Andrew Harrison

The seven-year-old Good Traveller has been an ATM for owner Howard Schwegmann and he put in another five star performance when winning the Middle Stakes that headed the poly card at Hollywoodbets Greyville yesterday.

This was his third win on the bounce and he won with authority although there was a couple of hard luck stories behind him.

S’Manga Khumalo is unbeaten on the gelding and he had no hesitation in taking Gareth van Zyl’s charge to the front and setting his own fractions.

Agrado, one of the fancied runners, jumped awkwardly and was left many lengths and from there on never in the hunt. Thisiswhatitmeans gave the starters assistants a difficult time but eventually loaded with Sean Veale settling him in off the pace.

Good Traveller was always traveling sweetly but may have been hard-pressed if Thisiswhatitmeans had got a clear run at the line. Veale was forced to ease at a vital stage but once in the clear Thisiswhatitmeans was eating up the ground but eventually denied a fifth straight victory on the poly.

Veale had better luck aboard Isivivane for Peter Muscutt as he stuck to the inside rail to get the better of long-time leader Sun Dance Kid to win the B Stakes.

Talk of the day came in the Class 5 Handicap won by Peggy Sue Shake from My Gucci Girl and a desperately unlucky Saint Brigid who had an objection by Serino Moodley over ruled by the stipendiary board but his deposit refunded.

Moodley had successfully navigated a closing gap as Cole Dicken straightened out Angel Of My Heart  and Saint Brigid punched through the gap. However, he was met by Peggy Sue Shake drifting out onto My Gucci Girl who was making steady progress up the outside. Moodley was forced to snatch up off the heels of Peggy Sue Shake as the gap closed but held on for third.

A brief summary of the stipendiary report reads that both horses were inconvenienced and given the winning margin the objection was over ruled but apprentice Mxolisi Mbuto copped a suspension for his part.

The full report makes interesting reading.

Rachel Venniker has hit a purple patch of late and rode a confident race aboard the Michael Roberts-trained favourite Lou Lou to open proceedings. Off the pace in the early stages, Venniker aimed for a gap between Captain T and Task Force and the daughter of Declarationofpeace responded readily to draw off and win rather comfortably from Task Force who stayed on gamely and Roy’s Blossom who made up ground from the back of the small field.

Blue Steel started at prohibitive odds in the second and those that took the cramped odds were rewarded as the son of Eric The Red made all the running under Serino Moodley. According to assistant trainer Terry Fripp, Blue Steel is not the easiest customer to deal with at home, giving kudos to his regular work rider, and Serino Moodley took the easiest option, jumping to the front and was not for the catching, Blue Steel drawing away to win as he liked.

Praise De La Rey finally got it right to open the Place Accumulator.  MJ Odendaal’s filly showed a remarkable turn of form once Nicholas Patel was given the ride and although it took the pair five runs to escape the maidens the daughter of Act Of War paid her way. Confidently ridden, Praise De La Ray took it up crossing the subway and kept finding to the line. Favourite Lilting Song was a little slow to begin but did not go on with her effort as she threatened briefly to edge out Vaans Spirit.

Keagan de Melo showed all of his experience in the first leg of the Pick 6 as he rode an excellent race on Alyson Wright’s gelding World of Our Own. A horse that tends to hang in under pressure, De Melo was content to drop out from the jump and avoid the scrum for the lead. He then went wide enough in the straight to avoid causing interference on his inside but the gelding was always travelling sweetly and was a commanding winner. Unlucky not to finish closer was Record High who was the ham in the sandwich some 300m out but once clear, he ran on strongly and one for the notebook.

 Wengi Masawi may have got lucky with Peggy Sue Shake but there were no mistakes for the second winner for the Ashburton trainer as Veale got the best out of Tladi Mothwana to land the Class 4 ahead of Highveld visitor Hathighwaytothesky for Hollywood Racing’s third success of the afternoon.

Veale pressed for home at the top of the straight and kept his mount hard to his task while Calvin Habib hunted daylight with gaps closing and his mount hanging in. He made up plenty of ground but too late and Tequila Sky finished off her race smartly, coming from well back to snatch third.

