Sands of Time – September 1994

28 August – 3 September

Fort Wood starts his first season at stud at Maurtizfontein and Somerset Stud imports Bog Trotter. Across the border, Manshood, Goldkeeper and Eton Lad take up stud duties in Zimbabwe.

At the Zimbabwean Racing Awards, San Vito is voted Horse of the Year, Kevin Wright is named Champion Jockey for the second consecutive year, after a protracted battle with Ginger Halfpenny, Murray Lindley wins the Champion Trainer title for the fourth year running, the Sommer brothers are Champion Owners and Geoff Armitage’s Sandown Stud is Champion Breeder.

Hot on the heels of the Cape clubs’ amalgamation into Western Province Racing, Gosforth Park, Newmarket and Turffontein amalgamate to form the Highveld Racing Club. The Vaal remains separate, and there is talk of a newly licensed Pretoria Turf Club headed by Emmanuel Cambouris of Swynford Paddocks.

The Inland Revenue awards racehorses ‘tax status’, allowing for racehorses to be written off over a period of four years.

On 3 September Chris Snaith enjoys feature wins at opposite ends of the country, winning the Champagne Stakes at Milnerton with Outstanding Star (ridden by Karl Neisius for Shirley Pfeiffer) as well as winning the Gr3 Frank Lambert Stakes at Scottsville with Midnight Run. The son of Averof, who was nearly destroyed as a yearling on account of his off-set knees and then narrowly avoided drowning in a freak accident at Milnerton as a three-year-old, has repaid Snaith’s patience handsomely, having now raced 37 times for 12 wins, 19 places and R484 480 in stakes. Further afield, the Brian Wiid stable triumphs in Turffontein’s Spring Handicap with the On Stage horse, Harrison. Ridden by Marthinus Mienie, Harrison passes the post with almost 3 lengths to spare, stopping the clock in 66,09 seconds and equalling Forest King’s class record.

4 – 10 September

Racegoers had much to enthuse about at the TBA Three-Year-Old Fillies Futurity fixture at Arlington on 9 September. The R50,000 feature event over 1600m produced an absorbing deadheat.  The judges examined three photos before signalling the deadheat between Garb Of Guise, trained by Dumas Coetzee, and the Stanley Greeff-trained Magic Coast. The odds-on favourite Spark Of Power from the “Boet” Nel stable, was a half-length back third followed by Dolrado. In addition to sharing the Futurity, trainer Stanley Greeff had a win with Monross ridden by Dougie Whyte. Trainer George Uren had a double comprising Mesopotamia, and Mexican Phantom, both ridden by Stuart Randolph.

Mike de Kock’s talented but unsound Our Casey’s Boy (USA) gelding Barrellen returned fresh from a nine month break and slaughtered a competitive field in the R100 000 IGN Gold Bowl Trial over 2000m at Turffontein on 10 September. Despite having won four of his previous six outings, he was relatively unfancied and was allowed to start at 12-1. Topping the boards was Natal raider Crystal’s Garter who put up such a fine performance in defeat in Pas De Quoi’s Champion Stakes, but the favourite was no match for Barrellen who was clearly in a galloping mood. Under a competent ride from young Rene Bonham, he passed the post with over 3 lengths to spare. Crystal’s Garter finished second ahead of a fast finishing Best Pound who had been in the 18th position with 400m to run! Hidden Fortune showed some improvement to finish fourth ahead of White Tie Affair (MZ), who was also doing his best work at the finish. Due to a history of unsoundness, Barrellen has been extremely sparingly raced – the Gold Bowl Trial being the five-year-old’s fifth win from only 11 career outings.

On the same day, Kenilworth hosted the Settler’s Trophy. This marathon event has been staged for many years and won by many fine stayers. This year’s winner, the Best By Test (USA) five-year-old Gower is an out and out stayer, who made it a hattrick over ground. A winner of a 2 400m handicap and the 3200m Durbanville Cup at his previous two starts, Gower took command at the 200m mark and drew away to beat Sal’s Bask by three-quarters of a length in new course record time. Andre Hoffman, who was aboard Stateway in this year’s Gold Cup at Greyville, was in the irons and this young rider is proving to be a fine judge of pace in the longer trips. He had ridden Gower in his previous wins so he gave the five-year-old a confident ride, keeping him up with the leading bunch of Fragrant Chopper, Peace Chief, Knot’s Landing and Be The Best. He got first run 200m out and victory was never in doubt for this inmate of the Clodagh Shaw satellite yard, saddled by Glen Kotzen.

