Latest news with #GoldMedallion
New Paper
7 days ago
- General
- New Paper
June 4 South Africa (Greyville) form analysis
Race 1 (1,200m) (2) HOLY STAR made a smart debut at long odds behind Gold Medallion hopeful Little Boy Blue, who runs this Saturday. (3) INDIGENOUS has been a beaten short-priced favourite in his two local starts. Both were over further and he may prefer this shorter trip. (6) QUINN'S TIME has been fairly well beaten in both starts but has had experience on the Poly and can improve. Keep and eye on first-timer (5) DIGITAL ASSET. Race 2 (1,400m) (1) OPERA FAN has consistent Highveld form. She was close-up over a mile last time, and this trip from the best of draws could see her home. (9) ALAKAZAM ran second on debut and this trip should suit. But, she has the widest draw to contend with and Muzi Yeni has jumped ship to ride Opera Fan. Yeni will be replaced by Andrew Fortune on (4) SPLASH OF LOVE, who ran on well over the distance last time. (6) TULIP FIELDS is a regally bred first-timer and one to watch in the betting. Race 3 (1,000m) (3) PINETTI has improved steadily in her three outings and looks well primed for this. She was narrowly beaten last time and has the in-form Gavin Lerena aboard. (2) MISS KANSAS made a smart debut but pulled up fatigued at her next start. She can improve. (6) LARIUS LACUS raced green on debut but should benefit from that. Debutante (4) THIRD WINTER is one to watch in the market. Race 4 (1,600m) (10) CHERRY OH BABY has finished second in her last five starts. She was caught late over 1,400m last time, but has a massive winning chance over the longer trip. (6) O SPACE O makes his Poly debut and does seem better than his last two with his best recent effort in the soft. (2) SANBEENEE was narrowly beaten into second over the course and distance last time and should feature again. (7) TAKEYOURBESTSHOT looked held by Cherry Oh Baby on their last meeting but he does appear to be coming to hand. Race 5 (2,000m) (6) RICHARDTHEFEARLESS found good market support last time but lacked finish. He wears blinkers for the first time and can improve. (1) FUTURE SAINT was a well beaten favourite last start. He has been knocking at the door and this trip should suit. (7) BALLY MAGIC has improved with cheek pieces and ran second last time on the Poly. Must include in all exotic bets. (5) KING BAVARIAN looked held by Richardthefearless on their last meeting but he now gets a 4kg claimer aboard. Race 6 (1,400m) (3) ONE PATH improved with tongue-tie last time. This will be her third run after a long break and she goes well on the Poly. (2) MERITORIOUS was rested after a poor run. She has since changed stable and will be at her first outing for Alyson Wright. (5) SKYTRIX was narrowly beaten last start and appears to have come to hand. (9) WE WILL ROCK YOU showed signs of a return to form last time. With a 1.5kg claimer aboard, she could be dangerous on her Poly debut. Race 7 (1,400m) (1) MY TRUE LOVE and (11) SKY VELOCITY meet again. Sky Velocity romped home in her first start for her new stable and had consistent Fairview form before that. However, My True Love is 2.5kg better off and has the better draw, so she can turn the tables. (3) MISS PAGET ran third in that same race and, with a 4kg claiming apprentice aboard, she is 5.5kg better off with Sky Velocity. (2) NOODSBERG finished fifth last time and is 2kg better off with Sky Velocity. Race 8 (1,000m) (4) FUTURE FLO has hardly put a foot wrong since his maiden win and coming back to sprints. He is on his best distance and should put in another bold showing. (8) CONNERY was back to his best when he won last time. He can go in again. (1) IBHELE can surprise. He has a light weight and the best draw. (3) JET LEGACY finished fourth in the race won by Connery last time. They meet on the same terms.
