South Africa | Horse Racing Free Tips

Strong Trade As BSA National Yearling Sale Ends

A bay son of Gimmethegreenlight (Aus) (lot 378) brought a session-topping R2 million (£100,745/€120,106/$126,676) during the second day's trade at the Bloodstock South Africa National Yearling Sale which ended on Friday. Greg Bortz snapped up the half-brother to Grade 3 winners Ghaalla (SAf) (Var) and Due Diligence (SAf) (Silvano {Ger}) from Varsfontein Stud, who is already named Steadfast (SAf). South African Triple Crown winner Malmoos (SAf) (Captain Al {SAf}) features under the second dam.

Second top lot was a son of Fire Away out of Equus Champion Broodmare of the Year Halfway To Heaven (SAf) (Jet Master {SAf}) (lot 407). A member of the Wilgerbosdrift consignment, Hope And Dreams (SAf) brought a bid of R1.6 million from Form Bloodstock. The dark bay has three half-siblings that have won at the highest level in South Africa-Equus Horse of the Year Rainbow Bridge (SAf) (Ideal World), Equus Champion 3-Year-Old Colt Hawwaam (SAf) (Silvano {Ger}) and Golden Ducat (SAf) (Philanthropist).

Lot 274, a daughter of Gimmethegreenlight (Aus), was the priciest filly of the day, and she caught the eye of Lammerskraal Stud for an even R1 million. Part of the Klawervlei Stud draft, the Oct. 1 foal is a half-sister to stakes winner Sovereign Secret (SAf) (Dynasty {Saf}), with the duo a product of Equus Champion 2-Year-Old Filly All Is Secret (SAf) (Captain Al {SAf}).

After the two-day stand wrapped, 21 horses had made seven figures, with indices up across all categories when compared to 2021. The total gross was R136,355,000 (£6,868,564/€8,188,574/$8,636,378) for 381 sold from 451 offered (84%), while the average was R357,887 (£18,028/€21,490/$22,667) (+29%) and the median came in at R250,000 (£12,593/€15,010/$15,834) (+25%).

The post Strong Trade As BSA National Yearling Sale Ends appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Direct Export Flight To Connect U.S., South African Thoroughbred Industries

For the first time in 23 years, there will be a direct charter flight for horse export between the U.S. and South Africa, potentially opening up new racing and bloodstock opportunities for both countries, the South African publication SA Horseracing reports.

The first charter from Johannesburg to New York City has been confirmed for March 7, marking the first direct flight to the U.S. since the export of a group of horses including multiple South African Group 1 winner and prominent U.S. sire Horse Chestnut over two decades ago.

The export flight has been put together by Gerard Connolly of Connolly and Turner Bloodstock Forwarding (CTB) and Robin Bruss of Northfields Bloodstock, following over a year of negotiations.

“We had to overcome a number of legal and logistical challenges” Connolly told SA Horseracing. “The beauty of the American route is that the USDA work on a PAQ (Post Arrival) Quarantine system, and not the Pre-Export Quarantine (PEQ) required by the EU: therefore, no AHS (African Horse Sickness) Free Zone and no transit quarantine in a third country. It's an overnight direct flight from Johannesburg to New York.”

“Under the agreement negotiated with the U.S. veterinary authorities, the horses will do one week in CTB's Johannesburg facility undertaking some routine tests before flying them directly to the U.S. On arrival, they will quarantine 60 days at the USDA facility before release as permanent imports. There will be exercise facilities for the horses to maintain a level of fitness until release.”

Connolly said this new flight could make it much easier logistically for South African connections to send horses to the Breeders' Cup.

It could also open up bloodstock trade between the two countries. Bruss noted the success that U.S.-based partnership Team Valor International has had importing racehorses between the two countries, and that a flight like this could make it easier for South African connections to buy at U.S. auctions.

Connolly said an initial charter had been planned for last October, with a group South African horses whose sales had been arranged to the U.S. and points elsewhere, but the global shipping and supply chain backups nixed the plan.

The maiden shipment will begin with a minimum load of 15 horses of various breeds and disciplines. Once that flight has been completed and deemed a success, Connolly said a second flight could be opened later in the year, with the hope that consistent full flights will bring down costs and shorten quarantines.

The 60-day quarantine from South Africa that Connolly described was set in place by the USDA in 1958 during the emergence of African Horse Sickness, an endemic disease in Africa that is often fatal if contracted, and has a 10-day incubation period. However, a vaccine has since been developed for AHS, and it can be detected by a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test, similar to COVID-19.

Bruss said he was hopeful that U.S. and South African authorities could negotiate post-arrival PCR tests upon reaching the U.S., which could slash quarantine times in the future.

Win And You’re In: Defending Champion Jet Dark Headlines South Africa’s L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate

Messrs. C.T. Crowe & N. Jonsson's 4-year-old defending champion Jet Dark (SAF) is slated to face 10 rivals entered for Saturday's 1-mile R1.5 million L'Ormarins Queen's Plate (G1) at Kenilworth Racecourse in Cape Town. The race winner will earn an automatic berth into the US$2 million FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile (G1) through the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series. One race prior to the Queen's Plate, Mrs. S. Viljoen's 4-year-old filly Captain's Ransom (SAF) leads the 1 1/8-mile R1 million Cartier Paddock Stakes (G1) for a free starting position into the US$2 million Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1).

