mon (1951) and Coquimbo (1953).

While many future top horses have won the race, the list of champions beaten in the Gold Cup is a long one. The likes of Badger’s Coast (Badger Land), Surfing Home (Capote), River Jetez (Jet Master), Gondolier (Jamaico), Young Rake (Rakeen), Big Charles (Beau Charles), Grand National (Port Merion), Floatyourboat (Jet Master) and Furious (Savonarola) are just some of  the G1 winners and champions to have tasted defeat, often to inferior, and lightly weighted, horses in the Gold Cup.

Fillies and mares have enjoyed some success in the Gold Cup, without ever dominating their male rivals. The last female to capture the race was Colonial Girl (Stage Colony), who defeated Fairfields Fancy (Exclusive Patriot) by three parts of a length back in 2000. Other fillies and mares to win South Africa’s most famous staying race include Devon Air (1984), Festive Forever (1996) and Bella Bianca (1998). Both Festive Forever and Devon Air enjoyed success at stud, with the former producing the G1 winning champion Fearless (Western Winter) and the latter throwing two stakes winners. Devon Air is also the granddam of the high-class performers, She’s On Fire (Jet Master) and August Rush (Var).

While many Durban July contenders compete in the Gold Cup, the race has not been won by a July winner since Ilustrador in 1990 (although the 1993 Gold Cup winner Space Walk subsequently “won” the July on the disqualification of original winner, Surfing Home). Other horses to complete the July/Gold Cup double include Occult, Devon Air and Excise.

Famous for producing a number of upsets, and not a race which has been kind to favourites over the years, the Gold Cup has been won by such longshots as Stateway (33-1), Rack and Ruin (25-1), Fauvist (33-1), and Millverof (25-1).

The first three finishers in the 2011 event started at the odds of 45-1, 35-1 and 15/2 - with the favourite running fourth.

The most recent favourite to win the marathon event was Ancestral Fore, who landed the spoils in 2010.

The Gold Cup has a long and rich history, and, no doubt, Saturday’s race will further add to the races fabled past.

Extract from www.sportingpost.co.za

For more information, please visit :

www.ladbrokesgoldcup.co.za

ASLAN : CANON GOLD CUP VIDEO AND RESULT

Click above to watch Aslan winning the Canon Gold Cup (Gr1)…
(Image : Gold Circle - Footage : Tellytrack)

CANON GOLD CUP (Grade 1)
Greyville, Turf, 3200m
31 July 2011

Final Result

#	LBH	Horse	Kg	MR	Dr	Jockey	Trainer
1	0.00	ASLAN	57.5	99	18	G Lerena	Sean Tarry
2	0.50	KOLKATA	52.0	85	16	R Danielson	Sean Tarry
3	1.25	KNIGHT TO REMEMBER	53.5	89	6	R Fradd	Duncan Howells
4	1.50	IL SANPIETRO (BRZ)	58.5	103	17	A Delpech	Mike de Kock
5	3.25	JEPPE’S REEF	52.0	89	4	M Byleveld	Mike Bass
6	5.50	DOLOMITE	53.5	89	14	R Simons	Kumaran Naidoo
7	5.75	IN WRITING (ARG)	58.5	103	8	K Neisius	Dean Kannemeyer
8	7.25	SAFWAN (AUS)	58.5	103	2	K Shea	Mike de Kock
9	8.00	CAPTAIN’S WILD	60.0	108	19	I Sturgeon	Mike de Kock
10	8.25	HAWK’S EYE (GB)	57.0	98	11	G Hatt	Joey Ramsden
11	10.75	PREDESTINATION (AUS)	55.0	92	15	A Marcus	Joey Ramsden
12	11.25	KEY CASTLE	56.0	95	12	* A Andrews	Jacques Strydom
13	11.50	POWER LORD	54.5	92	1	S Brown	David Rahilly
14	16.75	DANCE AT DAYLIGHT	56.0	95	5	A Forbes	Dennis Drier
15	19.00	SALUKI (GB)	56.0	95	7	G Schlechter	Stephen Page
16	23.50	GOLDEN PARACHUTE (NZ)	55.5	93	10	A Domeyer	Mike Bass
17	24.75	ARCOLA	57.5	100	9	P Strydom	Weiho Marwing
18	34.25	TWO STRIKES	57.0	98	3	F Coetzee	Stephen Page
19	99.99	LORENZO MARQUES	52.0	86	13	G Cheyne	Justin Snaith
		Late Scratchings
20	0.00	GREY COSSACK	54.5	91	7	R Fourie	Carl Burger