David Thiselton

Classic day at Turffontein Standside today features three Gr 1 races, the HKJC World Pool SA Classic, the Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic and the Wilgerbosdrift HF Oppenheimer Stakes.

In the SA Classic over 1800m Jan Van Goyen probably needed it when beaten by Trust in the Jackpot City Dingaans over 1600m last November and the race did not pan out well for him either. He subsequently pulled off an incredible feat to win the Cape Guineas by an effortless 2,75 lengths, because it happened two weeks after the Dingaans and required a long journey just to get there. In the L’Ormarins King’s Plate he went too fast in pursuit of the pacemaker Dave The King and it might also have been a flat run. He is held in high regard and should get the trip. His good draw of three is a bonus.

There is not much between Jan Van Goyen and Splittheeights on lines through Tin Pan Alley, Trust and All Systems Go. Splittheeights looked to have a bit in hand when winning the Gr 2 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Guineas and should get the trip. He has a fine turn of foot and might need it to be at its best from draw eight.

Trust was doing eye-catching late work in the Gauteng Guineas after being hampered and he has been shown in the past to have an exceptional late surge when at his best, so is a big threat from draw four.

Grand Empire ran on well for second in the Gauteng Guineas and looks to be a progressive sort who is on the up.

Erroll Flynn made up the ground effortlessly in a 1600m event last time and although running off only an 88, he has plenty of scope and oozes class.

One Eye On Vegas is believed to have stamina limitations being by Buffalo Bill Cody, but he ran on from last to be beaten just 0,90 lengths in the Gauteng Guineas, and he actually has quite a bit of stamina in his female line, so he is the dark horse.

Those are the ones who make most appeal and the selection is Jan Van Goyen to beat Splittheeights with Trust, Grand Empire and Erroll Flynn next best, although One Eye On Vegas is tough to ignore.

The Horse Chestnut Stakes over 1600m will have its best field for many a season, even if there are only nine runners.

It shapes as a mile championship featuring the L’Ormarins King’s Plate winner The Real Prince against the unlucky 0,25 length third in that race, See It Again, who went on to win the WSB Met.

Both horses have been prepared out of Summerveld and both should enjoy the course and distance being types who can relax into a rhythm before using their fine acceleration.

The Highveld challenge is led by Main Defender, who used his devastating turn of foot to win this race easily two years ago, but this will be his second run after a long layoff.

Fire Attack bounced back to his best last time back on the Highveld after nothing had gone right in his Cape Town campaign. He has a fine turn of foot and this course and distance should be ideal.

His Alec Laird-trained stablemate Atticus Finch has had epistaxis before and was tailed off last time in the defense of his Betway Summer Cup crown, but if at his best he has a chance, as is evidenced by his impressive Gr 2 Allied-Steelrode Onamission mile win

Tin Pan Alley has class but is probably at his best over slightly shorter.

Cosmic Speed drew three when winning last year under Zackey and is now drawn six. He looks held on King’s Plate form.

Texas Red also looks held.

The field is completed by Pressonregardless, a classy sort who is outgunned on paper, but he will relish the faster pace of a top class race and could earn.

See It Again has Richard Fourie up, so should find a good position from his wide draw before using his magnificent turn of foot and he is taken to beat The Real Prince with Fire Attack, Main Defender and Pressonregardless.

The Gr 1 Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic over 1800m has a field of ten and eight of them ran in the Gr 2 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas.

Hazy Dazy won that race easily despite still looking a touch green. She has won over 2000m before and will relish the step up to 1800m.

Charge It by Gimmethegreenlight is a full-sister to Gr 1 Daily News 2000 winner Surcharge, so will also relish the step up in trip and can finish second to Hazy Dazy for the third time.

Littlemissmillion was running on well in the Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas and looks likely to enjoy the step up in trip.

Golden Palm by Master Of My Fate is out of a Var mare and she will have to be ridden more conservatively than she was in the Gauteng Fillies Guineas if she is to improve on her 3,10 length third place finish in the latter race.

