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.

Andrew Harrison

Punters face a competitive card on the Hollywoodbets Greyville poly today but there could be some relief with two runners that stand out as possible exotic bet bankers.

The first come in the second race, where Justin Snaith saddles Hazel Green. She has some useful Cape form to back her claims and has gone well over the trip. If taking to the poly she will be hard to beat. Tienie Prinsloo’s mare Tipperary is a long-time maiden but has finished runner-up with Mickaelle Michel aboard at her last two and Prinsloo’s patience can be rewarded as the step up in trip could finally suit. Red Hot Miss takes on older runners but has shown up well in her only two starts although starting at long odds last time out. Dancing In Demark has not been too far back at her last two and a claiming apprentice will help her cause.

The second possible banker could come in the sixth, a B Stakes the highest rated race on the card over 1000m, where Dean Kannemeyer sends out Pop Chart for the first time under his care. The gelding ran a cracker behind  the highly rated Miami Mountain at Turffontein last time out and he boast some smart PE form. If taking to the poly he looks the part. Connery is likely to start at lengthy odds but has been dropping in the handicap and has his favourite apprentice aboard from a good draw. He could be the surprise package. Vaughan Marshall sends out Inside Voice who is way better than her last run but she does take on males especially as she is up against a confirmed poly specialist in United Nation  who is back over what looks to be his optimum trip. Donquerari is always game and was a touch unlucky last run when finding traffic at a crucial stage of the race.

In the card opener, Sierra Foxtrot drifted off the boards on debut but raced green and finished a creditable four lengths off the winner. She will come on lengths from that effort. The more experienced Winter Miracle finished ahead of Sierra Foxtrot and found form when back to a sprint last start and must have a chance on confirming that form. Smart Choice was disappointing after a smart previous showing and must have a strong chance on her best effort while Moon Girl showed some improvement at her second start when jumping from a wide draw. She has the best of the draw now and a handy galloping weight.

Skipper O’Mally can get the Pick 6 off to a winning start although he does take on males. She is struggling a bit for a win. however, she has run well on the poly and with a handy weight should make her presence felt especially as Takethegreenlight and Peeping Tom have been scratched.

In the fourth Syx Hotfix has started to find form again and was narrowly beaten by a useful sort last run but this is a wide open affair. The Wolf  has been knocking at the door and goes well on the poly and was a length behind Syx Hotfix last run and is 0.5kg better off. With a handy weight he should be competitive. Star Of The Future was touched off last run in some useful company and should feature in this company while World Of Our Own has been ramped up the handicap and has top weight but can still feature with De Melo back in the saddle.

The fifth is another tricky handicap but veteran National Dream has come to hand at his last two on the poly and has an accomplished apprentice aboard. Basie Raakvat has also come to hand of late in blinkers and goes very well on the poly along with Mountainsofthemoon  who found form to win last time out on the poly and was well supported in the betting. Global Movement did well from a tough draw on the poly last start and must have a decent chance in a wide open affair.

It does not get any easier towards the end of the afternoon although Gorgeous Dude has good form on the poly in the seventh. He may prefer it a furlong further but has a light weight and Muzi Yeni to help his cause. Paratrooper may just have needed his first outing in KZN but he was not far back. If taking to the poly he should be a strong contender. Louis Goosen sends out two fillies best of which may be Kali Bwana. She takes on males but is never too far back and has shown up well in her last two over course and distance. Stable companion Saudi Sweep has shown her best recent form over further but does have the best of the draw and the national leading apprentice aboard.

The last is another puzzle but One Path needed her last run on the turf and has smart form on the poly. She has a fair weight in spite of the apprentice claim but at best should be in the firing line. The strangely named filly Preacher Man took on much stronger at her last outing and although well beaten she can do better while Party Girl shed her maiden on the poly at Fairview and makes her local debut. She is lightly raced and likely to improve on her current form.

