After yet another facile victory at Hollywoodbets Greyville, the St Helier-Stud bred son of Flying The Flag, Victory Twist, heads up the first published log of the KZN Breeders Series to be run on the ever-popular KZN Breeders Race Day at the end of June.

Beautifully-bred by the Late Syd Rosseau out of a Cape Cross mare, the son of Flying The Flag is now a 3-time winner and with 11 starts under his belt, only out of the money on three occasions trained by Tony Rivalland for owners Messrs P C Rivalland, J P G de Rauville, A J Rivalland and Mrs M D J Liley.

Keep a watch for details in the coming weeks of the annual KZN Breeders Golf Day, scheduled for Friday 3 June at Royal Durban Golf Club.

View the points below of all the pre-nominated horses for the day, excluding the KZN Breeders Mile which operates as per normal race entries and is excluded from this log.

[watch the race]

Trained by Wendy Whitehead, who also trains his 5yo full sister Alfonse Baby with four wins to date in hand, expressed sadness of the passing of Noble Tune as this pedigree has worked so well for the family.

Alfonse Baby has also placed 2nd eight times and can always be counted on for consistency.

Moonlightbecomesu won twice over 1200m, and out of a Fort Wood mare, the female line also carries Harry Hotspur for speed and the mighty Brigadier Gerard – unbeaten as a 2yo including the famed sire producing Middle Park Stakes (now a Gr1) and beating Mill Reef in the 2000 Guineas amongst his glittering record of classic wins – he won 17 of 18 races he contested, beaten only by Roberto in the Benson And Hedges Gold Cup – Roberto happens to be the paternal grandsire of Cataloochee.

Brigadier Gerard was crowned British Horse Of The Year in 1972, with a Timeform Rating of 144!

This is the female line of Il Maurice, Red Beech and leading German filly in her day, Oraza. Moonlightbecomesu foaled a handsome and flashy chestnut colt by Act Of War this year.

Well done to Geoff and we look forward to following Joshua Hotsnake in his career!

The William Longsword gelding Hasta Manana clinched his first stakes success and was the cheese on the sandwich of a terrific Gareth van Zyl-Anton Marcus – Mario Ferreira treble at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday, including two for Rathmor Stud.

Gareth van Zyl enjoyed one of his best days at the office and saddled a four-timer.

The R100 000 Listed Model Man Mile, named in honour of former SA Horse Of The Year and our first equine millionaire Model Man, saw an eleven strong field of 3yo’s face the starter.

Easy to back at 14-1 after taking six runs to crack his maiden, Hasta Manana showed resolve and some improved maturity to quicken readily and beat Purple Flame by 1,60 lengths in a time of 98,02 secs.

The previously unbeaten-in-two favourite Quasiforsure stayed on well without threatening for third.

“Things went his way. He had a good gate, a nice lead and he quickened,” said Ridgemont jockey Anton Marcus. The former champion was to ride six winners on a profitable weekend, after winning the last in the same silks for the same stable.

Bred by Rathmor Stud, Hasta Manana is a son of William Longsword (Captain Al) out of Ireland one-time winner Queen Of Spain (Holy Roman Emperor), herself immaculately bred and a half-sister to recently deceased sire, Mastercraftsman.

A winner of 2 races with 5 places from 8 starts for stakes of R184 500, Hasta Manana looks to be improving fast.

Rathmor ended the day with a smart performance from Twice Over gelding out of Azure Sky, with Double Edge giving owner Mario Ferreira his 3rd win on the day.

Rathmor Stud stand the smart new son of War Front, Declarationofpeace.

Well done to all concerned.

-goldcircle.co.za

All the top guns were among the first entries for this year’s R1.5 million Grade 1 Vodacom Durban July when nominations closed today.

The 52 horses nominated for the showpiece at Hollywoodbets Greyville, included two-time winner of the race Do It Again, who, if he triumphs on Saturday, July 25, will become the first horse in the 123-year history of South African’s most famous race to achieve the treble.

But Justin Snaith’s champion will not be short of opposition should all pan out with Hawwaam, Rainbow Bridge and Vardy also amongst the nominations.

Do It Again has not been out since a disappointing effort in the Sun Met at Kenilworth but put in a pleasing gallop at Hollywoodbets Greyville last Sunday and looks on track for a tilt at his third victory in the race.

A somewhat surprising omission was Sunday’s Grade 2 Wold Sport’s Betting Guineas winner, Wild Coast, but with two further entry dates, Snaith still has opportunity.