11 – 17 September

Trainer Andy Smith was in fine form at Arlington on 16 September, notching a treble which included the chief event, the R24,000 Lady’s Bracelet over 1600m, with 14/1 outsider, Open The Box.  The Smith treble started in the opening event when Mathys Odendaal rode a particularly vigorous finish to get 22/10 favourite Waca Magic home by a head from Neptune’s Sin. He made it a double for the table on Perpetuate who set a new class record clocking 58,75s for the 1000m.  Then in the Lady’s Bracelet, Bill Taylor brought the six-year-old gelding Open The Box through with a flying finish to snatch a narrow decision over another 14/1 outsider Arctic Waters.

The inaugural running of the R100 000 Voyager Fillies and Mares Stakes (WFA) over 1600m at Turffontein on 17 September had racegoers on their feet as favourite Star Award overcame a wide draw to get up in the shadow of the post for a sensational victory. Much of the credit for Star Award’s victory must go to jockey Weichong Mawing who timed his finishing effort to perfection. Former Gosforth Park Fillies guineas winner Muscovy, who had been well supported in the betting, stole a march on the field passing the 400m pole and was still 2 ½ lengths clear entering the final furlong. Complete Lee was in hot pursuit and began closing the gap steadily with Star Award beginning a forward move down her inside.  A few strides from the line Muscovy still had her head in front, but Star Award’s finishing burst saw her collar Shaw’s charge in the last stride for a neck victory. Complete Lee was only a head back in third with As Ever a further 2 lengths back in fourth. Star Award was returning from a 2 ½ month rest following a tough season where she established herself as one of the leaders of her generation. She was therefore reasonably easy to back at 7-2, but nevertheless proved her class despite a wide draw.

18-24 September

Racing resumed at Newmarket on 22 September with the running of their richest race, the R250 000 Premier’s Handicap (Gr2) over 1600m and racegoers were treated to an astonishing performance from American bred Surfing Home. Turned out in immaculate condition by Tony Millard, Surfing Home (USA) was a well backed second favourite to make amends for his July and Gold Cup losses. However, most punters believed he would be no match for classy four-year-old Record Edge over the mile and Mike de Kock’s charge was sent off at 8-10 on. Only two other runners, Best Pound and Speedfields, were quoted in single figures with the balance at 12-1 and better.

Although Record Edge turned in an honest performance, he was totally humiliated by Surfing Home (USA) who made light of his 57kgs.  Displaying the versatility of a true champion over a distance short of his best, Surfing Home skated home unchallenged by over 3 lengths.  Best Pound finished like a train to relegate Natal challenger Yeltsin to fourth place with Wild Cocktail and Nilgiri further back.

The Eastern Province Owners and Trainers Association Annual Awards took place at Fairview on Friday, 23 September where Stanley Greeff swept the boards, taking home trophies for Champion 2yo Colt (La Fabulous), Champion 2yo Filly (Sugar Cube Baby), Champion Older Mare (Little Strike) and being  crowned Champion Trainer.  Despite PE only racing on a weekly basis, Greeff achieved a career best total of 123 winners for the season. Doug Whyte was crowned Champion Jockey.

Rand trainer James Goodman made a successful raid to Natal for the Kwazulu-Natal Provincial Guineas on 24 September, but his runner Cowabunga had to survive a foul claim lodged by the trainer of third-placed Polar Kiss before being declared the winner of the R100 000 stake.  Polar Kiss hopped out in front and was bowling along at the head of affairs until joined by Cowabunga 200m from home. Having got the better of the front-runner, Cowabunga suddenly ducked sharply to his left under Polar Kiss’s bows well inside the last 100m, forcing evasive action to be taken. While all this was happening, Top Contract was steaming down the inside with a belated run to get within a ½ length of Cowabunga at the finish.  Cowabunga was considered by many to have been a little fortunate to have kept the race. But obviously the objection board thought otherwise, for while stating that Polar Kiss had suffered interference, it was of the opinion that this did not affect the result of the race.

Meanwhile, down in the Cape, the Cape season got under way with the Matchem Stakes at Kenilworth on 24 September.  La Mancha, a son of Fair Season (GB) out of the Mexico II (GB) mare Spanish Lark had never been out of the first three in five starts and proved a worthy favourite.  Content to sit off the pace to begin with, Eric Chelin eased his charge to the front of affairs going past the 400m post and by the 200m marker it was all over bar the shouting.  La Mancha won by 1.75 lengths, with one-time winner Russian Bond – an underrated son of Russian Fox (USA) out of the Royal Prerogative (GB) mare Tempest Queen – next best and Lord Tattler just shading Bushmanland for the minor placing.

