RACE   1

(1) THE ROARING ROCK is holding solid form and form and will be a major contender here. (5) BUGLE is capable of showing improvement on provincial debut. The unraced (3) ALL SYSTEMS GO must be respected in this field, keep a close eye for any market support. (7) THROW A PARTY is capable of much better so that last run is best ignored. (Devonne Govender 1-5-3-7)

RACE   2

(1) OLIVE OYL has her first run back since falling and if that hasn’t taken the edge of her, she should be hard to beat. (5) MORFELIHA has scope to improve and will get closer. (4) HAZE AND SMOKE is another who is likely to improve over this 1400m trip and can be included into the placings. (6) ROYAL MISSY is capable of getting into the money in this field so can make the quartets. (Devonne Govender 1-5-4-6)

RACE   3

(2) GOT THE FEVER is holding some decent form and rates a huge winning chance is this contest. (4) WINTER EMERALDS gets a slightly better draw now and will be in the firing line, big winning chance. (3) GRAND ALLEGRO is another who ran well enough in the last start and will make his presence felt however does have a tough draw. (Devonne Govender 2-4-3-1).

RACE   4

(1) GREENLIGHT LEGEND is holding solid form and will be tough to beat with Richard Fourie. (4) RED WILLIAM won a gutsy race in the last start and has the best draw so will be in the firing line. (7) ONE GIANT LEAP is never far back and can get into the placings. (10) ROCK OF FUTURA has scope to go well and should be respected, include in larger perms. (Devonne Govender 1-4-7-10).

RACE   5

(4) HENRY’S HEDGE ran extremely well out the maidens and is one to take seriously here. (1) GEORGE HANDEL was narrowly beaten in the last start and expected to be in the firing if repeating that performance. (7) DUMISANI is never far back, she cracks a decent draw and will go well here. (6) BEER WITH THE BOYS Is capable of much better, he clearly wasn’t himself in the last start and can bounce back. (Devonne Govender 4-1-7-6).

RACE   6

Tough contest. (1) LADY SILVANO had a tough draw in her last start, she gets a much easier draw this time and should go very close. (2) KNOCKOUT has plenty of ability, her form speaks for itself. She jumps from the best draw and will make her presence felt in a big way. (3) LOTUS ISLAND is another who had a tough draw in her last start, from a much better draw she can get involved here. (7) FIRST WISH is never far back and isn’t one to discount totally. (Devonne Govender 1-2-3-7)

RACE   7

(2) MY BEST SHOT packs plenty of class and will be a banker in all bets. He was only beaten 9 lengths in the Hollywoodbets Durban July, back on home turf he will be a tough nut to crack. (1) FIREALLEY is holding consistent form and can run into the placings. (4) ROYAL AUSSIE has plenty ability but needs to find his best form, he will be in the mix. (6) MR FOX has been holding consistent form and will be tested here, he can run into the quartet. (Devonne Govender 2-1-4-6).

RACE   8

(2) FOREST SPY ran a cracker in the last start, that form is working out well so he will be a strong contender. (1) CLIFF TOP is no doubt the class package in this contest, he seems to go well over slightly shorter but he cannot be ignored here. He is the highest rated horse in the field and will be a massive contender. (12) ANUSCHKA’S WORLD ran cracker behind the smart KINGDUNDEE in his last start, he will go very close in this contest. (8) EYJAFJALLAJOKULL is a very honest type and another decent run can be expected. (Devonne Govender 2-1-12-8)

Devonne Govender

Alan Greeff’s star performer, My Best Shot, returns to his home track at Fairview this Friday and appears a clear standout in all bets. The talented gelding finished just 9.6 lengths behind The Real Prince in the Hollywoodbets Durban July (Grade 1) but was far from disgraced. Unbeaten over the track and trip, My Best Shot is primed to dominate in the Listed Memorial Mile (1600m) with regular jockey Richard Fourie aboard.

FireAlley from Jacques Strydom’s yard has been in excellent form, most recently running a good-third behind Golden Peace. He looks poised to continue his consistent form and is expected to feature prominently.

Another horse to watch is Greenlight Legend in Race 4. Trained by Greeff, she is undefeated over the course and distance and looks a strong contender despite carrying a hefty weight of 62kg. Her explosive turn of speed makes her a serious threat in this line-up, even against the boys.

Red William, from Sharon Kotzen’s stable, looms as the main challenger. His last victory was gutsy, and with Luyolo Mxothwa aboard from the draw, he could make a bold showing.

Race 3 promises to be highly competitive, with several in-form runners. Among them are Got The Fever, trained by Zietsman Oosthuizen, and Winter Emeralds, trained by Alan Greeff.

Got The Fever produced an impressive effort last time, finishing third behind Umzolozolo. She lost a length at the start but closed strongly in the final 400m, making her one to watch. Her prior run on 27 June 2025 was equally eye-catching, coming from a wide gate to finish second, from a better draw she’s definitely a leading contender.

Winter Emeralds has faced tough draws recently but gets a much more favourable gate this time. He showed determination to win from gate 12 on 30 May 2025, and his last run, from barrier gate 11, was a strong effort, making up good ground. He’s expected to go very well here.

All in all, Friday’s meeting at Fairview promises exciting racing and all eyes are sure to be on My Best Shot. Don’t miss the action!

David Thiselton

 

A MR100 Handicap over 1600m and a MR99 Handicap over 1600m for fillies and mares are the highlights of the Vaal Classic track meeting today.

