Author Archives: Yegan Kander

Fairview Turf Friday 22 May 2026 – Comments by Trevor Reid

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RACE 1

RULES OF CONDUCT has been very costly to follow. This course and distance suits and he should go one better this time. FYFIELD LEGEND is threatening to win a race and does look the obvious danger. ANNUSHKA’S LIGHT makes his debut for a trainer that has been successful a couple of times this year with newcomers. DRAUPNER makes his debut but he might have to settle for a minor role at best. DANCING AMBER was a well beaten runner-up on debut but can get involved with the finish.

RACE 2

LUCY’S WORLD brings some fair Western Cape form and that is often good enough at this centre. XTINES PRINCESS (GB) found betting support on local debut and did not run too badly. She looks a threat to these rivals. TRULY MAGICAL and FOCAL POINT need to improve to beat those two rivals but are capable of earning some money. LOVELY DANCER has only been fair on the Polytrack but should do better on the grass. TAKEMETOTHEMOON makes her local debut and could improve. PRETTY AWESOME is well bred and would not be a surprise winner on debut.

RACE 3

An interesting race. AMERICAN GEM struggled last time out. He makes his local debut and blinkers have been reached for and he might bounce back with a victory. CHAMPAGNE BLAZE was backed to win on her local debut and was a disappointment. She could do better back on the grass. STONE OF SCONE is not an easy ride but she was an unlucky loser last time out and could go one better. DELAROCHE is unreliable but has a place chance. POWER OF TIGER, FONTE, LADY OF FATE and KIM KAY are all capable of improvement. AMONG THE WILLOWS makes her debut and could score for Richard Fourie.

RACE 4

ROMAN AGENT has found a very game stable companion to beat him in his last two starts. He gives weight to all his rivals but can score. JOKER MAN has been speedy of late and should fight out the finish. Trainer Dean Smith has three runners and all three have been very unreliable of late. GALILEO STAR is talented but has not shown that recently. THE WINTER LAKE is very fast but has not won for some time. FOREST SPY has had a very profitable last 18 months and can earn some money. WARRIOR OF ROYALTY tackles a lot stronger this time but does represent a bang-in-form Juan Nel.

RACE 5

A very good race. MARCHLAND has been impressive so far with two good wins. She can complete a hat-trick. Trainer Alan Greeff has clearly targeted this race and has four of the seven carded. Stable jockey Richard Fourie is on MALIBU ICE. This filly quickened nicely to win her latest start and clearly has ability. CASPERITA was a bitter disappointment last time on the Polytrack but could be a threat over this track and trip. FATEFUL LOVE did not shine when making a trip to Gauteng but is a lively danger. OBSIDIAN STAR has won her last two starts on the Polytrack. POWEROFPEACE, represents Dean Smith and Craig Zackey so must be respected for that.

RACE 6

ZINOVI has impressed this year, winning three of his last four starts. This course and distance is clearly not a problem and he is the one to beat. KING REGENT is a former winner of the Eastern Cape Polytrack Championship in 2024. He has gone missing since then but is capable of winning a race like this. LANCIAFIAMME has beaten ZINOVI and can get involved with the finish once again. SCOTTISH KISS and CHAMPION WARRIOR make their local debuts and could improve. PORFIRIO has won five of his last 7 starts and has a place chance.

RACE 7

Some talented fillies and mares line up for this Listed Race. SHE’S MY WORLD represents Snaith Racing and she could be the one to beat. Her recent form is solid and this shorter distance is not a problem for her. SONG OF MYSELF did not shape at Turffontein last time out but has been outstanding at this course and her win over this distance was impressive. ONE DANCE tackles stronger this time around but the filly she beat last time out did win her next start. DANISH DYNAMITE is very quick and has stable jockey Craig Zackey aboard so is a threat. HOT SAUCE has had some disappointing recent performances but is also not out of it.

