Andrew Harrison

One of my abiding memories is of Frikkie Greyling leading around the mighty Horse Chestnut at Turffontein after his facile win in the Gr1 SA Derby, to seal the third leg of his Triple Crown success.

Prom Queen is hardly in the same class but there was Greyling leading her onto the track for the canter-down for the sixth at Hollywoodbets Greyville yesterday. A hands-on horseman whose past temperament was probably reflected in the filly’s antics.

That said, Prom Queen had dropped from a career high handicap mark of 93 to yesterday’s 76 that once again made her competitive. She came from a long way back to win her race and if Greyling can keep the lid on her temperament she should have a few more to come.

Sean Veale was on the wrong end of a so-called betting scandal shortly after he was signed on as Hollywood’s retained jockey. It was a rather mild indiscretion but after serving his time, Hollywood Racing principal Anthony Delpech and the Hollywood Team kept him on, probably on a tight leash given Hollywood’s involvement in the betting side of racing.

Veale has repaid in spades with a double yesterday, firstly on Uzwano and following up on Thisiswhatitmeanstome for MJ Odendaal in the seventh.

Another difficult horse with is quirks at the starting gate but Odendaal mentioned to an old horseman’s remedy of a breaking an egg over a horse’s head. It supposedly fools a difficult that bangs its head in the gate to thinking that it is blood dripping down it’s head. Whatever, MJ was a champion jockey in his day and is not a conventional trainer. A farm boy from Amsterdam, not in Holland, but the boondocks of Mpumalanga.

Western Cape form was once again to the fore in the eighth as Tam’s Knight made short work of the opposition. Well supported in the market, the money was on the button as Tristan Godden went back-to-back on Robbie Hill’s runner although he could be in for an interview from the stipes after squeezing Steve Gee onto the rail.

Peter Muscutt looks to have a smart colt on his hands in Count Of Rouen. The strapping son of William Longsword scored impressively in the card opener, easily getting home ahead of favourite Star In Motion with the balance of the field a long way back.

Tracking over from a wide gate, Serino Moodley, winning his fiftieth of the season, had his mount well placed alongside Star In Motion as Magic Surprise bolted clear. Star In Motion moved in smoothly to take the lead and seemingly in command crossing the subway but Count Of Rouen had the favourite in his sights and swept passed to win convincingly.

The Paul Lafferty-trained filly Alannah showed her rivals a clean pair of heels in the second, winning with authority in a manner that suggests that she has a bright future. There was a good pace on from the jump with Kabelo Matsunyane content to sit off the early gallop. The pace slowed dramatically approaching the final turn and Matsunyane elected to loop the field. It was a bold move but Alannah responded in the manner of a decent filly and sailed clear with only Act Of Grace putting in a forlorn challenge. Favourite Malshana Mou was up with the pace throughout but folded tamely under pressure.

 From riding over 100 winners in ‘bush racing’ before starting in the SAJA, Philasande Mxoli was always odds-on to make as a rider, it was just a case of whether he could take the cultural change. He was quick to lose his claim and is a sort after lightweight on the Highveld, particularly for Paul Matchett.

He rode a confident race on Kom Naidoo’s mare Sky Velocity to get the PA off to a winning start. The mare arrived in Naidoo’s yard with some solid Eastern Cape form behind her name and she strode clear to win as she liked with My True Love a clear second best.

Four-claiming apprentices that show some aptitude are worth their weight in gold – for the trainer and the riders confidence. Young Jacey Botes was full value for his claim aboard Tin Cup in the fifth as he carried out his instructions from Byron Foster to the tee.

A horse that tends to be one-paced, Botes rushed him from his outside gate and angled for the lead on the Drill Hall turn. Once there, Tin Cup settled and led the field into the home stretch. Challenges came from all directions but Botes kept pushing away and Tin Cup responded with a game win, holding all at bay.

