David Thiselton

The South African racing fraternity woke up to the sad news yesterday that the legendary Hall Of Fame trainer Ormond Ferraris had passed away after a short illness.

He passed away peacefully at his retirement home in Plettenberg Bay yesterday morning, 10 June, surrounded by people he loved dearly, his sons David and Paul, grandson Luke, granddaughter Caroline and stepdaughters, Kim and Leigh.

Ormond was inducted into the South African Hall of Fame on Champions Day at Turffontein on Saturday, 29 March 2025, two days  before his 93rd birthday.

He had saddled no fewer than ten Oaks winners, including Pretty Border, St Just and Lambarina.

He also prepared eight Derby winners, including the outstanding Distinctly, Newmarket Triple Crown winner Fine Regent, and The Monk, and he won the 2013 Triple Tiara with Cherry On The Top.

Another of Ferraris’ great legacies will be the role he played as a mentor. He played a pivotal role in shaping the careers of champion trainers David Ferraris, Mike de Kock, and Michael Clements, as well as leading trainers Weiho Marwing, Weichong Marwing and Sharon Kotzen.

Yet, what he held dearest was his founding of the Trainers Benevolent Fund, which he personally managed from 1970 to 2022 before handing it over to a private accountant.

Ferraris said about the fund just over a year ago, “The saddest thing I’ve seen in all my years in racing is the passing of many good horsemen without a penny to their names. We tried to help as many as we could, despite limited funding from racing authorities. Resources are now at a minimum, but we built a reserve that I hope will last a few more years.”

Ferraris briefly worked as a trainee antiques dealer in downtown Johannesburg before becoming workrider and then assistant trainer to George Weale in 1949 and 1950 respectively.

In 1954, he was granted his own trainer’s licence and saddled his first winner, Shenandoah, at Gosforth Park on 14 August of that year.

Ferraris went on to train approximately 2,600 more winners before retiring in May 2019, never handling a string of more than 60 runners.

Racing scribe Charl Pretorius ghost wrote Ormond’s autobiography “Thoroughly”.

The book reaffirmed Ferraris’ reputation as a dedicated trainer who put his horses first.

Ormond developed expertise in all facets of training and his most rewarding finds at the Sales ranged from a R200 purchase to the brilliant Australian-bred Tracy’s Element.

His dedication to his profession was in fact emphasised on the day he spotted Tracy’s Element.

It followed an exhausting flight to Australia, but rather than rest in the hotel and wait for the next day he went straight to the Sales grounds where he spotted the filly walking by soon after arriving there.

He was beside himself with excitement and upon returning to the hotel he informed owner Paddy Hinton that he had seen perfection. His expert eye and intuition proved to be a hundred percent correct. Tracy’s Element had 19 starts for 11 wins, four of them Gr 1s and three of those were against the boys, the Gold Medallion, the Computaform Sprint and the Star Sprint and she also won the SA Fillies Sprint.

The book confirmed Ormond to be a forthright man.

The first time a wealthy owner pushed him too far the twenty-seven year-old Ormond drove to the latter’s office, jumped over the receptionists desk and barged into his office.

“Get your horses out of my yard!”, or something to that effect, were the last words he said to a few owners, including that one.

However, this never stopped him progressing steadily and the reason for this was emphasised through another incident.

Ormond was warned by a colleague, after he had given one particular owner the “Get out!” command, he should perhaps have been more circumspect because this particular man had a reputation as one not to be messed with.

Ormond believed his end might be nigh when he came to a lonely bridge on the way to the track early in one of the ensuing mornings to find this man’s car blocking the path.

However, after approaching the car with trepidation, it turned out the owner was only there to beg Ormond to take his horses back.

Ormond was training at The Vaal at the time of that incident and had moved there after a stint at Newmarket.

His career in fact truly took off at the Vaal.

His reasons for the move, i.e. the training tracks had no clay underneath them and thus drained well, proved spot on.

Ormond had up and down relationships with jockeys, but developed flourishing partnerships with the good ones, with fierce loyalty being a determining factor.