RACE 8

Some big fields and difficult races to end this card. LADY LUCK has not shown her best form of late. She does, however, represent a trainer in fine form and from a good draw can contest the finish. Stable companion GORGEOUS CAPE has stable jockey Chad Little aboard and this filly ran on strongly last time out. She does, however, have to give weight away to all her rivals. FLOWER FESTIVAL is not reliable but is capable of earning money. QONDANEKUKHANYENI has shown improvement of late but is not well drawn. AMANATTO has been very consistent of late and is sure to be sent out the favourite for this. SUN SPECTACULAR and LANA VIEW are in good shape and capable of making the frame.

RACE 9

GREEN PLANET has not been disgraced in his two runs at this track. This course and distance should suit and he could win a very open race. TEEREX has won four of his last six starts but will be giving weight to his rivals. KING VISERYS is not reliable but is capable of winning a race of this nature. RHYDIAN quickened nicely on local debut and should be a danger from a good draw. SLIVER OF SUNSHINE impressed when winning on local debut and could have more to offer. HOSPICES DE BEAUNE is very consistent but that was on the Polytrack. MELA STRENGTH ran well on local debut and is another to consider.

Comprehensive analysis of the weights for the MIDDLE STAKES

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David Thiselton
The all important last leg of the Pick 6 at the Festival Of Speed meeeting at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Saturday is a Middle Stakes race and this gives punters an opportunity to get an edge if they do their homework.
A Middle Stakes race is a merit rated band race with wide bands of four points relating to 1,5kg spreads.
Firstly, the horses that are at the top of their bands will have an advantage over the horses that are at the bottom of their bands and, secondly, the horses that are in the highest bands will have a potential advantage over horses that are in lower bands.
The merit ratings used are the nett ratings of a horse, which is an important consideration because there are nine three-year-olds in the race.
Another fact associated with these races is that females get a 2,5kg allowance, so females are invariably the best weighted, but on the other hand it is virtually an adage in racing to say, “It is hard for the girls to beat the boys.”
If a horse is merit rated above the highest band the rule is 0,5kg for every point above the band.
Analysing a Middle Stakes race is not as simple as working out the best weighted runners as will be seen in the ensuing analysis.
The list of horses in the race and how well they are officially weighted is shown below:
Best weighted: Disting
1kg under sufferance: Chapbook, Kaalvoet, Soho Star, Green Gateway,
1,5kg under sufferance:
2kg under sufferance:  Dreamworld, Banff
2,5kg under sufferance: Cognac, Golden Rule
3kg under sufferance: Magic Surprise, City Of Love, Vibe SA
3,5kg under sufferance: Freedom Fighter, Saudi Cat, Red Mountain, Best Of All, Cavalry Commander
4,5kg under sufferance: Etiquette, Red Mountain
The merit rated bands for this race are:
61,5kg = nett merit ratings of 99 to 102 – Green Gateway (nett MR 102), Golden Rule (99), Soho Star (102)
60kg = 95 to 98 – Disting (96 – female 2,5kg allowance= 57,5kg), Dreamworld (97), Banff (97)
58,5kg = 91 to 94 – Saudi Cat (91), Cognac (93), Vibe SA (92)
57kg = 87 to 90 – Magic Surprise (89), City Of Love (89)
55,5kg = 83 to 86 – Best Of All (85), Etiquette (83)
54kg = 79 to 82 – Freedom Fighter (82), Cavalry Commander (82)
52,5kg = 75 to 78 – Red Mountain (77)
62kg = Kaalvoet (103), Chapbook (103) because they are both 1 point above the highest band.
It is now important to look at how these runners have fared in previous such merit rated band conditions races, if they have run in any.
Disting was just 1,30 lengths back in a Middle Stakes race last time off this same merit rating. That was over 1000m on the Hollywoodbets Greyville poly. In December she was at the bottom of her band in a B Stakes race over 1200m and was beaten 3.25 lengths, not a bad effort.
Chapbook is a reserve runner but ran a cracker last time out in a Listed handicap over 1100m at this course. He is now effectively on top of his band so if he was able to do so well in a handicap and he is now better off than he would have been in a handicap, then he will be a massive runner here if a horse is scratched and he gets a place in the field.
