Racing Journalism in RSA

With literally one day to go before a prestigious race like the Queen's plate , I cannot find any decent write ups about the runners or interviews with the connections etc.

The standard fare that we are accustomed to on Tellyy track : "we now move on to number 3 ,Marinaresco, a 5 year old gelding by Model man, he's raced 10 times for five wins and a place . He also has 4 legs and a tail. The word from the trainer is "will run well, but could just need it". .... personally I've had enough of this utterly useless crap that we are fed daily.

How about something we don't know. Like maybe this horse is 10kg lighter since his last run , and that the jockey accidently fell off to sleep in the last 200m of its previous race. Interview the jockey that previously rode the horse. Tell us if anything has changed in the training or feeding regimen etc.

But i get guess all this requires true effort as opposed to reading out race card details for all us viewers that can't read.

David Thiselton (Gold Circle) normally has good write ups for big races. I think his alias is Tipster on ABC.

Take Sporting Post as an example, just the odd article or 2 about the QP. One is some trip down memory lane bs and the other about Mrs Bass' somewhat pretty face and very very little more on her horse in the race.

Another example of minimum effort Journalism.

Molly still one of the best racing journalists around imo and cannot understand why he is not used more often. Not sure if he's given up or not but his racing knowledge and his articles always top notch. Come now Molly I know you read this forum we need you to be more involved. Sporting Post and there journalists also top class
Maybe Molly not sipping soft drinks with the right people

www.crawfordracing.net/queens-plate-festival-racing-preview/

HORSE RACING
Queen’s Plate Festival of Racing preview
BY MARK · JANUARY 5, 2017

L’Ormarins Queens Plate Festival preview

Mark van Deventer

Horse racing fans will savour quality festival cards come Friday and Saturday with the running of the L’Ormarins Queens Plate and Maine Chance Farms Paddock Stakes, both Grade 1’s, supported by an array of Grade 2 and 3 events. Crawford Racing are well represented with 11 runners engaged on Friday and 13 entries for Saturday’s program.

Defending champ, Legal Eagle and high-class Marinaresco are top rated for the Queen’s Plate. There was just half a length in it when Marinaresco gave plenty of start in the Green Point Stakes then could not quite get past the Equus star. It again should be a close- run thing with the early pace, jockeyship and precise timing of challenges proving vital.

Crawford’s stable stalwart Captain America will be giving it a crack. He is very game, and has used his big action to win at Grade 1 level before, yet has persistently proved a few lengths inferior to Legal Eagle, so realistically has a solid place chance. Brett commented, “Captain America has enjoyed a very good prep and is exceptionally well – I’ happy with him, though he faces a tough task.”

Sail South, who has won multiple times just below the top echelon also takes his place. “We’re hoping for the best – Sail South is feeling well and has been doing fine in training, but this is a big ask.” Crawford’s third Queen’s Plate runner, Midnite Zone got upsides of Captain America in the Matchem Stakes when receiving 3.5 kg’s and they now meet at levels, which makes it a daunting assignment. This valiant son of Trippi likes to race handy and always gives of his best.

Ridgemont Stud’s Chevauchee and Icy Fire go to post for the stable in the prestigious Paddock Stakes. They will be trying to spoil what sets up as a match between Bela Bela and Silver Mountain, the only older fillies in the race with triple digit merit ratings. Chevauchee hinted at Stakes- class ability when scoring in features during the Cape Winter so could harass the top two – according to Brett, “… she has enjoyed a good prep for this mission.”

Icy Fire’s tough objective is to sneak valuable Black Type. The daughter of Western Winter has ground to make up based on official ratings (MR 94) but has a beautiful action, can quicken smartly and will enjoy the trip.

“Whisky Baron is exceptionally well after a great prep and is a big runner.” That’s how Brett calls it ahead of Saturday’s preceding feature, the Grade 2 Peninsula Handicap over 1800m. The son of Manhattan Rain has been dealing ruthlessly with rivals since being gelded and is primed for a strong showing in this build up to the Sun Met.