The pressure was high on trainers in the old days when they did not get a percentage of the prize money and had to rely on betting. In fact this pressure was so great that in the mid 1960s Ormond packed up training and turned to sheep farming.

Luckily for SA racing, the latter stint did not last long!

There were then the boom years of the 1970s,1980s and first part of 1990, when massive crowds attended the races and the quality of the thoroughbreds competing was outstanding, as it had also been in the 1960s.

They horses were bred tougher in those days and this is emphasised when Ormond states matter-of-factly that his top class colt Distinctly made his debut over 800m on October 10 of his two-year-old season!

Of course Distinctly is at the centre of Ormond’s most disappointing day on a racecourse in the 1975 July, where he believes, but for interference from Gatecrasher, Distinctly would have won by four to five lengths.

Another aspect mentioned by Ormond is that throughout the dark days of apartheid peace and harmony existed between the various races of South Africa on the race course, even in the times when they were forced on to separate grandstands.

Former jockey and now Summerveld trainer Dennis Bosch summed up Ormond is one sentence yesterday morning.

He said, “In racing Mr Ferraris said it as it was, there was no beating around the bush, but out of racing he was the nicest, kindest man you could ever meet. He not only started the benevolent fund for trainers. but I believe he also built a beautiful church for the previously disadvantaged. He was a super guy and a great trainer.”

Ormond was still active into his 90s assisting trainer Weichong Marwing at Turffontein, where the pair once formed a lethal partnership with Ormond as trainer and Weichong as jockey.

Andrew Harrison

Keagan De Melo will have learned plenty about pace in Hong Kong, one of the most competitive racing jurisdictions on the planet, and he put that knowledge to good effect as he got Vapour Trail home in the Progress Plate that headed the poly card at Hollywoodbets Greyville yesterday.

Blinkered for the first time, De Melo had Vaughan Marshal’s charge quickly out of the gate and into the lead but setting a sedate gallop as the gelding settled comfortably into the bridle.

Powerandtheglory was always in contention but favourite Hah Lah Lah was giving Craig Zackey a torrid time. Dropped in off the pace as is the want with Dean Kannemeyer-trained runners, Hah Lah Lah was having none of it, fighting for his head and eventually forcing Zackey to track wide to prevent him running into the heels of the opposition.

De Melo quickened up the pace off the false rail and Vapour Trail was not for the catching as he kept rolling. Powerandtheglory tried gamely to stay in touch but was unable to make up the leeway and as a half-brother to WSB Cape Town Met winner Double Superlative a trip further than yesterday’s 1400m must be on the cards.

Hah La La blew his chances in the early fight with Zackey and his powder was damp come the chase for home.

Louis Goosen’s filly Meeksha was a popular choice in the card opener but the result boiled down to a successful objection. Meeksha and Tiger Cody were involved in a desperate finish but did come together a couple of times. There was a nod of the heads at the line with Tiger Cody on the right side of the photo finish but on the wrong side of the objection and the result was reversed.

Master Of My Fate is the hottest stallion in the country of late and the white-faced Splash Of Love added another to his growing tally of winners as Paul Lafferty’s filly made short work of her opposition in the second.

Greek Heiress made most of the running but she quickly ran out of gas in the straight leaving her challenger in the market, Gimme The Power, racing into the lead. However, her challenge was also short lived as Splash Of Love shot clear crossing the subway and went on to win unchallenged with Indignation running on late to relegate a tiring Gimme The Power into third.

It was a day of close finishes with little more than a piece of paper separating Shiny Bob and Circle Of Grace in the D Stakes. Circle Of Grace came off a win at the Vaal and got a five-point increase in the handicap while Shiny Bob’s jockey was replaced by a 4kg claimer. Circle Of Grace made the running and tried gamely to hold on to his advantage but the weights told a tail.

RACE 1

SNOWBLADE made an encouraging 1000m debut and is open to any amount of improvement over this distance. EXPERT WITNESS and KNIGHT HEIST also made pleasing sprint introductions and should, on pedigree, be better suited to this extended trip. WARTRAX BLAZE, POGINI GREINE and CRIMSON RANGER will know more about it too after much-needed educational outings. Newcomer RAFE’S ORACLE is bred to be useful so warrants consideration – watch the betting.