Kaalvoet actually won that race and is now in this race with the same merit rating as Chapbook. He beat Chapbook by 1,60 lengths and is only 2kg worse off, so is only fractionally worse off than Chapbook on the weight turnaround. Kaalvoet must thus be a massive runner here.
 Green Gateway lost two lengths on his KZN debut in a poly race so that race can be ignored. Before that he won the Sophomore Sprint over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth, beating 104 rated Roland Garross by a neck when receiving just 1kg. He was raised to 105, which puts him at the top of his band and Roland Garros has won twice since, including the lucrative Big Cap. Green Gateway would thus be the horse to beat on that formline, but on the other hand his last run followed a four month layoff and gelding, so he might still need this run.
Soho Star has not been in good form in his last two starts and is unlikely to get in as second reserve.
 Dreamworld is hard to assess because he hasn’t raced since last September, but he did win the Gr 3 Winter Nursery beating the likes of All The Rage, so that makes him potentially very well weighted here.
Banff is only 1,5kg better off with Kaalvoet for a 2,70 length beating and that still puts her at just over a 1,5kg disadvantage with Kaalvoet on paper. However, interestingly, before that Banff was beaten 1,50 lengths by Kaalvoet in a 1000m race at the Vaal and is now effectively 5kg better off from that run if wfa month by month changes are taken into account. So that puts him well in with Kaalvoet here and he now has his third run after a layoff. So he has to be considered over a suitable trip, especially as he is just one point off the top of his band, Furthermore, he had the tricky draw of one in the In Full Flight Stakes and now has draw eight.
Cognac was well beaten in a middle stakes race over this trip in February at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth and last time was in the middle of the band off a NETT 94 in a B Stakes race over 1000m at Hollywoodbets Greyville and was beaten 3,50 lengths. Now he is one off the top of the band and should have come on from that last race and has won over this course and distance before.
Vibe SA is two off the top of that band and was beaten three lengths the last time he ran in a Middle Stakes event over 1160m off this same mark.
Saudi Cat is on the bottom of his band and hasn’t run since September last year, but in that race he beat the like of Star Major, so he is the second of the Vaughan Marshall runners who are difficult to assess. However, such is his reputation that he has been priced up as favourite with Hollywoodbets.
Magic Surprise and City Of Love are one point off the top of their band. Magic Surprise is 2,5kg better off with Kaalvoet for a 2,60 length beating in the In Full Flight for the reason that the 1,5kg claim of Rachl Venniker can be taken this time. That puts him just 0,4kg out with Kaalvoet, so he an outsider to consider at 25/2.
City Of Love was just 2,40 lenghs back in the In Full Flight and the gender claim of Mickaelle Michel can be taken, so he is only 0,26kg out with Kaalvoet and he is superb value at 17/1.
Best Of All is one off the top of his band but was well beaten in a handicap last time over 1100m, so can’t be fancied.
Etiquette is at the bottom of his band and is off form and is also 4,5kg undr sufferance and will find this too sharp.
Cavalry Commander is at the top of his band and although 3,5kg under sufferance due to being in a lowly band he won a handicap easily last time in his second run outside of Cape Town, so he could earn.
Red Mountain is one off the top of the lowest band and is hence 4,5kg under sufferance.
So after all that there is still a choice to make, but the readers can use the above analysis to narrow it down and hopefully the article will have given them the tools to make their own analyses of these type of races.

Festival Of Speed Pick 6 worth the catch

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    David Thiselton

The Pick 6 at the Festival Of Speed meeting on Saturday at Hollywoodbets Scottsville is usually worth catching and the jackpot of Graded races over 1200m that form the middle legs is always well supported and pays a worthwhile dividend.

