GOING TO THE GUINEAS

Click above to watch Love Struck winning the Breeders’ Cup Politician Stakes (Listed)
(Image : Gold Circle - Footage : Tellytrack)

GAUTENG GUINEAS DAY
Turffontein, 2 March 2013

Earlier in the week, we mentioned that twelve of the nominees for the Colts and Fillies Guineas had Summerhill connections. The final acceptances are now in, and seven of them have stood their ground, five in the colt’s version and two in the fillies. Topping the Summerhill assault for the R1million prize is Paul Lafferty’s debonair Love Struck, who took the laurels in the Politician Stakes over 1800m on J&B Met day in Cape Town, in his last racecourse appearance. He has the honour of carrying the No.1 saddlecloth as the highest-rated horse in the race, and while there will be those who will argue that he appears to be more effective over more ground, expect him to be troubling the judges when they get to the business end. That assumes, of course, that the aversion of most Cape Town conditioners against racing on the Rand fresh out of the Cape season, is more myth than reality. His biggest concerns are likely to come from War Horse, Fantastic Mr Fox and another Summerhill Ready To Run graduate, Killua Castle, though these early Classics are often capable of surprise, staged at a time when young horses are improving rapidly.

If Fantastic Mr Fox is part of your mix, you’d have to think that the aptly-named Cookie Monster (a R340,000 Summerhill Ready To Run graduate) comes right into it, having finished just 0.3 of a length behind this adversary last time, provided he gets a run. Beyond them, both Gitiano and No Worries have shown themselves to have special talents if the right horse pitches up on the day, so strap yourself in for an intriguing battle.

On the fillies side, we’re represented by the Emperors Palace Ready To Run Cup runner-up Negev, who is once again drawn in the sticks. That hasn’t deterred Piere Strydom from taking the ride, and her second place finish two weeks ago in her first outing in a while suggests she should be spot on for Saturday. The opposition is pretty formidable though, and while her contemporaries have closed the gap a little in recent times on Cherry On The Top, the turnaround in the weights could prove decisive. That applies to King’s Temptress and Fire Wheel as well, though Mike de Kock has the highly talented import, Espumanti going out with an unblemished record in Mary Slack’s black and scarlet colours. Fortitude makes up the Summerhill coupling, and anything can happen in a programme jammed with Black type racing.

The betting tells its own story.

Betting World Gauteng Guineas (Grade 2)
Turffontein, Turf, 1600m
2 March 2013

#	Horse	Current
11	ALEXANDRA PALACE	4/1
7	FRANCOIS BERNARDUS	4/1
2	WAR HORSE	6/1
1	LOVE STRUCK	7/1
16	TELLINA	10/1
3	FANTASTIC MR FOX	12/1
10	SWIFT AND STRONG	14/1
4	KILLUA CASTLE (AUS)	16/1
17	CANNON	16/1
6	EMERALD APPROACH	20/1
9	ZESTFUL	20/1
15	NO WORRIES	25/1
8	GITIANO	25/1
14	DONNIE BRASCO	25/1
5	SABADELL	25/1
12	ROCK OF ARTS (AUS)	25/1
	Reserve Runners
18	THE KING AND I
19	COOKIE MONSTER

Summerhill runners denoted by yellow

Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas (Grade 2)
Turffontein, Turf, 1600m
2 March 2013

#	Horse	Kg
16	ESPUMANTI (GB)	9/10
1	CHERRY ON THE TOP	7/1
3	FIRE WHEEL	7/1
2	KING’S TEMPTRESS	8/1
7	SKY PIRATE	12/1
4	NEGEV	16/1
12	DO YOU REMEMBER	20/1
10	TAYBA	25/1
17	SECRET OBSESSION	40/1
14	JET BELLE	50/1
5	WOOD NYMPH	50/1
6	AL KINDI	50/1
9	AMBER ORCHID (AUS)	50/1
8	MARGOT ON STAGE	50/1
13	SHOW TIME	66/1
15	LUALA	66/1
	Reserve Runners
18	FORTITUDE
19	CAT’S GAME

Summerhill runners denoted by yellow

J&B MET 130

J&B MET (Grade 1)
Kenilworth, Turf, 2000m
2 February 2013

Mike Moon
The TimesThe J&B Met is much more than a horse race. Raced in the dreamy Cape just as summer comes off its peak, it has come to symbolise the glamour of the racing game in South Africa.