Dancing On A Cloud was the more fancied of the Dean Kannemeyer runners, in the betting at least, but it was stable companion Uzwano under Hollywood’s retained rider Sean Veale the brought home the bacon, getting the better of Imperial Power and Siphesihle Hlengwa in a driving finish.

Dancing On A Cloud was under pressure on the turn and although not getting the best of passages in the run for the wire, there was nothing to come and their must be a danger of the vet arriving sometime soon.

Tristan Godden signed off with a quick double as Princess Hannah finished with a flourish to put her race to bed in style and round off the meeting. A filly that loves the poly for Paul Gadsby with four of her five wins coming on the surface, as she quickened up smart to win as she liked. It was a win in sequence, 0-1-0-1-0-1 for those who follow numbers. 

Icy Eleanor was all the rage and touted as the best bet on the card but she folded tamely in the straight although there may have been excuses.

David Thiselton

The highest rated race at the Vaal Classic meeting today is the eighth, a MR 85 handicap for fillies and mares over 2000m, and it could be won by I Am Regal.

I Am Regal has run over this trip a few times before and has won one of them and never been far off in the others. She has dropped to a mark of 78, which is three points lower than her highest winning mark, which was over 1800 in October last year. The last time she ran over a middle distance she was just 4,30 lengths behind DoItWithdiamonds and that is no disgrace as the latter has won four times this season. I Am Regal jumps from a fair draw of four and will be ridden by the ever improving Malesela Katjedi. Dimako’s Jet is a consistent sort who should make a bold bid over an ideal trip with Gavin Lerena up, but on her last meeting with I Am Regal she is a whopping 6kg worse off for a mere 2,50 length beating. Key Worker is in fair form and could earn if able to overcome a wide draw. Avoontoast is well drawn over a suitable trip and Piere Strydom will give her every chance. She has to overcome a seven point raise, but is only 6kg worse off with I Am Regal for a 5,50 length beating on their last meeting, although that was over 1800m and I Am Regal has beaten her over this trip before. One Religion can do better than her last start, so can’t be ignored.

In the first leg of the Pick 6 over 1000m Summer Winter was beaten 0.3 lengths by Eight Hats last time out and the latter came out and beat a fair field next time out, so she is the one to beat. Sunset Warrior  has run two good races but looks held by Summer Winter on form lines. Ringho has always been thereabouts and could earn again.

In the fifth race over 1600m ChieftaIn’s Shield is an improved sort who was first accross the line last time but lost it on an objection. He usually finds a good finish and he has a good draw over a suitable trip and has the eyecatching booking of Craig Zackey. Brigham has improved with blinkers and should be involved if able to produce his best over a step down in trip which should suit as the 2000m might have just been a touch far last time. Phil The Fluter is knocking on the door and will also be a big runner. Miss Takes has shown some fair form and can earn from a good draw. Molotov Cocktail ran in blinkers on debut which does not usually augur well but he was a close up fifth and should be in the shake up with Gavin Lerena up, albeit from a tricky draw. 

In the sixth over 2000m Alakanani has improved since the headgear has been removed and if producing his last run could be the one to beat. Gamer has become more relaxed and has thus become consistent and over this suitable trip with Gavin Lerena up he should be right there. Blurred Vision won well when stepped up to this trip last time and despite a six point higher mark might be able to be involved again from a good draw. The Merciful was not disgraced last time over this trip and could earn from a plum draw with a 2.5kg claimer up. Bob Lee Swagger won well over this trip when cheekpieces were changed to blinkers and he could be in the shake up again off a four point higher mark, although he does have a tricky draw again.

In the seventh over 2000m Wagram ran well first time out the Maidens over 1600 metres and on pedigree should enjoy this trip, but does have a tricky draw to overcome. Ideal Future is a consistent, long-striding sort who is capable of running on well and she goes well for this 4kg claimer. Rosy Lemon is a capable sort who will enjoy the step back down to the trip and Khumalo could get the best out of her. Kiss Of Fire will enjoy the step back to this trip, but this is her second run after a long lay off. Red Sparrow won a workriders maiden by 10,50 lengths last time so her 73 merit rating is reasonable.