 

In the MR100 handicap Obsidian is a horse who is on the up and he can continue to progress above his current 91 merit rating. He has won three out of his last four starts and this is an ideal trip. He won his last start from a tricky draw of eight on the Turffontein Standside course and he now has a better draw of three which should allow him to get into his favoured handy position with cover and he looks the one to beat despite having to overcome a four point merit rating raise. Jury’s Out has plenty of class and the form of his last run over 1600m when third to the classy Bacchus has worked out quite well. He does have a tough draw to overcome though. Mount Darwin is capable of finishing strongly from a handy position and he should be able to get into a handy position from pole position. This looks to be an ideal trip for him too and Kabelo Matsunyane rides him for the third time in succession. Ikigai is a former Gauteng Guineas winner, so has the class to be involved here off a 91 merit rating. He has become unreliable, but Craig Zackey is up and will give him every chance. Master Christmas ran well last time at Hollywoodbets Greyville over this trip and with in-form Chad Little aboard, he could overcome a tricky draw. Soldier’s Eye is distance suited and should have a chance here from draw two.

In the fillies and Mares 99 handicap Accept Cookies is a decent sort and she will enjoy the step back down to 1600m, so should go close from draw two. Avoontoast has ability and has finished close the last two times she has tried this trip, so she should be involved from a good draw of three. Kisshoten is a hard knocking sort who should be right there if able to overcome a tricky draw of seven. Last Car To Pass is also in good form and was only 0.6 lengths behind Kisshoten  last time, but she is now half-a-kilogram worse off. Princess Ilaria could be in the shake-up here over a suitable course and distance from a draw of six out of nine.

In the first leg of the Pick 6 Longsword will enjoy this 1200 meters course and distance from draw three and could mow them down late. Hemisphere  should enjoy the step up in trip and is drawn in pole, so should be involved. Fully Loaded is knocking on the door but does have a tough draw to overcome  over this suitable trip. Palace Revolt did well over 1000m last time and should also stay this trip, so can be involved from a fair draw of five. Sylvan Warrior did well in a Gr 2 over this trip at Hollywoodbets Greyville last time and although he was given a ten point raise and has to carry topweight against older horses, he could earn.

 

In the second leg of the Pick 6 King Of Numbers is drawn in pole over a 1200m trip that seems to stretch him a bit on the evidence of his form, but in the fast current conditions he should be thereabouts from pole position. Ombudsman has disappointed in his last two starts, but he now has a good draw and if he bounces back to his best he could be right there under Craig Zackey. Eiffel Tower represents the in-form St. John Gray yard from a fair draw over a suitable trip and he has a chance. Salute the flag will appreciate coming back to this trip and if he repeats his run in May and is able to overcome a tricky draw he  should be thereabouts. Hong Kong is well regarded and in-form Chad Little is up, so over this seemingly ideal trip she has a chance from a fair draw, although she does have to carry joint topweight against the boys which won’t be easy.

In the eighth race over 1600m Kissing Machine bounced back to her best last time over 1800m when the blinkers were removed. She enjoys this trip too and has a fair draw so looks the one to beat. Way To Burn ran well last time over 1450m and this handy to front-running sort should make a bold bid if able to get to the front from a wide draw. Boom Boom is not too reliable but Serino Moodley should suit her and if dropped out and left alone she should be running on. Future Date represents the in-form St. John Gray yard and from a good draw over a suitable trip with Muzi Yeni up she should be right there. Lapis Lazuli disappointed last time but has come down the merit ratings and could be a player if returning to her best from a plum draw.

 

In the last race over 1450m Zoombomber ran a cracker last time over 1800m, but will be effective over this trip too and looks the one to beat from a plum draw of two with a 1.5kg claimer up. Sail The Sky ran well last time over this course and distance from draw two and has a fair draw again, so has another chance. Can’t Catch Me is knocking on the door and this is an ideal trip, but she does have a tough draw. Sunshine Day has bits and pieces of form that could see her placing if producing her best. Libeccio is an unreliable sort but on his going days he is dangerous so he is tough to ignore despite having a wide draw.

 

In the first leg of the PA over 1000m the British-bred Deal Maker has gone close in both starts on the Highveld and will be hard to beat in this line up.

 

In the first leg of the Bipot over 1500m Greenlight Racer is capable of improvement and should be able to despatch this field from a much better draw than last time and over a slight step down in trip that will also suit at this stage.

 

In the first race over 1500m Lady Blunt ran a cracker last time over 1400m and should be in the shake-up here, although she does have a tough draw. Frangipani ran well last time out over 1400m and with a repeat could be in the shake-up, although she also has a tricky draw. Hollywood Madam has shown enough form to be a contender here and has a fair draw.

Soccer 10 Friday 15 August 2025. ADD-IN R 200 000. Estimated Pool: R 2 Million. Pool Closes at 19:00 .Sport 16 and Pool 1.

Soccer4 Saturday 16 August 2025. Carryover  R25 000. Estimated Pool: R100 000. Pool Closes at 15:00. Sport 17 and Pool 2.

Soccer6 Saturday 16 August 2025. ADD-IN R50 000. Pool Closes at 15:00.Sport 2 Pool 2. Estimated Pool: R400 000.

Soccer13 Saturday 16 August 2025. R24 Million (If only One 13 of 13 Winner). Pool Closes at 15:30. Sport 10 Pool 1.

Soccer Any13X on Saturday 16 August 2025. ADD-IN R150 000. Estimated Pool: R 500 000. Pool Closes at 13:30. Sport 13 and Pool 1

 

Please Note: South African Quartet Pools with fractional betting offered at Salisbury and Windsor (UK) – 14 August 2025