Andrew Harrison

Most jockeys will tell you that when their confidence is up, that confidence for some reason tends to transfer to their mounts. Some years back, Jeff Lloyd went through a three or four-month stint where he was almost invincible and attributed his winning streak to confidence in his ability.

Andrew Fortune is never short of confidence whether going through a lean patch or not, but he is currently in the prime of his life at 57 years old. “ I’m so confident that I think I’m the best jockey in the world,” he chimed after a typical Fortune display on Lucinda Woodruff’s filly Wedding Vow in the first.

Never in trouble as he navigated the early stages. At the top of the straight he was on the heels of favourite and pacemaker Siyabamelela who Sean Veale had pressed forward early for the lead, and he never broke his bridge as Wedding Vow sailed clear to win as she liked.

 Terry Fripp has been around the block more than once, from Summerveld to Dubai and back, and given the opportunity by Candice Bass he is doing a fine job in saddling winners for her KZN satellite yard. Whatastar added another to the stables growing list as Serino Moodley managed to keep his mount mostly clear of the pack in the charge for home. Whatastar hung badly towards the inside rail, momentarily forcing Craig Zackey to ease on the favourite De Gulden who held on for third as Futano slipped through on the inside rail for second.

Zackey said the check had not made any difference to the result but added that De Gulden will likely be avoiding the poly for the time being.

Young apprentice Damyan Pillay took a page out of the Andrew Fortune book of race riding as he got the promising Magical Sky home in the opening leg of the PA.

One could have thrown a blanket over the seven-horse field for most of the race and Alyson Wright admitted that she got a little anxious as Pillay sat motionless until the final furlong. “We told him to be patient  but I thought he was being a little too patient. But he knew what was under him.”

Poly specialist Magical Sky responded to Pillay’s late efforts and went on well to hold off Catch Penny and Kytheria.

The first leg of the Pick 6 developed into little more than an exercise canter for the Glen Kotzen-trained hot favourite Vixens War. She carted Craig Zackey to the front from the jump and extended in the straight to win easing up by nearly four lengths ahead of stable companion Takethegreenlight in a bloodless victory.

 Mohandas has seldom been far off the money in is 48 starts and added a fifth win to his credit when putting his best foot forward in the D Stakes over 200m. In a race run at no great pace, Tristan Godden time his assault on the finishing line to perfection and Yogas Govender’s charge responded to comfortably hold off a late challenge from Double Olympic and the grey Arctic Fury who battled home in third.

Master Du Rouvray has always been held in high regard by Mark Dixon although the gelding took some time to realise his potential. He shed his maiden back in September last year and yesterday racked up his fourth win as Keagan de Melo made light of the geldings 62.5kg, sweeping around the turn in an early move that paid off. The son of Master Of My Fate quickened past his rivals and then stayed on gamely to hold off a late-charging Syx Hotfix.

Serino Moodley was crowing from the roof tops as Stuart Ferrie’s charge Town Crier took advantage of a ‘long rein’ on Next Of Kin to win the seventh, a Class 4 over 1600m. Given a copybook ride from his inside gate, Town Crier accelerated out of the pack crossing the subway led by Pied Piper to win well. However, he may have been a tad lucky as Sean Veale appeared to have got his reins in a tangle and his left hand was ‘fishing a long line’ to prevent Next Of Kin hanging in under pressure. The grey closed in fast but not fast enough.

 With Mauritius racing seemingly back on an even keel after a couple of years of turmoil, the prospects of their apprentice riders taking advantage of the thoroughly professional grounding at the SA Jockey Academy is bright. Apprentices from the island granted the benefit of the SAJA generally take their opportunities seriously and Anaas Mosaheb rode his second winner when scooting home on ML Odendaal’s mare Mystique Rouge in the eighth. She burst clear of the pack two furlongs out and was not for the catching.

To press home the Mauritius point, Divesh Ramkhalawon and Iannish Taka fought out the last with Chara Sands getting the better of Yadav Singh’s Victor Rail. Ramkhalawon has burst onto the scene in the last four months and Michael Roberts has been quick to take advantage of his 4kg claim.

David Thiselton

The highest rated race in the Turffontein Inside seven race meeting today is the sixth, a MR 86 Handicap over 1600m, and Shoreybomba makes appeal.

This Declarationofpeace gelding has improved with blinkers, winning over 1450m with them on the first time they were applied. He started handicapping on a reasonable 77 merit rating after that maiden win but was then drawn wide in a handicap over 1800m. Nevertheless, he moved up well but just did not find the necessary extra late and finished a 2,70 length third. The drop to 1600m should be ideal and he is now drawn in pole position with the excellent Mickaelle Michel staying aboard. Her 1,5kg gender claim will be useful in this race. Orange County beat Shoreybomba by 2,30 lengths last time and  is now only 2kg worse off, so only only just has the latter’s measure on paper, but the step down in trip might not suit considering he seemed to relish the 1800m trip. He is by Flower Alley, a stamina influence, out of a Var mare, a speed influence, so his improvement in that last race might also have been due to him coming into his own, so he should be a big runner in any case. Chestnut Bomber has mixed it with some top horses during his career and he is down to a competitive merit rating. From draw two he should make a bold bid. Robert Browning is capable of putting in fine performances and will not mind the drop in distance as he is versatile. He has found consistency lately and should be right there. Boundless Love made a good Highveld debut and this former Cape Town horse could well have benefited from the outing so he has the potential to upset the applecart as Cape Town horses often arrive in lesser centres with merit ratings that soon prove to have been suppressed.

In the first leg of the Pick 6 over 1600m Sutter’s Mill should improve on his fair debut, which was over this trip. He should take this uninspiring race as he was green on debut but was staying on well and looks to have a nice action. He does have to overcome the widest draw in the six horse field. Proper improved second time out and looks to be the only danger. Rock My Boat makes most appeal of the rest.

In the third race over 2000m Heroic Act looks the one to beat on one formline, although his best race was from pole position and now he has a tricky draw. Green Machine enjoyed the step up to this trip last time and has another plum draw, so should be right there. Samuel Sharpe will be a big threat too.

In the third leg of the Pick 6 over 1200m Lady Elliot ran a cracker over 1450m on this course last time and has done well over this course and distance before. She has a good draw and is off a competitive merit rating at present so could go close, although she is not the most consistent. Ada Lovelace has found fine form since moving to the Highveld and has a good form chance but does have the disadvantage of a wide draw. Hats Mambo was up against a firecracker last time but wasn’t disgraced and could be in the shake up with improvement and as she has only had three starts there should be some improvement. Oriental Bouquet went well for Michelle Michel last time and can do so again from a good draw. Longsword is capable of running on well so if dropped out from a wide draw could run on into the money. Spy Story has a fair draw and could be in the shake up.

In the fifth over 1450m Gran Caneria has some fine form in Cape Town and off a likely suppressed merit rating should go close here from a fair draw over a suitable trip. The form of Oklahoma Smokeshow’s last run has been franked and he should be right there as he has been progressing  nicely. Frere Jacques returns from a six month layoff but has the form to be involved. He has a plum draw and Craig Zackey up is a bonus. Clarkson enjoys this distance but needs things to go his way and his wide draw makes it tough. Guerilla Warfare will be a threat of breaking well from a wide draw and taking the lead.

In the seventh over 1600m the one to beat should be the hard knocking Bay Empire. On pedigree he will enjoy the step up in trip and he did go close over this trip early in his career. He had a plum draw and the advantage of the 2,5kg claim of leading apprentice Blaine Marx-Jacobson. Michael Faraday beat Bay Empire in his penultimate start over 1400m and is now 1,5kg worse off for a one length beating if apprentice claims are ignored. He will enjoy the step up from 1200m of his last start and has the advantage of being ridden again by Mickaelle Michel, who won on him in the aforementioned run. Mattiazo beat Michael Faraday by 3,50 lengths over this trip in December and is only 2,5kg worse off, so could be a factor with Craig Zackey up, albeit from a tricky draw.

The first race could be won by Jimmy Vega, who could fight it out with Pista Resistance and the latter has a fine chance too in the 1200m contest as she is better drawn than Jimmy Vega.

RACE 1

JIMMY VEGA and PISTA RESISTANCE made encouraging debuts and with natural improvement should be competitive. PLATINUM SHAY has the form and experience to play a leading role, while SEACHTU REALTA has shown enough to earn a cheque and can get into the picture. Watch the betting on newcomer CRIMSON RANGER.