In the ninth over 1500m Calida is a consistent sort and from pole position over an ideal trip is the one to beat under Gavin Lerena. Libeccio is not the most consistent, but he is capable and is off an attractive merit rating over a suitable trip, but he does have a wide draw. Kotinos has a wide draw, but is a capable sort and Piere Strydom will help his cause. Written In Stone is an evergreen sort who can always be relied on to run a good race even from wide draws like this one. After Hours is drawn well over a suitable trip and still well handicapped on his best form.

In the first leg of the Bipot over 1600m Chronicle King looks one of the best bets on the card from pole position with Lerena up.

In the first leg of the PA Matcha Mint looks the one to beat despite a tricky draw, but Witching Hour could be dangerous after a good debut and with Lerena up from a good draw.

In the first race over 1000m Hurricane Power is by Vercingetorix and is a three-parts sister to Ablaan, who won both of bis first two starts, so she is an interesting newcomer, although the draw of one might be tricky and Empress Wu and Bilingual could challenge her.

In the last race over 1000m One Party and Sylvan Warrior make most appeal.

RACE 1 

8 HURRICANE POWER 3 EMPRESS WU 4 BILINGUAL  7 BLINDFIRE

Preview: 8 HURRICANE POWER is by Vercingetorix out of an Encosta Delago mare and is a three-parts sister to Ablaan, who won both of his first two starts.3 EMPRESS WU beat Bilingual by 2.35 lengths last time and could repeat the dose. 4 BILINGUAL has run some fair races and could be in the shake-up. 7 BLINDFIRE has shown some ability and could earn. (8-3-4-7)

RACE 2     

3 CHRONICLE KING 4 FIRE STARTER 5 GOLDEN WARRIOR 1 ALHAKIM

Preview: 3 CHRONICLE KING went close on debut and the form has been franked and he has pole position over a suitable step-up and trip. 4 FIRE STARTER made a fair debut and should be in the shake-up. 5 GOLDEN WARRIOR has shown some ability and could earn. 1 ALHAKIM was not totally disgraced on debut and could improve. (3-4-5-1)

RACE 3     

5 MATCHA MINT 9 WITCHING HOUR 4 LITTLEMISSMILLION 

Preview: 5 MATCHA MINT has run two good races and this is a suitable step-up and trip although she does (5:21) have a tricky draw.  9 WITCHING HOUR made a good debut and from a good draw over a suitable step up in trip should be right there under Gavin Lerena. 4 LITTLEMISSMILLION  is by Elusive Fort out of a multiple-winning Kahal mare.  (5-9-4

RACE 4     

4 SUMMER WINTER 7 SUNSET WARRIOR 2 RINGHO

Preview: 4 SUMMER WINTER was beaten 0.3 lengths by Eight Hats last time out and should be right there again. 7 SUNSET WARRIOR  has run two good races and has a big chance. 2 RINGHO has always been thereabouts and could earn again. (4-7-2)

RACE 5     

4 CHIEFTAIN’S SHIELD 2 BRIGHAM 1 PHIL THE FLUTER 6 MISS TAKES

Preview: 4 CHIEFTAIN’S SHIELD is an improved sort who usually finds a good finish and he has a good draw over a suitable trip. 2 BRIGHAM has improved with blinkers and should be involved if able to produce his best over what should be a suitable trip. 1 PHIL THE FLUTER is knocking on the door and will also be a big runner. 6 MISS TAKES  has shown some fair form and can earn from a good draw. (4-2-1-6)

RACE 6     

7 ALAKANANI 4 GAMER 1 BLURRED VISION 9 THE MERCIFUL

Preview: 7 ALAKANANI has improved since the headgear has been removed and if producing his last run could be the one to beat. 4 GAMER is a consistent sort and over this suitable trip with Gavin Lerena up he should be right there.1 BLURRED VISION won well when stepped up to this trip last time and despite a six point higher mark might be able to be involved again from a good draw. 9 THE MERCIFUL was not disgraced last time over this trip and could earn from a plum draw with a 2.5kg claimer up. (7-4-1-9)

RACE 7     

1 WAGRAM 2 IDEAL FUTURE 4 ROSY LEMON 9 KISS OF FIRE

Preview: 1 WAGRAM had a good first race first time out the Maidens over 1600 metres and on pedigree should enjoy this trip but does have a tricky draw to overcome. 2 IDEAL FUTURE is a consistent sort who is capable of running on well and she goes well for this 4kg claimer. 4 ROSY LEMON is a capable sort who will enjoy the step back down to the trip. 9 KISS OF FIRE will enjoy the step back to this trip, but this is her second run after a long lay off. (1-2-4-9)

RACE 8     

7 I AM REGAL 2 DIMAKO’S JET 4 KEY WORKER 1 AVOONTOAST

Preview: 7 I AM REGAL will enjoy this trip and is off a competitive mark at present. 2 DIMAKO’S JET is a consistent sort who should make a bold bid over an ideal trip with Gavin Lerena up. 4 KEY WORKER is in fair form and could earn if able to overcome a wide draw. 1 AVOONTOAST is well drawn over a suitable trip and Piere Strydom will give her every chance although she does have to overcome a seven point raise. (7-2-4-1)

RACE 9     

2 CALIDA 5 LIBECCIO 4 KOTINOS 7 WRITTEN IN STONE

Preview: 2 CALIDA is a consistent sort and from pole position over an ideal trip he is the one to beat under Gavin Lerena. 5 LIBECCIO  is not the most consistent but he is capable and is off an attractive merit rating at present but he does have a wide draw. 4 KOTINOS has a wide draw but is a capable sort and Piere Strydom will help his cause. 7 WRITTEN IN STONE is an evergreen sort who can always be relied on to run a good race even from wide draws like this one. (2-5-4-7)

RACE 10    

2 ONE PARTY 7 SYLVAN WARRIOR 9 INAFIX 10 PHALA MILLIONS

Preview: 2 ONE PARTY an a good race last time over 1200m and should give a good account of herself with a 4kg climber up.7 SYLVAN WARRIOR won well last time and with Gavin Lerena up he should make a bold bid. 9 INAFIX is a bit in and out but always has a chance of winning and Calvin Habib stays aboard. 10 PHALA MILLIONS is in fine form for an in-form yard and should make a bold bid too. (2-7-9-10)

Eight On Eighteen has earned top spot on the Hollywoodbets Durban July Log as published by the Racing Operator earlier today. There were eleven scratchings at the time of first declarations on Monday 12 May, including Grade 1 winner Fire Attack and Gold Bracelet (Gr 2) winner Red Palace – both due to setbacks in training – while Musical Score and WSB East Cape Derby winner, My Best Shot, were supplemented on Tuesday, 13 May by their respective trainers Lucky Houdalakis and Alan Greeff.

The panel comprising Justin Vermaak, Raf Sheik, Graeme Hawkins and senior handicapper, Lennon Maharaj, have positioned My Best Shot on the fringes of the top twenty, which reflects exactly what the final field would look like if the Hollywoodbets Durban July was run today.

The Log will be updated on 10 June, following the second declaration stage on Monday, 9 June. By then, the Daily News 2000 (Gr 1); Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge (Gr 1); the Woolavington 2000 (Gr 2) and Cup Trial (Gr 3) will have been run, the outcomes of which could impact the status of HDJ contenders.

The Hollywoodbets Durban July will be run on Saturday 5 July.

Please note: South African Quartet Pools with fractional betting offered at Bath and York (UK) – 14 May 2025