If the Vodacom Durban July is all about power and glory - with the prestige of the country’s premier race, alcohol-fuelled corporate show-offs and big money wagering - the Met provides a more elegant, romantic interlude.

Met Day is like a huge garden party with equine entertainments. At Cape Town’s foremost social bash, being seen in the exclusive enclosures in eye-catching finery is, for many, at least as important as what passes the winning post first.

As such, the poshest do in racing is rather more than just the second-biggest race day in the land. A party with cavorting celebrities, outré outfits, sunshine and wine will always attract that extra bit of attention.

It’s small wonder whisky maker J&B has continued to pump money into staging the event since 1978, becoming horse racing’s longest-standing sponsor. J&B might already be an upmarket brand, but it still picks up priceless cache and glitzy publicity from the Met.

This is not to say the racing itself ain’t important. For racing folk, it’s right up there in quality, and for those of us who cannot be at glorious Kenilworth tomorrow, it is racing form rather than haute couture and haute cuisine that must be our focus.

Speaking of which, tomorrow’s 130th renewal looks a competitive affair - at least among the well-backed horses.

Handicap conditions for the Met are intended to ensure that the most talented horses do well. They’re not heavily penalised with weight in the saddle for their past successes and can show their true worth, all else being equal. This year the classiest contenders are also the ones with the most compelling recent form, theoretically narrowing down our choice of most likely winner. Top jockey Anthony Delpech, who hasn’t landed a choice booking for the Met, says he can see the winner coming from only “four or five” horses and hasn’t bothered to scratch around for a mount on an apparent no-hoper.

That seems a fair assessment.

Topping the betting boards at 18/10 is four-year-old colt Jackson, who is obviously a top racehorse and does well on this course. But many pundits and punters haven’t shaken off the bruising they took when he failed to meet a previous big challenge, in the 2012 Vodacom Durban July.

July winner Pomodoro has had a brilliant lead-up to the Met, with little having been in his favour. He has a good barrier draw, has had time to acclimatise to Cape Town and has the peerless services of Piere Strydom in the irons. Feisty mare Beach Beauty is consistent and is almost guaranteed to have a say in the finish.

J&B MET BETTING:

18/10 Jackson, 7/2 Pomodoro, 11/2 Beach Beauty, 10/1 Slumdogmillionaire, 12/1 King Of Pain, 14/1 Master Plan, 15/1 Bravura, 20/1 Run For It, 22/1 Hill Fifty Four, 40/1 Martial Eagle, 50/1 Tribal Dance, 66/1 Bulsara, Black Wing, 80/1 Ice Machine, In Writing, 100/1 Fabiani.

J&B MET SELECTION:

J&B MET (KENILWORTH RACE 8): 2 Pomodoro, 15 Beach Beauty, 4 Master Plan, 1 Jackson

For more information, please visit :

www.jbmet.co.za

Extract from The Times

JACKSON AND POMODORO IN QUEEN'S PLATE QUEST

Jackson wins the Investec Cape Derby (Grade 1) from Variety Club
(Photo : Gold Circle)

L’ORMARINS QUEEN’S PLATE (Grade 1)
Kenilworth, Turf, 1600m
12 January 2013

David Thiselton
Gold CircleSpeaking about jockey Karis Teetan’s tactics aboard Jackson in Saturday’s prestigous Grade 1 L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate over 1600m at Kenilworth, trainer Brett Crawford said it would likely depend on his initial perceptions of the pace.