Both races will be televised live on TVG, with approximate post time for the Cartier Paddock Stakes scheduled at 8:35 a.m. ET.

Now in its 15th season, the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series is an international series of stakes races whose winners receive automatic starting positions and fees paid into a corresponding race in the Breeders' Cup World Championships, which is scheduled to be held this year at the Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky on Nov. 4-5.

As a part of the benefits of the Challenge series, the Breeders' Cup will pay the pre-entry and entry fees for the winners of Saturday's races to start in the World Championships. Breeders' Cup will also provide a US$40,000 travel allowance for all starters based outside of North America to compete in the Championships. The Challenge winner must be nominated to the Breeders' Cup program by the pre-entry deadline of Oct. 24 to receive the rewards.

Jet Dark, trained by Justin Snaith, slipped up the rail in the final furlong to win last year's L'Ormarins Queen's Plate at 12-1, defeating Rainbow Bridge (SAF) by three-quarters of a length. Since then, the son of Trippi has made three starts, which includes a victory on July 31 in the 1 1/8-mile HKJC World Pool Champions Cup (G1) at Greyville, and a recent fourth-place finish in the WSB Prive Greenpoint Stakes (G2) at Kenilworth on Dec. 4. Richard Fourie has the mount, breaking from post 5.

Mr. and Mrs. M.L.P. Rattray's 7-year-old gelding Rainbow Bridge has won 11 of 25 starts, including five Group 1 victories. Trained by Richard Sands, Rainbow Bridge reeled off three straight wins following his defeat in last year's Queen's Plate. He captured the Cape Town Met Stakes (G1) at Kenilworth three weeks later, and then scored two wins at Greyville, first taking the Independent on Saturday Drill Hall Stakes (G2) by 2 lengths and the Group 1 Hollywood Bets Gold Challenge. However, the streak ended with an eighth-place finish in the prestigious 1 3/8-mile Vodacom Durban July (G1) on July 3 at Greyville.

The first two finishers from the Durban July – Kommetdieding (SAF) and Linebacker (SAF) – have both been entered in the Queen's Plate. Nicknamed the “Cape Comet,” 4-year-old Kommetdieding, owned by Ashwin Reynolds and trained by the father-daughter duo of Henry Crawford and Michele Rix, broke from the outside post 18 in the Durban July and steadily worked his way to the front, passing Linebacker in the last 50 yards to prevail by a half-length at 10-1. He completed his 3-year-old campaign with four wins in six starts. In his first start this season, Kommetdieding finished a troubled third behind Warrior (SAF) in the Cape Mile on Nov. 6 at Kenilworth. Kommetdieding will be ridden by Gavin Lerena from post three.

Two-time Group 1 winner Linebacker, trained by Vaughn Marshall and ridden from post three by Craig Zackey, has finished first or second in nine of his 10 starts, with his Group 1 scores coming back-to-back in the Jonsson Workware Cape Derby last February and in the 1 ¼-mile Daily News 2000 in May, prior to his runner-up finish in the Durban July. Linebacker prepped for the Queen's Plate with a third-place finish in the Green Point Stakes, won by stablemate Seeking the Stars (SAF).

Also trained by Marshall, the 4-year-old old Seeking the Stars has won his last two races, taking the Matchem Stakes (G3) at Durbanville on Oct. 2, before his half-length triumph in the Green Point. Bernard Fayd'Herbe will ride, breaking from post four.

Captain's Ransom Faces She's a Keeper in Cartier Paddock Stakes

Eleven fillies and mares are scheduled to go to the post in the Cartier Paddock Stakes, led by Captain's Ransom and Missing U Syndicate's 5-year-old She's a Keeper (SAF). A very consistent eight-time winner in 10 starts, Captain's Ransom, trained by Justin Snaith, comes into Saturday's race off two 7-furlong victories, first winning the Diana Stakes (G3) at Durbanville on Oct. 2, and then the Dec. 4 Amy Miller Memorial Pinnacle Stakes by three-quarters of a length over Princess Calla (SAF), with She's a Keeper finishing third. Captain's Ransom also gained her second career Group 1-win last January when she captured the 1-mile Majorca Stakes by 3 ¼ lengths at Kenilworth. Richard Fourie has the mount, breaking from post four.

She's a Keeper, a six-time winner for trainer Gareth Van Zyl, was the odds-on favorite in her first six starts, and registered five victories, culminating with a 1-length triumph in the World Sports Betting 1900 (G2) at Greyville. She was next entered in the Vodacom Durban July against males, but was wide throughout, finishing 10th of 18 starters. She's a Keeper rebounded in her next effort, though, winning the Kuda Gold Bracelet (G2) at Greyville on July 31. In her most recent start, She's a Keeper finished third, beaten 2 lengths in the Pinnacle Stakes. Starting from post eight, She's a Keeper will be ridden by Bernard Fayd'Herbe.

