Please Note: South African Quartet Pools with fractional betting offered at Hereford and Kempton (UK) – 18 March 2026

David Thiselton

Athandiwe Mgudlwa suffered a neck sprain and concussion in a bad fall at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on January 25, but he is back riding work and hopes to race ride again on the 27th of this month at the Hollywoodbets Greyville night meeting.

Athandiwe recalled waking up in hospital and had no recollection of the incident at all and said the whole day was quite blank in his memory.

However, there were no broken bones or fractures and he said, ” I fortunately did not have to have any kind of operation.”

He has wisely taken the recovery step by step and done it thoroughly with no atttempt to rush anything.

He continued, “I am still having appointments to strengthen the neck muscles. I have had the follow up appointment and the doctor has given me the go ahead to proceed. I went as far as having an MRI scan and I have also taken the time off to make sure I am ok. Sometimes you rush an injury and a couple of years down the line it comes back worse. I have gone through every step to make sure I am alright. I still want to compete at the highest level, so it had to be done.”

Athandiwe might be back at the meeting at Greyville this Sunday, the 22nd of March, but only if he gets a ride that has half-a-chance. He said he was otherwise targeting the 27th.

He has been feeling good and strong while workriding and added it was probably a blessing he did not remember the incident as such a happening could play on the mind.

He said, “Not remembering is a way of protecting me as it helped me to be able to get on to a horse again.”

He added, “I’m grateful to be able to get on the horses and carry on doing what I enjoy.”

He is not attached to any yard at the moment and said he would start off by riding work as much as he could and hopefully pick up a couple of rides to get back into the swing of things.

He said, “Things look to have tightened up a bit in Durban, so it doesn’t look easy, but I ride light so I should be able to pick up a few nice rides.”

David Thiselton

The first entries stage for the Champions Day races to be held on April 4 at Turffontein Standside closed on Monday and the Gr 1 World Pool Premier’s Champions Challenge over 2000m had some interesting entries.

The WSB Met winner See It Again, who comes off a second place finish in the Gr 1 wfa Wilgerbosdrift HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes at Turffontein,  is one of the raider entries.

His Justin Snaith-trained stablemate Okavango, who comes off a fine fourth in the Met and a win in the Listed King’s Cup, is also entered.

Both of these Cape horses are being prepared out of Summerveld.

The Nathan Kotzen-trained Madison Valley is a Summerveld resident who has also been entered, although he has a bit to find under weight for age conditions.

Kotzen’s former winner of this event, Royal Victory, is also an entry although he is now trained by Weichong Marwing.

Last year’s winner the Alec Laird-trained Fire Attack is entered and so is his former Betway Summer Cup-winnning stablemate Atticus Finch.

Tony Peter has two entries in The Ultimate King and The Equator, who both have tough tasks off 117 merit ratings.

This season’s Summer Cup runner up Olivia’s Way is an entry and she will have a tougher task under wfa conditions than she did in the Summer Cup, although going on the actual form of the Summer Cup makes her an interesting runner.

The talented Jimmy Don returned recently for a new stable, that of Joe Soma, after a layoff of about two-and-a-half years but Soma has worked miracles before in Gr 1 events.

The Gr 1 HKJC World Pool SA Classic winner and runner up Grand Empire and Trust are entered and another three-year-old, Copper Eagle, is also entered but will be severely under sufferance.

It is certainly going to be an intriguing race.

Alistair Cohen

Apprentices are largely involved at Hollywoodbets Durbanville on Wednesday which always creates extra excitement. Some of which have been in good form across the country. Sifiso Bungane could the man to follow. He has some good mounts on the card.

The day is highlighted by a strong B Stakes over 1600m, race 7 over 1600m. Yamazaki is progressing with every start and he could be popping into the division at the right time with the right weight.

He might be an underachiever with one win from 11 starts but the consistency is due to be rewarded sooner rather than later. Beaten by Foudre in his last start was no disgrace. Foudre has won three on the spin and he reportedly has aspirations of feature races on the horizon. Yamazaki was four lengths behind over this trip at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth at the end of January. That form has already produced King’s Quest and In A Timely Manner as direct winners. Both those horses ran behind Yamazaki.

Justin Snaith has options countrywide at the moment and he has decided to keep Yamazaki going around the mill at home rather than have a tilt elsewhere.

Even though his numbers matches up with a few in this race, his formlines read more pleasingly than his rivals.