The four-year-old Dynasty colt was dropped out from a wide draw in his last start in the Grade 2 Green Point Stakes over the 1600m of the tighter Kenilworth Old Course and had too much to do in the straight, so was never going to catch Variety Club, although he ran on strongly for a 2,5 length second. However, Crawford did not discount a repeat of those tactics and said, “Saturday’s race is on the new course (which has a considerably longer straight) and obviously on the Old course it was harder to make up the ground.”

Crawford also pointed out that Variety Club had drawn wide this time, as opposed to pole position in the Green Point, which brought about the possibility of a change in tactics with Teetan’s initial reading of the pace likely being the key factor in how the horse’s race would pan out. He confirmed Jackson to be in great shape having come through his final gallop very well.

Jackson is drawn at 13 in the 15 horse field, with his chief rival Variety Club drawn on the very outside.

Sean Tarry’s Vodacom Durban July winner, the ever-improving Pomodoro, has drawn nicely in 7 and looks to be a major threat to Variety Club, who holds the unofficial crown of South Africa’s top miler.

Pomodoro, a four-year-old Jet Master colt, is unbeaten since a shoulder niggle was discovered before his famous Vodacom Durban July victory. The niggle might have explained why he shifted badly late when dead-heating in the SA Derby and almost certainly explained why he cantered down to the start so poorly before staying on for fifth in the Daily News 2000. However, since then Pomodoro is unbeaten, winning the July by a whisker from an impossible draw and then being most impressive in his two comeback races this season. He flew at the finish to beat some good sprinters over 1200m on November 13 and then toyed with some useful sorts over a mile in his last start.

Those wins have left people questioning whether he might just be something special and Saturday’s race will likely answer the question. However, Tarry erred on the side of caution, “He is better as a four-year-old and did nothing wrong as a three-year-old. The distance of the Queen’s Plate won’t be a problem as he won that 1200m race and won the Tony Ruffel over 1450m of the Turffontein inside track as a three-year-old. But I think Variety Club might just be a better miler.” Ace jockey Piere Strydom rides Pomodoro.

The Joey Ramsden-trained Variety Club, however, has to overcome a draw of 15 in the 15 horse field but does has champion jockey Anton Marcus aboard. Tarry said, “I can’t see much pace in the race, so Variety Club will probably overcome the draw with ease, unless Jackson keeps him out. Jackson is a top horse in his own right.” Jackson is drawn two berths inside of Variety Club in 13. Tarry continued, “We have no complaints about our draw.” He mused, “The pace might be forced by the jockeys wanting to keep Variety Club and Jackson out. However, in Variety Club’s favour is his phenomenal gate speed, which should allow him to get to the front virtually for free. Also, due to the use of false rails in South Africa, jockeys out here are not as tactically aware as their overseas counterparts. They don’t have to worry about getting a run in the straight and can afford to sit on the rail in behind horses. This is a contributing factor to the generally slower pace of races out here, especially at Kenilworth where jockeys are reluctant to lead due to the prevailing South Easterly headwind.”

lqp.co.za

Extract from Gold Circle

PIERRE JOURDAN SEEKING SUMMER CUP SIZZLE

Pierre Jourdan poses with Phumza Tiya ahead of the 2012 Sansui Summer Cup
(Photo : Peter Morey Photography)

SANSUI SUMMER CUP (Grade 1)
Turffontein, Turf, 2000m
1 December 2012

David Thiselton
Gold CirclePierre Jourdan could be a big runner in tomorrow’s Grade 1 R2 Million Sansui Summer Cup in which he carries 58kg off a merit rating of 106 compared to topweight of 60kg off a merit rating of 116 last year. He is also long overdue a change in luck.

The Summerhill-bred gelding was slow away in his last start, the Peermont Emperors Palace Charity Mile, when squeezed out and then badly bumped by a horse coming across which made it hard for him to make up the ground in the fast going on the day. He also met interference in his previous start in the Grade 3 Joburg Spring Challenge over 1450m and could have finished second instead of fourth behind the classy Link Man.

The Gary Alexander yard must be wondering if Pierre Jourdan will ever get a clean race as he also had bad luck through the Champions Season, including in the Vodacom Durban July. However, he is now four points down the merit ratings since his last win in last year’s Charity Mile and he has the in-form maestro Piere Strydom aboard.

