SAFWAN AND GOLDEN CHARIOT SHARE BETTING WORLD 1900

Safwan and Golden Chariot dead-heat in the Betting World 1900 (Gr2)
(Photo : Gold Circle)

BETTING WORLD 1900 (Grade 2)
Greyville, Turf, 1900m
20 May 2011

David Thiselton
Gold CircleMike de Kock and Sean Tarry shared the Grade 2 Betting World 1900 in a thriller this past Friday night at Greyville as Safwan, ridden by Anthony Delpech, swooped late to catch the Muzi Yeni-ridden Golden Chariot on the line.

Last year de Kock won this race with Bold Silvano, who went on to win the Vodacom Durban July. He implied after Friday night’s race that this year’s relatively weaker field would not produce the Vodacom winner, but hoped that the two dead-heaters had done enough to secure their places.

Tarry completed a fine training feat as Golden Chariot was off for a year after straining a ligament. In his comeback run on May 3 in the Drill Hall Stakes the six-year-old Caesour gelding, who is owned by Chris van Niekerk and was bred by Northwood Stud, caught the eye running on late. Tarry said after Friday night’s race: “He has been working so well that I would have been shocked if he hadn’t won, but I’m happy to share.” Golden Chariot, despite clearly loving Durban and Greyville in particular, still remains a July outsider, although he did shorten from 330-1 into 66-1. Safwan, an Australian-bred Encosta De Lago gelding owned by Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum, has remained at his opening odds of 66-1. Both Safwan and Golden Chariot carried low weights, 53,5kg and 53kg respectively, so on paper the best race was actually run by the Dean Kannemeyer-trained five-year-old gelding In Writing, who carried 55.5kg and was just 0,5 lengths back at the line. In Writing duly shorted in the July betting from 66-1 into 50-1.

Golden Chariot led from the off and Delpech later praised Yeni for a fine front-running ride. However, Yeni, wary of being swamped by the closers, felt in retrospect that he might have done too much in the straight too soon. 

This self-criticism is another sign of the stalwart’s ever increasing confidence. Delpech was also at his best, coming from some way back and producing Safwan, a big galloping type, with his usual resolute before extracting a final lunge. In Writing came from a handy position and his finish became more telling the further they went, so although he might not win the July, the Gold Cup sprung to mind as a race he might love.

The favourite, the Mike Bass-trained Hammie’s Boy, sat in second place one wide from a high draw and after moving up well found no extra, leaving it to the de Kock-trained Fisani and the Weiho Marwing-trained July entry Mahogany to claim fourth and fifth places respectively.

Also on Friday night’s card, the July contenders the Glen Kotzen-trained M’Lords Throat and the Tarry-trained Gold Onyx ran good Daily News 2000 trials by finishing first and second in an Allowance Plate over 1900m. The former shortened into 33-1 in the July betting, while Gold Onyx shortened into 100-1.

BETTING WORLD 1900
Final Results

#	LBH	Horse	Kg	MR	Dr	Jockey	Trainer
1	0.00	GOLDEN CHARIOT	53.0		4	Muzi Yeni	Sean Tarry
1	0.00	SAFWAN (AUS)	53.5		7	Anthony Delpech	Mike de Kock
3	0.50	IN WRITING (ARG)	55.5		5	Karl Neisius	Dean Kannemeyer
4	2.50	FISANI	56.0		3	Gavin Lerena	Mike de Kock
5	2.55	MAHOGANY	52.0		6	Sean Veale	Weiho Marwing
6	2.80	HAMMIE’S BOY	53.5		9	Aldo Domeyer	Mike Bass
7	3.05	WE THREE	54.5		2	Raymond Danielson	Justin Snaith
8	3.10	HAWK’S EYE (GB)	53.5		1	Glen Hatt	Joey Ramsden
9	3.35	DANCE AT DAYLIGHT	52.0		11	Jarred Samuel	Dennis Drier
10	6.60	TROPICAL EMPIRE (AUS)	60.0		10	Stuart Randolph	Duncan Howells
11	6.65	CASK	54.0		8	Corne Orffer	Stephen Page
12	18.90	ALDERRY	56.0		12	Kevin Shea	Mike de Kock