RACE 2

Well-related FREESTYLE DANCE finished more than 4 lengths ahead of FOREST ACT on debut and, while the latter should improve with the benefit of that experience, FREESTYLE DANCE should have the measure of that rival as well as re-opposing EMPRESS OF PEACE over this extended trip. However, it could pay to side with well-bred FEAST OF BERRIES whose 1160m debut was encouraging. Her pedigree also suggests that this distance will be more to her liking.

RACE 3

HEROIC ACT, COMIC ARTIST and the returning INCLUSION all have the form and experience to acquit themselves competitively but are vulnerable to less-exposed rivals. Both DOCTOR STRANGELOVE and EVENING NEWS fall into that category and have shown enough over shorter distances to suggest that they can fight out the finish if making the expected improvement over this extended trip. EPIDAURUS has earning potential too.

RACE 4

Progressive FUTURE GAMBLE has thrived on the Highveld. She recently reeled off a hat-trick of 2000m victories, each win more impressive than the last, and the 8-point penalty for her latest wide-margin beating of male opposition may not be enough to prevent her from following up. Consistent last-start scorer INTO DANCING remains competitive off a career-high mark and will keep the selection honest. Hard-knockers AVOONTOAST, MOUNT ETNA and AZALEAS FOR ALL are proven at this level and likely to make their presence felt too. BAKWENA and SURPRISE PARTY also have the means to get involved.

RACE 5

APOSTROPHE, PLAY WITH FIRE and ROSY LEMON are closely matched on the form of an 1800m meeting last month and there shouldn’t be much separating them on revised terms. The latter was too far out of her ground on that occasion so will appreciate the extra 200m and could turn the tables over this trip. FALCONFLY should also enjoy stretching out to 2000m after a pleasing 1600m comeback, while recent scorer INSTANT ATTRACTION is distance suited and likely to remain competitive under a resultant penalty.

RACE 6

JUST THE TWO OF US has found her niche racing with cheekpieces fitted. She was a good 3rd against male opposition at a higher level last time and a repeat of that performance could suffice in same-sex company. ANCHORAGE, BRIGHT AND BRAZEN and VERSACE ONTHETRACK are closely matched on the form of recent meetings, so they should be in the shake-up. DAME OF TRIX and MISS ARGONAUT are others with earning potential.

RACE 7

TEMPRANILLO returns from a rest but is open to improvement and unbeaten over this track and trip. BLINDFIRE, DUCHESS ZAHRA and KIA KAHA should have more to offer back in same-sex company off reduced ratings, while POWER OF PEARLS is another to consider on her handicap debut under a 1.5kg claimer. JAZZ PIANIST has dropped to a career-low mark in her peak outing and a repeat of her latest performance (3rd) at a higher level should be good enough in this grade.

RACE 8

RINGA RINGA ROSES is course-and-distance suited and has remained competitive off her current mark at a higher level. TRAIL RUNNER and VAMANOS are better than their recent 1200m efforts suggest and a return to this trip should suit both fillies. PRINCESS KEIRA and PRINCESS ILARIA will be involved if building on improved recent performances. BLUSHING BLOOM and SAKURA HANAMI also have earning potential.

RACE 9

Maturing TRACKSUIT DAVE was beaten by a well-handicapped older rival at this level last time and a similar performance off an unchanged mark, even under top weight, will see him go close to winning. ELUSIVE RED and LONGSWORD are closely matched on recent form. Both made eye-catching late headway in a stronger 1400m contest last time and will be competitive if reproducing those efforts. Hard-knockers LEGENDARY, MICHAEL FARADAY, MATTIAZO and BLOOMINGTON can never be ignored at this level either.

David Thiselton

Dean Kannemeyer spoke on Monday morning at Summerveld about the scratching of the reigning champion The Real Prince from the Hollywoodbets Durban July. He was one of a number of big scratchings from the big race on either Sunday or Monday, but the two horses who won the traditional July pointer races, the Gr 3 Betgames Cup Trial and the Gr 3 TAB Jubilee Stakes, Zeitz and Aladdin’s Lamp respectively, were both supplemented.