RACE 1

6 SIERRA FOXTROT   7 WINTER MIRACLE   4 SMART CHOICE   1 MOON GIRL

Preview: SIERRA FOXTROT (6) drifted off the boards on debut but raced green and finished a creditable four lengths off the winner. She will come on from that effort. WINTER MIRACLE (7) found form when back to a sprint last start and must have a chance on that showing. SMART CHOICE (4) was disappointing after a smart previous showing and must have a strong chance on her best effort. MOON GIRL (1) showed some improvement at her second start when jumping from a wide draw. She has the best of the draw now and a handy galloping weight. (Andrew Harrison: 6-7-1-4)

RACE 2

2 HAZEL GREEN   3 TIPPERARY   5 RED HOT MISS   1 DANCING IN DEMARK

Preview: HAZEL GREEN (2) has some useful Cape form to back her claims. She has gone well over the trip and if taking to the poly she will be hard to beat. TIPPERARY (3) is a long-time maiden but has finished runner-up with Michael Michel aboard and the step up in trip could finally suit. RED HOT MISS (5) takes on older runners but has shown up well in her only two starts although starting at long odds last time out. DANCING IN DEMARK (1) has not been too far back at her last two and a claiming apprentice will help her cause. (Andrew Harrison: 2-3-5-1).

RACE 3

6 SIPPER O’MALLEY   9 TAKETHREGREENLIGHT   3 PEEPING TOM   4 DIAMOND MAKER

Summary: SKIPPER O’MALLEY (6) takes on males and is struggling a bit for a win. However, she has run well on the poly and with a handy weight should make her presence felt. TAKETHEGREENLIGHT (9) is lightly raced and has shown up well in two local outings. He was second best on the poly last run but can go one better. PEEPING TOM (3) has been in good form of late but does look to be held by Takethegreenlight on their last meeting. DIAMOND MAKER (4) is a lightly raced four-year-old and steps up in trip for the first time. One to watch in the market. (Andrew Harrison: 6-9-3-4).

RACE 4

6 SYX HOTFIX   8 THE WOLF   7 STAR OF THE FUTURE   4 WORLD OF OUR OWN

Preview:  SYX HOTFIX (6) has started to find form again and was narrowly beaten by a useful sort last run. THE WOLF (8) has been knocking at the door and goes well on the poly. He was a length behind Syx Hotfix last run and is 0.5kg better off. With a handy weight he should be competitive. STAR OF THE FUTURE (7) was touched off last run in some useful company and should feature in this company. 4 WORLD OF OUR OWN (4) has been ramped up the handicap and has top weight but can still feature with De Melo back in the saddle. QHUDE MANIKINIKI (1) was a recent maiden winner and improved in cheek pieces. Stable rider Sean Veale has opted for Syx Hotfix that may tell a story. (Andrew Harrison: 6-8-7-4).

RACE 5

8 NATIONAL DREAM   6 BASIE RAAKVAT   2 MOUNTAINSOFTHEMOON   1 GLOBAL MOVEMENT

Preview: Tricky. Veteran NATIONAL DREAM (8) has come to hand at his last two on the poly and has an accomplished apprentice aboard. BASIE RAAKVAT (6) has also come to hand of late in blinkers and goes very well on the poly. MOUNTAINSOFTHEMOON (2) found form to win last start on the poly and was well supported in the betting. GLOBAL MOVEMENT (1) did well from a tough draw on the poly last start and must have a decent chance in a wide open affair. (Andrew Harrison: 8-6-2-1).

RACE 6

2 POP CHART   5 UNITED NATION   4 INSIDE VOICE   1 CONNERY

Preview: POP CHART (2) ran a cracker behind Miami Mountain at Turffontein last time out. He boast some smart PE form and if taking to the poly he looks the part. CONNERY (1) has been dropping in the handicap and has his favourite apprentice aboard from a good draw and could be the surprise package. INSIDE VOICE (4) is way better than her last run but she does take on males. UNITED NATION (5) is a poly specialist back over what looks to be his optimum trip. DONQUERARI (3) is always game and was a touch unlucky last run when finding traffic at a crucial stage of the race. (Andrew Harrison: 2-5-4-1).

RACE 7

3 GORGEOUS DUDE   8 PARATROOPER   2 KALI BWANA   1 SAUDI SWEEP

Preview: Open. GORGEOUS DUDE (3) has good form on the poly. He may prefer it a furlong further but has a light weight and Muzi Yeni to help his cause. PARATROOPER (8) may just have needed his first outing in/ KZN but he was not far back. If taking to the poly he should be a strong contender. KALI BWANA (2) takes on males but is never too far back and has shown up well in her last two over course and distance. Stable companion SAUDI SWEEP (1) has shown her best recent form over further but does have the best of the draw and a leading apprentice aboard. (Andrew Harrison: 3-8-2-1).

