GOOD GOLLY, IT'S CAPE GUINEAS TIME

Princess Victoria (Saf)
(Photo : Gold Circle)

CAPE PREMIER YEARLING SALE GUINEAS (Gr1)
Kenilworth, Turf, 1600m
17 December 2011

If there’s one spin-off for South African racing in the suspension of our exports, it rests in the quality of our domestic fields, none more so than in the three-year-old brigade. This weekend marks the running of one of our tried and tested classics, the Cape Of Good Hope Guineas (Gr1). Championed over many decades by the Chef’s de Race; names such as Colorado King (1963), Renounce (1965), Hawaii (1968), Politician (1980 and 1981), Empress Club (1992), London News (1997), Jet Master (1998), Horse Chestnut (1999), Captain Al (2000) and Jay Peg (2006), this year’s renewal is about as good as any we’ve known, with Cape trainers appearing to hold the upper hand. Joey Ramsden is of the opinion that his Selangor Cup (Gr2) hero, Variety Club, is the best three-year-old in the land, while there is a body of opinion that believes that honour belongs to Justin Snaith’s Oratorio colt, Gimmethegreenlight. But the truth is, Dean Kannemeyer, who between himself and his father, have collared six renewals, has arguably his strongest entry ever, including the as-yet undefeated Divine Jet. It is true that the latter has yet to meet a field of this quality, but the manner of his victories to date, suggests he will be right there when it matters, despite his wide draw.

That’s not the end of the story though, as there were any number of opinions flying around at Bernard Kantor’s excellent party in Robertson on Saturday night, including a powerful vote for Mike de Kock’s Silver Flyer, runaway winner of the Dingaans (Gr2). Let’s not forget though, that we have an unbeaten filly in the field, Princess Victoria, who couldn’t have been more impressive in the manner in which she’s smothered her own sorority thus far, so it will be a measure of the quality of the distaffers in how she fares against the colts on Saturday.

Either way, as disappointing as it is that we’ve not been able to send our usual compliment of horses to take on the world in Dubai and show them just how good we are, there’s consolation for local fans in Saturday’s line-up.

While on the subject of Bernard’s party, we were all there to celebrate the many positive things that are happening in our racing, breeding and sales environments right now, and in the interests of not spoiling the party, we’ll tell you more about that in tomorrow’s episode.

BRICS AND THE HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL RACES

Dougie Whyte, Julie Alexander, Mick Goss, Dougie’s Mum and Derreck David
Summerhill Box, Greyville, Vodacom Durban July 2011
(Photo : Summerhill Stud)

CATHAY PACIFIC
HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL RACES
Sha Tin Racecourse, Hong Kong
11 December 2011

Just under a year ago, South Africa was admitted to the prestigious conglomerate of nations known as Brics (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa), and the 2011 staging of their international meeting by the local Jockey Club in the Chinese enclave of Hong Kong, is the first since our admission.

It is, of course, the season for international events, and especially jockey’s internationals, and these always invoke a measure of parochial interest. South African jockeys have dominated the Hong Kong championship (one of the most sought after titles in racing) for 18 of the last 19 years. The most successful of these is a man who might legitimately lay claim to the title of “Best Jockey in the World”. He is the Durban-bred and raised Dougie Whyte, who just happens also to be the most successful rider in the history of the jockey’s challenge. Local fans will remember it was Dougie who piloted London News to his epic victory in the Queen Elizabeth II Cup (Gr1), heralding the return to the international fold of South African horses, and that it was he, aboard the Summerhill-bred Pierre Jourdan, who ran Igugu to three quarters of a length in this year’s Vodacom Durban July. You can bet your bottom dollar Dougie will be at the action end of things come Sunday’s Cathay Pacific Hong Kong International Races.

Rocket Man’s South African connection

Summerhill clients, Ronnie and Bev Napier, Jean Marc and Clothilde Ulcoq, are all in Hong Kong for this annual jamboree, as they have been for some years as guests of the Hong Kong Jockey Club following the initiation of their attendance in the days when Major General Guy Watkins was still the CEO. It is a sign of their loyalty and affection for racing in that jurisdiction, that they haven’t missed a meeting in close to twenty years, and you’d have to forgive them a measure of patriotic sentiment when it comes to the chances of the South African-connected Rocket Man in the Hong Kong Sprint (Gr1).

A victim of an irrepressible late surge from the South African-bred, JJ The Jet Plane (by Jet Master) in last year’s renewal, Rocket Man’s owned by local doyen, Fred Crabbia, trained by Pat Shaw and his regular rider is Felix Coetzee. He’s reported to have worked up a storm on Tuesday morning on the Sha Tin all-weather track.

“He’d have done more if we’d let him, but he’ll do a piece of work on the grass tomorrow over about 800 metres”, Trainer Shaw explained.

The six-year-old brings top credentials into the 1200 metre event, having won the Gr1 Dubai Golden Shaheen over the Meydan Tapeta in March and the Gr1 Krisflyer International Sprint on the turf at Kranji racecourse in May.

TALES OF BRAVERY : VAUGHAN MARSHALL'S QUEEN'S PLATE CHARGE

Tales Of Bravery
(Photo : Gold Circle / Summerhill Stud)

L’ORMARINS QUEEN’S PLATE (Grade 1)
Kenilworth, Turf, 1600m
8 January 2011

David Thiselton
Gold CircleVaughan Marshall said yesterday that Tales Of Bravery’s preparation for the R1,000,000 L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate (Grade 1) to be run over 1600m at Kenilworth on Saturday had gone exceptionally well. Tales Of Bravery made a superb start to this season, fulfilling the promise he had always shown in no uncertain terms.

