SP readers’ comments digest
‘Above Average’ – Crawford
October 21, 2017
James Darmody: HAROLD CRAWFORD Race 1 – READY STEADY GO (5): He has not galloped or seen the course but is above average! Well done Harold - R21.50 Win 3.70 Place in an open race . Pitty Turfontien takes preference over Durbanville on Tellytrack and we must watch horses behind the starting stalls instead of crossing over to Durbanville to see the horse go to the start and or get comments on the TV. Only crossed over 2 minutes before the off. Unbelievable . Turf Bi Pot Pool - 287 173.80 Durbanville Bi Pot Pool - 150 428.69 Some of us wait to see horses going down to the start especially in an open race like race 1 , but left the Bi Pot alone rather. After the hot favorite was scratched in the 2nd at Turfontein - Put your money in your pocket and take the wife out for dinner rather at the Casino reply
Frankie Misses Bus In End
October 21, 2017
James George: "Heffernan- 2nd jockey to Moore at Ballydoyle for many years" And lest we forget -2nd jockey to Jamie Spencer,Micheal Kinane,Kieren Fallon,Johnny Murtagh at Ballydoyle for many years. Actually.Second jockey at Ballydoyle for the last 20 years.Great Martin Dwyer not taking over from Hills when he retired in 2012,, like Hills took over from Carson when he retired,had nix to do with the India incident which happened a year later. By the time the India incident occurred Paul Hanagan had taken over as 1st jockey from Hills reply
Frankie Misses Bus In End
October 21, 2017
James Darmody: When sponsors and the public receive a press release on how great LW and the RA are in getting top jockeys from around the world to come ride in South Africa such as Frankie - Silvestre - and our own international Karis - they "start licking their lips" and applauding Larry for making the arrangements and He struts around like a peacock . We then get news that all of these Jockeys are not coming - It then becomes an insult to all . I don't think there is any disrespect to the other Jockeys coming and we appreciate it , however we have a right to be upset and view our opinions. Once again the operators have disappointed us , why not make an announcement when the final arrangements have been made. No once again Larry must show us how important he is as Frankie Phoned Him . Just totally unprofessional and shows total disorganization once again. I suppose it all fits in with the Racing Its a Rush theme - You never know whats going to happen or what to expect reply
Frankie Misses Bus In End
October 21, 2017
Editor: Not comparable to the likes of Frankie and there is a major difference for Joe Public to watch the instantly recognisable stars as opposed to top-class riders. Our own world -class rider is missing from the line-up reply
Frankie Misses Bus In End
October 21, 2017
David Gregory: Terrible write up and very disrespectful to the jockeys. Pat Smullen is recognised as one of the best in the world. Seamie Heffernan is also world class with top job to the biggest training centre in the world. You guys should be more positive about your great industry not knocking reply
Sun Met Now At WFA
October 21, 2017
Kay: The July and Summer Cup must now follow as WFA races as well. It's high time that the best horses should be given the chance to win the best races. Features races run as handicaps should be Gr3, condition races Gr2 and all Gr1 races at w.f.a. ALSO pencil in enough A-div/Top division races at least one per weekend to give the better horses opportunity to race in their build-up to the big ones. This will make the race card look better. I like the idea of the pinnacle and graduation races as they at least give the higher rated horses some chance to reply
Frankie Misses Bus In End
October 20, 2017
Albert X: My guess is that this will be the last we see of the main sponsor. The organisers most probably needed big names to entice the sponsors. Ask any of the names promised who are not part of the event whether they had ever confirmed their participation. If the organisers promise us such big names, they would have already secured them in written contracts. Poor poor show for the biggest mouth in horse reply
Frankie Misses Bus In End
October 20, 2017
Editor: Entitled to your opinion @Chippy7 We didn't call them unknown, we suggested they lacked real star appeal as a group When you get told Dettori, De Souza and our 'own' Karis Teetan, then these guys as a group dont ignite excitement reply
Frankie Misses Bus In End
October 20, 2017