Kannemeyer said about The Real Prince’s 2,95 length fourth in the Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge on Saturday, “The jockey said it was a slow run race, but he was sitting behind Questioning and then they made a bit of a sprint up the straight. Well I’m making excuses, but he had to wait, wait, and then move out, move out, but then 300m out I thought he is now going to come and get them with his turn of foot. He did quicken up and he was running up to them, but I just thought that in that last 75m he may have just flattened out.”

When asked whether the run would put him spot on for the Hollywoodbets Durban July, he replied, “Well there’s a great possibility he won’t run in the July and may go straight into the Champions Cup. He won it last year because of the right weight and the right draw and everything and this year having won the July and the King’s Plate and coming third in the Met he has a big weight and I have a big doubt he will run in the July, but he’s doing well and is definitely going for the Champion’s Cup.”|

The Real Prince was duly scratched from the July later in the morning.

Not only is The Real Prince out, but so is his runner up from last year Eight on Eighteen, whilst the 2023 runner up and incumbent topweight See It Again was also a casualty and so was the Gr 1 SA Classic winner Grand Empire, last year’s Gr 1 Premier’s Champions Challenge winner Fire Attack and also former Gr 1 Betway Summer Cup winner Atticus Finch.

Other scratchings include Parisian Walkway, Aristotle,  JP’s Palace, Wild Intent, Buster Barnes and Otto Luyken.

There are 29 horses still standing with the Gr 1 winners among them being Wish List (X2), Gladatorian, Mocha Blend, Hazy Dazy and Star Major.

The Andre Nel-trained Zeitz and the Mike and Mathew de Kock-trained Aladdin’s Lamp have both been supplemented and both are on merit ratings of 110 following their good wins over the weekend, with Zeitz being raised three points and Aladdin’s Lamp four points.

They will both be carrying 53kg as things stand with Legal Counsel the new incumbent topweight on 62kg off his 128 merit rating following the scratching of See It Again.

David Thiselton

King Pelles is an under the radar horse for the Hollywoodbets Durban July who might just be fair value in the ante-post market at 20/1 with the sponsor.

He put up a good gallop at Hollywoobets Greyville on Saturday before the races and will be back there for the Hollywoodbets Durban July Gallops.

Trainer Gareth van Zyl said, “The gallop went well and he is doing very well.”

He is not having another race before the July as there is nothing suitable for him, so he will go into the race running off a merit rating of 122.

That means he will carry 59kg in the big race as things stand with Legal Counsel as the topweight on 62kg off a 128 merit rating.

Gareth said about King Pelles’ suitability to 2200m, “I don’t think it is going to be a problem, I think he will be alright over the trip.”

The Drakenstein Stud-bred five-year-old Duke Of Marmalade gelding is stoutly bred being out of a Galileo mare.

He is the reigning Gold Cup (3200m) Champion and the reigning Equus Champion Stayer.

However, he is derfinitely not a dour staying stype and when landing four Gr 3s last season over trips between 2400m and 3200m he showed an exceptional turn of foot.

He has also been shown this season to be effective over shorter trips with good performances over distances of 1200m to 1950m.

He was strongly fancied for the Betway Summer Cup over 2000m and disappointed, running a 16,25 length 12th.

However, a number of horses ran below par in that race on a day in which the humidity was high.

King Pelles bounced back after the Summer Cup to win the Umthombothi Stakes over 1950m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville. He showed a good turn of foot to win it by 1,30 lengths, despite carrying topweight of 62.5kg. Among the horses he beat was July entry Isivivane, who went on to win the Gr 3 WSB 1900. In the July he will be 1,5kg worse off with Isivivane for a 1,80 length beating, which puts King Pelles marginally ahead of him. King Pelles will also relish the step up to 22000m, a trip which will be new territory for Isivivane.

