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!

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 Newmarket and Yarmouth (UK) – 15 August 2025

David Thiselton

Donovan Dillon, a stalwart Gr 1-winning graduate of the South African Jockey Academy, is all set for a breakthrough season in Australia and he has made a good start.

He has been in Australia since June 2022 but his first ride as a permanent resident in Australia was only on January 2 this year and he accumulated 29 wins in the seven months that were remaining of the season and did it at a decent strike rate of 12% and had a place strike rate of 34% for overall earnings of Aus$964,700.

Donovan previously rode exclusively for the small racing yard at the famous Arrowfield stud farm where he was based and rides were few and far between and he was also out for a long time with a serious thigh injury.

He can now look forward to a full season and will be hoping to draw the attention of the Metropolitan yards.

He has made a fine start to the 2025/2026 season as he has already had three wins, two seconds and a third in just 12 starts for a win strike rate of 25%, place strike rate of 58.3% and earnings of Aus$89,725.

His 29 wins last season put him in 229th position on the Australian log and this season his early three wins have put him in 52nd place.

He is obviously mathematically on his way to beating his rank of last season comfortably.

He said a couple of years ago he believed he could make it to the top in Australia and he is going about it in the right way.

He is based in New South Wales.

On the same page of the stats as Donovan last season were some other names who will be known to South African fans:

Heavelon van der Hoven did well with 31 wins at a strike rate of 11.6% for earnings of Aus$1,327,575. He was battling in Cape Town at one stage, although he did take home one of the biggest riding cheques in South African history when winning the 2016 CTS Million Dollar on the Glen Puller-trained Illuminator having got the ride only on the morning of the race thanks to a sore back causing Weichong to book off. Heavelon earned a cheque of about R630,000 for that chance ride.

He is also based in New South Wales and has had one win in eight rides this season.

Brandon Lerena is based in Brisbane in Queensland and had 31 wins at 13% last season for earnings of $914,885. He has had two wins in 16 rides this season.

Karl Zechner, who is also based in Queensland, had 30 wins at a strike rate of 8.3% last season for earnings of Aus$866,185. He has had two wins in 19 rides so far this season.

Jaden Lloyd, son of legendary South African jockey Jeff Lloyd, had 27 wins last season at 11.7% for earnings of Aus$1,279,570. He is also based in Queensland and has had one win in eleven rides this season.

Jeff’s sensational younger son Zac finished in 21st position on the Australian log last season with 97 wins at 1.3% and earnings of $14,566,360. He is based in New South Wales and had had one win in eleven starts so far this season.

Keagan Latham had a fine 2024/2025 season with 81 wins at a strike rate of 14.9% for earnings of Aus$3,462,050 which put him in 39th position on the Australian log. He is based in New South Wales and has had one win so far this season in 15 rides.

Sean Cormack was in 56th position with 73 wins at a strike rate of 13.2% for earnings of $2,086,130. He is based in Queensland and has had four wins in 27 rides this season.

Chad Schofield had 51 wins at 12.2% last season but had big earnings of $11,675,865 as he was associated with the top horse Ceolwulf, who won two Gr 1s last October, including the King Charles III Stakes which alone earned the connections Aus$3,060,000. He is based in New South Wales and hasn’t had a winner yet in seven rides this season.

Mark Du Plessis had 22 wins last season at a 22% strike rate for earnings of Aus$1,568,175. He is based in Queensland and hasn’t ridden since a nasty fall at Ipswich on July 3.

Callan Murray had 19 wins at 7.4% last season in Australia for earnings of Aus$766,555 before returning to South Africa. That was a good decision as his career has taken off again out here and he has already added three more Gr 1 victories to his CV in the three months he has been back.

Chris Taylor had seven wins last season at a 10.8% strike rate for earnings of Aus$116,362. He is based in Queensland and has only had two rides this season for one third.

Marnu Potgieter rode in some work riders races in South Africa, making his debut at the Vaal in December 2012. He had 42 rides in Australia last season for three wins at 7.1% for earnings of Aus$173,010. He was based in Queensland and has not had a ride since October last year.

Teaque Gould only had 14 rides in Australia last season, but had two wins for a strike rate of 14.3% and earnings of Aus$48,035, so hopefully he gets more chances this season. He is based in New South Wales and has not had a ride this season yet.

Donovan Yeo had one win in Australia last season in 18 rides at 5.6% for earnings of Aus$50,400. He is based in New South Wales and has not returned a win in two rides this season.

Lyle Hewitson had three rides in Australia last season during the Hong Kong off season and had three wins at 11.5% for earnings of $104,890.