Loweveld Lily should be staying on well  and could earn again.

Drumnadrochit will enjoy the step up in trip and has Richard Fourie up from a fair draw.

Daisy Jones could sneak a place from a good draw.

Tina Lovelace has proved disappointing, while Scarlett Heart and Merryweather face big steps up in class.

Hazy Dazy is taken to beat Charge It with Littlemissmillion, Golden Palm and Lowveld Lily next best.

RACE 1

3 ONCEINABLUEMOON 1 POWER OF PEARLS 4 THE REASON 2 DETAILED FORECAST

Preview: 3 ONCEINABLUEMOON has been transformed with blinkers and can go one better than last time. 1 POWER OF PEARLS has been knocking hard since day one and should be right there. 4 THE REASON has shown signs of ability and could be in the shake up.  2 DETAILED FORECAST will go close if repeating her last start. (David Thiselton 3-1-4-2)

RACE 2

1 HIGHWAYMAN HARRY 2 ARIZONA MAGIC 4 TIGER’S CAPTAIN 8 GREEN MACHINE

Preview: 1 HIGHWAYMAN HARRY represents owners who seem to like scopey sorts and after enjoying the drop to this trip last time he should go close. 2 ARIZONA MAGIC has just 1,50 lengths to make up on Highwayman Harry. 4 TIGER’S CAPTAIN ran a fair race over course and distance last time and could earn with a repeat. 8 GREEN MACHINE was not disgraced behind a good sort last time and might enjoy the step down in trip. (DavidThiselton 1-2-4-8)

RACE 3

3 WORLD ATTRACTION 4 VOLCANIC HEAT 1 GIMME A VODKA 2 SPIRIT OF GABZ

Preview: 3 WORLD ATTRACTION won impressively by 7,30 lengths on debut and can follow up. 4 VOLCANIC HEAT has won both starts and can continue to progress. 1 GIMME A VODKA on a formline through Nightshine has a few lengths to find on World Attraction but could earn. 2 SPIRIT OF GABZ beat Gimme A Vodka by a head when they clashed, although the latter was making his debut and could have improved by more since then. (3-4-1-2)

RACE 4

4 SECRETARY BIRD 2 GRISELDA 7 LANZAROTE 9 STAGGERWING

Preview: 4 SECRETARY BIRD looked to have a bit in hand when winning last time and can follow up. 2 GRISELDA beat Secretary Bird by 0,80 lengths when both were making their debuts and they both won well second time out so there won’t be much in it. 7 LANZAROTE has run well in both starts and gets 3kg from the winners. 9 STAGGERWING has two lengths to make up on Secretary Bird and is 3kg better off so should get closer. (DavidThiselton 4-2-7-9)

RACE 5

2 WILLY MEET AGAIN 8 CARE FORGOT 1 KISSHOTEN 3 FAMOUS LADY

Preview: 2 WILLY MEET AGAIN has caught the eye against the boys in her last two and should go close in this easier task. 8 CARE FORGOT bounced back last time and should go close from a good draw. 1 KISSHOTEN disappointed last time and now has a wide draw bit if recapturing her best she could be in the shake up. 3 FAMOUS LADY won a fine race last time but still has to prove she gets 1600m, although it is her first attempt at it and she is drawn in pole. (David Thiselton 2-8-1-3)

RACE 6

1 HAZY DAZY 3 CHARGE IT 5 LITTLEMISSMILLION 2 GOLDEN PALM

Preview: 1 HAZY DAZY won with authority last time and should relish the step up in trip so will go close from a fair draw. 3 CHARGE IT has been in fine form on the Highveld and over a suitable trip could be the bridesmaid to Hazy Dazy for the third time. 5 LITTLEMISSMILLION is a small but long-striding short and she was finishing strongly in the Gauteng Fillies Guineas. 2 GOLDEN PALM was the champion 2yo of her crop and was predicted by some to become a superstar so she has been a touch disappointing and there is a slight question mark over the increase in trip being out of a Var mare. (1-3-5-2)