Starting off with the first leg of the Jackpot, the Gr 2 Allan Robertson Championship, Querari Dancer would be fancied more if she had a better draw than one, which will be especially problematic for her style of running in which she comes from off the pace. The outside horses tend to drift inward and cause traffic problems for the lower drawn horses who are being held up. The wily Fortune might concoct a plan though and this horse looks to have the class to win. Get Up showed a fine kick from a handy position over 1100m to win the Gr 3 Pretty Polly Stakes and has a form chance. If she can be in the leading line the draw of four should not be problematic and she has the Tarry factor. Secretary Bird is well regarded and Griselda beat Get Up in the SA Fillies Nursery, but the latter slammed the SA Nursery winner Good Day Sunshine in the Pretty Polly, so Get Up was probably below par in the Nursery. Griselda has a scurrying sort of action so is not as impressive as Get Up but they win in all shapes and sizes and she has a nice draw of seven out of 16. Flower Island won well in both starts, although her time was not noteworthy last time.  Ventura Boulevard won by ten lengths on debut in the East Cape and can’t be ignored.

In the Gr 1 Gold Medallion Rich Man’s World looks to be a superstar and can be bankered. For the risk averse Haute Couture can be included as he was very impressive on debut. Egremont caught the eye with his debut win and can also be considered.

In the Gr 2 Golden Horse Sprint Cosmic Speed bounced back when put over a sprint down the straight last time and, as he is a former Gr 1 Gold Medallion runner up, he will enjoy this course and distance. He has a nice draw of seven. One Eye On Vegas has speed and class and if able to overcome the troublesome number one draw he could be in the shake up. Taxi To The Moon is in devastating form and from draw five should make a bold bid. Texas Red is a 1400m specialist with consistent form and he should enjoy the tough Hollywoodbets Scottsville course and distance. Jerusalema Rain is in fine form and could still have more to come as he has found his feet in the Tarry yard and he should be in the shake up. Cafe Culture has speed and class and should be right there. Fox On The Run has some class and is tough to ignore. Last year’s winner Tenango comes in fresh and could have benefited from the layoff.

In the Gr 1 SA Fillies Sprint one would have to go thin, considering how many horses have to be put in legs one and three. Asiye Phambili is fancied to take it, but she will have a tough task keeping Double Grand Slam at bay and last year’s winner Mia Moo must also be considered.

In the first leg of the Pick 6 over 1600m, Uzwano has a nice middle draw and with Gavin Lerena up he should be finishing strongly and will go close. Talk To The Master has hard-knocking form and should be finishing strongly. Those two are taken a chance with and are relied on. If they fail some money can be put into the Jackpot.

In the last leg of the Pick 6 Chapbook is only the reserve runner but if getting in he will go close as he caught the eye finishing strongly over 1100m at this course last time. Disting has some good form in Cape Town and has a good record over this course and distance. Vibe SA is an enigmatic sort but is good on his day and has a shout is he is in good form. Magic Surprise was not disgraced last time in the In Full Flight Stakes over 1100m and he has come into his own so should make a bold bid. City Of Love finished a good fifth in the In Full Flight Stakes and should also make a bold bid.

New anchor leg for Festival Of Speed

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 David Thiselton

The Hollywoodbets Scottsville Festival Of Speed meeting has a new anchor leg for the Jackpot, the Gr 1 SA Fillies Sprint.

The Golden Horse Sprint has always previously been the last leg of the Jackpot, but with that race now being a Gr 2 for the second year running it seems that the SA Fillies Sprint has now replaced it as the most important of the two open events as it is forms the last leg of the always much looked forward to Jackpot of Graded races for the first time this year.

It has the same stake as the Golden Horse, R1 million, and is hence not the most expensive race of the day with the stake for the Gr 1 Gold Medallion now upped from R1.5 million last year to 1.75 million this year.