RACE 8

3 ONE PATH 4 PREACHER MAN   5 PARTY GIRL   8 FUTANO

Preview: ONE PATH (3) needed her last run on the turf and has smart form on the poly. She has a fair weight in spite of the apprentice claim but at best should be in the firing line. PREACHER MAN (4) took on much stronger at her last outing and although well beaten she can do better here. PARTY GIRL (5) shed her maiden on the poly at Fairview and makes her local debut. She is lightly raced and likely to improve on her current form. FUTANO (8) has improved in blinkers and goes well on the ply She has a light weight and should be competitive. (Andrew Harrison: 3-4-5-8).

Andrew Harrison

Star Major put himself firmly into the picture for the R10 million Gr1 Hollywoodbets Durban July with a smashing victory in the Gr1 Daily News 2000 run at Hollywoodbets Greyville this afternoon.

In a carbon copy of his victory in the Gr2 WSB Guineas, visiting French rider Mickaelle Michel held her nerve for her first Gr1 victory as Star Major swept past his rivals chased home by Happy Verse and favourite Note To Self with pacemaker Viva’s Liberte staying on for fourth.

Trainer James Crawford joins his father Brett in training a winner of the Daily News and he could follow in his footsteps in the July, Brett having trained Winchester Mansion to victory in 2023.

Craig Zackey set a solid early pace on Viva’s Liberte with two of the more fancied runners, Note To Self and Jan Van Goyen well back in the early exchanges.

Viva’s Liberte led into the straight chased by Chronicle King whose challenge soon petered out. Crossing the subway Happy Verse was making progress under Richard Fourie while Andrew Fortune had slipped Note To Self up the inside of the pack. All this time Star Major was making up ground quickly and swept past Happy Verse  to win going away.

Note To Self was running on but lacked the finishing speed of his two rivals while disappointment was Jan Van Goyen who was never in the race and finished in the pack. He may well be a better horse over much shorter.

 The betting for the Gr2 Lucky Fish Woolavington 2000 suggested that it would be a doddle. It eventually turned into a dog fight as short-priced favourite Wish List scraped home ahead of the mare Minogue.

In a race run at no great pace, Muzi Yeni took the initiative and sent Candice and Tammy Dawson’s mare to the front, gradually stepping up the pace until he had built up a commanding lead turning for home.

Andrew Fortune was content to sit back in the pack but the warning signs were up early as Wish List was in behind two runners. “I was stuck behind the two Candice Bass runners, who for some reason could not go anymore. So I circled them. But by then Muzi Yeni had gotten away on Minogue.” Fortune was eventually force to switch off their heels and run wide into the straight. Wish List appeared to be slow into gear but like all champions she gradually started to unwind and make up the leeway. She again showed a tendency to shift in under pressure with Fortune reluctant to break her stride and it was head-and-head over the final 100m with Minogue refusing to give in, in spite of Yeni losing his near side rein.

Much to many punter’s relief, the victory margin was a nose with Keukenhof coming from last for the minor money. In spite of the close finish, Fortune commented, “this girl is good and for now I am in her corner for the Hollywoodbets Durban July.”

Weichong Marwing is no stranger to the winner’s circle in big races, once being the regular pilot of the mighty Horse Chestnut, and although Dance King is hardly in the same league it was a win full of merit and emotion as his son Wesley steered the 20-1 outsider to an emphatic victory in the Lonsdale Stirrup Cup (Listed).

Out for over nine months with a knee injury, this was the younger Marwing’s first winner since returning to the saddle. From his pole position draw, Dance King had the run of the race and Marwing was able to keep close tabs on the favourite Curious Girl.

The early pace was muddling with the lead changing on a number of occasions but Curious Girl was always in the firing line and Dance King stalking her.

The first worrying signs for the favourite came as the field climbed the hill with Sean Veale beginning to niggle at Curious Girl. Given that she was under pressure that early, she did well to  stay on for third. Dance King on the other hand was full of running and went to the line with lengths to spare while Ahead Of The Facts, who was giving away lumps of weight to almost the entire field, finished off strongly from near last to take second in a run full of merit.

The filly Alboran Sea was a top class filly trained by Sean Tarry so it was no surprise that owner Rakesh Singh had to go to R1 million to secure Coast Of The Sun and first up it looks to have been money well spent.

After a gentle introduction to racing, he showed his ability with a gallant maiden win where very little went his way.