In last year’s Summer Cup, Pierre Jourdan finished last, but it appearedded on that occasion that he was over raced. Although Alexander said he would have preferred him to be a touch closer to the inside, the wide draw of 13 is just about ideal for Strydom who will be able to choose where he wants to be and is a master of slipstreaming. Alexander also hoped that he would at least have a chance of staying out of trouble from that draw and added that his first two runs of the season were preparation runs for this race and despite his rough race last time out, Pierre Jourdan had returned sound. “He is doing well and his prep has gone quite nicely,” Alexander said. “He hasn’t done too much wrong.”

Alexander felt he had a few other chances on the day. He reckoned the Trippi colt No Prisoners, with Strydom up, would be a “big runner in that field” in the second, where he is quoted as even money favourite. He gave Radiant Rock “a place shout” in the tenth, despite odds of 33-1, as she “always without fail tries her heart out.” He added that the 2000m trip would suit Mystic Tigress, a 10-1 shot in the eleventh.

Extract from Gold Circle

THE INTERNATIONAL JOCKEYS' CHALLENGE 2012

AVIS COACH CHARTER
INTERNATIONAL JOCKEYS’ CHALLENGE
Turffontein Friday 16 November 2012
Clairwood Sunday 18 November 2012

Mike Moon
The TimesThey call it a craft, but the best exponents are real artists. Jockeyship is a job like no other. It’s thrilling, dangerous and unpredictable if you’re in the irons, and a marvel if you’re in the grandstand.

The balance between winning and losing, hero and zero, elation and the agony of broken bones rests on a proverbial knife edge.

Like a Zen calligrapher, a jockey must show assertiveness, intuitive timing and boundless bravery.

This arcane artistry will be on display tonight at Turffontein as battle is commenced in the annual International Jockeys’ Challenge.

South African maestro Anton Marcus leads the six-man team of locals against an outfit skippered by new British champ Richard Hughes.

Of course, riding excellence is no novelty to us in this country. From Cocky Feldman to Michael Roberts to Basil Marcus to Dougie Whyte, we’ve produced generations of little big men more than capable of holding their own on the world racing stage.

It must be something in the water - or the lettuce.

Though we watch good riding day-in-day-out, it’s still exciting to see the home-grown talent pit itself against worthy opposition from abroad.

The image of jockeys has been tarnished recently.

Aussie ace Damien Oliver is in hot water Down Under for illegal betting, while European superstar Frankie Dettori had a positive drug test in France and faces a lengthy ban.

Both these guys have ridden in the International Jockeys’ Challenge in previous years, so a bit of a shadow is cast across the event, not to mention the profession.

Most racegoers will also be disappointed that the South Africans will not be awarded Protea colours for their participation, as earlier teams were.

Racing’s suits appear to have got themselves into an unholy admin mix-up with Sascoc, the paper-shuffling body that authorises national colours. This has, in turn, sparked an unseemly public row within the industry.

The upshot is that the South African team will race in their horses’ owners’ silks while, weirdly, the visitors will be decked out in their national colours. Racing aficionados will hope that the real action tonight, and at the second Challenge leg on Sunday at Clairwood, will blow away all this blight and remind us of the game’s glories.

Each leg has four races, all handicaps. Jockeys and teams get 30 points for a win, 15 for a second place, 12 for third, and so on, down to one for 12th.

Horses in each race were seeded and mounts chosen by ballot.

Marcus’s team-mates are Jeff Lloyd, who flies in from his new base in Australia; Gavin Lerena; Piere Strydom; Anthony Delpech, and Muzi Yeni.

The internationals are Hughes, who sensationally rode seven winners in a day as he closed on the British Championship last month; Jimmy Fortune; Tom Queally; Seamie Heffernan; Paul Mulrennan, and Joao Moreira.

Heard the one about the six South Africans, five Irishmen and a Brazilian?

Extract from The Times

www.internationaljockeyschallenge.co.za