Alistair Cohen

This is the time of season that the two-year-old campaigners start to plot their ways towards their targets. Whether Johannesburg, Durban or in this case, a stay in Cape Town in the dark, wet winter to play the long game, interest starts to rise. Rich Man’s World caught the eye on debut when he won so whichever direction he heads, racegoers will learn plenty about him when he runs in race 4 over 1000m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth today.

He was faultless when he won his debut at this course over 1000m. He did everything on his own terms. Showed a good cruising speed and he kicked off that. Rich Man’s World defeated Winter Pirate by two lengths. Crucially, Winter Pirate justified short odds subsequently and won with ease.

Rich Man’s World had a workout at Hollywoodbets Durbanville recently. That blowout would have sharpened him up and got him ready for this attempt.

Trainer Vaughan Marshall is known to be excellent with his youngsters. This is the first time in a few years that he is taking a string to Durban because he believes he has the stock to compete. Time will tell if Rich Man’s World is on the float. If he does travel, he will need to prepare for the roadtrip soon after this race. Sean Veale takes the ride.

One two other horses have experience in the race. My Bonny Boy has an eight-length deficit to overturn which is unlikely. Some first timers make appeal with Happy Winter, Redford and Fair Fate making some appeal as far as they are bred.

The card is mainly made up of maidens. Many of whom look ready to win. Across the afternoon there is not a terrible shortage of form.

Red Wave has an outstanding chance of scooping an overdue victory in race 1 over 1100m. Louis Burke takes the ride for Justin Snaith. Burke is an integral cog in the Snaith wheel as his main workrider. Red Wave ran a creditable third behind Trois Sept Huit at this course over a month ago. He has to be treated cautiously because he is not the easiest to trust having his 11^th career start.

Margate is impeccably bred by What A Winter out of Amanzimtoti who is by Beach Beauty who was a great racehorse and a multiple Graded stakes producing mare. Margate ran fifth on debut behind Shezaripper. The form has not taken the turn many expected but she showed enough on debut to suggest there will be a significant step forward when she runs in race 2 over 1200. Candice Bass trains. She is easily the most in-form trainer in Cape Town.

Vibe Check made vast improvement in his second run. From being beaten out of sight on debut to a narrow second behind Lady Jean second up. Veale and Marshall combine with this son of Querari. Unless a first timer is good quality, he should get the job done. There have been whispers about Aquae Calidae for a while. He is very well bred but Eric Sands is not known to ready them up on debut.

Redlight Lane is also overdue her maiden exit and she must have a top chance in race 5 over 1200m. She has had a few chances in some pretty shallow fields but her reward for consistency must be around the corner. Her main dangers come back from lengthy breaks. Blue Lagoon has not been seen since November while Liefling, Somebody Somewhere and Ntibindi have been away from the course for longer. Redlight Lane must be in the right place at the right time.

Spanish Verse was all the rage when he last ran but he found Tunguska two lengths too good. He was scratched about 10 days prior to this engagement but he is clearly no worse for wear. He runs in race 6 over 1800m and he is another Bass-trained horse who can take advantage of the hot form from the yard. His family shows the further they go and the more they race, the better.

Moody Blue has found himself in good touch on the back of his narrow victory last time when he showed tons of courage. He could go back-to-back in race 7 over 1000m. He might be one-dimensional being an out-and-out sprinter but there was a lot to like about his recent win and his recent honest form. Mike Stewart has his horses in good nick too which makes him even more an appealing option in an event with plenty of chances.

My Only Weakness seems to be back in some sort of form with some recent hints that she can score an overdue next victory. She lines up in race 8 over 1400m. She showed some early promise but her wins suddenly dried up and her visits to the winners’ box have been sparse lately. Her last run took her close-up behind her revelatory stable companion Dream Searcher. She made up ground at the end hinting that her next run could be her best. Calvin Habib is in town to take the ride for Adam Marcus.

Trainer Ricky Maingard has been among the winers over the last few meetings and that trend looks set to continue in race 9 over 1400m. Zagreb has some strong formlines to his name and he finds himself peaking to exit the maidens. He could stack up as the best bet on the card. Callan Murray is carded to take the ride.