Mr. M.J.A Ferreira's 4-year-old Princess Calla has finished second in her last four starts for trainer Adam Marcus. A 4-year-old daughter of Flower Alley, Princess Calla completed last season with a heartbreaking defeat by a nose in the Group 1 Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes at Greyville on July 3. A winner twice in 10 starts, Princess Calla will be ridden by Anton Marcus from post five.

Mauritzfontein, and Messrs. M.W. Bass, F. Green and Re Byn's 4-year-old Marina (SAF), trained by Candice Bass-Robinson, has won four of five starts, with all four wins coming at Kenilworth. A chestnut mare by Silvano (GER), Marina's only defeat in that stretch was a fourth-place finish in the Diana Stakes. She won two starts after that, taking the Computaform Online Pinnacle Stakes and the Victress Stakes (G3) on Dec. 18. Marina, eight of 13 lifetime, will be ridden by Aldo Domeyer from post three.

Following her “Win and You're In” victory in the 2021 Cartier Paddock Stakes, Queen Supreme (IRE) was sent to the U.S. later in the year to compete in the Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Del Mar.

The post Win And You’re In: Defending Champion Jet Dark Headlines South Africa’s L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

South Africa: Trainer Snaith Chasing Fourth Straight Win In Historic Durban July Handicap

With Independence Day right around the corner, start your holiday weekend off right with some International horse racing on Saturday Morning, starting with the first post at 5:15am ET. Sky Racing World, the Louisville, Ky.-based distributor of International Thoroughbred racing content, is excited to announce coverage of the historic 125th Durban July Handicap at Greyville Racecourse in South Africa, The race will also be broadcast on TVG and be available on our new Sky Racing World App, which you can find here.

Justin Snaith is going all out with four entries among the 18 runners carded for Greyville on Saturday. He is coming off a hat-trick of wins, having saddled Belgarion to win last year and prior to that Do It Again to back-to-back victories. Both horses are in the line-up again this weekend and will spearhead Snaith's attempt to win Africa's greatest horse race for a fifth time, chasing the seven successes of the legendary Syd Laird and the six of Terrance Millard.

Raced on turf, the Durban July Handicap is open to horses of all ages, but all of them will be chasing after Rainbow Bridge from the off, as the gelding and rider Luke Ferraris have changed their running tactics, won their last three races, and claimed pole position for the upcoming race. Top weight Rainbow Bridge will be looking to win this one for owner Mike Rattray, who been competing in this prestigious race for over four decades.

Despite Rainbow Bridge's pole position, he isn't currently trading as the favorite with 5-1 odds, as it's Got The Greenlight who leads the way with 5-2 odds. The 4-year old was runner-up to Belgarion last year where he was beaten by just shy of one length. Trainer Joey Soma has had the Vodacom Durban July in his sights since Got The Greenlight's loss last year and the colt does appear to have had the ideal preparation. On the other hand, weight could be an issue and Ferraris will need to avoid traffic in a notoriously rough race from his pole position draw.

Even with the number 14 draw, Got The Greenlight's jockey, Muzi Yeni, said, “I was extremely happy with Got The Greenlight's gallop, which was outstanding. He gave me the feel that he has strengthened up even further and he is really in a good space, so it's all positive from my side. I am not too concerned about his No 14 draw as I would prefer not to be caught up in the scrimmage for position in the early stages. All the major players seem to have put up good gallops and all looked very well within themselves so it's going to be a great spectacle.”

Speaking of Belgarion, last year's winner is back again looking for the double, but this time with a different rider. This year he will be going for the win with S'Manga Khumalo, who won the race with steed Heavy Metal back in 2013. Belgarion is a 9-1 favorite to win and fans will be hoping he can go back-to-back.

Make sure not to forget about Do It Again, as he'll be in the race as well, with stable rider Richard Fourie. He'll be looking to make history as the only horse to have won the race three times, after winning in back-to-back years before losing to Belgarion last year. Currently at 8-1 odds, Do It Again last won the race two years ago, but can he follow his name and get it done again?

Also in the field is the three-year-old Linebacker, winner of the Grade 2 KZN Guineas and Grade 1 Daily News 2000, who is the clear second favorite at 7-2. Three-year old horses have an outstanding record in this race over the recent years, so maybe Linebacker can make his mark on the proceedings. Another factor going in the favor of three-year old horses is that they will all carry the minimum weight for their age group going into the race.

Who will win this historic event in 2021? Will it be favorite Got The Greenlight or another one of the horses in the field? Find out on July 3rd on Sky Racing World, our app and on TVG!

The Greyville card will be broadcast live on TVG this Saturday morning (First Post: 5:15 AM ET / 2:15 AM PT). All races will be live-streamed in HD on the new Sky Racing World App, skyracingworld.com and major ADW platforms such as TVG, TwinSpires, Xpressbet, NYRABets, WatchandWager, HPIbet, and AmWager. Wagering is also available via these ADW platforms. Fans can get free access to live-streaming, past performances and expert picks on all races at skyracingworld.com.

The post South Africa: Trainer Snaith Chasing Fourth Straight Win In Historic Durban July Handicap appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post