RACE 2

PROPER caught the eye on his reappearance when staying on to finish fourth over 1400m and, on that evidence, the step up to this trip should unlock further improvement. Youngster SUTTER’S MILL made an encouraging introduction over a shorter distance and will have more to offer over this extended trip with that experience to count on. ROCK MY BOAT, second over track and trip last time, should have a role to play with a similar performance.

RACE 3

GREEN MACHINE and SAMUEL SHARPE fit similar profiles and will likely fight out the finish if building on career-best last starts. The latter is open to improvement over this extended trip but preference is for the former whose 2000m experience will stand him in good stead. EMERALD CITY runs his best races from the front and could pose a threat to the principals if confirming the improvement of his recent third after a break. HEROIC ACT and ASIAH’S TIARA have the form and experience to make their presence felt.

RACE 4

Recent maiden winners HAT’S MAMBO and ARIZONA MAGIC have scope for improvement so warrant respect on handicap debut. The unexposed former is preferred but has an earlier engagement. LADY ELLIOT and ADA LOVELACE take on male opposition but should be competitive on current form. Hard-knocker LONGSWORD has a wide draw to contend with but races off an attractive mark. He has found form recently with this headgear fitted and should play another leading role. SPY STORY and ORIENTAL BOUQUET appeal most of the remainder.

RACE 5

OKLAHOMA SMOKESHOW lost little in defeat when a game-in-defeat second over 1450m at a higher level last time and a similar performance could suffice in this grade. Returning older rival FRERE JACQUES is respected on his reappearance as he drops in class and remains open to improvement. Highveld newcomer GRAN CANARIA boasts solid Western Cape and KZN form so is another with solid claims in his first start for the new yard. Hard-knockers CLARKSON, GUERILLA WARFARE and COMMANDER OF ALL are others with earning potential.

RACE 6

ORANGE COUNTY was an authoritative winner of his last start at this level over 1800m and, such was the manner of that performance, a 5-point penalty may not be enough to prevent him from following up. SHOREYBOMBA is held on that form but should pose more of a threat on better weight terms. Versatile ROBERT BROWNING is at the top of his game and should remain competitive off his current mark. CHESTNUT BOMBER and veteran BLOOMINGTON can get into the picture.

RACE 7

BAY EMPIRE wouldn’t be winning out of turn after back-to-back seconds, the latest behind MICHAEL FARADAY (4kg worse off). However, the former finished behind MATTIAZO in an earlier meeting and the latter is weighted to confirm that form. GOLDEN ASPEN, stablemate PROPHET and hard-knocker PRETTY ANALIA are competitive off their current marks so can get into the picture. ITSNOWORNEVER and LIBECCIO could get a look in too.

Soccer10 Friday 8 May 2026. ADD-IN: R250 000. Estimated Pool: R2 Million. Pool Closes at 19h30, Sport 14 Pool 1.

Score6 Saturday 9 May 2026. ADD-IN: R5 000. Pool Closes at 16h00, Sport 6 Pool 1.Score10 Saturday 9 May 2026. ADD-IN: R10 000. Pool Closes at 16h00, Sport 9 Pool 1.

Soccer4 Saturday 9 May 2026.  ADD-IN: R25 000. Estimated Pool: R 100 000. Pool Closes at 16h00. Sport 20 Pool 2.

Soccer10 Saturday 9 May 2026. ADD-IN: R250 000. Estimated Pool: R2 Million. Pool Closes at 15h00. Sport 16 Pool 1

Soccer Any13X on Saturday 9 May 2026. ADD-IN R100 000. Estimated Pool: R 300 000. Pool Closes at 15h00. Sport 13 and Pool 1

Soccer13 GUARANTEED JACKPOT Saturday 9 May 2026. R17.5 Million (If only One 13 of 13 Winner). Pool Closes at 15h30. Sport 10 Pool 1.

Soccer6 Sunday 10 May 2026. ADD-IN: R100 000. Estimated Pool: R500 000. Pool Closes at 15h00, Sport 1 Pool 1.

 

Please note that the Fairview’s Turf meeting for 08 May 2026 has been moved to the Poly. We received 90ml of rainfall overnight and a further 12ml on the hour. The current conditions and the forecast indicate that the rain is expected to continue through the day until Friday.

Race 7 distance changes from 2400 to 2200