Extract from Gold Circle

FANCY FOOTWORK WINS MAIDEN FOR NIVESH SIRPUTH

Click above to watch Fancy Footwork winning her maiden
(Image : Gold Circle - Footage : Tellytrack)

FANCY FOOTWORK
2010 SUMMERHILL READY TO RUN GRADUATE

Mpumalanga-based engineer Nivesh Sirputh enjoyed the rare pleasure of leading in his first winner when 9-20 favourite Fancy Footwork ran out a 3.25-length victress of a Maiden Juvenile Plate over 1600m at Clairwood on Sunday, capably handled by Muzi Yeni.

Nivesh owns Fancy Footwork  in partnership with Moneyweb journalist Hilton Tarrant (a first for him too), the “Italian Boertjie” Giancarlo Filomeno, Brett Parker and John Finlayson.

The filly by Solskjaer from Radiant Lass, by Northern Guest, was sent to Mike de Kock’s stables as a replacement for the partnership’s first purchase, Desire, who as Mike succinctly put it, “had no desire to run!”

Mike added: “This was a wonderful gesture by Mick Goss of Summerhill Stud. The guys put their money down, suffered a quick disappointment but have now been rewarded for their patience. More breeders should follow Mick’s example. If you’re good to your clients, they will come back again with  more support.”

Fancy Footwork is an improving type by a stallion who is making a big impression with his second crop and Mike said: “She’s improving and there was a lot to like about the way she beat the draw and kicked on for an easy win. She didn’t beat much, but looks like she has a few more wins coming.”

Fancy Footwork was secured for the partnership by Charl Pretorius’ Freeracer Bloodstock.

FANCY FOOTWORK (Solskjaer (IRE) - Radiant Lass by Northern Guest (USA))
DOB 2008-10-25
2 Year Old Bay Filly

Owners : Messrs Nivesh Sirputh, G Filomeno, J E Finlayson, B K Parker and H M Tarrant
Trainer : Mike de Kock
Jockey : Muzi Yeni
Breeder : Summerhill Stud
Win Time : 99.38
Career Record : 1 Win, 1 Place, 2 Starts
Career Earnings : R52,000

Fancy Footwork is a graduate from the Summerhill draft of the 2010 Emperors Palace Ready To Run Sale.

PLAY AN ALL TO COME BET MAIDEN JUVENILE PLATE
Clairwood, Turf, 1600m
15 May 2011

#	LBH	Horse	Kg	MR	Dr	Jockey	Trainer
1	0.00	FANCY FOOTWORK	58.0	0	9	M Yeni	Mike de Kock
2	3.25	NINTH SYMPHONY	58.0	0	3	A Forbes	Dennis Drier
3	3.30	TASTE OF HONEY	58.0	0	1	K Neisius	Sean Tarry
4	4.30	MISS HONEY COMB	58.0	0	5	I Sturgeon	Bart Rice
5	5.30	TACALOOCHEE	58.0	0	2	C Orffer	Michael Miller
6	5.80	DRUM BEATER	58.0	0	6	A Domeyer	Kumaran Naidoo
7	5.90	RUNNING RIVER	58.0	0	8	* J P van der Merwe	Paul Lafferty
8	7.15	FIRST BREAK	58.0	0	7	D Mansour	Duncan Howells
9	13.40	DO OR DYE	58.0	0	4	K Shea	Paul Lafferty
10	23.90	QUEEN OF DRACONIA	58.0	0	10	K Zechner	Kumaran Naidoo
		Late Scratchings
11	0.00	BALLADRY	58.0	0	2	A Marcus	Paul Lafferty
12	0.00	ORANGE SUNRISE	58.0	0	11		Yadav Singh
13	0.00	RED BOOK	58.0	0	5	R Danielson	Gavin van Zyl