Hawwaam, the disappointment last year when scratched at the start, was back in business at Turffontein last Saturday with a convincing win in the Grade 1 HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes. There are export issues to navigate before the race and his participation is not assured. If the European Union protocols are approved, Hawwaam will take his place but if the colt is to be exported via Mauritius he will need to be in quarantine before the race.

Rainbow Bridge, second last year, and second in the Sun Met, has not been seen out since the Met but will be out for revenge and give stalwart owner Mike Rattray the victory in a race he so desperately wants to win.

Stable companion to Rainbow Bridge and Grade 1 Cape Derby winner Golden Ducat, was an eye-catching third in last Sunday’s World Sport’s Betting Guineas and has also been nominated by trainer Eric Sands.

Vardy, a touch disappointing when third in the Grade 2 Independent On Saturday Drill Hall Stakes last Sunday, was a cracking winner of the Grade 1 L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate and will surely come on from that race after a four-month break from the track.

Marcus has also entered Twist Of Fate, third last year for Joey Ramsden who has since moved to Australia.

An interesting nomination by Dean Kannemeyer who has won this race twice, is KZN Derby winner It’s My Turn, off the track with injury for over a year.

Other notable entries are impressive Independent On Saturday Drill Hall Stakes winner Bunker Hunt and Soqrat.

*5 #kznbreds are entered, highlighted in bold.

First entries for the R 1,500,000  2200m

VODACOM DURBAN JULY (Grade 1) to be

0 ALIBI GUY          Mike de Kock     101     

0 AZORES             Dean Kannemeyer   99     

0 BELGARION          Justin Snaith    113     

0 BORN TO PERFORM    Dennis Bosch      98     

0 BUNKER HUNT        Justin Snaith    124     

0 CAMPHORATUS        R A Hill/S R Hi  111     

0 CAT DADDY          Glen Kotzen      101     

0 CHIJMES            Gary Alexander   120     

0 CORNISH POMODORO   Sean Tarry       102     

0 CROWN TOWERS (AUS) Justin Snaith    109     

0 D’ ARRIVEE         Candice Dawson   106     

0 DIVINE ODYSSEY     J A Janse van V  114     

0 DO IT AGAIN        Justin Snaith    135     

0 DUKE OF SPIN       Mike de Kock     101     

0 EYES WIDE OPEN     Glen Kotzen      116     

0 G G’S DYNASTY      Brett Crawford   103     

0 GOLDEN DUCAT       Eric Sands       110     

0 GOT THE GREENLIGHT Joe Soma         116     

0 HAWWAAM            Mike de Kock     131     

0 HERO’S HONOUR      Gary Alexander   117     

0 HERODOTUS          Glen Kotzen      110     

0 IT’S MY TURN       Dean Kannemeyer  118     

0 LADY OF STEEL      J A Janse van V  111     

0 LEOPOLD            J A Janse van V  108     

0 LIBERTY HALL       Dean Kannemeyer  101     

0 MAGNIFICENT SEVEN  Justin Snaith    114     

0 MAJESTIC MOZART    Candice Bass-Ro  107     

0 MIYABI GOLD        Justin Snaith    115     

0 MORE MAGIC         Candice Bass-Ro  102     

0 NEXUS              Justin Snaith    102     

0 PACK LEADER        Glen Kotzen      114     

0 PADRE PIO          Dennis Bosch     110     

0 PROMISEOFAMASTER   Candice Dawson   104     

0 RAINBOW BRIDGE     Eric Sands       134     

0 RETURN FLIGHT      Sean Tarry       108     

0 ROY HAD ENOUGH (AU Frank Robinson   115     

0 ROY’S RIVIERA (AUS Frank Robinson   111     

0 SACHDEV            Justin Snaith    108     

0 SHANGO             Sean Tarry       118     

0 SILVANO’S PRIDE    Justin Snaith    115     

0 SILVER HOST        Justin Snaith    102     

0 SNAPSCAN           Glen Kotzen      118     

0 SOQRAT (AUS)       Mike de Kock     133     

0 SOVEREIGN SPIRIT   Candice Bass-Ro   95     

0 TIERRA DEL FUEGO   Sean Tarry       124     

0 TREE TUMBO         Sean Tarry        91     

0 TRISTFUL           Tony Rivalland   109     

0 TWIST OF FATE      Adam Marcus      129     

0 VARDY              Adam Marcus      134     

0 VICTORIA PAIGE     Sean Tarry       112     

0 VIKRAM             Andre Nel        100     

0 WESTERN FORT       Paul Peter       108     

   (52)

Horse racing fans can take heart that the 2020 Vodacom Durban July will take place this year, but as a broadcast-only event behind closed doors.