Followng the Umthombothi Stakes King Pelles ran in the Listed Kings Cup over 1600m and finished a fine 0,60 length seoond to Okavango recieving just 1kg. The lattter went on to run second in the Gr 1 wfa Premier’s Champions Challege before winning a Conditions Plate over 1600m at Hollywoodbets Greyville in which he beat the like of Equus Horse Of The Year Eight On Eighteen and the crack three-year-old Note To Self, who is one of the favourites for the July.

King Pelles’ Hollywoodbets Durban July Gallop will be keenly observed by his supporters and he will provide his passionate owner Ravi Padayachee with a dream come true, a runner in the country’s biggest race in his hometown of Durban. The horse is not without a chance of winning it either.

Ravi owns King Pelles in partnership with Dave MacLean, Gary Player and N V Parmanand.

Gareth said there were one or two contenders to ride King Pelles, but added he did not want to divulge anything about the riding arrangements yet as nothing had been confirmed.

David Thiselton

The highlights of the weekend racing, besides the Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge meeting, were the outstanding performance of One Stripe in the Resorts World Casino Gr1 Manhattan Stakes, a traditional Gr 1 on the turf at the Belmont Stakes meeting, which took place this year at Saratoga racecourse, and some Hollywoodbets Durban July entries running at Turffontein yesterday, including the traditional pointer race, the Gr 3 Jubilee Stakes.

Gavin Lerena relaxed One Stripe from the off in the Gr 1 WFA Manhattan Stakes over a mile-and-a-quarter (1900m) and he had him beautifully switched off at the back of the field. He sent him for home just before the final turn and the Drakenstein Stud-bred One World colt swept past a number of horses rounding the turn on the outside. When straightening he still had plenty of work to do and ran on well to pip the favourite and pacemaker Rhetorical for third. He was just a length behind the winner Deterministic with Test Score beaten half-a-length in second. The winner broke the course record which is enough to stamp the Hollywood Racing and Rikesh Sewgoolam-owned One Stripe as a world class turf thoroughbred, especially considering his Gr 1 runner up finishes in two previous starts.

In the Jubilee Stakes over 1800m on the Turffontein Standside yesterday the consistent Mike and Mathew de Kock-trained Master Of My Fate five-year-old gelding Aladdin’s Lamp, who is not a July entry, was backed into 28/10 favourite. He carried 54kg off a 106 merit rating and relaxed well from the off from draw two under Callan Murray, as did the three-drawn July entry Copper Eagle, a three-year-old carrying 54,5kg off a 110 rating. Pressonregardless led but was passed late by the running on Aladdin’s Lamp who came from midfield. Aladdin’s Lamp went to the line half-a-length ahead of Copper Eagle who ran on well from just behind the winner in the running. Pressonregardless was third and the second favourite Olivia’s Way, carrying 55,5kg off a 114 rating, was more handy than usual and stayed on well late, as usual, for a 1,80 length fourth. Olivia’s Way was 19^th on the first Hollywoodbets Durban July log and she is unlikely to have enhanced her standing in the eyes of the final field panellists, but might maintain her position due to the like of Eight On Eighteen being scratched and some other below par runs from some of the 20 on the log incumbents.

Copper Eagle put his hand up for consideration whilst Atticus Finch ran a 4,20 length seventh, so might come under pressure as the 18^th horse on the first log. July entries Aristotle, Wild Intent and Buster Barnes were further back in the Jubilee and their chances of making the final field look remote.

Later, the Gr 1 SA Classic winner, the Sean Tarry-trained Grand Empire, ran in a Pinnacle over 1400m and ran a well below par 5,10 length eighth. His Gr 1 winner status might save him from being demoted from the 20th position on the first July log. However, the run will now keep the connections on tenterhooks.

The most impressive performance of the day was by the Joe Soma-trained Master Of My Fate gelding Errol Flynn, who won the TAB Egoli Mile by 2,60 lengths in effortless fashion under Keagan de Melo. He is already a July scratching and is Summer Cup bound, but this run might tempt the connections to supplement him for the R10 million Hollywoodbets Durban July, although he was rated just 102 going in to the Egoli Mile.