Algoa Cup victor, Nebula and front-running Winter Prince also participate in the same race. Brett feels that Nebula is still well-weighted and is expecting a very good run, whilst the gutsy Winter Prince should run a fair race, but there is a question mark hovering over him seeing out the trip if they go hard and he’s pressured early.

Beach Goddess will try topple speed sensation Carry On Alice in Friday’s Cartier Sceptre Stakes, a Grade 2 sprint over 1200m. The Kildonan mare is remarkably consistent given the serious physical setbacks she endured earlier in her career. Beach Goddess is ideally suited to the stiff, “straight six” at Kenilworth and will again launch one of her spirited closing bids under stable jock, Corne Orffer.

Supporting feature on Friday is the listed Jamaica Handicap, with Louisiana the stable rep. “She looks amazing and her work is very good so she must have a bright chance.’ predicted Brett.

The two -day festival is packed with the sort of high quality confrontations that true racing fanatics relish. The stable also has promising engagements in other races over the weekend, not covered in this preview. For insights and appraisals of all Crawford Racing’s entries, go to the crawfordracing.net website, click on More near the top right, then highlight Tipping Section. Brett, who is currently fourth on the National Trainer’s log, believes in transparency and open communication, so conveys the updated information in good faith. Enjoy some tremendous racing!

I always enjoy the Citizen especially Wednesday
Molly, Jack etc very good articles

David T has a few articles up on the GC website www.goldcircle.co.za/media-centre/racing-news/racing-news-2/

Good Stuff, these are the kind of write ups worth reading.

Sporting post trainer comments

www.sportingpost.co.za/2017/01/2017-gr1-lormarins-queens-plate/

Jack Milner


Talktothestars, winner of last season's Tsogo Sun Sprint, heads the 24 entries for the Grade 1 Betting World Cape Flying Championship at Kenilworth on Sun Met day, Saturday 28 January - the richest race day that South Africa has yet seen.

Mercury Sprint winner Red Ray and the Sean Tarry-trained Trip To Heaven are other big names in this important sprint that may also see the return of Brutal Force who was second last year. The 2016 winner Gulf Storm will also be in the line-up as will fourth-placed Tevez and the often brilliant Carry On Alice who started favourite when third last year.

Another interesting entry is Mike Azzie-trained Rivarine, who was a runaway winner of the Grade 3 Lebelo Stakes recently and is turning into a talented sprinter.

Woolavington winner Bela-Bela and last season's runaway Cape Fillies Guineas winner Silver Mountain head the market for Saturday's Maine Chance Farms Paddock Stakes and have both been nominated for the Grade 1 Klawervlei Majorca Stakes over 1 600m. This race is the stated main objective for Silver Mountain (who has drawn badly) but victory for Bela-Bela on Saturday would see her line up for the Met. Real Princess is top-rated of the four-year-olds and upwards and she is to contest this race after running in the Cartier Sceptre Stakes on Friday.

There are nine three-year-olds headed by Just Sensual and Safe Harbour who were first and second in last month's World Sports Betting Cape Fillies Guineas.

Table Bay, only third when hot favourite for the Grand Parade Cape Guineas, steps up to 2000m for the Investec Cape Derby (Grade 1). Second-placed Gold Standard may bypass the race to go for the Met but Elevated (fourth) and Edict Of Nantes (fifth) are to resume rivalry with Table Bay. There are seven fillies among the 32 entries including Igugu's unbeaten half-sister, Ngaga, and Majorca entry Safe Harbour.

Ovidio, who has to give away lumps of weight in the BMW Chairman's Cup on Saturday, will meet many of his rivals on much more favourable terms in the 2800m Grade 2 Western Cape Stayers.

The two CTS races are each worth US$500,000 (about R6.8 million) and have both attracted a huge entry with Sergeant Hardy and Always In Charge the highest rated in the first of them and Cape Guineas winner William Longsword standing out in the 1600m race, despite being drawn No 21 of 38.



Entries and draws for the Betting World Cape Flying Championship (Grade 1) over 1000m at Kenilworth: