Andrew Harrison

Sabine Plattner has got to be one of the most patient owners in the sport. Her familiar green and indigo colours are always prominent in the Western Cape, where Plattner has a private training facility up the West Coast, but also in Kwa-Zulu Natal where Byron Forster does duty for boss Andre Nel at Summerveld.  Mostly home bred at Plattner’s La Plaisance Stud, Nel is never one to rush his charges and is afforded the luxury of an understanding owner.

Pleasedtoseeyou is a five-year-old La Plaisance-bred who only had 13 races under his saddle until yesterday but paid his way with his second win in the fifth on the poly at Hollywoodbets Greyville.

Serino Moodley has become part of the furniture in Nel’s Summerveld yard and he rode the perfect front-running race. Along with stable companion Mac Hardy, they cut the early fractions before Mac Hardy threw in the towel leaving Ultra Quick the main challenger. However, Ultra Quick’s challenge faded to nothing leaving Got The Word and Navajo Dancer keeping Pleasedtoseeyou honest.

There was a flood of late money for Willow Valli in the first but unfortunately for her backers she also arrived too late. Asgardian Queen made all the running under Calvin Habib with Wendy Whitehead’s charge staying on the lead in a grinding finish to hold off Blazing Belle before Willow Valli arrived late to snatch second.

Gold Gold Baby, dropped back to a mile with first time blinkers, held off a determined challenge from Treasure Island to win the second under Chad Little. Leading for most of the way, Gen Kotzen’s filly kept finding in a pressure-cooker finish to keep Treasure Island at bay.

Princess Trippi looked to be one of the better bets on a tricky card and so it proved as Keagan de Melo waited his turn at the top of the straight before streaking away to win as he liked. It was the second winner for Whitehead and although the opposition did not stack up to much, it was a win full of merit.

Game in defeat, Ebisu was unable to peg back the year older Sesame in the fourth, a Class 4 over 2000m. Giving the winner 8kg, 4kg courtesy of apprentice Anaas Mosaheb, the two fillies joined battle over a furlong out. Sesame appeared to have the upper hand over the final 50m but Callan Murray got Ebisu to rally again but just not enough to deny Glen Kotzen a double on the day.

On the verge of being retired from racing four runs back, blinkers, back-to-front alumites and intensive physio has seen Meerkat Moon reach his full potential as he ran out and easy winner of the sixth.

Sean Veale made the most of his inside draw on Mark Dixon’s runner and made not mistakes. The gelding had the run of the race, slipping up the inside rail before drawing off to win as he liked.

It was also pleasing to see the blinkers removed from Meerkat Moon before the lead-in according the horse some dignity and owners who don’t remove their dark glasses before their interviews should take note.

Nathan Kotzen is a staunch supporter of Dezahn Louw and the promising apprentice delivered a confident front-running ride on the well-supported Chicarito in the seventh. The gelding does not have the best of legs (for the layman – not the best conformed according to strict equine physiology), and has taken to the poly track and recorded back-to-back wins. Ante-post favourite Bangkok Magic drifted in the market but still finished a creditable second to edge out Winter In London.

The judges took their time declaring the winner of the last as pacemakers B Fifty Two and Victor Rail fought out a desperate finish. There was nothing separating the two over the final 50m and little more than a piece of paper as Kom Naidoo’s outsider added a zero onto the Pick 6 payout.

David Thiselton

The highest rated race at Turffontein Inside on Thursday is a MR94 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1200m and it could go to the progressive Joe Soma-trained Lost For Words.

The Canford Cliffs four-year-old filly can be made a banker despite having to jump from a tough barrier position of ten out of ten. Mickaelle Michel’s 1.5kg gender claim alleviates the maximum eight point raise she was given for her impressive last win and the lightly raced filly, who has won three out of six starts, now has her third run after a six month layoff. She can be dropped out from the draw and one can picture her mowing them down late with her big action. The Tony Peter-trained Hathighwaytothesky will make a bold bid from pole position as she is a small, nippy sort who should enjoy this tight track and she is capable of a late kick. Crystal Grove has the ability to contest the finish in this race from a plum draw of two with champion apprentice elect Blaine Marx-Jacobson aboard.

In the first leg of the Pick 6 over 1600m Jimmy Vega ran on well from the back last time over 1400m after being dropped out from a tricky draw and can do the same here. On pedigree, being by Malmoos out of a Dynasty mare, he will relish the step up in trip. The Midnight Show ran well third time out when stepped up to this trip with first time blinkers on but he had a good draw of two then which allowed him to sit behind the vanguard on the rail but he now has to overcome draw eight out of nine. Kovil is by Malmoos out of a Giant’s Causeway mare so will relish the step up in trip. Having done better when stepped up to 1400m last time he could run on after being dropped out from a wide draw.

In the second leg over 1600m Pearl In Her Crown is a nice type and this consistent Soqrat filly has a fine chance from a plum draw over a suitable trip with Muzi Yeni up. There is not much between her and Delaware River on 1400m form, but the latter has a tricky draw to contend with. Kortvandraad has pole position with Gavin Lerena up and she will make a bold bid from pole position over an ideal trip with Gavin Lerena up. Pretty Analia is capable of a strong finish from off the pace, but she needs things to pan out well and she will have to dropped out from a wide draw. Eight Hats should not be far off Pearl In Her Crown and Delaware River on form.

In the fifth race over 1600m Kensal Green is on the up and from a fair draw of four can follow up on her impressive last win, despite being six points higher in the merit ratings. Onetwobucklemyshoe has ability and will have come on from her last run, which followed an eight month layoff. Juliet Tango will enjoy this trip and can make a bold bid from a good draw.

In the sixth race over 2600m Chabal is in good form at present and over a suitable trip with Mickaelle Michel up he should go close. Euphrates could be the one to beat from a fair draw as he has won over 2400m before and has consistent staying form. Gavin Lerena up is a bonus. Full Go has third-time cheekpieces on and could be in the shake up over a trip which should suit as he looks to be capable of better than his last two runs  although he does have a tricky draw.

In the last over 1200m Winter In Auckland made a good Highveld debut over 1160m, winning comfortably, and from a plum draw can follow up despite a seven point raise. Brigitte Ann can go close off a 76 merit rating from pole position as she won by 6,50 lengths last time over course and distance from draw seven under Keagan de Melo and now has Gavin Lerena up from pole position. Plumbago Park has the ability to be involved here despite a wide draw.

In the second race over 1600m Up And Up ran a good second to the highly proming Moana last time and she could outgun this opposition if able to overcome a tricky draw of six out of seven.

In the first race over 1200m the first-timer Jack’s Legacy is a half-brother to the four-time winner Warrior Of Royalty and should make a bold bid under Phenisile Mpngqawa, although it will be tough from a wide draw. Irish Wilma is drawn in pole and should be right there.

RACE 1

ERIK’S GIRL is only modest but she can earn some money in a race of this nature. JACK’S LEGACY makes her debut but would not be a surprise winner on her home track. Her stable companion YOUNG GENERAL did not show much on debut but is likely to be a lot smarter this time. BUFFALO DREAM can improve on a modest debut. IRISH WILMA has some fair form and could fight out the finish.

RACE 2

ME AND YOU showed good improvement in her second start. She can go one place better this time but it is a competitive looking race. EMPRESS OF PEACE has improved with the aid of blinkers and will be a threat. FOREST ACT has only had the two starts so improvement should be forthcoming. REGAL QUEEN is unreliable but could earn some money. TREX ON FIRE has some fair form and could make the frame. UP AND UP has not been reliable but is capable of scoring.

RACE 3

MIDNIGHT SHOW showed improvement with blinkers and the step up in distance. He can go one place better. JIMMY VEGA is improving and should be a real threat yet again. GUS ON THE BUS has only been modest of late but is well drawn and could play a minor role. KOVIL attracted betting support last time out and was not beaten too far so could make the frame with improvement likely.