MJ Odendaal landed a mighty gamble in the last. Dressed to the nine’s in what he always tells me are his father’s old ‘threads’, Mystique Rouge was backed from an opening call of 20-1 to start around 4-1, vying with Queen Fenn and Acacia’s Blossom for top of the boards.

Those that put their money down will have been more than a little concerned in the early exchanges as Mystique Rouge was caught at the back of the big field. However, Nicholas Patel managed to thread his way through the pack up the straight and get to the line hard-pressed by Acacia’s Blossom, giving him and Odendaal a double on the day.

David Thiselton

The racing highlights around the globe last week were two instances where the sport and the love of the horse ruled over all else and were a reflection on one of Winston Churchill’ most famous quotes. “There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man“.

The two horse involved were Constitution Hill and Ka Ying Rising, both champions of their respective racing disciplines over hurdles and the flat respectively.

The first of the two highlights was actually the most spine-tingling as it came so unexpectedly, at least to a South African racing fan.

Constitution Hill was turning out in a mile-and-half race on the All Weather track at Southwell just 18 days ahead of the Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

The nine-year-old was unbeaten in his first ten hurdles races and they included eight Gr 1 races with two Cheltenham Festival Gr 1 championship races, the 2022 Supreme Novices Hurdle and the 2023  Champion Hurdle, among them.

However, his whole career was under a cloud as he had fallen in three of his last four hurdles starts and in the other one had finished fifth out of six in the Gr 1 Boodles Champion Hurdle at Punchestown.

He was 1/2 favourite in last year’s Champion Hurdle, having missed the 2024 Champion Hurdle and also having had wind surgery, when having the first of his falls.

The unthinkable then happened on two further occasions as he was evens favourite when falling in the Gr 1 at Aintree and 6/4 favourite when falling as early as the second flight in the Gr 1 at Newcastle.

There has obviously been a lot of thought put into running him in the Champion Hurdle and whether it is worth the risk and an inkling of how much the great trainer Nicky Henderson cares for him was seen in his decision to give him a fitness preparation outing on the flat, where there was no risk of falling over obstacles.

South Africans who tuned in expected to just witness a normal all weather race with some added interest.

So it was astounding when Constitution Hill used his long stride to surge to the front from a handy position to hear a massive roar coming from the crowd.

It was one of those rare moments, like when Desert Orchid won the Gold Cup or when winning his fourth King George, or like when Zenyatta won the Breeders Cup Classic, where the entire crowd was united behind just one horse.

As Constitution Hill neared the line the roar got louder and the TV footage captured images of the crowd jumping up and down with hands in the air.

It then came to light that Constitution Hill’s presence had seen the crowd expand by 800% from the previous meeting at the track.

The crowd were lined deep around the winner’s enclosure to give Constitution Hill a hero’s reception as he returned, a sight more familiar with the Cheltenham Festival than a Southwell All  Weather meeting.

Henderson and owner Michael Buckley face the tough decision on whether to go for the Champion Hurdle, but in the meantime a whole new option has opened for them such was the impression the nine-year-old had created when converting 6/4 in his first ever flat start on Friday in that Novice Stakes event.

Buckley is now dreaming of a tilt at the Melbourne Cup.

There was more excitement for the racing purist on Sunday as the David Hayes-trained Ka Ying Rising was attempting to break Hong Kong’s 17 successive wins record set by the legendary Silent Witness.

The crowd came armed with flags and 18-in-a-row souvenirs and the brilliant horse did not disappoint.

He was out in a flash as usual and was able to settle in second place behind Copartner Prance.

Zac Purton made sure there was no opportunity for anybody to box him in by moving off the rail when Patch Of Theta made a move to come alongside him.

Ka Ying Rising was thus on the leader’s quarters rounding the turn and he was still hard on the bit when passing the Silent Witness statue that is positioned on the public forecourt adjacent to the top of the straight.

There was then the familiar site of the equine hero powering to the front still under the hands with the rest of the field chasing shadows.

The race was the Gr 1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup over 1400m and despite cruising in Ka Ying smashed the course record by 0,56 seconds, to add to his 1200m course record.

He has broken the successive wins record 7,629 days after Silent Witness had recorded his 17th successive triumph and the crowd gave him a massive reception, including a gigantic banner with 18 on it being moved by the crowd above their heads.