The Gr 1 SA Fillies Sprint is certainly going to be a humdinger this year, although many Jackpot and Pick 6 players will likely be going thin in this leg.

Double Grand Slam and Asiye Phambili are the form horses of the race and reigning champion Mia Moo can be considered too as she did beat both of those horses last year and she also has another important fact on her side i.e. she is trained by Sean Tarry, otherwise known as The King of Pietermaritzburg, having plundered a record 21 Gr 1 victories at Hollywoodbets Scottsville.

Double Grand Slam’s defeat in last year’s SA Fillies Sprint is one of the reasons trainer Justin Snaith has entered her this year, because she was enormously unlucky in that race and Snaith would like to set the record straight.

Double Grand Slam had the number one draw, which was problematic on the day, if not always at this meeting, because the horses tend to drift over from the outside towards the perceived better going towards the inside.

Richard Fourie decided to stick to his stations and it almost worked out because a gap opened just after the 400m mark and she still looked to have plenty in  hand. Unfortunately, it closed as quickly as it opened and after being switched outward the crack filly had nowhere to go and she could only coast home behind a forest of horses to take sixth place, beaten 1,45 lengths.

So it is good news she is drawn ten out of 15 this year, not to mention being in the form of her life.

Her new regular partner Andrew Fortune is back aboard with her rider from her 5,40 length Gr 1 Empress Club Stakes victory, Craig Zackey, now aboard the contender from his guv’nor Dean Kannemeyer’s yard.

Asiye Phambili has also been plagued by bad luck in this race. Trainer Duncan Howells was ultra confident a couple of years ago only to see Rachel Venniker dislodged at the start after the filly pecked badly. Then last year her run came just a fraction too late and she went down a shorthead. If she had stayed straight instead of drifting inward she might have won too.

Asiye Phambili has drawn eight and regular rider Sean Veale is aboard.

Mia Moo came into the race last year on the back of a 2,10 length victory in the Gr 2 Camellia Stakes, whereas this year she comes in off a 2,90 length third in the Gr 1 Computaform Sprint.

Interestingly Mia Moo beat Almond Sea by 4,80 lengths in the Camellia Stakes race and beat her by 3,35 lengths in the Computaform, so her form coming in is not actually much worse than it was last year.

However,  it is her who has to contend with draw one this year and ironically Richard Fourie is up.

In an another coincidental twist Mia Moo was drawn 8 last year, which is Asiye Phambili’s draw this year, and Asiye Phambili was drawn ten last year, Double Grand Slam’s draw this year.

Princess Of All should be considered by the risk averse as she has a Gr 2 win over this trip as well as a Gr 2 and a Gr 3 over 1400m.

Perfect Miracle is an interesting runner too as she is by Hawwaam, whose progeny seem to improve continuously, just like his father Silvano’s progeny.

Perfect Miracle is proof of that. She has won a Gr 3 and a Gr 2 in her last two starts and the latter was the Camellia Stakes, which produced last year’s SA Fillies Sprint winner.

In this year’s Camellia Perfect Miracle faced Rodeo Drive on terms 1kg better than weight for age and beat her by 0,75 lengths, so on paper there should not be much between them now on wfa terms.

She was on wfa terms with all of Rachel Wall, Whistle The Tune, One Fine Winter and Almond Sea, whom she beat by 1,15 lengths, 2.05 lengths, 2,30 lengths and 3,80 lengths respectively, so has their beating on paper.

Symphony In White is a previous Gr 1 Allan Robertson third-placed achiever, but was beaten 4,55 lengths in this race last year and is well held by Asiye Phambili this year from their previous meeting.

Elegantrix was second in last year’s Allan Robertson, but ran a shocker last time out although she did win a Listed race well two runs before that over 1200m, so she could be a dark horse.

None of the others make much appeal.

Bass-Robinson Horses (Liesl King)

Changes to the merit ratings

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David Thiselton
The new merit ratings are out from the Gr 1 HKJC World Pool SA Classic and the handicappers look to have largely managed to get the merit ratings back to the way they had wanted them after the TAB Gauteng Guineas.
The original line horse used for the Gauteng Guineas was Tin Pan Alley, who was rated 117, whilst the appeal panel decided a more appropriate line horse was the 108-rated Grand Empire.
However,  both of those horses are now Gr 1 winners, with Grand Empire having won the SA Classic on Saturday by a short-head from Trust, and Tin Pan Alley having slammed some of the best in the country by 1,75 lengths when winning the Gr 1 Wilgerbosdrift HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes over 1600m.
The appeal panel’s overall rating of the race thus looked to be too low.
The handicappers have managed to use the evidence from the SA Classic, as well as other factors, to get Trust back to the merit rating they had him on after the Guineas i.e 119 and have changed the ratings of the other runners accordingly.
The ratings look to now have a realistic look to them.
Meanwhile, Tin Pan Alley has been raised ten points to 128 after his impressive Horse Chestnut Stakes victory.
Hazy Dazy remains unchanged on 117 after her cosy win in the Gr 1 Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic.
The NHA press release explained all of the changes to the Gr 1 runners:
WILGERBOSDRIFT H F OPPENHEIMER HORSE CHESTNUT STAKES (GRADE 1)
Three-year-old TIN PAN ALLEY has been awarded a revised merit rating of 128, up from 117, following his emphatic victory in the Grade 1 Wilgerbosdrift H F Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes run at weight-for-age over 1600m at Turffontein standside track on Saturday.
In assessing the race, the Handicappers identified the consistent TEXAS RED (third place) as the line horse, leaving his rating unchanged at 119.
TIN PAN ALLEY’S commanding win over 1600m on a yielding track dispelled any doubts about his aptitude for the trip. The Handicappers had already considered him suitable for the distance, having used him as the line horse in the original TAB Gauteng Guineas ratings. However, the TAB Gauteng Guineas was subsequently reduced to a level of 109 following an appeal.
The outcome of the TAB Gauteng Guineas appeal has had significant knock-on effects. The three-year-old cohort that dominated the Guineas was reduced from a level of 121 to 109. TIN PAN ALLEY, who finished fourth in that race, has now gone on to win a Grade 1 WFA event.
Effectively, based on the reduced Guineas level, his performance rating has risen from 104 to 128 in just 28 days. While the Handicappers clearly believe TIN PAN ALLEY improved in this race, the improvement would reasonably be measured from 117 to 128 based on the Handicapper’s original assessment of the Gauteng Guineas.
When rating the Guineas, the Handicappers considered the pecking order of the field, the quality of the race as a Grade 2 event, and fairness from a handicapping perspective to ensure horses would meet on proper handicap terms in future contests. The appeal outcome created distortions, including the subsequent reduction of TRUST’S rating from 119 to 108 – a decision made two runs after his Grade 2 Jackpot City Dingaans victory, which the Handicappers regard as contrary to the principles of handicapping.
TIN PAN ALLY’S performance in this WFA race highlights the strength of this year’s three-year-old crop.
No other horses received upward adjustments in this race. COSMIC SPEED’S rating was reduced slightly, from 124 to 122.
HKJC WORLD POOL SA CLASSIC (GRADE 1)
GRAND EMPIRE, winner of the Grade 1 HKJC World Pool SA Classic over 1800m, has had his official merit rating raised from 108 to 120.
The Handicappers unanimously agreed that runner-up TRUST reaffirmed the 119 performance he achieved in the Grade 2 Jackpot City Dingaans last November, where he defeated the 118-rated JAN VAN GOYEN. The Dingaans level remains the officially adopted benchmark for that race.
In the assessment of this race, the Handicappers concluded that TRUST once again performed to that same level of 119. TRUST was used to that mark and was accordingly adjusted to 119.
A collateral line of form with TIN PAN ALLY’S win in the Wilgerbosdrift H F Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes (Grade 1) indicates that the Grade 1 HKJC World Pool SA Classic is undervalued, however, the Handicappers do not practise retrospective ratings.
Furthermore, the TRUST appeal panel concluded with the following recommendation: “Following the running of the SA Classic, the Handicappers should re-evaluate the entire three-year-old crop.”
Three additional horses received merit rating increases in this race:
  • SPLITTHEEIGHTS: 109 to 116
  • ONE EYE ON VEGAS: 106 to 115
  • RADIO STAR: 95 to 107
WILGERBOSDRIFT SA FILLIES CLASSIC (GRADE 1)
HAZY DAZY’S official merit rating remained unchanged at 117 after she held off her rivals to win the Grade 1 Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic over 1800m. HAZY DAZY remains 3 points lower that her male counterpart GRAND EMPIRE, which is within the range of the filly’s allowance while keeping her equal to the Western Cape Leading filly WISH LIST, who is also rated 117.
The Handicappers identified LITTLEMISSMILLION as the line horse, leaving her rating unchanged at 107.
Two horses received rating increases based on their margins ahead of the line horse at level weights:
  • SCARLETT HEART (third): 91 to 108
  • DAISY JONES (fourth): 106 to 108