Extract from Mike de Kock Racing

For more information please visit :
www.summerhill.co.za

THE SANSUI SUMMER CUP IS HOTTING UP

Pierre Jourdan and Thandolwami contenders at the Sansui Summer Cup
(Photo : JC Photographics)

De Kock Hot, Hot, Hot

JACK MILNER : “It’s not whether you win or lose - but whether I win or lose”

Those words of Scottish golfer Sandy Lyle might well be uttered by trainer Mike de Kock ahead of tomorrow’s R2-million Sansui Summer Cup over 2000m on the Turffontein standside track.

The current champion trainer has already won this race eight times and with six of the 18 runners tomorrow, it would be a brave man to bet against him scoring win No 9. Gary Alexander, who trains the only non-De Kock runner quoted in singles figures - Pierre Jourdan - put it perfectly when he said yesterday: “Mike has a big hold in this race and it will be tough to beat him.

De Kock saddles 5-2 favourite Perana, 5-1 second favourite Mother Russia, Alderry at 8-1, Zirconeum (16-1), Flirtation (20-1) and Rudra (50-1). “They are all going into the race with good form, he said. “I would have liked to have given Perana, Mother Russia and Flirtation another run but we have a long season ahead. Their training at home has been excellent.

When asked about Perana being a three-year-old when horses that age do not have a good record in the race, his response was : “So what? People said the same thing to me when I put Horse Chestnut into the Met - and he won.

As another famous golfer - Arnold Palmer - once said, “the road to success is always under construction’’, and that is a rule by which De Kock has lived his life.

Speaking about Perana and his gallant win in the Grade 2 Victory Moon Stakes at Turffontein where he ducked out sharply and still came back to win, De Kock said: “He’s a young and immature horse with a lot to do, but he does have Group 1 ability.

“Even though I would have preferred to have another run, he’s had a great preparation. He’s done everything right in training. I was impressed by the way he won his last race, especially the courage he showed in winning.

So win No 9 is likely to be spearheaded by a three-year-old who has raced just four times. But with just 52kg to carry, including Anthony Delpech - who is having an unbelievable year in big races - De Kock could well make history.

But if Perana does show his inexperience, a number of his stablemates will be waiting to pounce. Alderry finally demonstrated her true ability with an emphatic victory in the Peermont Emperors Palace Charity Mile earlier this month. She was rushed to the front early in the straight that time and was given a chance.

Muzi Yeni gets the ride and must fancy his chances on the big bay Al Mufti filly. “Muzi came up on Tuesday to gallop the filly without my even asking him, said De Kock. “I was very impressed with his dedication. Alderry is the perfect filly in every respect and she’s as well as ever. Her preparation has gone very well.

Then there is Mother Russia. This five-year-old mare has done little wrong in her career. She has raced 24 times for 12 wins and outside of Pocket Power, is probably the most prolific Grade 1 performer in the country. She has run in 11 Grade 1 races, won three, placed second four times and third two occasions. In her lone unplaced run she was just 1.85 lengths off the winner and that was against Lady Windermere in the Garden Province Stakes at Greyville.

The only blot on her copybook was her dreadful last place in the Gold Challenge at Clairwood. After that De Kock gave her a long rest and she came back in the Victory Moon where she was beaten 0.50 lengths by Perana.

“She went into the Victory Moon with an iffy coat, not looking that great, said De Kock. “She’s come on with the run, took it well and her coat is perfect. The second run after a layoff never normally worries me but every now and again they come up and bite you.

Other than his six runners, De Kock also has a share in Joey Ramsden’s runner, Hawk’s Eye, winner of the Grade 3 Algoa Cup. “Hawk’s Eye is as honest as they come. Joey should, be applauded for bringing the horse to Johannesburg. It amazes me at how many trainers around the country ignore this race. If you can afford to turn up your nose up at a R2-million race you have no right to complain about stakes cuts. We put our horses on floats and go all over the country. The Summer Cup should be better supported, said De Kock.