@Chippy7: Poor article The only unknown is PJ McDonald. The rest are vastly experienced and class that let their riding do the talking. I reckon one of the strongest teams to make the trip so far. Interesting contest ahead. Good luck and well done to all concerned Smullen- 9 times Irish Champion taking over from Michael Kinane Heffernan- 2nd jockey to Moore at Ballydoyle for many years Brown- Melbourne Cup winner, on the roster for Godolphin AUS with Schofield, McKevoy and Bowman. Returned to Aus after a few years in Singapore when Pat Shaw left Dwyer- 2nd jockey to Sheik Hamdan behind Richard Hills before a false suspension in India put his career on hold. Winner of English Derby, Dubai Sheema Classic and Hong Kong Vase Thulliez- Multiple G1 winner in France and Breeders Cup Mile. reply
Frankie Misses Bus In End
October 19, 2017
Albert X: I stay away from these "fixed" international races. The trainers are not able to choose the jockey they want on the horse. The jockeys in the event are not drawn randomly out of lots for each race. The organisers implement their own handicapping system and chose the jockey for each horse. The organisers know in advance which jockeys and horses are rated to win and in which order they are rated to be placed.We are never told of the organisers ratings. Not for me. Thank reply
Cape Feature Loses Longstanding Sponsor
October 19, 2017
Ronny: Lets try and leave Tender Politics Aside.. Im more Surprised to See the Mayfair Speculators Retained Jockey Anton Marcus not riding the unbeaten Magical Wonderland... Maybe Superman has an Ace up his Sleeves with Champenois... Lets wait and reply
Cape Feature Loses Longstanding Sponsor
October 19, 2017
Barry Irwin: Sooooooooooo typical and obvious. Every small town needs a may, police chief, undertaker and banker, but rarely is it the same reply
Cape Feature Loses Longstanding Sponsor
October 19, 2017
Philip Goldberg: Any guesses to whom the new carrier might be??? What relationship they have to prominent racing executives , family or friends..... You gotta love this Industry I say its the reply
Frankie Misses Bus In End
October 19, 2017
KAMA A B: So unprofessional..Once again a Joke for S.A.Racing....No Strydom no reply
When Frankie Phoned Larry…
October 19, 2017
James Darmody: THE teams for the Air Mauritius International Jockeys’ Challenge have been finalised and some well-known UK jockeys will be flying to South Africa for the test. It will be held at one venue this year, Turffontein on Sunday 19 November, and the test will be held over six races. SOUTH AFRICAN TEAM Anthony Delpech Captain. This Seychelles-born 48-year-old has ridden for South Africa in every International Jockeys Challenge held so far. He won the national jockeys’ title last season, riding 43 more winners than second-placed Greg Cheyne and maintaining a high 22% win rate. Greg Cheyne This 41-year-old Pretoria-born rider was in the South African team in the 2015 International Jockeys’ Challenge. He has a diverse international CV that includes appearances in Malaysia, Germany, Mauritius, Zimbabwe, Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore Macau and most recently in England where he partnered Whisky Baron in his UK debut. Gavin Lerena Champion SA jockey 2014-15 and third on the log last season in spite of spending almost three months in the UK. The 32-year-old Johannesburg-born won the Grade 1 Gauteng Sansui Summer Cup on Master Sabina last year and his four Grade 2 wins included the Peermont Emperors Palace Charity Mile. He has ridden in Hong Kong, Mauritius, China, Dubai, England and Zimbabwe. Anton Marcus Four-time champion SA jockey, he has captained the “Proteas” four times in the International Jockeys’ Challenge and ridden in this test six times. The...click here to view the rest of this comment... reply
When Frankie Phoned Larry…
October 19, 2017
James Darmody: After all the hype, Dettori is a non-participant. So we hear , Sorry Larry maybe you are not that important after reply
Charity Champions
October 19, 2017
Luella Robinson: Thank you Robyn Louw for yet another brilliant reply
Hong Kong Progress With Development Plans
October 19, 2017
Leon Smuts: Good luck to all breeders and owners, hope this will create meaningful opportunities for all of reply
Good Horses Get Crowds
October 19, 2017
Graham Martin: Very disappointed at the lack of response from readers regarding the changing of the Cape Sun Met to W.F.A. Lets have more comments from our readers out there.! It's important for the future of our sport, where are those guys that know? C'mon guys lets have your comments, this is a major step forward in the right direction! Yes Ian, I agree on your comment on handicapping but it's unfair to stop a good horse from winning simply because that horse is running in a handicap! Collateral form is almost non-existent, with todays handicapping system, and the form lines of horses are much more inconsistent than previous! Thanks Graham reply
‘Above Average’ – Crawford
October 21, 2017
Editor: Well done reply