London News July centenary victory

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David Thiselton

The 2026 Hollywoodbets Durban July will be a milestone one with the prize money doubled to R10 million and with a longer handicap introduced as the topweight will be upped to 62kg and bottom weight lowered to 52kg.

It will fittingly fall on the 30th anniversary of the centenary July, which turned out to be one of the greatest of all Julys as it was won by the legendary Alec Laird-trained London News, who went on to put South African racing on the map by winning the QE II Cup in Hong Kong.

The renowned South African wildlife painter Henk Vos released his celebrated work, the Painting Of The Century, depicting a century of July winners, after the July’s centenary running.

The iconic painting now hangs in the Classic Room at Hollywoodbets Greyville.

Alec Laird actually ordered one of the prints of the painting before it was completed as the print had the first of his great Uncle Syd Garrett’s five July winners on the left and the greatest of his father’s record seven July winners, Sea Cottage, was in the centre.

The right hand side just had a blank with a silhouette of a horse, because Vos did not know yet which horse he was going to paint there.

Alec, who trained out of Randjesfontein on the Highveld, related, “He hadn’t made up his mind what horse he was going to put in the last panel (the 20th panel) and he even said to me ‘I would like you to win the July because I would like to put you as the last painting.’ With about a year to go I said to him I’m not going to make it.’”

However, fate then had it that London News not only became the 14/10 favourite for the 100th running of the July, but he was also saddle cloth number 20, being the only three-year-old in the field and the bottom weight.

Piere Strydom recalled, “I remember at the traditional Friday night cocktail Henk Vos was there with his big painting and there was one spot left for the 100th winner and I can still remember saying to someone that I think my picture’s going to be up there.”

London News duly won the race and Alec, London News and Piere Strydom are now at the forefront of the famous painting’s 20th panel and the horse is fittingly carrying the no. 20 saddle cloth.

The London News story starts at the National Yearling Sale of 1994.

Alec recalled big owners Laurie and Jean Jaffee’s chief aim at that Sale was to buy a yearling by their own 1987 July winner, Bush Telegraph.

Alec recalled Harmony Forever being his number one choice at that Sale.

However, he remembered London News being “a nice horse.”

He added, “On the first day a Bush Telegraph colt called Mr Newspaperman went for about R300,000. London News looked more athletic and Jean Jaffee actually said to me, ‘What about this one?’ On the first day they didn’t get a horse, the second day they didn’t get one and the more they asked me about London News the nicer he got, because I was otherwise going to go home without a horse!”

The Jaffees managed to secure London News.