Handsome Prince is a good horse but he has stamina queries. If the track is running fast which should be the case after some intense weather, he could be effective. He has not lost any gloss from his two-year-old days. His most recent run came over this trip at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth when he ran behind the hugely-improved Chasingtherainbow. He was beaten by only two lengths. Corne Orffer takes the ride for Michelle Rix.

Boogiefied brings winning form into the race after defeating the luckless Show Off by 0,4 lengths over this course and distance. The concern is that Show off ran no sort of race subsequently. He will have claims under Keagan de Melo.

The first of the apprentice events in race 4 over 1250m where Gimme The Power looks like the horse to beat under Varun Jodhee. Her last two starts have been over this course and distance and she finished third. This does not shape up as a top field so she must have a top chance.

Mxolisi Mbuto is the leading apprentice in the country and his best ride is Black Erika in race 6 over 1250m. Typical Adam Marcus slow burn. Black Erika took her time to exit the maidens so she has a rating which makes her seriously competitive at her level. She won her maiden three starts back and since she has earned minor cheques. The small field should help her get into position because she has had to hustle around runners lately.

Bungane has a huge chance of scooping race 8 over 1600m with Backinthefastlane who has made steady improvement since getting out of the maidens. His last run was a fair fourth behind Money Extractor over this distance at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth. He stuck around and he was only beaten by 5,1 lengths. Trainer Candice Bass has always had time for this horse and he should continue to progress within his level.

Enticement put up a fantastic debut last month when she finished second behind the hugely promising Grapes Of Wrath. She showed tons of pace and she was outrun by a filly with huge potential. She easily has the best form on offer in race 1 over 1000m and it would come as a major shock if she was turned over. JP van der Merwe is carded to take the ride for Justin Snaith.

There is very little to get excited about in race 2 over 1000m. Miss Smiley has shown enough hints of having a win in the tank at stages. She is not the most reliable but with 54kg, her best form should serve her well with a good winning chance under Muzi Yeni.

Ready For The Road ran his career best at his last appearance when close-up second behind Bonelli at this course over 1600m. He steps up to 2000m in race 3 and he should love the extra trip. Craig Zackey is carded to take the ride for Snaith. Every start has been vastly improved and if he continues on that trend, he should win.

Palace Gift is going from strength to strength and he seeks a hat-trick of wins when he lines up in race 5 over 1250m. Damyan Pillay is carded to take the ride for Shane Humby. It could be a shrewd move that the 4kg claimer has been booked.

RACE 1

4 WINTER PIRATE stayed on well for second behind Rich Man’s World at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on the 25th of February, he is a lovely horse with a great action, he will be very hard to beat in this field. 6 ENTICEMENT showed tremendous speed on debut, she ran a great race for second behind Grapes Of Wrath on the 28th of February, with natural improvement expected from this filly, she should be right there in the finish. 7 PLATINUM GREY has been rested for 87 days, he was well beaten for third by Marseilles on the 21st of December, he should improve going into his second run on Wednesday, top jockey Richard Fourie has been booked to ride this colt, watch him closely. This field is packed with several well-bred first-timers, keep a close eye on them in the parade ring and monitor the market carefully for any significant support. (Brandon Bailey: 4 – 6 – 7 – 1)

RACE 2

1 PITERAQ was beaten just under one length in a driving finish by Winter In Auckland on the 11th of February, she has a good draw on Wednesday, and she drops in trip to 1000m, there should be absolutely no excuses for this filly, she has a big winning chance in this field. 2 SICILY has run two excellent races in succession, he can be a tricky ride, on his best form, he will be right there in the finish, include him into all bets. 10 SKY ROCKET finished just over five lengths behind Fast Train on the 22nd of February, he is a young horse that will improve with every start, unfortunately the wide draw on Wednesday will make life tough for him, if he gets some luck in running, he should finish amongst the places. 4 WALK RIGHT IN ran a much-improved race at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on the 22nd of February, she ran third behind Starting Point, if she can build on that run, she will be competitive. (Brandon Bailey: 1 – 2 – 10 – 4)

RACE 3

9 READY FOR THE ROAD moved up like a winner when finishing second behind Bonelli on the 14th of February, he will love the step up in trip to 2000m on Wednesday, the blinkers stay on, he has a big winning chance in this field. 3 I AM SAM ran a fair race behind Tunguska at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on the 28th of February, he was beaten just under six lengths in a competitive field last time, Richard Fourie sticks with this colt, he steps up in trip and he has a neat draw, there is no doubt he will be right there in the finish. 7 O’Fellow finished like a train for third in the same race as Ready For The Road last time, he is a big horse with a massive action, if he brings that run to the track again on Wednesday, he will go close to winning at a decent price. 1 QUIET PLACE is much better than his recent form, the blinkers have been fitted to this gelding, and he steps up in trip, watch for sharp improvement. (Brandon Bailey: 9 – 3 – 7 – 1)