The son of Kahal kicked off by winning the Grade 3 Matchem Stakes over 1400m at Durbanville by a comfortable 1,5 lengths. 

Then on October 30, he met Pocket Power, who was having his first start since the Vodacom Durban July, over the 1500m of the Kenilworth Old Course and beat him by 2,25 lengths despite only receiving 1kg. Furthermore, he beat another Queen’s Plate contender, Super Storm, by 5,5 lengths and will face that one on 1,5kg better terms on Saturday.

His next start was in the Grade 2 Green Point Stakes over the 1600m of the Kenilworth Old Course, where he started joint favourite with Pocket Power at level weights. Pocket Power reversed form, beating him into fourth place by 2,5 lengths. He was also beaten by Queen’s Plate contender Past Master, by 0,75 lengths.

However the disappointing effort was explained when he scoped dirty and was found to have been suffering from a lung infection.

“That’s all behind him now,” said Vaughan Marshall, whose best finish in the Queen’s Plate was in 1997 with La Fabulous, who finished fourth behind the great London News.

He rates Tales Of Bravery as better than La Fabulous.

Asked on whether he felt Tales Of Bravery had the class to win the Queen’s Plate, he replied, “I most certainly do.”

Tales Of Bravery is the forgotten horse of the race, with the top four in the betting; Pocket Power, Mother Russia, Ebony Flyer and Past Master being all the rage among the analysts.

If there is to be an upset he will be the one to provide it, but in the aftermath it might not actually be much of a surprise at all.

L’ORMARINS QUEEN’S PLATE
CURRENT BETTING

#	Horse	Current	Opening
1	POCKET POWER	5/2	5/2
14	MOTHER RUSSIA	3/1	33/10
15	EBONY FLYER	4/1	4/1
2	PAST MASTER	5/1	7/2
4	TALES OF BRAVERY	10/1	10/1
3	TROPICAL EMPIRE	25/1	16/1
10	RUSHING WIND	33/1	20/1
12	SUPER STORM	33/1	25/1
5	BLUE TIGER	40/1	33/1
6	CAPTAIN’S SECRET	40/1	25/1
9	FABIANI	50/1	50/1
8	CELTIC FIRE	66/1	50/1
7	CASEY COOL	80/1	40/1
11	TIME AND LOVE	100/1	66/1
13	AMERICAN MAN	150/1	100/1

Courtesy of Betting World - Correct as at 6 January 2011 07:00

PLUCK TO STAND AT VINERY STUD

Click above to watch Pluck winning the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf…
(Photo : Sky Sports - Footage : Breeders Cup)

PLUCK (USA)
More Than Ready (USA) - Secret Heart (SAF)

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (Gr 2, 8f) winner Pluck (2 c Secret Heart, by Fort Wood) is scheduled to stand alongside his sire More Than Ready (USA) at Vinery Stud in Australia following his recent acquisition.

Trained by Todd Pletcher, the Team Valor-homebred came with a big finish in the straight to land the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf having previously won the Summer Stakes (Gr 3, 8f) at Woodbine in Canada.

The colt has since been transferred to Graham Motion and could be targeted towards Europe with the Irish 2,000 Guineas a possible option.

A decision as to when Pluck will retire to stud will be made following his three-year-old campaign.

His dam Secret Heart is a stakes winner in South Africa, by Champion sire Fort Wood, and is a half-sister to the Champion South African 3-year-old Filly of 2004, Promisefrommyheart. His granddam Secret Pact is a stakes winning half-sister to champion London News.

DOUBLE HEADER : SOUTH AFRICA ON TOP OF THE WORLD

Douglas Whyte - Hong Kong Jockeys Championship
(Photo : Life HK)

LOUIS OOSTHUIZEN AND DOUGLAS WHYTE

The headline-grabber was the British Open at the “Royal and Ancient”, where virtually unknown (other than to his countrymen) South African, Louis Oosthuizen, surged to one of the biggest margin victories in the history of golf’s biggest tournament. Louis’ unerring driving and his cold-blooded nerve on the putting greens, were hallmarks of one of St Andrews’ greatest golfing exhibitions. In the process, Louis Oosthuizen joined the South African colossi, Bobby Locke, Gary Player and Ernie Els as previous winners of the Open, which comes hard on the heels of this country’s staging of one of the most successful Fifa World Cups in history.

But if you’re a racing man, you would’ve been equally delighted at the news that Dougie Whyte has taken his tenth consecutive Hong Kong Jockeys’ title at the expense of arch-rival, Australian Brett Prebble. This makes it 18 of the last 19 titles in that part of the world falling to South African riders, surely a record without precedent anywhere, let alone in one of the most popular and competitive racing jurisdictions in the world. Take a bow the South African Jockeys’ Academy.

“The Demon”, as Dougie is nicknamed in that former British Colony, was sixteen winners adrift of the runner-up just over a month ago, and he was still lagging by nine entering the last fortnight.

Those of us who go back that far will remember Doug’s imperious ride on London News in the 1997 version of the Queen Elizabeth II Cup. The added significance of that great warrior’s victory lay not only in the fact that, as a five-time Group One winner, he had to concede weight to the whole field, and that he came from the outside draw in record time, but it also marked the first international performance of a South African horse in the post-isolation period. This was the first hint, despite our isolation, that South African breeders had not lost quite the ground our sportsmen from other codes had done.