RACE 4

A very open looking race. DELAWARE RIVER has not been beaten too far in her recent starts and could win a race like this. PEARL IN HER CROWN put up a decent performance last time out but has tended to be unreliable. KORTVANDRAAD is consistent and has every chance of scoring from her good draw. PRETTY ANALIA, BOLD ACTION and CAN’T CATCH ME are all arriving for this race after scoring but they are not reliable types. LAST GINGER and KYLIE’S ANGEL might earn some minor money.

RACE 5

KENSAL GREEN has won three of her last five starts. She gives weight to all her rivals but can score again. FIRE IN HER SOUL is well drawn and could contest the finish. JULIET TANGO is unreliable but would be a threat at best. RUSSIAN NOBILITY should like this distance and can contest the finish. ONETWOBUCKLEMYSHOE needed her last run and should make good improvement. LADY SABRINA is not reliable but can be competitive when in the right mood. OPERA FAN has a place chance on her best form.

RACE 6

Open event. Trainer Erico Verdonese has his yard in good form and both his runners are capable of scoring. DJ JUNIOR is in better form at the moment but include NUCLEAR FORCE in all permutations. DECEPTION PASS is a one-paced chap but has a chance this course and distance. EUPHRATES, STOP THE TRAFFIC and EMERALD CITY are all in good shape and capable of scoring. FULL GO has only been modest of late but might earn some money.

RACE 7

LOST FOR WORDS is clearly talented and has won three of her last four starts. She can score again. HATHIGHWAYTOTHESKY struggled in a better race than this last time out and can bounce back to beat these rivals on the turf this time. SEASON’S GREETINGS and BLIZZARD SNOW might need to do more to win but can earn some minor money. MYSTICAL MISS is consistent but is battling to actually win it. KAVADY has run in some good races of late but is not well drawn.

RACE 8

BRIGITTE ANNE showed what she is capable of with a very easy maiden win. She may well follow up and beat these rivals. PLUMBAGO PARK disappointed on the Polytrack last time out but should be a threat back on the grass. TRIP OF FAITH is well drawn and should be a threat once again. BLINDFIRE seems better than her last run and has a place chance. SAKURA HANAMI is unreliable but is also not out of it. WINTER IN AUCKLAND ran last Thursday and that run will need to be looked at. CLOUDS CLEARING has a place chance when in the right mood.

In exciting news for the South African horseracing industry it has been announced the UK have opened a direct equine export route from South Africa, which cements two-way trade for the SA Equine Industry.

SA Equine Health & Protocols NPC (SAEHP) sent out the following press release:

UK Opens Direct Equine Export Route from South Africa, Cementing Two-Way Trade for SA Equine Industry

Cape Town, 15 July 2026 — SA Equine Health & Protocols NPC (SAEHP) is pleased to announce that the British Government has confirmed a decision permitting direct import of live horses from South Africa to Great Britain. Following a positive assessment of South Africa’s disease control measures, imports will be permitted from the approved vector-protected quarantine station in Cape Town, for registered equines complying with UK import conditions.

This milestone reflects sustained collaboration between SAEHP, the South African Department of Agriculture, and the Western Cape Department of Agriculture — a powerful demonstration of this public-private partnership’s success in maintaining South Africa’s equine disease control measures to the highest international standard and translating that credibility into real market access.

The announcement follows closely on South Africa’s opening of imports from Dubai, New Zealand, and Australia earlier this year -making genuine two-way trade a reality for the South African equine industry.

Adrian Todd, Managing Director of SAEHP, thanked the Hong Kong Jockey Club for its funding, technical support, and vision in opening South Africa to the world, noting that the growing number of trade partners now opens a world of opportunity for South Africa across all equestrian disciplines.

About SAEHP:SA Equine Health & Protocols NPC is a South African public-private partnership established to ensure the sustainability and security of the African Horse Sickness control zones through risk mitigation measures and controls, operating under the authority of the South African National Director of Animal Health in partnership with the National Department of Agriculture and the Western Cape Department of Agriculture.

Soccer13 Wednesday 15 July 2026. Carryover R1 763 908. R3.5 Million (All-13-Correct Jackpot Pool). Pool Closes at 19h45. Sport 11 Pool 1.