RACE 4

4 RAFFISH TREND ran a great race for third behind Lady Look Alike on the 14th of February, she is a young filly that is getting better and stronger with more racing, she definitely has a big winning chance here. 5 LOVE SHACK travelled beautifully in her race when finishing fourth behind Moody Blue at Hollywoodbets Durbanville on the 4th of March, she has dropped even further in the ratings, and she steps up in trip to 1250m again, if the race works out for her, she will go close to winning. 7 ALESSIA ASHEVILLE won a gutsy race on the 25th of February, she has no weight on her back on Wednesday, she loves Hollywoodbets Durbanville, she could be the value play in a tricky race, watch her closely at a decent price. 1 TRUE HORIZON stayed on nicely for second behind Avignon on the 25th of February, she never runs a bad race, her chances must be respected from a good draw. (Brandon Bailey: 4 – 5 – 7 – 1)

RACE 5

2 SOOTY was given a terrific ride by Jockey Richard Fourie on the 11th of February, he won a good race beating Dawn’s Early Light, even though he has more to do at the weights on Wednesday, he will go very close to winning again from a neat draw. 1 DAWN’S EARLY LIGHT has run two great races in succession, he was just touched off by Sooty last time, the yard is in great form at the moment, he will be right there in the finish from a perfect draw, include him into all bets. 7 WORLDLY was doing some good work late behind Spirit on the 22nd of February, he can be a tricky ride, if the gaps open at the right time for this gelding, he will be competitive, watch him closely. 6 PALACE GIFT has been rested for 84 days, he quickened up smartly to win well on the 24th of December, if he doesn’t need the run back from a small break, he should run a cracker again. (Brandon Bailey: 2 – 1 – 7 – 6)

RACE 6

3 GIRL LIKE US could be tremendous value in this race, she was only beaten just over two lengths by Seven No Trump at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on the 22nd of February, she runs really well at Hollywoodbets Durbanville, and she has dropped even further in the ratings, this looks to be the perfect race for this mare to win again, include her into all bets. 1 ACT OF GRACE ran a great race for second behind Lovers Lane on the 21st of January, the drop in trip to 1250m should be no problem for this filly, she will be running on strongly, watch her closely from a good draw. 2 DECEMBER DAWN ran a much better race on the 14th of February at Hollywoodbets Durbanville, she stayed on well for third behind Caribbean Gold, if she gets some cover early, she will be storming home late. 7 BLACK ERIKA ran a nice race behind Lady Look Alike on the 14th of February, she was only beaten just over two lengths in a competitive field last time, she will need some luck in running from a tricky draw on Wednesday, if the race works out for her, she will be amongst the places. (Brandon Bailey: 3 – 1 – 2 – 7)

RACE 7

8 YAMAZAKI must have a good winning chance in this field, he stayed on strongly for fourth behind Foudre at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on the 31st of January, he has no weight on his back on Wednesday, he will be switched off early, and he will be running on strongly late. 3 BOOGIEFIED won a great race on the 14th of February, he was given three points for that win last time, he is very consistent, there is no doubt he will have a big winning chance again in this field. 6 SHERIFF JOHN STONE was only beaten just over four lengths by Chasingtherainbow on the 22nd of February, he would have needed that run badly after a long break, he should be much fitter on Wednesday, and the blinkers have been fitted, watch for sharp improvement from this good-looking gelding. 7 HANDSOME PRINCE finished two lengths behind the winner in the same race as Sheriff John Stone last time, he definitely has a place chance on his best form. (Brandon Bailey: 8 – 3 – 6 – 7)

RACE 8

5 LANDSEER ran a much better race at Hollywoodbets Durbanville on the 11th of February, he ran second behind Double Dash, this doesn’t look to be the strongest race on paper, if he brings that run to the track again on Wednesday, he will go close to winning. 3 BACKINTHEFASTLANE ran a fair race behind Money Extractor on the 28th of February, he was beaten just over five lengths, he should get the run of the race from a good draw, include him into all bets. 8 FORT RED won a top race at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on the 3rd of December, he has been rested for 105 days, if he stays this trip of 1600m, he will go close to winning, watch him closely. 9 BATON ROUGE has been rested for 87 days, if he bounces back to his best form, he can win a race like this easily. (Brandon Bailey: 5 – 3 – 8 – 9)