Andrew Harrison

Some year’s the top Gr1 races lack a little substance but in other year’s they are loaded with an exceptional crop. Today’s Gr1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge to be run at Hollywoodbets Greyville has panned out into one of the races of the season.

The change of weight conditions to a proper handicap for this year’s Hollywoodbets Durban July has left little option for some trainers plotting their July campaigns but has others scratching their heads on how to get their charges into the July at the bottom of the handicap. Supporting feature the Gr3 Betgames Cup Trial a case in point with runners hunting a place in the final field.

However, most of the runners in the Gold Challenge that are entries in the July are already at the top of the handicap so win lose or draw their fate is already sealed as far as the weights go. This has made for a much better contest in the lead-up races without trainers trying to protect handicap ratings.

Dean Kannemeyer will be aiming for back-to-back July wins with The Real Prince. Kannemeyer is a canny operator and The Real Prince was doing his best work late as he snuck up on the rail behind Questioning in the Drill Hall Stakes in his warm-up race. The gelding is already near the top of the weights for the July and he  will prefer the extra furlong so has nothing to lose. He looks to be coming on the right way and this race will confirm.

Sean Tarry saddles the smart three-year-old Tin Pan Alley who has a tricky draw to negotiate but was only caught late by Star Major in the Gr2 WSB Guineas with Star Major going on to win the Gr1 Daily News 2000. He was an impressive winner when beating See It Again in a Gr1 on the Highveld and a repeat should see him in the mix.

See It Again will prefer further but he is always competitive on this course and with Andrew Fortune back in the irons one can expect another good effort from Justin Snaith’s runner. Eight On Eighteen gives Snaith a strong hand as last year’s July runner-up just needed his last run behind stable companion Okavango. He will have come on lengths from that run.

Vaughan Marshall’s gelding Questioning is in the form of his life and from the best of the draw will have many supporters and cannot be left out of any calculations.

Supporting feature is the Gr2 HKJC WORLD POOL STAKES where Gr1 Cape Fillies Guineas winner Quickstepgal  looks the part in a competitive line-up. Tienie Prinsloo’s charge was touched off by star filly and Hollywood Durban July hopeful Wish List last time out. This is her third run after a break and she should run another big race.

 Frank Robinson has been assisting Justin Snaith at Summerveld this season but he sends out Mocha Blend in his own right. The filly will prefer further but she is a class act having won the Gr1 Betway Summer Cup. She was running on strongly behind Okavango and Eight On Eighteen last time out and although she has a big weight this will be an ideal warm-up for the Hollywoodbets Durban July.

Sean Tarry’s runner One Fine Weather steps up in trip but was running on well behind two champions in Asiya Phambili and Double Grand Slam last time out in the Gr1 SA Fillies Sprint. She should be better suited to the step up in trip. Mon Petite Cherie has it all to do from her wide gate of 13 and returning from a break but she is smart while Paul Peter’s raider Rachel Wall  has been close-up in two Highveld features and has only once been out of the money.

A number of Hollywoodbets Durban July hopefuls line up in the Gr3 Betgames Cup Trial bidding for a gate in the big race. Craig Zackey has forgone the ride on Field Marshal to partner I Salute You for Peter Muscutt and that may prove significant although Nathan Kotzen has secured the services of champion jockey Richard Fourie for Field Marshal. The gelding is seldom out of the money and both are July entries outside of the current 20-horse log. Snaith saddles Regulation who is another consistent performer and was a close-up second in the WSB 1900 last time out. He has a handy galloping weight and can enhance his chances of making the July field along with JP’s Palace who will need to up his game to make the July field but he is consistent and with only 52kg to shoulder he could surprise.

RACE 1

2 PRESSURE POINT   1 SO INDI   7 OWNER OF CREATION   10 REDOUBT EXPRESS

Summary: PRESSURE POINT (2) has been a beaten favourite at his last two. He stays the trip, gets first time blinkers and should handle the poly. SO INDI (1) disappointed second time out after a promising debut run. She takes on males but has the best of the draw and only 51.5kg to shoulder. OWNER OF CREATION (7) is a struggling maiden but has been runner-up at his last two over course and distance and could finally break the ice. The well-bred REDOUBT EXPRESS (10) makes his debut and is one to watch in the market. (Andrew Harrison: 2-1-7-10).

RACE 2

 2 SPIRIT OF SHIMLA   6 PARIS FUN   4 SAINT BRIGID   5 PROM QUEEN

Summary: SPIRIT OF SHIMLA (2) was a good second behind smart stable companion Educator last time out although un receipt of 5.5kg. She is up against weaker here and has gone well on the poly. SAINT BRIGID (4) has gone close over course and distance in the past and is holding form. She can go one better. Visiting PARIS FUN (6) has consistent Highveld form over the trip. If she takes to the poly she will be a big runner. PROM QUEEN (5) has consistent form on the poly but does look held by Spirit Of Shimla on their last meeting. (Andrew Harrison: 2-6-4-5).

RACE 3

1 FATHER CHRISTMAS   6 TRIPPI’S SILK   3 PRETTI UNITED   4 RUN FOREST RUN

Summary: FATHER CHRISTMAS (1) is a lightly raced four-year-old but comes with solid Highveld form. He was a comfortable winner last time out and if taking to the poly should put in a big effort. PRITTI UNITED (3) shed his maiden at short odds. He has shown some decent Cape form and the step up in trip could see him progress even further.  TRIPPI’S SILK (6) won well first up on the poly and got a five-point jump in the handicap. But he had a big weight and can follow up. RUN FOREST RUN (4) is seldom too far back and should put in another honest effort. (Andrew Harrison: 1-6-3-4).