Vodacom and Gold Circle have confirmed a joint commitment to run Africa’s Greatest Horseracing Event, but under the strictest adherence to all government health protocols surrounding COVID-19.

“Gold Circle, together with the ongoing support of the company’s valued sponsor Vodacom, is fully committed to running the 2020 Vodacom Durban July. Sadly, given the reality of the present circumstances, the race meeting will be staged behind closed doors and without spectators,” said Gold Circle CEO Michel Nairac. “The VDJ has enjoyed an uninterrupted history since first being run in 1897 – not even two world wars prevented the race from being run – and we are doing everything in our power to ensure that 2020 is not the exception,” he added.

The proposed date for the race is Saturday 25 July, but the extremely fluid nature of the current pandemic means this could change as circumstances so dictate.

 “Any decision we make around the Vodacom Durban July this year will be made as a responsible company committed to the safety of all who are involved. As a sponsor, we will work together with all relevant stakeholders and be guided by the horseracing fraternity and the experts in this industry, as well as in government, as we all work towards making this year’s race a reality,” said Michelle van Eyden, the Executive Head of Sponsorship at Vodacom.

-goldcircle.co.za

The Dazzler has changed hands more often than an Olympic relay baton but the 5yo son of Mogok looks to have found his niche with trainer Gareth van Zyl at Summerveld.

The gelding duly picked up a long overdue stakes icebreaker with a late swoop victory to win the R150 000 Listed Christmas Handicap at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Thursday.

Easy to back at double digit odds in the turf mile feature, Donovan Dillon rode a perfect waiting race and took full advantage of some misfortune befalling the favourite Born To Perform.

In a thrilling drive to the wire, Dillon steered The Dazzler up the outside to catch the luckless Born To Perform in the shadow of the post – the winning margin a deceptive 0,30 lengths in a time of 94,9 secs.

Just over five lengths covered the ten horse field.

The Dazzler was having his third run for Gareth van Zyl, and by all accounts was not working up a storm.

He was purchased by the astute James Goodman for just R30 000 at the 2016 KZN Yearling Sale.

Goodman trained him and duly got him to win at 50-1 on his Hollywoodbets Scottsville debut in May 2017.

He was purchased by the Tawny Syndicate while still a colt on Goodman’s retirement at the Kiliminjaro Racing Dispersal Sale in December 2017 for R220 000.

He was then moved to Mike De Kock where he raced for Messrs Larry Nestadt, Mark Currie, Mike de Kock & J R van der Linden in partnership.

He subsequently underwent a windpipe operation and was also gelded.

Bred by the Scott Bros, The Dazzler is by Mogok (Storm Cat) out of Glamorous Guest (Northern Guest), from the dam line of Kolkata, Glamour Boy and Gaultier. The Dazzler is a half-brother to a five-time winner Hollywood Guest.

He races for Mr K Ramanah and has won 5 races with 12 places from 24 starts for stakes of R662 112.

His sire Mogok has relocated to High Eagle Stud in Camperdown, where the international Gr1 producing sire covered mares in 2019.

Foaled on the 13 October in 2011, the 8yo gelding has earned R 679,425 in stakes, with 24 places and recording 9 wins to date.

His winning range specialises between 1200-1600m. He remains in form as he placed very recently under Calvin Habib, just a half a length off the winner.

Out of an almost ironically named broodmare sire, Centenary, his dam Suki Tortri has only produced one winner at stud, being Putchini. In the damline is 11-time winner Byblos and champions Golden Loom and Majestic Light can be found under the 3rd dam.

Trained by Deon Visser initially who bred him in parthership with Yellow Star in a foal share scenario, Putchini racing in the colours of Ashley De Klerk then transferred to Chris Erasmus after Deon gave up training. With Ivan Van Wyk taking over the training reins at Yellow Star, he has taken on Putchini for the balance of his career.

“We named him Putchini after the composer Puccini but the name was taken, so we changed the spelling. He is a favourite of Koos and mine – he wrote Nessun Dorma – some of our family thought he was Porcini like the mushroom!” laughs Lorraine De Klerk.

The chestnut geldings blue and white colours have become a familiar sight at both racecourses in both Hollywoodbets Greyville and Hollywoodbets Scottsville.

Putchini will be running at 16:00 on Sunday at Hollywoodbets Greyville over 1600m, with Nathan Klink in the irons carrying 55.5kgs.

KZN Breeders proudly sponsored the first race on the card of the day to support the Coastal Horse Care Unit, based at Cato Ridge.

