HSH Princess Charlene Empress Club Stakes (Group 1)

DESERT Miracle, found to be coughing when only fourth in a minor race at Turffontein last time, bounced back to something like her best with an impressive performance in the HSH Princess Charlene Empress Club Stakes at the Johannesburg course last Saturday.

This Dynasty filly, out of an Oasis Dream mare who was purchased at the 2009 Goffs Orby Sale, won the Majorca Stakes under an inspired Christophe Soumillon in Cape Town in January and Craig Zackey partnered her with similar aplomb.

Drawn widest of all, he was content to tack over at the back and stay there until well into the straight. When he did press the button, the four-year-old picked up as if the possibility of defeat was never an issue and the 3/1 chance beat Under Your Spell rather more convincingly than the length and a quarter margin might suggest.

“Mike de Kock has been really good to me since I came back from New Zealand and I have tried to make the most of it,” said Zackey “but Desert Miracle brought her A-game here today and she did 90% of the job.”

De Kock added: “I thought Craig got a little bit too far back last time and gave her a lot to do but he rode a good race here and he made all the right moves. I’m still not convinced that she is in exactly the same form as she was in at Kenilworth but this win should put her spot on.”

The eight-time champion trainer is to discuss with owner Mary Slack where the four-year-old should go next. But, whatever is decided upon, it won’t put de Kock back on top of the table. Justin Snaith, champion three times in the past eight seasons, is R3.5 million clear at the top of the lists and is quoted at 1/50!

De Kock is a 45/1 chance.

Desert Miracle’s task was undoubtedly made a good deal easier by the withdrawal of last year’s winner Princess Calla who was running a temperature a fortnight or so earlier. “It meant that she missed a few days’ work,” said trainer Sean Tarry.

“One can run a maiden two weeks after a mild temperature but she is a class Group 1 performer and I would not have wanted her to run a sub-standard race.”

SOUTH Africa’s jockeys are finding that the country’s present inflation rate (between 5% and 7%) is making harsh inroads into their earnings but their application to the operators for an increase in riding fees and percentages was dismissed in the most extraordinary terms.

The jockeys asked for their share of winning stakes to be upped from 10% to 12% and place money from 7% to 9%.

Furthermore, they threatened to go on strike on April 20th if their demands were not met.

Hammered

They were promptly, and publicly, hammered by Cape Racing chairman Greg Bortz, 4Racing CEO Fundi Sithebe and Gold Circle boss Michel Nairac.

This trio issued a letter, describing the demands as “outrageous” considering racing’s financial position, with Bortz adding: “Talk about being arrogant, misguided, unprofessional, presumptuous and out of touch!”