Drawn wide, Michel had difficulty tucking him in as first he was kept out wide and then tended to over race. It certainly wasn’t a smooth early passaged and Michel pulled him out early and came wide into the straight. With a few shakes of the reins and a couple of backhands, Coast Of The Sun finished strongly to win impressively.

Although this was only a maiden event, second-placed Benny And Paul will not be long in winning and Tennie Prinsloo was confident that he has a star on his hands. Given this showing the Gr1 Premiers Champion Stakes at the end of the month is a likely target and will probably be one of the most hotly contested races of the season.

David Thiselton

The feature of the day at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth yesterday was the Listed Somerset 1200 that saw the sire Buffalo Bill Cody register another stakes victory over a sprint distance as the Glen Kotzen-trained Catwalk King caused an upset at 25/2 odds under a fine ride by Keagan de Melo.

Keagan de Melo is riding at the top of his game and his expertise played a big role in the win, as can be gleaned from his words in the winner’s enclosure.

He said, “I thought they went quite quick early and then they hit the anchors a little bit and that just allowed me to gather him up a little bit, because he was not traveling awfully well. I was able to get him back on to the bridle and he quickened like a smart horse today. I rode him a little bit like he would need the run and he’s still blowing quite a lot, but hopefully he will show the expected improvement from this run and we can look forward to a nice Cape season with him.”

The James Crawford-trained Shezaripper was backed into 5/2 with the Justin Snaith-trained Gimmthegreenlight filly Grapes Of Wrath, who is a half-sister to Charles Dickens, starting at 3/1 after an impressive debut win, while his stablemate Reef Runner, who had also won impressively on debut, starting at 4/1.

The race was weighted per number of wins with the fillies getting a gender allowance, so the only two-time winner in the field, Tag And Release, had to give 3kg to the males and 5,5kg to the two fillies, Grapes Of Wrath and Shezaripper. Nevertheless Tag And Release started at 5/1 odds and was actually the Tote favourite.

The penetrometer reading on the day was 26 on the turn and 27 on the straight, so the going was good to soft, and this meant timing was at a premium for the jockeys.

Magma Flow was the early leader on the inside with Reef Runner drifting over to sit on his quarters after breaking well. Shezaripper stuck to her stations from the widest draw of all of eight, while Grapes Of Wrath sat behind the leaders from draw four, but was immediately cramped for room. Catwalk King was dropped out from a wide draw of seven and sat behind the second line, while The Cullinan was detached at the back.

Reef Runner gradually moved up to Magma Flow and when Catwalk Wing began his run outside of him he kept Grapes Of Wrath in a pocket with nowhere to go as the 10/1 chance from the Snaith stable, The Cullinan, had taken up the rail run and actually hit the front at one stage in an inspired tactical ride by Craig Zackey.

Catwalk King ran on strongly to beat the staying on Reef Runner by a length, with The Cullinan not able to quite maintain his momentum, having come from so far back, and he was a neck behind the latter in third.

The long-striding Grapes Of Wrath was the hard luck story of the race and looks to be a fine classic filly in the making. She was a 2,95 length fourth with Tag And Release 1,5 lengths behind her.

The Wilgerbosdrift and Mauritzfontein-bred Catwalk King is out of the one-time winning High Chaparral mare Strut Your Stuff and she cost R200,000 at the Cape Yearling Sale. She is owned by Laurence Wernars and Mukund Gujadhur.

De Melo had recommended the gelding for Catwalk King and said afterwards it was gratifying when such a suggestion paid dividends.

It was a fine day for the Andre Nel yard as they scored a four-timer for owner Sabine Plattner and did it from just four runners. Plattner’s Australian-bred four-year-old Churchill homebred filly Berry’s Boogie won a Class 3 handicap over 1200m for fillies and mares under Muzi Yeni off an 86 rating to record her fourth career win and she could progress further.

Plattner’s three-year-old homebred filly Cutie Patootie is also a progressive type and made it three wins from five career starts when winning a Class 4 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1600m off an 88 rating under Chad Little.

The Varsfontein Stud-bred three-year-old Erik The Red filly Blue Lagoon gave Nel and Plattner a treble when winning a Class 5 Handicap over 1200m for fillies and mares off a 78 rating under Aldo Domeyer by 0,30 lengths. She fought back courageously after being headed by the promising two-year-old filly Enticement.

The four-year-old Ridgemont-bred gelding African Memoir completed the four-time for Nel and Plattner when winning the last race over 1000m under Yeni. It was a Class 5 event and African Memoir kept the challengers at bay to win by 0,40 lengths off a 68 rating to record his second career victory.