Lightly raced Coastal (USA) colt Rusty Pelican by-passed the R250 000 Premier’s Handicap in favour of a crack at the R150 000 John Skeaping Trophy on 24 September. He was a popular favourite, but drifted from 7-10 to 14-10 just before the off in the face of some strong betting support for the lightly weighted Al Mufti (USA) filly Mufski who shortened from 12-1 to 6-1. The sedate pace at which the race was run very nearly cost the favourite victory as Piere Strydom and Darling Ally pinched a useful advantage passing the 400m pole. Anton Marcus was, however, quick to respond and immediately sent Rusty Pelican out after the leader. He drew alongside Darling Ally at the 200m and looked as if he would draw clear for a comfortable victory, but the Millard runner refused to throw in the towel. Rusty Pelican’s class saw him prevail by just over half a length at the line with Mike de Kock’s Foveros (GB) colt Stride Ahead finishing best of all for third ahead of Son of Adelaide (Aus). Mufski threatened briefly in the straight, but failed to run on after being cut into during the running.

 

25 September – 1 October

Mike de Kock followed up his IGN Gold Bowl success with Liloy gelding Classic Hero, who showed his rivals a clean pair of heels in the R60 000 IGN Silver Bowl over 3200m at Newmarket on 27 September.  Steady support saw Classic Hero’s price cut from 3-1 to 22-10 and he joined David Payne’s New Zealand-bred gelding Great White Way at the top of the boards. The only other runner in the 16-horse field quoted in single figures was How High The Moon.  Outsider Cadiz opened up a 70length lead entering the home straight, but soon cried enough as Classic Hero, who had raced second throughout, skipped clear at the 400m. The result was never in doubt as Classic Hero powered home with daylight to spare. How High The Moon finished best of the remainder for second ahead of Fantasy Warrior. The race was sadly marred by the breaking down of joint favourite Great White Way (NZ) who suffered a compound fracture of his near fore cannon at the 200m post and had to be destroyed.

Space Walk took the lion’s share of the accolades at the Natal Racing awards, walking home with Champion Old Colt, Champion Stayer and Horse of the Year.  David Payne was named Champion Trainer, Doug Whyte was Champion Jockey, Cecil Treger was named Champion Owner and the Ernie Duffield Award for the trainer with the highest number of wins for the season was presented to Clodagh Shaw.

At the 1993/94 Highveld Awards on 28 September, Teddy Zaki was named Champion Owner, Ormond Ferraris was Champion Trainer, Piere Strydom Champion Jockey and Horse of the Year was Special Preview.  There was also an award for the racing journalist of the year, which went to Etienne Louw, the Racing Editor of Beeld.

30 September saw couplings reintroduced at the PE Pick 6 and Jackpot totes and the Settlers Gold Cup over 2000m headed this Fairview eight-event card.  The eight runners included four from the powerful Stanley Greeff stable – Foreign Source, Star Fighter, Green to Green, and Dougie Whyte’s mount North Ruler.  Many saw this formidable coupling as a Pick 6 banker. Green to Green started 2/1 favourite with 4/1 upwards the remainder. The favourite finished sixth, second place going to stable companion North Ruler who looked the likely winner 100m out, but had no answer for the storming late run by Interesting.  The winner started at 7/1 and carried 2,5kg overweight to win going away.  Trainer H.C. “Boet” Nel saddled Interesting who was bred and owned by Mr T.P. Smith and ridden to victory by Francie Naude.

On 30 September, people from all walks of life gathered at Christ Church in Constantia to say farewell to Guy Rixon, who passed away earlier in the week after a lengthy illness. Guy was an extremely successful trainer. The filly Wainui standing out as the best horse he trained. He had been ill for many years, but bore his troubles without complaint, so much so that most people did not realise just how ill he was. He will be remembered for his forthright approach towards life and his pursuit of excellence in his career.

Saturday, 1 October saw the running of the Gr3 Diana Stakes at Milnerton.  Although the three-year-old Shepherd’s Moon was expected to be given a run for her money by the older fillies Fair Model and Outstanding Star (Aus), the contest never materialised. In spite of her giving some 6,5kgs to her elders, Shepherd’s Moon pulverised her opposition.  Always in touch with the early leader Belvision, Shepherd’s Moon joined issue at the 400m mark, the younger filly merely lengthening her stride to beat the late-finishing Fair Model by nearly 5 lengths.  Recently purchased by an overseas buyer for R650 000, Shepherd’s Moon will be transferred to the care of Chris Snaith going forward.