RACE 1

3 MRS STORMIATRIX 5 WISPINTHEWILLOW 4 HURRICANE POWER 2 JAWBREAKER

Preview: 3 MRS STORMIATRIX has the best form of this small field and has a good opportunity. 5 WISPINTHEWILLOW has run two good races and will be a threat. 4 HURRICANE POWER has shown some ability and could earn. 2 JAWBREAKER also looks capable of earning here. (David Thiselton 3-5-4-2)

RACE 2

5 STAR BLAZE 4 NATIONAL BLISS 2 DUCHESS DI 1 EMPRESS WU

Preview: 5 STAR BLAZE made a good debut behind a promising sort. 4 NATIONAL BLISS is by What A Winter and is a half-sister to Gr 3-winning sprinter Full Velocity. 2 DUCHESS DI has run two good races and will be a threat. 1 EMPRESS WU is capable of earning here. (David Thiselton 5-4-2-1)

RACE 3

9 NIGHTSHINE 4 DEAR DOC 3 CRIMSON CLOVER 5 EHHFIFTEENKJOE

Preview: 9 NIGHTSHINE has finished second in both starts, although well beaten last time, and has a chance. 4 DEAR DOC has 1,90 lengths to find on Nightshine and has a wide draw. 3 CRIMSON CLOVER was not far behind Dear Doc last time. 5 EHHFIFTEENKJOE split Dear Doc and Crimson Clover last time but has a tricky draw. (David Thiselton 9-4-3-5)

RACE 4

1 BLOOD OF EDEN 2 SHADOWLINE 5 COOL REGGAE 3 COMIC ARTIST

Preview: 1 BLOOD OF EDEN is knocking on the door and was beaten quite far last time by a promising sort. 2 SHADOWLINE has shown promise and scope for improvement. 5 COOL REGGAE went close last time and should be in the shake up. 3 COMIC ARTIST has shown enough to be able to earn. (David Thiselton 1-2-5-3)

RACE 5

9 VIXENINTHEVINEYARD 8 WAR TALK 4 INCLUSION 3 EMERALD CITY

Preview: 9 VIXENINTHEVINEYARD is knocking hard and should get it right here over a suitable trip. 8 WAR TALK has shown promise but was well beaten by Vixeninthevineyard when they met. 4 INCLUSION ran a fair race over this trip last time. 3 EMERALD CITY will have to bounce back but is capable of earning. (David Thiselton 9-8-4-3)

RACE 6

4 RAFA BAY 5 PLUS FOUR 3 ESQUEVELLE 2 MAGIC TATTOO

Preview: 4 RAFA BAY is knocking hard and gets a good opportunity here. 5 PLUS FOUR has proved to be suited to this trip. 3 ESQUEVELLE can never be discounted over this trip. 2 MAGIC TATTOO has the ability to pop up. (David Thiselton 4-5-3-2)

RACE 7

1 PRECOCIOUS 2 BOSUM BUDDY 3 GASLIGHT DANCER 6 MAVERICK QUEEN

Preview: 1 PRECOCIOUS has been impressive on the Highveld and can defy the handicapper again. 2 BOSUM BUDDY has the form to earn. 3 GASLIGHT DANCER goes for a hattrick but this is a bit tougher. 6 MAVERICK QUEEN is in good form and can still improve. (David Thiselton 1-2-3-6)

RACE 8

4 VARACHINO’S CHAMP 3 BLINDFIRE 8 ANGEL’S OASIS 10 TIME FOR CHARITY

Preview: 4 VARACHINO’S CHAMP is progressive and should go close. 3 BLINDFIRE beaten by a good sort last time and can earn again. 8 ANGEL’S OASIS can go close if repeating her last start. 10 TIME FOR CHARITY is in  good form and can be in the shake up again. (David Thiselton 4-3-8-10)

Please Note: South African Quartet Pools with fractional betting offered at Newcastle and Southwell (UK) – 24 February 2026.

Soccer13 Tuesday 24 February 2026. Carryover R3 306 022. R6.5 Million (All-13-Correct Pool). Pool Closes at 21h15. Sport 10 Pool 1.