Andrew Harrison

Questioning has come a long way in his career. Always among the top echelons he earned a label of almost but not quite there. That has changed dramatically in the past four months as he has rattled off five consecutive victories culmination in a tremendous but nail-biting finish to the Gr1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday where he showed guts and ability to get the better of Legal Counsel in a no quarters asked finish with little more than a nose separating the pair at the line.

Gladatorian produced his usual strong finish to take third ahead of The Real Prince who was also running at them late.

It was a masterful training feat by Vaughan Marshall who is closing on the 40^th Gr1 success of his career. When asked about the recent improvement in Question’s form, he put it down to the horse having finally matured.

Tristan Godden rode a canny race on the rank outsider of Justin Snaith’s trio that consisted of See It Again and Eight On Eighteen. From a good draw, he sent Legal Counsel to the lead tracked by two-time Challenge winner Dave The King and Tin Pan Alley and most expected the son of Legislate to call it a day in the chase for home.

However, he kept finding and Richard Fourie on Questioning was forced to show his hand a little earlier than he would have liked. Fourie sat for a long way before making his challenge but still admitted that he had gone too early. “I came into the straight and fired him up a little too soon. I know that he’s not an ideal miler and it was a great ride from Tristan who set nice, good fractions and at one stage I thought that he was going a bit fast. But he knew what he had underneath him and I drew past him at the 300 a good half a length and then it became hard work.  I knew the line was coming and we both had our doubts. Tristan said did you get there or did I get there? Normally I’m good at splitting them but I just said I can’t tell you, it was that close.”

 Marshall admitted post-race that he was not confident of Questioning seeing out the trip. “ I had my doubts over the 1600 I must be honest. He came so close in the King’s Plate. He confound the critics there and he’s done it here. So yes I’m a little surprised but very, very elated.”

“He’s just matured and turned into a really good horse. He enjoys his work and just looks magnificent. He’s a pleasure to train.”

Given that Questioning takes this race well, his next mission will be the Gr1 Mercury Sprint and victory there could elevate him into ‘just a good horse’ but into challenging for Equus Horse of the Year.

There were a number of Hollywoodbets Durban July hopefuls on display on Saturday and if anything they muddied the waters.

Best performance came from Legal Counsel and depending on which line-horse the handicappers use, he could find himself up there with See It Again on 62 kg.

See It Again ran a lacklustre race and showed little enthusiasm in the run for the line and stable companion Eight On Eighteen faded out with Just Snaith scratching him from the July entry list yesterday morning.

Gladatorian ran his usual game race and finished like a train for third. The Real Prince was also running on to the line and it remains to be seen whether Dean Kannemeyer and Khaya Stables and also Stuart Ferrie are  tempted by the R10 million stake of the July or take the more conservative route to the Gr1 HKJC Champion Stakes WFA.

The Gr3 Cup Trial is traditionally the last chance saloon for borderline July entries and it will be back to the drawing boards for most. The grey Zeitz, not a July entry, ran on stoutly to beat July hopeful I Salute You who was giving the winner 2.5kg. Before Saturday’s race I Salute You was set to carry 53kg in the July. JP’s Palace kicked on nicely for third but was getting 7kg from I Salute You while Field Marshal may have blown his chances of a July birth.

Regulation was most disappointing although he did not get the run of the race, being caught three wide for much of the trip but lacked a finishing effort.

The Gr2 HKJC World Pool Stakes saw another bruising finish with favourite Quickstepgal and Mon Petit Cherie fighting out a head-and-head duel to the line. Mon Petit Cherie ran her heart out from her 13 draw and headed Quickstepgal, but Tienie Prinsloo’s filly was not to be denied and Keagan de Melo got Quickstepgal to rally and get her nose in front and also survive an objection.

Behind them was July hopeful Mocha Blend who missed the break but was running on stoutly over a distance well short of her best in what was a smart piece of work on her July prep.

David Thiselton

The Daily News 2000 meeting always has an impact on the Hollywoodbets Durban July and the reaction of the handicappers and the bookmakers to the result of the Daily News 2000 and to the Woolavington 2000 is always one of the talking points.

Owner Jonathan Bloch has only ever had one Durban July runner before and it had an interesting name, Ess Five Beaches, which was the address of a residence owned by the late great owner-breeder Graham Beck. However, Bloch now part-owns all three of the horses who are currently at the top of the July boards with the sponsor,  Star Major, Note To Self and Wish List.

