Stats Tell February’s Story

The name that jumps out when looking at the statistics of winners for the month of February is that among the leading stallions, where Gimmethegreenlight and Oratorio both sired six winners. It was an especially emotional time for the racing industry for all those connected with Oratorio, who was a fabric of Avontuur Stud. 

February’s six winners, joint most, were a fitting tribute to Oratoria who passed on 20th February.

Elsewhere, Justin Snaith was usurped as the trainer with the most winners in the Western Cape in a month when Candice Bass-Robinson sent out 12 winners in February, followed by Snaith (9) and Dean Kannemeyer (7). It is the first time this season that anyone other than Snaith trained the most winners.

A continuing example of the diversity and health of racing in the Western Cape is again seen in the number of winning owners in the month. There were 109 different licenced owners involved with winners, which excludes those involved in syndicates. That was an increase of 87 from January. Also seeing an increase in diversity were the number of breeders and different sires of winners.

The list of “Top 5’s” category wins for February is (January in brackets):

17 (17) Trainers 

18 (19) Jockeys

25 (22) Sires

29 (28) Breeders

109 (87) Owners

JOCKEYS

10 Aldo Domeyer

10 Craig Zackey

8 JP van der Merwe

6 Richard Fourie

3 Gavin Lerena, Gareth Wright, Sean Veale, Luyolo Mxothwa, Grant van Niekerk, Ashton Arries

TRAINERS

12 Candice Bass-Robinson

9 Justin Snaith

7 Dean Kannemeyer

4 Vaughan Marshall, Patrick Kruyer, Glen Kotzen

3 Adam Marcus, Peter Muscutt, Des Maclachlan, Eric Sands

OWNERS

5 Drakenstein Stud (Nom: Mrs GA Rupert)

5 Greg Bortz and Gina Goldsmith

3 Philip Bamford

3 Hollywood Racing (Nom: Mr A Delpech)

3 Denis Le Breton

3 Miss JH Daniel

3 WJ Probert

BREEDERS

10 Drakenstein Stud (Nom: Mrs GA Rupert)

4 Klawervlei Stud

5 Ridgemont Highlands

4 Varsfontein Stud (Nom: Mr JS Kalmanson)

3 Rathmor Stud (Nom: Mr MJA Ferreira), Wilgerbosdrift & Mauritzfontein, Dr M Thomson, Ambiance Stud

SIRES

6 Gimmethegreenlight 

6 Oratorio

5 Canford Cliffs 

5 Vercingetorix

4 What A Winter

By Gary Lemke