RACE 1

1 RED WAVE must have a big winning chance in this field, he is very consistent, this looks to be the perfect race for him to exit the maiden ranks. 6 JOUEUR DE FLUTE has been rested for 76 days, he is much better than his last performance behind District Master on the 13th of January, the drop in trip is key for this gelding, if he doesn’t need the run back from a small break, he will go close to winning this race. 3 HEDRIVESMECRAZY has run two nice races with the blinkers fitted, he should be competitive on his current form, watch him closely. 2 VOLEGOV was extremely disappointing behind Fast Train on the 22nd of February, he can definitely surprise them all on his best form, include him into all bets. (Brandon Bailey: 1 – 6 – 3 – 2)

RACE 2

4 MARGATE ran a lovely race on debut behind Shezaripper, she was very green early in the race, and she flew home late to finish just over three lengths behind them at the line, with natural improvement expected from this filly, she will take lots of beating. The balance of the form for those who’ve already raced doesn’t inspire much confidence, which brings the spotlight onto a few well-bred first timers, keep a close eye on them both in the parade ring and in the market. (Brandon Bailey: 4 – 7 – 3 – 1)

RACE 3

2 VIBE CHECK ran a cracker behind Lady Jean up the straight at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on the 22nd of February, he is a beautiful colt with lots of ability, there is no doubt that he can win a race like this, include him into all bets. 9 TAG AND RELEASE quickened up smartly to run a good race behind Winter Pirate on the 18th of March, he will love the step up in trip to 1200m, in hope that this run hasn’t come too soon for him, he will go close to winning. 10 LAVA STRIKE ran a fair race on debut behind Rich Man’s World on the 25th of February, he will improve tons going into his second run on Monday, watch him closely. 7 SOUNDSOFSYMPHONIES has been rested for 128 days, he was slightly slow into stride on debut when staying on well late behind Querari Dancer, the yard thinks highly of this colt, he can only improve. Watch the first timers closely, they are extremely well-bred. (Brandon Bailey: 2 – 9 – 10 – 7)

RACE 4

4 RICH MAN’S WORLD quickened away from his field to win in style on debut, he looks every inch a smart colt in the making, and on what we’ve seen so far, he should be winning again. 7 MY BONNY BOY finished just over eight lengths behind Rich Man’s World last time, even though he is 3kgs better off at the weights on Monday, he will find it tough to turn the form around. Once again, there are some well-bred individuals making their debut here, the market will be your best guide. (Brandon Bailey: 4 – 7 – 3 – 5)

RACE 5

8 BLUE LAGOON has been rested for 124 days, her form is excellent, if she doesn’t need the run after a small break, she will go close to winning in this field. 3 REDLIGHT LANE ran a fair race behind Peaches And Cream on the 14th of February, she’s taking a bit of time to mature, the blinkers have been fitted, and she drops in trip to 1200m on Monday, watch for sharp improvement from this filly. 5 SOMEBODY SOMEWHERE has been rested for 156 days, her two runs to date have been good, even though the 1200m trip is on the short side for this individual, she will be doing some good work late. 7 NTIBINDI has been rested for 212 days, she improved nicely to finish just over two lengths behind Miss William when last seen at Hollywoodbets Durbanville last year, this doesn’t look to be the strongest race on paper, she’s likely to need the run after a lengthy break, she could sneak into the Quartet, watch her closely at a decent price. (Brandon Bailey: 8 – 3 – 5 – 7)

RACE 6

2 SPANISH VERSE stayed on really well to finish second behind Tunguska on the 28th of February, he should get the perfect run from a good draw, there is no doubt that he will be right there in the finish on his current form. 3 GOLD GOLD BABY quickened like a train late to finish just over one length behind April Fool’s Day on the 25th of February, she is the only filly in the race, if she brings her last run to the track again on Monday, she will go close to winning from a neat draw. 1 QUIET PLACE ran a much better race with the blinkers fitted last time, there should be no excuses for this gelding on Monday, he has a good draw and the blinkers stay on, he will be competitive. 8 FREQUENT TRAVELLER has run some fair races of late, he will need lots of luck in running from a tricky draw, keep a close eye on him. (Brandon Bailey: 2 – 3 – 1 – 8)

RACE 7

1 FOLLOW YOUR HEART is much better than his last run, he was disappointing behind Whirlwind up the straight at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on the 31st of January, the drop in trip to 1000m could be key for this beautiful gelding, watch for sharp improvement on Monday, if he bounces back to his best form, he can definitely win a race like this. 7 FLYING FINLEY ran a great race in a strong field on the 4th of March at Hollywoodbets Durbanville, he will be just off the speed early, and he will be flying at them late, include him into all bets. 8 MOODY BLUE won a gutsy race on the 4th of March, it was a terrific ride by top jockey Richard Fourie, even though he was given six points for that good win last time, he should remain competitive in this field. 2 TRAILFINDER finished just over four lengths behind Spirit on the 22nd of February, that was his first run out the maiden ranks, he looks progressive, the drop in trip to 1000m will help his chances. (Brandon Bailey: 1 – 7 – 8 – 2)