It is always interesting that the bookmakers seem to prefer winners to lightly weighted horses, because of course the handicappers job is to equalize the chances of horses in a race if they were to meet again. The handicappers used the fourth-placed Viva’s Liberte as the line horse for the Daily News 2000 and raised Star Major four points to 122 and raised Happy Verse nine points to 119.

However, the sponsor shortened Star Major to  7/2, with Note To Self and Wish List now 11/2, while Happy Verse is out at 8/1 together with See It Again and Regulation.

Punters might prefer to look for horses who benefit from the raise in weights of others.

Note To Self should be cherry ripe for the July and being by stamina influence Futura out of a mare by stamina influence Judpot augurs well for the step up in trip to 2200m. Note To Self didn’t have as immediate a turn of foot as Star Major or Happy Verse and another discussion point might be whether he would benefit from blinkers. This might help him gallop resolutely from a long way out and make it into a stamina test.

Happy Verse has always been a horse who has oozed class and he is now beginning to fulfil it. The Daily News 2000 was his third run after gelding and he at last showed the class he had always promised. He can progress further as he had a nice smooth race in the Daily News and that should have brought him on, so he should be a big runner in the July. He is by Vercingetorix, who won the Daily News 2000 and a Gr 1 in Dubai over the same trip, out of a mare by stamina influence Giant’s Causeway, so he should also enjoy the July trip.

Star Major will also be a big runner. His part-owner Ravi Naidoo has preached this horse from a long time ago and he has proved to be spot on.  The Querari colt has matured into a top class horse and can follow in the footsteps of the like of Big City Life and Legislate by winning the Guineas, the Daily News and the July, although the latter pair had also both won the Cape Derby before arriving in KZN. Big City Life carried a mere 51kg in the July in an era when topweight was 58kg, while Legislate carried a record weight for a winning three-year-old of 56kg in a race where topweight was 60kg, although he did win it via the boardroom with an upheld objection whose outcome drew plenty of criticism. Star Major will, as things stand, carry 56kg too, although the topweight this year will be 62kg.

A horse who has snuck into the July picture is the Gr1 SA Classic winner Grand Empire. He was in position 20 on the first July log, but after the scratching of both Okavango and Jan Van Goyen, he could come into the all important top 18. On the negative side for Grand Empire is, although he might end up with bottom weight, how good a preparation is he going to have had by the time of the July? His final run before the July comes on Sunday at Turffontein in a 1400m Pinnacle event, so he will not have enjoyed as good a build up into the big race as the like of Happy Verse have had.

Happy Verse was in the outside looking in horses on the first log, and will likely leapfrog Grand Empire, so the latter might still be under pressure for a place in the final field.

On the other hand, Hazy Dazy, who was in 14th place on the first log, might be in trouble after seemingly being outclassed in the Daily News by the males as she was beaten 11,40 lengths into 8th. She might be dropped from the log.

Wish List has the same 117 rating as Hazy Dazy, so will carry 53,5kg in the July as things stand. Her four wins on the trot include two Gr 1s and two Gr 2s. She will easily get the July trip being a daughter of Legislate out of a Silvano mare, Wind Chill, who won the SA Oaks. There are not many horses who would fetched the pacemaker the way she did on Saturday as she had to make up a lot of ground up off a slow pace. However, the question is how much the effort took out of her. It was likely not quite the race the connections had envisaged.

Meanwhile, the next big upheaval to the betting and log positions etc happens this Saturday in the Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge race meeting, which not only features the Gold Challenge itself, but also the all important Gr 3 Betgames Cup Trial over 1800m, which is always a big July pointer race.

Regulation will be under big pressure to win the Cup Trial. He is an 8/1 shot for the July with the sponsor, despite having been in the outside looking in horses on the first log. He will likely need to win the race to definitely force his way in and on the downside he has drawn wide in barrier ten out of 11 for Saturday’s race. If he does win it there will be more pressure on the like of borderline horses like Grand Empire.