Pierre Jourdan (Parade Leader – Vin Fizz) sold for just R60,000 at the 2008 Emperors Palace Ready To Run Sale and retired with a bankroll of R4,598,175.

A nine-time winner, his career had been somewhat chequered due to soundness issues forcing long periods of rest. Most experts believed he had the world at his mercy when he won the Gr1 SA Classic in 2010 but he only won three more races. It has been said, however, that the gelding’s most gallant efforts came in defeat – in the 2450m Gr1 SA Derby in 2010 when he found the distance too far in heavy going and finished second to Irish Flame and in the 2011 Vodacom Durban July in which he got closest to winner Igugu – “a great run,” commented his trainer.

After that he won two races after that effort, including the 1600m Gr2 Charity Mile in 2011.

Imbongi was unsold at the 2006 Ready To Run Sale, a son of Russian Revival out of Garden Verse by Foveros,
was gelded after ‘throwing away’ the Emperor’s Palace Ready to Run Cup and the Dingaans due to coltishness. He then came back to win the Gr2 Gauteng Guineas, the Gr2 KZN Guineas and became the first 3YO to win the Gr2 Drill Hall in 40 years, beating the likes of Pocket Power, Bold Ellinore and Rebel King.

Having stamped himself the best 3YO in the country, international challenges beckoned. He won the John Bovington Memorial Criterion Stakes at Newmarket in 2009 and was the highest earner at the 2010 Dubai World Carnival, winning the Gr1 Zabeel Mile and earning the victor ludorum.

Christophe Soumillon got off one day and said “This horse is prepared to burst his lungs to win.” He doesn’t know when he’s beaten and doesn’t know there’s anything he can’t do. Everything he does, he does like a champion. Despite passing through the sale ring without a bid, he came back and showed the world that he was an unbelievable champion. He held his own and more.

Sheik Mohammed was so impressed with part racehorse owner Michael Fleischer’s dedication to Imbongi who wanted to keep him after retirement, that he paid for the horse’s return trip to South Africa and Imbongi had been at top show jumper Bill Johnson’s Ascot Equitation Centre until his retirement to Summerhill Stud very recently.

Images: Candiese Marnewick
Extracts from sportingpost.co.za and Summerhill.co.za

KZN-breds won six of nine races yesterday at Greyville – and in particular the wins by Putchini and Curved Ball filly, Je Suis Silver, stood out from the rest.

After placing nine times – six times in second – Secret Service broke his maiden for Wendy Whitehead. The son of Overlord bred by Scott Bros is a full-brother to Lady Carter who is a broodmare at Summerview Stud. This is the damline of Lady Caroloty, and Gr1 winner Carolera.

Three year old gelding The Private won his fourth start for an elated Michael Roberts, winning by almost two lengths over 1400m. The son of Brave Tin Soldier out of a Dynasty mare Queen Tamara.

Mr Abery’s Await The Dawn filly, Quakeshake, won her fifth time out after the first time attempting further, and the chestnut filly trained by Dean Kannemeyer won by three quarters of a length. Bred by Summerhill Stud out of a Jet Master mare, her sire Await The Dawn is a terrible loss to KZN breeding ranks – he is currently at a winners to runners percentage of 44.1%.

The diminutive but brave filly Je Suis Silver saw her elated connections on course to greet her at the winners enclosure. Winning her fourth race of her career, the daughter of Curved Ball – the latter the only son of Fastnet Rock currently at stud in SA – has won stakes of R 253,375 for owners Messrs I M & M G Horsfield, G N Cumming, Arthur Potts, trainer Tony Rivalland and Mrs Mary Liley.

Curved Ball, currently on a winners to runners percentage of 37%, also had a place on the day with Bonjour Baby. Je Suis Silver has yet to be tried about 1000m and has finished three lengths off Sommerlied and Vision To Kill in the past.

The next to come was seasoned campaigner Putchini, an honest son of Bezrin who flew up to win his seventh career victory for owner Ashley De Klerk and breeders Yellow Star Stud. The six year old has earned R 501,350 in stakes, with seven wins and 18 places to date. Trained by Ivan Van Wyk from the training facility at Yellow Star Stud, Putchini is out of Suki Tortri by Centenary.

Big Si, by Mogok out of an All Fired Up mare, secured his fourth career win for Garth Puller and over R300 000 in stakes earned. Owned in partnershi by his breeder Dr R P & Mrs R C Plunkett, trainer Garth Puller & Dr Ralph Katzwinkel, Big Si has won over 1400m – 2000m. From the family of 12-time winner Brian’s Time, the dam has produced three winners to date.