RACE 7

1 JAN VAN GOYEN 2 SPLITTHEEIGHTS 4 TRUST 3 GRAND EMPIRE

Preview: 1 JAN VAN GOYEN won the Gr Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas in easy and impressive style and then simply went too fast in the L’Ormarins King’s Plate, so can bounce back here and show his class. 2 SPLITTHEEIGHTS won the Gr 2 Gauteng Guineas in fine style and in a good time, so will be a threat. 4 TRUST was hampered late in the Gauteng Guineas but was making up ground late, so looks likely to enjoy this step up in trip. 3 GRAND EMPIRE is on the up and can build on his Gauteng Guineas second place over a step up in trip he should handle. (David Thiselton 1-2-4-3)

RACE 8

2 SEE IT AGAIN 3 THE REAL PRINCE 6 FIRE ATTACK 1 MAIN DEFENDER

Preview: 2 SEE IT AGAIN has come into his own and has gone close in Gr 1 wfa miles before, so is the one to beat under Richard Fourie despite a tough draw. 3 THE REAL PRINCE was the winner of the L’Ormarin’s King’s Plate, a race in which a flying See It Again was a somewhat unlucky 0,25 length third, and he should use his fine turn of foot to go close again. 6 FIRE ATTACK bounced back last time and should be finishing strongly over a just about ideal course and distance. 1 MAIN DEFENDER has own this race easily before but this will be his second run after a long layoff so there are question marks. (David Thiselton 2-3-6-1)

RACE 9

3 TAXI TO THE MOON 10 WHISTLE THE TUNE 2 TRUTH 12 WINDS OF CHANGE

Preview: 3 TAXI TO THE MOON has been in fine form and can go in again. 10 WHISTLE THE TUNE is a classy sprinter and should be in the shake up. 2 TRUTH has the ability to be right there. 12 WINDS OF CHANGE hasn’t had the luckiest season but still retains his ability and can make a bold bid. (David Thiselton 3-10-2-12)

RACE 10

2 PRECOCIOUS 1 POBLANO 5 MANYELETI 3 JUST THE TWO OF US

Preview: 2 PRECOCIOUS has rattled off three successive wins on the Highveld and did it particularly easily last time so can still have more to come. 1 POBLANO has proved to be effective over the minimum trip and should go close again.  5 MANYELETI made a sensational debut so has been a touch disappointing since then but should still be thereabouts. 3 JUST THE TWO OF US has the form to earn. (David Thiselton 2-1-5-3)

RACE 11

10 VAMANOS 7 STREISAND 2 CEUTA 6 HONG KONG

Preview: 10 VAMANOS looks to have scope for improvement and is well drawn over an ideal trip. 7 STREISAND is a scopey sort and the best might not have been seen of her yet so she can do well from a good draw. 2 CEUTA has the form to be a contender if able to overcome a wide draw. 6 HONG KONG had become disappointing but is now on the up again and is a contender. (David Thiselton 10-7-2-6)

RACE 12

9 TRADITIONAL BELIEF 5 TRAIL RUNNER 4 ROYAL KAILANI 10 KORTVANDRAAD

Preview: 9 TRADITIONAL BELIEF won well second time out and can progress again. 5 TRAIL RUNNER goes for a hattrick and should go close. 4 ROYAL KAILANI won well in KZN second time out and could be involved if able to overcome a wide draw. 10 KORTVANDRAAD has shown enough ability to have a chance here. (David Thiselton 9-5-4-10)

David Thiselton

The Gr 1weight for age  HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes, to be run over 1600m at Turffontein Standside on Saturday, will have its best field for many a season, even if there are only nine runners.

The Gr 1 SA Classic and Gr 1 Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic have also attracted smallish but quality fields.