Deciding on who could shut out De Kock is difficult, but perhaps Pierre Jourdan has it in him. He went close to winning the Triple Crown last season and he does love the course. However, he has top weight for the race.

“He is a top horse and he’s done so well for us. But at the weights he might find it difficult, said Alexander.

THE CITIZEN INTERNATIONAL JOCKEYS CHALLENGE 2010

TURFFONTEIN FRIDAY 12 NOVEMBER 2010
AND KENILWORTH SUNDAY 14 NOVEMBER 2010

South Africa’s best jockeys will go head to head with some of the top riders in the world in Leg 1 of The Citizen International Jockeys Challenge at Turffontein Racecourse in Joburg this Friday night. The six riders in each team will clash in four Challenge races - Races 3, 4 7 and 8 - and will accumulate points according to the finishing positions of their mounts. To equalise the chances of the two teams, the runners in all Challenge races were seeded beforehand by a panel of racing experts and there was then a draw for mounts. The overseas team drew for horses seeded 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11 in the first of the Challenge races and for seeds 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 in the second and so on. The second leg of the competition takes place at Kenilworth on Sunday and the winning team and leading individual rider will be decided by the total points scored across the two legs.

TEAM INTERNATIONALS

CHRISTOPHE SOUMILLON

Christophe SoumillonBelgium-born CHRISTOPHE SOUMILLON (29), champion jockey in France in 2003, formed part of the international team in South Africa in the 2008 International Jockeys Challenge in which he booted in two seconds for his team. On the same day he won the Dingaans on Oracy and finished second on Smart Banker in the Summer Cup. Comes to South Africa fresh off a win on Buena Vista in the Group 1 Tenno Sho (Autumn) in Tokyo, one of seven G1 wins this year. In 2010 he has won G1 races in Japan, Canada, England, France, Dubai (he won the UAE Derby for trainer Mike de Kock on Musir) and Hong Kong. He also won a G1 hurdles race in France.

KIEREN FALLON

Kieran FallonKIEREN FALLON (45), six-time champion jockey in the UK, has won nearly every top feature race in his native Ireland and Great Britain, including the Investec Derby three times, the 1000 and 2000 Guineas four times each and the King George VI. He has been associated with some of the top racehorses of recent times, including Dylan Thomas who won the Champion Stakes before taking the Arc de Triomphe in 2007. Having spent 18 months suspended after testing positive for a banned substance, he returned to race-riding in September last year and has won three G1 races since. They included riding Gitano Hernando to victory in the Goodwood Stakes at Santa Anita in October last year.

MARTIN GARCIA

Martin GarciaBest known for his association with Preakness Stakes and Haskell Invitational winner Lookin At Lucky this year, MARTIN GARCIA (26) is one of the most promising young riders in Southern California. After arriving in the USA from Mexico in 2003, he was spotted working in a deli near Pleasanton Racetrack by a patron who asked him if he had considered becoming a jockey. His first win came aboard Wild Daydreamer at the Bay Meadows Fair in August 2005 and early the following year he beat brilliant Russell Baze for leading jockey honours at Golden Gate Fields before they tied for the title at Bay Meadows. Garcia won the Preakness this year in only his second ride in the USA Triple Crown.

HALIS KARATAS

Halis KaratasHALIS KARATAS, nicknamed “The Wizard”, has been champion jockey in his native Turkey since 2002. He has won over 3,000 races during his 25-year career including three Gazi Derbys (Turkey’s premier race) and six Prime Ministry Cups. His international riding experience includes the 2009 International Jockeys Challenge when he boosted his team’s points tally with a third. He was also second to Mick Kinane in the internationals versus young riders’ event. Was one of the European riders at the Shergar Cup in 2008 and won the 2005 Cape Verdi in Dubai aboard Ribella. He has ridden 241 winners on both thoroughbred and Arabian horses in Turkey this year for a 30% strike rate and has accumulated nine G1 victories.