The Citizen
02-06-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
Race Coast off to a fast start
Little and Fortune light up Scottsville speed fest. Race Coast had a cheering start. The new brand unites the operations of Western Cape's Cape Racing and Gold Circle of KwaZulu-Natal and Durban's Bay of Plenty beach was the sunny venue for the official launch last week. Horses galloped on the sands of the surfers' haunt and racing's great and good proclaimed a new dawn, to the roar of Indian Ocean breakers. Then there was exciting and uplifting racing itself. This was a little out of earshot of the waves – 80km inland to be precise, at Maritzburg for the annual Festival of Speed on Saturday. For every race to the coast there must be a midlands meander. Scottsville racecourse introduced Race Coast in a rather special way, with any number of upbeat stories crammed into its famous four-feature card. Jockeys back in the mix Race Coast represents renewal in racing and you couldn't ask for better redemption stories than those of jockeys Andrew Fortune and Chad Little who have overcome dark times and fought their way back into the winners' circle. Little, back in the irons at the age of 40, found his reward in the shape of a first Grade 1 victory – a battling effort aboard the appropriately named Good For You, trained by Glen Kotzen, in the Gold Medallion for juveniles. Former champion jockey Fortune returned to the saddle at 57 earlier this year, after years in retirement and following unlikely recoveries from drug addiction and weight issues. On Saturday, he won the Grade 2 Golden Horse Sprint on Tenango for trainer Candice Bass-Robinson and his ebullient interview contained this gem of wisdom: 'You've got to turn up for yourself!' Epitomising that philosophy is Sean Tarry, who's diligence has kept him at the top of the training ranks for decades – not least with phenomenal annual success at Scottsville's biggest meeting. This time around, he landed the topliner on the card, the Grade 1 SA Fillies And Mares Sprint, with Mia Moo. More success stories On the four-year-old's back was Callan Murray, a talented young jockey who plied his trade in Australia for a few years – as South African racing looked headed for the knacker's yard – but is back in his homeland after hearing good things about the revival of the game – a la Race Coast. Another welcome stirring in local racing waters has been successful raiding around the country by trainer Alan Greeff from the backwaters of Eastern Cape. His juvenile filly Direct Hit cruised to victory in the ultra-prestigious Grade 1 Allan Robertson Championship, remaining unbeaten in four starts. Further landmark events at Scottsville included emerging stallion Canford Cliffs registering his first Grade 1 win, with Direct Hit, and complementing it with a Grade 2, with Tenango. And there were plenty more diverting moments, such as grooms with stage-fright and big cheques and babbling owners regaling us with their inevitable tales of lows and highs in the infernal game. If there was a note of disappointment it was the small crowd at one of the year's major race meetings. But, then again, Race Coast has just got started.
Forbes
28-03-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Delta Airlines Lures Southwest Airlines Flyers With Status Offer
Delta Airlines is offering unhappy Southwest Airlines flyers a special, limited-time status match.. When a competitor stumbles, it's time to go after their customers. Delta Airlines has announced a limited-time status match offer that targets Southwest Airlines elite flyers. They join American Airlines, which launched a similar offer earlier this week. Until September 30, 2025, Southwest Rapid Rewards A-List members can apply to receive Gold Medallion status with Delta. A-List Preferred members will be matched at Platinum status. This is a higher level of status match than would normally be offered to Southwest flyers. Flyers whose match is approved will retain this status for three months. There are a host of rules attached to the status match offer. Basically, though, the flyer can retain the matched status past the three month period by flying on Delta and earning enough Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs). As is typical today, Delta abandoned the practice of awarding status based on miles flown and instead uses a revenue metric. Delta and American have launched these special offers because policy changes at Southwest have upset many of their loyal customers. Notably, Southwest has ended its 'bags fly free' policy, adopted assigned seating, and is adding premium seating options. While some customers will welcome the ability to book a particular seat, perhaps with extra leg room, these changes make Southwest much more like its big three U.S. competitors. Flyers who appreciated Southwest's unique (and often quirky) customer experience have expressed displeasure over the changes. It remains to be seen how many Southwest customers will desert the airline. The fees for checked bags will affect primarily casual flyers. The high status flyers Delta and American are targeting will still get free checked bags, as will holders some of Southwest's branded credit cards. These frequent travelers may also be the most likely to take advantage of more comfortable seating options. United Airlines currently offers a MileagePlus status match for Southwest customers, but it is less attractive than the temporary offers from American and Delta. United currently matches A-List members to Premier Silver and A-List Preferred to Premier Gold. An offer comparable to the other airlines would bump the matches to Gold and Platinum. Delta and American have responded quickly to try to siphon off unhappy Southwest Flyers. A short-term status match created very little out of pocket cost for the airline, but greatly reduces 'switching costs' for the flyer. Instead of starting from scratch to build status with a new airline, the customer can start at a higher level and fly to maintain that status. It's notoriously difficult to get someone who has achieved elite status with an airline to switch brands. These 'bonus' status match offers aim to do just that. When a company makes big changes that alienate some of its loyal customers, smart competitors take action to try to capture some of those customers. Reducing the friction associated with switching brands is one key way to win them over.