De Melo had a double as he rode the Greg Ennion-trained She’s Chosen to victory in the first race over 1000m, a Maiden Juvenile Plate. Having her fourth career start, she was bred by Klawervlei Stud and is out of Street Cry mare Hollywoodboulevard, who was one of only two horses in SA to ever defeat the great Igugu. She won by a comfortable 1,75 lengths.

The Candice Bass-trained Autumn Rush, bred by Owloon Horses – Dr Christian Elleke, won an Open Maiden over 1200m at the tenth time of asking under 2,5kg claimer Sifisokuhle Bungane, who rode a fine race down the inside rail to get up by 0,75 lengths..

The Shane Humby-trained four-year-old Ridgemont Highlands-bred filly Kisses won a maiden over 1600m by 1,25 lengths under Ossie Noach at the eleventh time of asking.

The Justin Snaith-trained three-year-old What A Winter filly Music Of The Night did well off a merit rating of 86 to win a Class 4 Handicap over 1200m by a neck under 4kg claimer Eduan Muller.

Andrew Harrison

Star Major put himself firmly into the picture for the R10 million Gr1 Hollywoodbets Durban July with a smashing victory in the Gr1 Daily News 2000 run at Hollywoodbets Greyville this afternoon.

In a carbon copy of his victory in the Gr2 WSB Guineas, visiting French rider Mickaelle Michel held her nerve for her first Gr1 victory as Star Major swept past his rivals chased home by Happy Verse and favourite Note To Self with pacemaker Viva’s Liberte staying on for fourth.

Trainer James Crawford joins his father Brett in training a winner of the Daily News and he could follow in his footsteps in the July, Brett having trained Winchester Mansion to victory in 2023.

Craig Zackey set a solid early pace on Viva’s Liberte with two of the more fancied runners, Note To Self and Jan Van Goyen well back in the early exchanges.

Viva’s Liberte led into the straight chased by Chronicle King whose challenge soon petered out. Crossing the subway Happy Verse was making progress under Richard Fourie while Andrew Fortune had slipped Note To Self up the inside of the pack. All this time Star Major was making up ground quickly and swept past Happy Verse  to win going away.

Note To Self was running on but lacked the finishing speed of his two rivals while disappointment was Jan Van Goyen who was never in the race and finished in the pack. He may well be a better horse over much shorter.

 The betting for the Gr2 Lucky Fish Woolavington 2000 suggested that it would be a doddle. It eventually turned into a dog fight as short-priced favourite Wish List scraped home ahead of the mare Minogue.

In a race run at no great pace, Muzi Yeni took the initiative and sent Candice and Tammy Dawson’s mare to the front, gradually stepping up the pace until he had built up a commanding lead turning for home.

Andrew Fortune was content to sit back in the pack but the warning signs were up early as Wish List was stuck behind two runners. He was eventually force to switch off their heels and run wide into the straight. Wish List appeared to be slow into gear but like all champions she gradually started to unwind and make up the leeway. She again showed a tendency to shift in under pressure with Fortune reluctant to break her stride and it was head-and-head over the final 100m with Minogue refusing to give in, in spite of Yeni losing his near side rein.

Much to many punter’s relief, the victory margin was a nose with Keukenhof coming from last for the minor money. In spite of the close finish, Fortune said that Wish List was still his choice of ride for the Gr1 Hollywoodbets Durban July.

Weichong Marwing is no stranger to the winner’s circle in big races, once being the regular pilot of the mighty Horse Chestnut, and although Dance King is hardly in the same league it was a win full of merit and emotion as his son Wesley steered the 20-1 outsider to an emphatic victory in the Lonsdale Stirrup Cup (Listed).

Out for over nine months with a knee injury, this was the younger Marwing’s first winner since returning to the saddle. From his pole position draw, Dance King had the run of the race and Marwing was able to keep close tabs on the favourite Curious Girl.

The early pace was muddling with the lead changing on a number of occasions but Curious Girl was always in the firing line and Dance King stalking her.

The first worrying signs for the favourite came as the field climbed the hill with Sean Veale beginning to niggle at Curious Girl. Given that she was under pressure that early, she did well to  stay on for third. Dance King on the other hand was full of running and went to the line with lengths to spare while Ahead Of The Facts, who was giving away lumps of weight to almost the entire field, finished off strongly from near last to take second in a run full of merit.

