Hi [FNAME]
The Gold Cup is nearly upon us!
We thought that in this newsletter we will give you some quotes of what the trainers think. We asked them about their charge's chances in the Gold Cup.
Well, they are not going to give you the whole story but we hope that you find them interesting.
We have also included Part II of the SEA COTTAGE story. Those of you relatively new to racing will find out some of the obstacles that this great horse had to overcome. For the old-timers this will bring back some memories.
We hope that you enjoy this issue. And, once again, thank you for all the wonderful comments you have been sending us. Keep 'em coming!
Regards
The Formgrids Team Editor:
Wolfgang Wohlkinger
Contributers:
Merle Parker
Penny Morsener
David Safi
Contact us at: [email protected] |
Gold Cup: The trainer's comments |
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He is based in Durban at the moment and doing really well. We are happy with his performance at present. Hopefully this ground is what he has been waiting for. The Gold Cup was always part of the plan for him so hopefully, when the day arrives, it will have been worth the wait.
Candice Dawson |
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Working well. Happy with the draw. His previous run was disappointing but Marwing is confident that Arumugam is fit and well and will put in a good performance this time round.
Weiho Marwing |
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Will love this extra trip and is fitted with blinkers. He should return to form and could cause an upset.
Justin Snaith |
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Has had a disappointing KZN campaign and will need to return to his best form to feature.
Justin Snaith |
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He's not easy to get back to back runs out of but we have done what is required to have him peaked for Gold Cup day.
Gareth van Zyl |
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Does not always settle well, but, if things go his way he will be a great contender. He has had a good season and we have done everything possible to prepare him for this race. We are quietly confident.
Gareth van Zyl |
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He is doing exceptionally well at home, good light galloping weight, expecting him to be very competitive.
Brett Crawford |
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Is doing really well, I'm happy with his progress going into the Gold Cup. He sort of lost his way for a couple of starts but looks to have bounced back and I'm looking forward to him defending his crown.
A P Peter (Tony Peter) |
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He is well and is an out and out stayer, we expect him to run very well.
Vaughan Marshall |
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ROCKIE REEF is in very good order 2 weeks out from the Gold Cup. She is very fit and well in herself and set to see out every inch of the two miles, on Pedigree and her preparation heading into the race.
Her last run was exellent after being impeded at the first turn, putting her two pairs further back turning in than anticipated in a race run at a very sedate tempo. She ran all the way to the line that day and the step up in trip will be to her liking. Despite her long odds I feel given the right run in transit she can get into the mix..
Peter Muscutt |
The SEA COTTAGE Story - Part II |
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SEA COTTAGE with jockey Robert Sivewright |
The Legendary Racehorse that Conquered Hearts and Tracks
There’s so much to be said about this legendary racehorse that graced our tracks, so we decided to elaborate a little more.
SEA COTTAGE earned stakes to the value of R118 128 from 24 starts, 20 wins, 1 third and 3 fourths. This is the reason SEA COTTAGE remains the standard by which we judge Thoroughbreds for class today.
The two performances that stand out were his victory in the Queen’s Plate as a 3 year old and the very last race of his career.
In the Queen’s Plate, he turned for home tailed off last and had to catch the likes of GASKELL, RENOUNCE, FAIR MOUNTAIN and ATTY PERSSE. Horses don’t run faster than he did in the final 2 furlongs.
In his last race at Germiston, he was faced with tough opposition which was hard to beat at the weights. He annihilated his opposition, beating MAGIC MIRROR and CARADOC by 5 ½ lengths. To emphasise just how phenomenal the form was, MAGIC MIRROR won 3 major WFA races from his next 4 starts. After the grand finale at Germiston, SEA COTTAGE was retired to stud.
He was something special.
History tells us that SEA COTTAGE only stumbled four times. He lost four races, but was never beaten by a better horse.
The four blemishes in his racing career never did anything to detract from the greatness of SEA COTTAGE. He was a champion and Horse of the Year for the four seasons that he campaigned.
His regular jockey Robert Sivewright, partnered with him at 23 of his 24 starts. Sivewright remembers him as “a horse with an unbelievable action and a devastating finish which he could sustain for 2 ½ furlongs. He was a horse the like of which is seen but rarely anywhere in the world.”
Did you know that SEA COTTAGE was shot and wounded?
Just six days after winning the Guineas, SEA COTTAGE, the red-hot July favourite, was shockingly shot and wounded in the near hind quarter while on a walk to the beach. He was walked back to the stables after the attack, bucking and kicking all the way. 45 minutes after the incident SEA COTTAGE was assessed by a veterinary surgeon who found him rather distressed, shivering and sweating. Within an hour stiffness had set in and he wasn’t able to put his hind leg on the ground.
He was treated for shock, pain and bruising and after three subsequent x-rays they failed to disclose the location of the bullet but luckily there was no bone, nerve or major blood vessel damage.
There seemed no way that the horse would run three weeks later.
Professor Quinlan who specialised in battle wounds was consulted and started with treatment. SEA COTTAGE had to be force exercised to avoid any adhesions forming, and within four days he was starting to put weight back onto that leg. He recovered sufficiently and by June, 20 1966 he could canter.
Syd had recovered from the shock and resolved to get his own back. The vet agreed he could run, and so he prepped him with a 1400m gallop at Greyville Racecourse with a huge crowd in attendance cheering him all the way.
Syd won the July but not with SEA COTTAGE, JAVA HEAD took the race. SEA COTTAGE ran towards the rear and hit traffic problems in the straight. He managed fourth, four lengths back but finishing fast.
SEA COTTAGE was humanely destroyed at the age of 35 (1987) after suffering a stroke. The bullet still lodged in his flank was recovered and given to the Sivewright family – it is still in the family’s possession today. |
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Recent Articles on Formgrids... |
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Hollywoodbets Durban July day proved to be a memorable day for jockey Kabelo Matsunyane. Our industry is indeed fortunate to have young people of his ilk dedicated to our industry.
Click the title to read the whole story. |
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That's it for this issue... |
Happy form studying...
The Formgrids Team |
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