The Horse Chestnut shapes as a mile championship featuring the L’Ormarins King’s Plate winner The Real Prince against See It Again, who was an unlucky 0,25 length third in the King’s Plate before winning the WSB Met.

The Highveld challenge is led by Main Defender, who defeated the subsequently named Equus Horse Of The Year Dave The King by 2,75 lengths when winning this race in 2024.

Last year’s winner and runner up, Cosmic Speed and Texas Red are also in the line up.

There is also the reigning Highveld Horse Of The Year Fire Attack, whose King’s Plate run can be ignored as his preparation was interrupted and he proved it was all wrong when bouncing back to win first time out back on the Highveld.

His Alec Laird-trained stablemate Atticus Finch, a former Gr 1 Betway Summer Cup winner, was impressive when waltzing home to a three length win in this season’s Gr 2 Allied- Steelrode Onamission Charity Mile, despite carrying topweight.

The 117-rated three-year-old Tin Pan Alley has been preferred for this race as it is probably a more suitable trip for him than the Gr 1 SA Classic over 1800m.

The field is completed by Pressonregardless, who is outgunned on paper, but he has come into his own this season and possesses a lot of class.

See It Again is officially rated 130, so is officially 1kg better off with The Real Prince, who is rated 128.

On L’Ormarin’s King’s Plate form it is The Real Prince who emerges the victor by 0,25 lengths, but See It Again had to wait a tad to get into top gear in that race due to Dave The King falling back on him and that might have made the difference between victory and defeat.

On WSB Met form See It Again emerges the victor as The Real Prince was beaten 1,25 lengths into third.

See It Again had tough draws in both the King’s Plate and the Met, ten out of 14 and ten out of ten, and he has now drawn eight out of nine.

The draw should not bother him as he has a magnificent turn of foot.

Richard Fourie replaces the injured Andrew Fortune, a world class jockey for a world class jockey, so that is a further bonus to See It Again’s chances.

The Real Prince, who is also a Hollywoodbets Durban July winner, drew six in both the KIng’s Plate and Met and is now drawn seven. He also has a magnificent turn of foot and has his regular world class rider in Craig Zackey up.

Main Defender has his second run after a long layoff and came last in his comeback over 1160m in a small field. He has an exhilarating turn of foot at his best and has drawn well in four with the world class reigning champion jockey Gavin Lerena up.

Fire Attack will be running on strongly from draw five under Calvin Habib.

Cosmic Speed drew three when winning last year under Zackey and is now drawn six under Ryan Munger. However, he has 3,45 lengths and 3,20  lengths to make up on The Real Prince and See It Again respectively from King’s Plate form.

Texas Red was drawn five last year and has pole position this year with Matsunyane retaining the ride, but its a much tougher field.

If the Atticus Finch who won the Charity Mile turns up, he must have a chance from draw three, but he hasn’t been seen since being pulled up with something amiss in the Summer Cup. He was also last in the July, after having epistaxis.

Tin Pan Alley beat older horses in the Gr 2 Betway Jo’Burg Spring Challenge over 1450m, but Atticus Finch emerges better here at the weights on the form of that race and Tin Pan Alley might prefer the shorter 1450m trip. However, he has drawn well in two and Keagan de Melo is up.

Pressonregardless has Callan Murray up, but not only has to jump from draw nine out of nine, but he is officially 10,5kg under sufferance with the best in See It Again. He can’t be completely discounted though because this long-striding sort will relish the fast pace generated by a better class of horse, provided he finds cover from that wide draw.

In the SA Classic the highest rated horse, Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas winner Jan van Goyen, has draw well in three out of nine, while his Jackpot City Dingaans conqueror Trust has drawn two. The Gr 2 Gauteng Guineas one-two Splittheeights and Grand Empire have drawn eight and one respectively while other likely fancied horses One Eye On Vegas and the exciting but unexposed Errol Flynn have draw seven and six respectively.

In the Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic Hazy Dazy has drawn four out of ten in her bid to keep her Wilgerbosdrift Triple Tiara hopes alive.

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.