David Thiselton

Star Major is the second favourite for the Gr 1 Daily News 2000 and this progressive Querari colt has been in fine fettle at Randjesfontein after his superb win in the Gr 2 WSB Guineas.

Tim Woodruff is the Randjesfontein assistant to trainer James Crawford and he said about the Maine Chance Farms-bred bay, who is owned by passionate Durban-born owner, Ravi Naidoo, together with Neville Isdell, Mr J I Bloch and Mrs Prakashni Pillay.

Tim said, “He is all good, we have just tried to freshen him up because it is a quick turnaround between races, but he is doing good. You do get your things between races you sometimes have to deal with, but I do think he will be alright for the Daily News.”

Star Major jumped from a wide  draw in the WSB Guineas and was dropped out.

He turned for home in last place with a number of lengths to make up, but then produced a good turn of foot followed by an impressively resolute finish coupled with an eyecatching late gear change that saw him surging to a 0,90 length victory over the hot favourite Tin Pan Alley.

 Of course sectional timing invariably shows that apparent late surges or apparent flying finishes are usually an optical illusion caused by the other horses slowing down at a more rapid rate than the apparently strong-finishing horse. Invariably the surging horse is actually also slowing down.

Indeed the sectional timing of the WSB Guineas shows Star Major’s 100m to finish time to be his slowest sectional of the entire race.

However the fact that he was able to have the fastest 100m to finish time of the whole field, despite having had to make up many lengths to get there, seems to show that he has got some stamina.

He did win the Gr 3 Politician Stakes over 1800m and finished a fair 3,20 length fourth in the Gr 1 Lucky Fish Cape Derby over 2000m, both at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth. In the latter race he ran on despite having been a bit keen in the running.

That would illustrate he has the stamina, but hopefully he will be able to settle better this time.

He settled very well in  the WSB Guineas and due to his wide draw Tim Woodruff said the same tactic of being dropped out will be employed.

He added, “Obviously it’s a short straight so it’s obviously not ideal. But just looking for a good run  and then obviously the July afterwards.”

He gave his opinion on the 2000m distance, “He should get the trip.”

Querari won a Gr 1 over 2000m and Star Major is out of a mare by stamina influence Silvano and this mare not only won over 1900m, but was an own sister to Follow The Star, who won the Listed Glenair Trophy over 2800m.

So on pedigree he will easily stay the trip.

Mickaelle Michel retains the ride and if winning it she will become only the second woman in SA history to win a Gr 1, the only one to date to have won one being Lisa Prestwood on the Buddy Maroun-trained Al Nitak in the Golden Horse Sprint on June 1, 2023, almost exactly 23 years ago.

Mickaelle has been in excellent form and Tim confirmed that if everything went well in the Daily News she would keep the ride for the Hollywoodbets Durban July too.

Tim agreed she had been outriding many of her male weighing room colleagues and added, “She has got the touch.”

It would be somewhat ironic if Mickaelle did win the Daily News with a horse conditioned by assistant trainer Woodruff, because Tim’s mother Carol (nee Millard) was the first woman to have a professional license in SA. She had started riding work for her legendary father Terrance Millard at the age of 12 and from age 14 started riding in and winning many amateur races. She was apprenticed overseas and rode in the tough school of England and Germany in professional races. However, the SA authority of the time refused to allow her to ride in professional races in SA, gross unfairness. To get around the legalities the authority installed a rule that overseas apprentices wee not allowed to ride here. This came back to bite them because years later a top apprentice from Europe came over only for everybody to discover he was not allowed to ride here. Carol was able to ride in Cape Hunt races against professional jockeys, ironically a more dangerous discipline than flat racing, and she was able to ride in Zimbabwe under a “Day” license, which was usually utilised when there were not enough professional riders available. She remembers winning a Cape Hunt race on Hawkins, who had formerly been one of Terrance Millard’s many Gold Cup winners. She also finished second in “The Schweppes” in Zimbabwe.

But back to Star Major, who is still a colt meaning a Daily News win will look very good on his stallion CV.

Tim said, “If you win the Guineas and the Daily News it is just next level.”

Tim said Star Major had a fine chance of realising the dream of Ravi Naidoo and no doubt all the other owners too, a win in the R10 million Hollywoodbets Durban July.

He concluded, “He is ticking all the boxes, He’s a machine.”