Alec recalled, “He was a light youngster and even as a three-year-old was quite light. He didn’t show immediately, but we always had the feeling that he would be a nice horse when he matured.”

In fact, London News made a particularly inauspicious debut, beaten no fewer than 16,5 lengths under Anton Marcus in a 1200m Maiden Juvenile Plate over 1200m at the Vaal on June 6, 1995.

However, he got better and better and when he smashed the Greyville 2000m course record, which still stands today, in the Gr 1 Daily News 2000, he had won six out of eleven starts including the Dingaans and two middle distance Gr 1s.

Piere Strydom was aboard for the Daily News 2000 too.

He reflected on the 1996 July, the first of his four victories in South Africa’s greatest race, “London News was a lekker horse to ride because he had gate speed, a lot of natural speed and he would travel right up there in front and he had a good kick. But at the top of the straight (having led) I thought with a light weight let me just let the reins go a bit and get a length or two for the short straight. But he accelerated way quicker than I had expected and that’s when he made up three or four lengths on the field. Obviously it was going to tell at the end and he was stopping quite badly at the end. I heard the horses coming and I was just hoping for the line and he held on.”

Alec added, “Mike Rattray had invited me to watch in his box because it was on the line and he won by a neck but my eyes wouldn’t believe it because there was so much pressure. I wanted to see the number up!”

Alec described the emotion of being on the honour roll together with his late record-breaking seven-time July-winning father Syd.

In fact his extended family is comfortably the most prolific July-winning family in history with his grandfather Alec winning one as a jockey, his great Uncle Syd Garrett winning two as a jockey and three as a trainer, his father Syd winning a record seven as a trainer, and the cousins Dennis Drier, Alec Laird and Charles Laird each winning one July apiece – a total of 16 for the July dynasty.

July stake jumps to R10 million and a handicap

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The historic and time-honoured Hollywoodbets Durban July is set to deliver its most compelling blend of sport, style and celebration yet on the occasion of the 130th renewal on Saturday 4 July 2026 with the news that big-race sponsors Hollywoodbets have raised the bar with a record-breaking R10 million stake.

The move reinforces the iconic event’s position as Africa’s richest ever graded race – both in prize money and in cultural impact!

Internationally acknowledged as Africa’s Greatest Horse racing Event, the Hollywoodbets Durban July has been run without interruption every year since Saturday 17 July 1897.

Hollywoodbets took over sponsorship of the Durban July in 2022, when it raised the stake from R2 million to R5 million.

In 2026, the year-on-year 100% boost in stakes money will be celebrated with a bold return to its true handicap heritage, reintroducing a more ‘open handicap’ designed to boost competitiveness and elevate the spectacle for racing fans and casual viewers alike.

Key changes for 2026 include a return to a wider weight spread across the field:

  • Bottom weight has been reduced from 53kg to 52kg.
  • Top weight increased from 60kg to 62kg.

Restoring a full 10kg spread in the range of weights means the race boasts the hallmark of a true, open handicap.

To uphold the integrity of this world-class contest, Race Coast will assemble a five-person national panel of racing experts, which will be announced in due course, responsible for determining the final field.

In 2026 the first 12 horses past the post will now earn prize money (up from 10 previously), while the winning connections will bank R6 million.

“The Hollywoodbets Durban July is an internationally recognised raceday where sport, style and South African spirit come together — and we’re proud to be raising the stakes for the milestone 130th running,” said Devin Heffer, Brand and Communications Manager at Hollywoodbets.

“With a record R10 million on offer and a bold return to a more open handicap, the racing will be as dramatic as the day is stylish. It’s a celebration of our heritage — on the track and in the culture — and 2026 is set to be unforgettable.”

The 2026 theme will be announced in February 2026, which signals the start of the creative countdown that turns designers, stylists and racegoers into storytellers, and transforms Hollywoodbets Greyville into a vibrant runway alongside a world-class sporting stage.

Jockey of the Month – June 2025

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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