UMBERTO RISPOLI

Umberto RispoliItalian UMBERTO RISPOLI (22), who rode in his first race on 5 February 2005, notched his first win after just 14 days and four years later smashed Gianfranco Dettori’s long-standing record of 229 winners in a season, winning 245 races to take the champion jockeys’ title in his home country. His record-breaking mount was Sugarland at Pisa on 21 November. He worked in Britain for Marco Botti in 2007-08, has a victory in Germany to his credit and has ridden in Mauritius. He scored his first win at the highest level last month, when winning the Premio Lydia Tesio in Rome aboard Aoife Alainn. Born in Naples, he has more than 900 victories to his name and his career highlights include a five-timer at Livorno in 2009.

HAYLEY TURNER

Hayley TurnerOnly the fourth woman jockey to graduate from the apprentice ranks in Britain, HAYLEY TURNER (27) tasted success for the first time when booting in Generate at Pontefract. Lady Deauville gave Turner her first Group winner in the 2008 Lando-Trophy in Germany. Champion apprentice in 2005, she was voted Channel 4’s Racing Personality for 2008, riding 100 winners, but was badly injured in a riding accident in March 2009. Her successes this year include a win on Barshiba in the G2 Lancashire Oaks. It has been said: “She is a brilliant jockey, as strong in a finish and as tactically astute as any man. She has the added advantage of not having the usual weight struggle that most male jockeys have. At five foot two inches and 48kg she has no such concerns.”

TEAM PROTEAS

ANTON MARCUS

Anton MarcusSouth Africa’s ruling champion jockey ANTON MARCUS (40) captained the Proteas to victory in last year’s International Jockeys’ Challenge. He accomplished an immensely high 30% strike rate in taking last season’s Jockeys’ Championship. It was his second title following a win in 2000-01. Big-name horses he has partnered this year include Warm White Night (Cape Flying Championship), Bravura (Investec Cape Derby), Mother Russia (Empress Club Stakes and TBA Paddock Stakes) and Smart Banker (Horse Chestnut Stakes). Marcus has ridden with distinction in Dubai, Hong Kong, Mauritius and Singapore and led the Rest of the World team at the 2010 Shergar Cup at Ascot.

ANTHONY DELPECH

Anthony DelpechWith three big-race wins on Vodacom Durban July day this year, including partnering Bold Silvano to victory over stablemate Irish Flame in the big race, Seychelles-born ANTHONY DELPECH (31) is a name few will forget in a hurry. Last Saturday he won the Charity Mile aboard Alderry. He finished third behind Anton Marcus and Felix Coetzee on the national jockeys’ log last season, when his 133 winners included Gluwein (Majorca Stakes) and Here To Win (SA Fillies Classic and Garden Province Stakes). He has ridden with great success in Mauritius, Hong Kong, Singapore and Dubai and this will be the third time running he has ridden in the International Jockeys Challenge.

ANDREW FORTUNE

Andrew Fortune2008-09 South African champion jockey ANDREW FORTUNE makes his International Jockeys Challenge debut - he was team manager last year. Out of the saddle for much of last season, he moved to the Highveld in August to ride for trainers Gary Alexander and Alec Laird, vowing to regain his title. He is currently in good form, having ridden 47 winners so far to be second on the national jockeys’ log. Those successes have been achieved at every racing centre in the country barring Port Elizabeth. A heavy-weight jockey, he has still won several graded races, including the Peninsular Handicap (Ivory Trail), Diadem Stakes (Blue Tiger), Odessa Stud (Mother Russia) and Tibouchina Stakes (Ethereal Lady).

