Hollywoodbets Scottsville Sunday 24 August 2025 – Comments by Andrew Harrison

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8 ICONIC WINTER   11 HOLLANDIA BAKKERIJ    13 HIGHER LOVE   5 HAH LAH LAH

Summary: ICONIC WINTER (8) looks to be the obvious choice and barring a springer among the first timers should get the card off to a winning start. HOLLANDIA BAKKERIJ (11) raced green on debut and is likely to improve while HIGHER LOVE (13) is improving slowly and was not far behind the odds-on winner last time out. Keep a close eye on the market. (Andrew Harrison: 8-11-13-5).

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3 ROYAL SWORD   7 TWOCANTANGO   8 JET BLACKFIRE   10 CHEERSCHEERSCHEERS

Summary:  ROYAL SWORD (3) made marked improvement second time out in spite of drifting in the market. On exposed form he should take a lot of beating but there are a number of first timers to take note of in the betting. TWOCANTANGO (7) showed up well first run back from a lengthy break and the step up in trip will suit. JET BLACKFIRE (8) has found some market interest in his two starts and can improve over this trip. CHEERSCHEERSCHEERS (10) looks the pick of the Mike and Mathew de Kock pair. (Andrew Harrison: 3-7-8-10).

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7 MRS STORMIATRIX   1 ACT OF GRACE   10 COOL WIND   6 TIPPARARY

Summary: MRS STORMIATRIX (7) made marked improvement with first time blinkers over course and distance in soft ground. She looks to have come to hand. ACT OF GRACE (1) has the best of the draw and was well supported in the market last time out. She has done well on the turf and should be a big threat to the selection. COOL WIND (10) has drawn widest but did find some solid long-shot support at just her second outing going a mile for the first time and this shorter trip may suit. TIPPARARY (6) is struggling on the Highveld but does show flashes of ability. (Andrew Harrison: 7-1-10-6).

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6 WARRIOR ROYALE   3 ONE SMART COOKIE   2 SOVEREIGN GRANT   4 MAGICAL VIEW

Summary: Mike Miller holds a strong hand with three solid runners. Judged on jockey engagements, WARRIOR ROYALE (6) would appear to be the stable first choice. She goes well over course and distance but has not been out since March which is a concern. ONE SMART COOKIE (3) is way better than her last run when drawn wide in a big field. Her last win was on this course. SOVEREIGN GRANT (2) has useful recent form in good company and is way better than her last run. Stable companion MAGICAL VIEW (4) has been close-up at her last two but does appear to be better on the poly. (Andrew Harrison: 6-3-2-4).

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8 PRANKSTER   6 QUENTASIA   9 JANE’S VISION   2 TIME IN PARIS

Summary: A few Qatari apprentices making their debut. PRANKSTER (8) has smart recent form over course and distance and rates the horse to beat. QUENTASIA (6) was a beaten favourite last run. Her recent form has been on the poly but she has a light weight and could go all the way. JANES VISION (9) takes on weaker and with a 4kg claimer aboard she should be competitive. TIME IN PARIS (2) has had one outing for her new stable. She is still a maiden but has a chance on this line-up. (Andrew Harrison: 8-6-9-2).

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3 HODGEPODGE   9 PLUM PUDDING   2 QUEUE WING   5 ROYAL INVITATION

Summary: Competitive handicap. Stuart Ferrie’s yard has been in mustard for of late and his filly HODGEPODGE (3) could be the value bet in what looks to be a wide open contest. She has been consistent since her last win and gets first time blinkers. That coupled with a light weight could see her home. PLUM PUDDING (9) was narrowly beaten by TROIS TROIS QUATRE (6) on this course last time out and is now 1.5kg better off for a 0.5 length beating. ROYAL INVITATION (5) is similarly better off and was also close up in that contest. The apprentice did not give QUEUE WING (2) the best of rides last time out and has been replaced by a fellow 4kg claimer. The gelding has been consistent and is one for all bets. (Andrew Harrison: 3-9-2-5).

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5 QINN’S TIME   4 LA MADDALENA   2 ANGEL OF MY HEART  3 CANYOUDOTHEHULA

Summary:   It may be advisable to load up in this leg with many in with chances and apprentices at the helm. QUINN’S TIME (5) was disappointing first up out of the maidens but won well prior to that and can make amends for his last showing. LA MADDALENA (4) has smart form over course and distance and an experienced apprentice aboard. ANGEL OF MY HEART (2) has a handy galloping weight and the most accomplished apprentice aboard in James Lihaba. The mare could feature at generous odds.  CANYOUDOTHEHULA (3) has shown big improvement at her last two but both runs were on the poly. (Andrew Harrison: 5-4-2-3).

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5 MOHAVE PRINCE   4 RUN TO RIO   6 WORLD OF OUR OWN   3 MVELELO

Summary: MOHAVE PRINCE (5) was a narrow maiden winner last time out but was hard-pressed by Master Du Rouvary who looks to be better than average. The balance of the field was a long way back. This trip will suit and Garth Puller’s colt can follow up. RUN TO RIO (4) was a close-up second to Wing Walker who returned to Cape Town after three straight wins. The Stuart Ferrie stable is on hot form. WORLD OF OUR OWN (6) has a fair weight but is better than recent efforts and should feature. MVELELO (3) was close-up last run when down in trip but that was on the poly. (Andrew Harrison: 5-4-6-3).

