PHAKA IMALI is a gelding by Var, out of the Hussonet (USA) mare Endearment (AUS). Bred by Clifton Stud, he was purchased at the 2020 BSA National 2-Year Old Sale.

Name: Phaka Imali
Named By: Phaka Team
Sex: Bay Gelding
Sire: Var (USA)
Dam: Endearment (AUS)
Damsire: Hussonet (USA)
DOB: 27 August 2018
Trainer: Gary Rich
BreederClifton Stud CC
PedigreeSee Here
Purchased at: BSA National 2-Year Old Sale 2020
Previous Name: Undercover Lover
Record: 28-4-9

The Dam, ENDEARMENT(AUS), was a 4 time winner and earned R247 100, over a distance range of 1200 – 1400m. She was placed 12 times, including 4th Lady’s Pendant, Listed.

UPDATES – Phaka Imali

March 13th, 2024
527 – PHAKA IMALI closes off the meeting over 1200m on the Hollywoodbets Greyville polytrack this afternoon. Benni In The Area finished third with Purple Operator in fourth. He was ridden to perfection by Winning Form-sponsored Jockey Richard Fourie and is now a four-time winner. The son of Var is trained by Hollywoodbets-sponsored Gary Rich and is bred by Clifton Stud. Race Replay / Interview.

February 21st, 2024
Raced over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Greyville on the polytrack. Finished 3rd out of 11 runners.
Anthony Delpech post-race comment: He given a good ride, but he was not good enough to win.

January 22nd, 2024
Raced over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Greyville on the polytrack. Finished 5th out of 12 runners.
Anthony Delpech post-race comment: A good run from a poor draw.

December 20th, 2023
Raced over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Greyville on the turf. Finished 4th out of 11 runners.
Anthony Delpech post-race comment: He was in a good position, but never showed his good turn of foot up the straight.

November 1st, 2023
479 – PHAKA IMALI
closes off the meeting at Hollywoodbets Greyville over 1200m this afternoon. The son of Var quickened up well under Winning Form-sponsored Jockey Richard Fourie and is now a three-time winner. He is trained by Hollywoodbets-sponsored Gary Rich and is bred by Clifton Stud.
Race Replay / Interview.

October 4th, 2023
Raced over 1200m on the Hollywoodbets Greyville Polytrack. Finished 6th out of 8 runners. Raced from the front, which not his usual style of racing, but had to in order to get over the draw.
Anthony Delpech post-race comment: He went forward from the start, which is not the way he enjoys racing. He prefers to be given a chance and run at them at the finish. I would ignore that run.

July 17th, 2023
Raced over 1200m on the Hollywoodbets Greyville polytrack. Finished 3rd out of 11 runners.
Anthony Delpech post-race comment: Holding his form well, good run.

May 24th, 2023
Raced over 1200m on the Hollywoodbets Greyville polytrack. Finished 2nd out of 12 runners.
Anthony Delpech post-race comment: Good second, just found one too good for him on the day.

May 1st, 2023
Raced over 1200m on the Hollywoodbets Greyville polytrack. Finished 6th out of 12 runners.
Anthony Delpech post-race comment: I don’t think he was given the best of rides. It was not a bad run considering.

April 10th, 2023
415 –
PHAKA IMALI wins a game race over 1200m on the Hollywoodbets Greyville Polytrack to notch up his second career victory in Race 3. He was ridden by Ashton Arries and is bred by Clifton Stud. The win secured the Hollywood Syndicate a fantastic double for the day.

February 15th, 2023
Raced over 1400m on the Hollywoodbets Greyville polytrack. Finished 9th out of 9 runners.
Anthony Delpech post-race comment: I feel he never enjoyed the heavy track.

November 20th, 2022
Raced over 1600m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville. Finished 10th out of 15 runners.
Anthony Delpech post-race comment: The distance was too far for him and he will come back in trip.

 

October 9th, 2022
Raced over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Greyville on the turf. Finished 9th out of 13 runners.
Anthony Delpech post-race comment: Not a bad run for his first run out the maidens. He was drawn wide and was dropped to the back of the field. He finished 4.90 lengths behind the winner.

August 23rd, 2022
Phaka Imali won a nice race on Friday. Came through it well. Hopefully now that he has won he might be able to win again.

August 19th, 2022

329 – PHAKA IMALI won Race 2 over 1200m. He was settled near the rear of the field, quickened up smartly under a polished ride by Mark Khan and got up where it matters most. The son of Var is trained by Hollywoodbets-sponsored Gary Rich.
Anthony Delpech post-race comment: Good win coming from behind. Removing the blinkers may have done the trick. He looks like he could go further.

July 20th, 2022
His last two runs were bad. We scoped him – nothing detected. I need to freshen him up. He did have the virus twice.

July 10th, 2022
Raced over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville. Finished 14th out of 16  runners.
Anthony Delpech post-race comment: Poor run, never found a yard. Gary is going to have him scoped today as the run was too disappointing.

June 20th, 2022
Raced over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Greyville on the polytrack. Finished 9th out of 12 runners.
Anthony Delpech post-race comment: He needed the run, but he’s a much better horse on the turf.

April 22nd, 2022
Raced over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Greyville on the turf. Anthony Delpech post-race comment: Good run. He needed the run and will come on with the run. He should win soon.

January 26th, 2022
Raced over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Greyville on the polytrack. Anthony Delpech post-race comment: It was a good run. Jockey S’manga Khumalo said that we need to put the blinkers back on and he will win for us soon.

January 9th, 2022
Raced over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Greyville on the polytrack. Anthony Delpech post-race comment: He over raced in the early part of the race. Gary Rich said that he will remove the blinkers going forward.

 

December 6th, 2021
Raced over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Greyville on the turf. Anthony Delpech post-race comment: It was a good run. He looked good halfway up the straight but it looked like he needed the run.

September 13th, 2021
He had his first run for the Gary Rich stable over 1200m on the polytrack at Hollywoodbets Greyville. The distance is on the short side for him and he is still learning about racing. He still needs to strengthen up and there will be a lot of improvement to come from him in the future. See the replay here.

August 28th, 2021
He was having his third run over 1450m on the Turffontein Inside course this afternoon. It was a small, but competitive field of seven runners. He has been disappointing to date and we are hoping to see improvement from him soon.

August 5th, 2021
He was having his second career effort over 1000m at the Vaal Racecourse. The son of Var is looking for further and he has plenty of scope for improvement.

July 10th, 2021
He made his debut over 1160m at Turffontein this afternoon. He will come on with the experience under the belt and should have plenty of improvement to come in his next outing.

February 21st, 2021
Recently finished with his spelling career, he has now joined up with the Stuart Pettigrew stable at Randjiesfontein, Gauteng where he has settled in well and will now begin with a more intense training schedule to help him strengthen up.

January 20th, 2021
This colt is taking a bit of time in his spelling career and is still learning the basics. He is currently on the farm in the Western Cape, with Sally Bruss. Here he is pictured earlier this week.

November 25th, 2020
Recently purchased by the Hollywood Syndicate at the BSA National 2-Year Old Sale, he has settled in well with Sally Bruss in the Western Cape where he will begin his stint of spelling. Pictured below, before and during the sale.