GAVIN LERENA

Gavin LerenaGAVIN LERENA (24), who set a record for the number of wins during an apprenticeship (283), has ridden successfully in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Mauritius. He won the Bronze Saddle at last year’s International Jockeys Challenge after coming into the team at the last minute to replace Kevin Shea. He won two of the Challenge races and finished third in another. He comes into the team as a substitute again this year. Lerena has ridden 545 winners in his career, including the SA Classic and SA Derby on Kings Gambit, and other graded stakes wins include this year’s SA Oaks (Arcola) and Gauteng Fillies Guineas (Fisani). He showed last year that he is not overawed by a big occasion.

PIERE STRYDOM

Piere StrydomFive-time SA champion jockeys, PIERE STRYDOM (44) has also ridden with success in Hong Kong, Australia, Dubai and the UK. Having won more than 4,000 races in his career - and being one of only a few jockeys in the world to have booted in six winners at a meeting - his 113 winners this year include champion sprinter JJ The Jet Plane (Mercury Sprint and Golden Horse Casino Sprint) and Big City Life (Gold Challenge). Strydom has been a member of the Proteas at the last two Jockeys Challenges and finished a neck second to Christophe Soumillon on Oracy in the Dingaans two years ago. He quipped recently: “I’m not scared of any overseas jocks - the only one I’m scared of in a race is Anton Marcus.”

MUZI YENI

Muzi YeniWell-liked Durban-born jockey MUZI YENI (24), who won his first race (Storm King) in November 2003 and came within two winners of his century last season (his best yet), scored the biggest win of his career on Sweetie Pie in the 2010 Gold Circle Oaks at Clairwood in July. He will be partnering Sweetie Pie again in the Victory Moon Stakes, to be run at Turffontein on the same night as the International Jockeys Challenge. He is a favourite of champion trainer Mike de Kock, who is quoted as saying: “Muzi has a good work ethic and is in the team on merit.” He was chosen to ride in an international jockeys’ invitational in Korea and rode a winner there earlier this year, his only international experience.

Extract from Tab Online

RICHINSTYLE : OUT FRONT AND IN CHARGE

Click above to watch Richinstyle out front…
(Image and Footage : Tellytrack)

RICHINSTYLE
2009 SUMMERHILL READY TO RUN GRADUATE

RICHINSTYLE (Cataloochee - In Style by Model Man)
3 Year Chestnut Colt
Owner : Mr MPS Caldeira
Trainer : Bill Human
Jockey : Muzi Yeni
Breeder : Summerhill Stud
Win Time : 116.02
Career Record : 1 Win, 5 Places, 12 Starts

Richinstyle is a graduate from the Summerhill draft of the 2009 Emperors Palace Ready To Run Sale.

NEW ALL TO COME BET MAIDEN PLATE
Flamingo Park Sand 1800m
25 October 2010

#	LBH	Horse	Kg	MR	Dr	Jockey	Trainer
1	0.00	RICHINSTYLE	57.0	69	11	M Yeni	Bill Human
2	5.25	BATTLE FIELD GLORY	60.0	56	2	S Brown	Vernon Rugg
3	6.50	HARD WOOD	56.5	45	7	*T Appie (2.5)	Johan Myburgh
4	6.75	OUT SIDE BETS	57.0	55	8	L Nhlapo	Coerie Lensley
5	8.00	TUCANA (AUS)	60.0	75	4	A Fortune	Peter Miller
6	11.00	GLORIOUS LEADER	57.0	0	10	N Welch	David Nieuwenhuizen
7	12.00	COLOR TROOP	60.0	55	9	*E Pheiffer (1.5)	Jaap Visser
8	31.00	MBOVANA	60.0	48	5	R Simons	Jaap Visser
9	52.00	LA MAFIA	57.0	63	6	S Khumalo	David Nieuwenhuizen
10	52.50	UNFORGETABLE FIRE	60.0	36	1	S Nhlapo	Hennie Kotze
11	99.99	CASEY’S FORTUNE	57.0	0	3	*JP v’d Merwe	Peter Miller

For more information please visit :
www.summerhill.co.za