RACE 8

5 UNA THE UNICORN ran a super race behind Dream Searcher on the 4th of March at Hollywoodbets Durbanville, she will be cherry ripe for this race on Monday, if the gaps open at the right time for this filly, she will go close to winning at a decent price. 7 JOU LEKKER DING never runs a bad race, she will love the drop in trip to 1400m, she always has a winning chance at this level, include her into all bets. 3 MY ONLY WEAKNESS stayed on beautifully for third last time behind Dream Searcher her stable companion, she is in good form at the moment, and she has a good draw, she will be competitive. 4 ALLTHEBOYSIVELOVED has all the ability in the world, she has dropped even further in the ratings, she can sneak into the places on her best form. (Brandon Bailey: 5 – 7 – 3 – 4)

RACE 9

1 MUTINY IN HEAVEN quickened up well late to finish just under five lengths behind Fast Train on the 22nd of February, that was his first run back after a lengthy break, he will love the step up in trip to 1400m on Monday, he could be some decent value in this tricky race, watch him closely from a good draw. 2 CAESAR’S RANSOM has been rested and gelded, he has run two top races in succession, if he doesn’t need the run back from a small break, he will be right there in the finish from a neat draw. 4 SUPER VIKING has been rested and gelded, he ran a lovely race behind District Master at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on the 13th of January, he is improving with every start, include him into all bets. 8 CHARLIE BUCKET ran a cracker behind Greenchoice on the 22nd of February, if he settles early, he will run a big race again. This is a tough race, many with winning chances, go wide. (Brandon Bailey: 1 – 2 – 4 – 8)

Andrew Harrison

Justin Snaith has got his winter season off to a strong start in preparation for Champions Season that starts officially on May 1. Snaith kicked off with Okavango winning at Hollywoodbets Scottsville last weekend beating King Pelles in his warm-up for the Gr1 HKJC World Pool Premier’s Champion Challenge at Turffontein come this Saturday and Malmesbury Missile winning the Gr3 Byerley Turk at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Friday evening.

Malmesbury Missile showed snatches of top class ability last season but Snaith admitted that he had not listened to Richard Fourie who had recommended gelding. Running two stones lighter for the first time on Friday, he put in a sustained finishing effort to get the better of I’m A Fireball and Wild Justice in a showing that augurs well for a crack at the Gr2 World Sports Betting KZN Guineas.

Wild Justice, going 1400m for the first time, took hold of the bit from the jump and never settled under replacement rider Callan Murray, setting some smart early fractions chased by I’m A Fireball with Musi Yeni biding his time in the pack on the winner.

After his early exertions, Wild Justice was a spent force when challenged by I’m A Fireball who looked destined for victory before Yeni unleashed Malmesbury Missile who cut into the lead to win going away.

Snaith gave a heads-up to punters that he had come to KZN with ‘plenty of ammo’ and the stable would be worth following.

Dean Kannemeyer shuttles between KZN and Cape Town but given that his roots are in the Cape one could call him a Cape Town trainer.

Be that as it may, he too has arrived with a super strong string for Champions Season and while Summerveld assistant Nicolett Roscoe sends out a steady stream of winners throughout the year, like Snaith, Kannemeyer has arrived with plenty of ‘ammo’ starting off with Keukenhof in the G2 Umzimkhulu Stakes where the form of the race worked out to a tee for those punters that took note of the weights.

A daughter of The United States, Keukenhof was not disgraced in Cape feature company over their season and was running on late behind Double Grand Slam in the Majorca Stakes where she was less than a length behind Gimme What I Want. She was 3kg better off at the weights on Friday with Gimme What I Want who in turn was 1kg better off with favourite Quickstepgal on their Sceptre Stakes meeting.

Quickstepgal led for most of the race but was unable to hold off Gimme What I Want who in turn was no match for the finishing burst from a patiently ridden Keukenhof who was getting 3kg from Gimme What I Want and 6kg from Quickstepgal.

This trio look primed for Champions Season and the Gr2 World Sports Betting Fillies Guineas must be on the radar for all three.

Please Note: South African Quartet Pools with fractional betting offered at Doncaster (UK) – 29 March 2026

• SPLITTHEEIGHTS: 109 to 116
• ONE EYE ON VEGAS: 106 to 115
• RADIO STAR: 95 to 107

• SCARLETT HEART (third): 91 to 108
• DAISY JONES (fourth): 106 to 108