Author Archives: Yegan Kander

Star Major sparkles again

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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.

Impressive is the one to beat

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David
In the first leg of the Pick 6 over 1400m Impressive caught the eye the last time she ran over this trip and from a plum draw is the one to beat.
In the eighth race over 1200m on the poly Tripoffaith has caught the eye before and has speed and plenty of ability. She will enjoy the step down in trip and from a good draw can go close. Captain’s Pride came from well back to run a good third last time and in this smaller field could go close after being dropped out from a wide draw. Whatastar should be involved in the finish too.
In the ninth race over 1200m on the poly the talented Gallic Victor is dropped in trip and the blinkers are fitted. He ran a good third at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth the last time he ran over this trip and from a good draw should be in the shake up here. Black Frost ran a cracker at Hollywoodbets Scottsville last time out and from pole position should make a bold bid here. Winter In London has a better draw than last time and looks capable of earning. Mickaelle Michel has her third successive ride on him.
In the first leg of the PA over 1400m on the poly Juliet Tango won well last time and looks to be coming back to her best so can handle a five point raise. Mano Pandaram has been doing well with his raiders lately. De Vlugge comes off a hattrick and this progressive sort could make another bold bid from the front off a four point higher mark. Perilla has been in good form. He is capable of going close and Gavin Lerena is up.
In the second race over 1600m Captain T ran on well over 1000m last time, but being by Captain Of All, who can get them to stay despite having been a sprinter, out of a Horse Chestnut mare who won up to 2000m, he should enjoy the step up in trip and he is a contender if able to overcome a wide draw. Brightsunnyday ran close up behind the promising Hop Hop Spinnekop and should be in the shake up. Quandura ran well last time over 1800m and has a chance with a 4kg claimer up.
In the first race over 1200m on the poly Two Tigers ran a cracker over this trip at Turffontein Inside last time and the pole position draw will suit because he tended to hang in. Brigitte Ann has some fair Highveld form and could be a threat. Free Roaming was not disgraced in a fair field last time.
The horses are selected in the order mentioned in each event.

Okavango’s surprise scratching

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David Thiselton
Okavango was a surprise recent scratching from the Gr 1 R10 million Hollywoodbets Durban July as he had been in fine form and was in position five on the first Hollywoodbets Durban July log.
He had won the Gr 2 Anthonij Rupert Premier Trophy over 1800m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth, before running fourth in the WSB Met, and he then won the Listed Kings Cup over 1600m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville, before running a fine second to Met winner See It Again in the Gr 1 wfa Premier’s Champions Challenge at Turffontein, and he followed that with victory over high profile stablemate Eight On Eighteen in a Conditions Plate over 1600m at Hollywoodbets Greyville.
Jonathan Snaith said about the four-year-old Master Of My Fate gelding, “He is unsound and will return to racing in the Cape Summer and will be aimed at the WSB Met.”

Note To Self is the ruling favourite

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David Thiselton
The Daily News 2000 meeting is one of the most important of the season as the Daily News 2000 itself is the biggest three-year-old pointer race to the Hollywoodbets Durban July.
The one to beat in the Gr 1 Daily News 2000 is Note To Self, who is the ruling favourite for the Hollywoodbets Durban July. He will relish the 2000m trip and has a fair middle draw of six. His massive stride can carry him home after being relaxed in a handy positioin by Andrew Fortune. The best weighted runner is Hazy Dazy who is rated 117 and gets 2,5kg gender claim. She is distance suited and has an electric turn of foot, so should go close after not having to be used early due to her good draw. Star Major will have to be dropped out to the back from a wide draw, but he willl enjoy the step up in trip, so he should be able to make up a lot of ground in the straight, as he did in the WSB Guineas when coming from last to win. Jan Van Goyen ran a fine first race after gelding and was a touch unlucky. This race will tell whether he gets 2000m and if he does his class and lovely action can carry him close. Happy Verse has not fulfilled the potential he seemed to show as a youngster, but this is his second run after gelding and with Richard Fourie up he has to be respected despite a wide draw. Master Spy has a big stride and ran on well for third in the SA Derby. He will need a big run here to qualify for the Hollywoodbets Durban July.
In the Gr 2 Woolavington 2000 Wish List will be hard to beat and can score a fourth big race win in succession. She won both the Gr 1 Cartier Paddock Stakes over 1800m and the Gr 1 Lucky Fish Cape Derby over 2000, so will have no problem with the trip. She is improving all the time and is a potential superstar, so is difficult to oppose, although draw five out of seven in a small field is not easy to negotiate. Keukenhof should  enjoy the step up in trip and should be running on after being dropped out from a wide draw. Callmegetrix proved herself over this trip last time and should be in the shake up. Minogue was second to Callmegetrix in that race but is now 1kg worse of for a length beating. Rainbow Lorikeet has class but might need it having been freshened up after a below par last run. Beach Verse can do better than last time and should be coming into her own. Kissing Machine is outclassed here.
In the Listed Lonsdale Stirrup Cup over 2400m Curious Girl is a progressive type who has a beautiful action and this Gr 2 SA Derby winner can make it five in a row having to carry just 53,5 kg from a good draw of two. Saxon Dynasty was eyecatching in victory over 1900m at this course last time and should relish this trip. Royal Invitation is a good stayer with a nice big action and althouh he prefers a more galloping track he can do well from draw three under Fortune. Dance King has been knocking on the door and has the form to be a contender. Continentalexpress should be right there if able to overcome a wide draw.
The horses are selected in the order mentioned in each event.

Star Major to make the ‘News’

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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.”

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.