Hodgepodge to muddy the waters

Andrew Harrison

Stuart Ferrie rounded off his season with a cracking win in the Gr1 HKJC Champions Stakes with Gladatorian getting the better of Gr1 Hollywoodbets Durban July winner The Real Prince and can continued his run of form when the filly Hodgepodge takes on her male rivals in the Gallop TV Middles Stakes that heads the card at Hollywoodbets Scottsville today.

The race is a super competitive handicap but Ferrie’s yard has been in mustard for of late and Hodgepodge could be the value bet in what looks to be a wide open contest. She has been consistent since her last win and gets first time blinkers. That coupled with a light weight could see her home. Andre Nel saddles Plum Pudding was narrowly beaten by Trois Trois Quatre on this course last time out and is now 1.5kg better off for a 0.5 length beating so should be able to turn the tables. So to Royal Invitation who is similarly better off and was also close up in that contest. However, the apprentice did not give Queue Wing the best of rides last time out to the chagrin of Garth Puller and has been replaced by a fellow 4kg claimer. The gelding has been consistent and is one for all bets

On straight form Iconic Winter is the obvious choice in the card opener and barring a springer among the first timers should get the meeting off to a winning start. Of those that have run, Hollandia Bakkerij raced green on debut and is likely to improve while Higher Love is improving slowly and was not far behind the odds-on winner last time out. Keep a close eye on the market.

Similar sentiments apply in the first leg of the PA but Royal Sword made marked improvement second time out in spite of drifting in the market. On exposed form he should take a lot of beating but there are a number of first timers to take note of in the betting.

Cape-based Candice Bass-Robinson has left a few in charge of Summerveld assistant Terry Fripp before heading to a wet and soggy Cape and Mrs Stormiatrix made marked improvement with first time blinkers over course and distance in soft ground. She looks to have come to hand nicely and ward off Glen Kotzen’s filly Act Of Grace who has the best of the draw and was well supported in the market last time out. She has done well on the turf and should be a big threat to the selection. Cool Wind has drawn widest but did find some solid long-shot support at just her second outing going a mile for the first time and this shorter trip may suit.

Mike Miller holds a strong hand with three solid runners in the fourth. Judged on jockey engagements, Warrior Royale would appear to be the stable first choice. She goes well over course and distance but has not been out since March which may be a concern. One Smart Cookie is way better than her last run when drawn wide in a big field. Her last win was on this course and Tienie Prinsloo’s charge can put a spanner in the works give her lowly rating.

Other Miller runner’s, Sovereign Grant and Magical View are certainly not out of it.

Prankster would be one of the better bets on the card but this is an apprentice race where a few Qatari apprentices making their debut. Prankster has smart recent form over course and distance and Gareth van Zyl’s mare rates the horse to beat. Quentasia was a beaten favourite last run. Her recent form has been on the poly but Darryl Moore’s filly has a light weight and could go all the way. Janes Vision could be the dark horse. She takes on weaker and with a 4kg claimer aboard she should be competitive.

In the seventh it may be advisable to load up in this leg of the exotics with many in with chances and apprentices at the helm. Quinn’s Time was disappointing first up out of the maidens but won well prior to that and can make amends for his last showing. La Maddalena has smart form over course and distance and an experienced apprentice aboard. While Angel Of My heart has a handy galloping weight and the most accomplished apprentice aboard in James Lihaba. The mare could feature at generous odds.

In the last, Mohave Prince was a narrow maiden winner last time out but was hard-pressed by Master Du Rouvary who looks to be better than average. The balance of the field was a long way back. This trip will suit and Garth Puller’s colt can follow up. Run To Rio was getting lumps of weight when a close-up second to Wing Walker who returned to Cape Town after three straight wins but the Ferrie stable is on hot form. World Of Our Own has a fair weight but is better than recent efforts and should feature.

Jockey of the Month – June 2025

Serino Moodley

Serino Moodley has struck up a solid relationship with Byron Forster, KZN assistant to Western Cape-based Andre Nel. Forster is a man of few words but he knows his oats and has been loyal to Serino. They teamed up with Selukwe to win the WSB 1900 in fine fashion and that combination will have a realistic chance of landing the Hollywoodbets Durban July. Serino rode eight winners this month, one less than S’Manga Kumalo and joint with Craig Zackey.

Serino is Race Coast’s Jockey of the Month for June

Trainer of the Month – June 2025

Gareth van Zyl

In spite of all the visitors arriving in KZN with the cream of their respective yards for Champions Season, Gareth van Zyl has held his own. He currently leads the local trainer’s log in the face of tough opposition from Garth Puller and Alyson Wright but Gareth won nine races from his 32 runners this term that included a red letter day at Hollywoodbets Scottsville where he saddled six winners.

Gareth is Race Coast’s Trainer of the Month for June.

Jockey of the Month – May 2025

Sean Veale

After an early hiccup in his relationship with Hollywood Racing as their retained jockey, Sean has mended relations with Hollywood Racing’s principal Anthony Delpech and things have been running smoothly since. When not aboard a Hollywood Racing hopeful he is in demand by other trainers, notable his former boss Stuart Ferrie. Sean rode 11 winners this month, two more than Champion Jockey Richard Fourie.

Sean Veale is Race Coast’s jockey of the month for May

Trainer of the Month – May 2025

MJ Odendaal

In spite of visiting trainers bringing their big guns to bare, dominating South Africa’s Champion Season and collecting most of the feature races, MJ Odendaal has managed to hold his own. Although only sixth on the table of stakes won, he is at the top as far as the number of winner’s go. He saddled six at a 16% strike rate. MJ is one of the colourful characters of the sport and is good value for winners and entertaining to boot.

MJ Odendaal is Race Coast’s jockey of the month for May.