RACE 4

3 BLAST FROM THE PAST   1 ROYAL SWORD   7 NUMZAAN   8 HAT’S MAMBO

Summary: BLAST FROM THE PAST (3) is lightly raced and was in need of his last start after a lengthy break. He should strip a lot fitter this time around and this trip should suit. NUMZAAN (7) is a hard-knocking handicapper and came good on the poly last time out. This trip will suit and he gets 1.5kg relief from the saddle. ROYAL SWORD (1) is lightly raced and goes well over course and distance. He has the best of the draw. Visiting HAT’S MAMBO (8) steps up in trip and on the poly for the first time. One to watch in the betting. (Andrew Harrison: 3-1-7-8).

RACE 5

8 ROYAL TIARA   4 ALICE B TOKLAS   7 PERFECT SKY   1 FERRARI FLAIR

Summary: ROYAL TIARA (8) made the expected improvement when winning second time out. She should appreciate the step up in trip. ALICE B TOKLAS (4) has shown up well in all three Highveld starts and looks to be the pick of the Sean Tarry pair although PERFECT SKY (7) also made the required improvement win winning second time out. FERRARI FLAIR (1) was possibly out-class last run but had put in two smart efforts prior to that and from a good draw can go close in spite of still being a maiden. (Andrew Harrison: 8-4-7-1).

RACE 6

4 KAZENOYONI    9 WORLD SERIES   7 GREEN ENERGY   6 BACHATA

Summary: KAZENOYONI (4) was not disgraced behind rising star Vibe Check but is likely to come from off the pace instead of pacing it with the leaders. He looks useful. WORLD SERIES (9) has shown up well in strong company since shedding his maiden. He will enjoy the extra. GREEN ENERGY (7) shows plenty of potential and was still very green when winning last time out which is a concern. He is a smart looker and should go close. BACHATA (6) won well on debut at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth and is one to watch in the market. (Andrew Harrison: 4-9-7-6).

RACE 7

5 THE REAL PRINCE   11 TIN PAN ALLEY   7 SEE IT AGAIN   9 EIGHT ON EIGHTEEN

Summary: One of the races of the season. THE REAL PRINCE (5) was doing his best work late behind QUESTIONING (1) in the Drill Hall Stakes. He will prefer the extra furlong and looks to be coming on the right way. TIN PAN ALLEY (11) has a tricky draw to negotiate but was only caught late by Star Major last run in the WSB Guineas. He was an impressive winner beating SEE IT AGAIN (7) in a Gr1 on the Highveld and although he will prefer further he is always competitive on this course. EIGHT ON EIGHTEEN (9) just needed his last run behind stable companion Okavango last time out. He will have come on lengths from that run. QUESTIONING (1) is in the form of his life and from the best of the draw will have many supporters. (Andrew Harrison: 5-11-7-9-1).

RACE 8

7 QUICKSTEPGAL   8 MOCHA BLEND   2 ONE FINE WINTER   13 MON PETITE CHERIE

Summary: QUICKSTEPGAL (7) was touched off by star filly Wish List last time out. This is her third run after a break and should run another big race. MOCHA BLEND (8) will prefer further but she is a class act having won the Gr1 Betway Summer Cup. She has a big weight but this will be an ideal warm-up for the Hollywoodbets Durban July. ONE FINE WINTER (2) steps up in trip but was running on well behind two champions in Asiya Phambili and Double Grand Slam last time out. She should be suited to the step up in trip. MON PETIT CHERIE (13) has it all to do from her wide gate and returning from a break but she is smart. RACHEL WALL (3) has been close-up in two Highveld features and has only once been out of the money. Include in all exotics. (Andrew Harrison: 7-8-2-13-3).

RACE 9

1 I SALUTE YOU   6 FIELD MARSHAL   10 REGULATION   4 JP’S PALACE

Summary: A number of Hollywoodbets Durban July hopefuls line up bidding for a gate in the big race. Craig Zackey has forgone the ride on Field Marshal to partner I SALUTE YOU (1). That may prove significant but FIELD MARSHAL (6) gets the services of Richard Fourie  and the gelding is seldom out of the money. Both are July entries outside of the current 20-horse log. REGULATION (10) is another consistent performer and was a close-up second in the WSB 1900 last time out. He has a handy galloping weight and should feature. JP’S PALACE (4) will need to up his game to make the July field but he is consistent and with only 52kg to shoulder he could surprise. (Andrew Harrison: 1-6-10-4).

RACE 10

5 ARVERNI PRINCESS   6 LONELY AS A CLOUD   3 SCARLET STARLET   4 PHUTULICIOUS

Summary: ARVERNI PRINCESS (5) is quick and has won her last two over the distance. The switch to poly can see her go in again. LONELY AS A CLOUD (6) has smart Highveld form over the trip. He has a useful 2.5kg claimer aboard and must have a strong chance. SCARLET STARLET (3) has been rested but won on debut. She does not meet a strong field and if improving she should be involved. PHUTULICIOUS (4) has a big weight and may prefer it a touch further but seldom runs a bad race. (Andrew Harrison: 5-6-3-4).

David Thiselton

The Daily News 2000 meeting always has an impact on the Hollywoodbets Durban July and the reaction of the handicappers and the bookmakers to the result of the Daily News 2000 and to the Woolavington 2000 is always one of the talking points.

Owner Jonathan Bloch has only ever had one Durban July runner before and it had an interesting name, Ess Five Beaches, which was the address of a residence owned by the late great owner-breeder Graham Beck. However, Bloch now part-owns all three of the horses who are currently at the top of the July boards with the sponsor,  Star Major, Note To Self and Wish List.

It is always interesting that the bookmakers seem to prefer winners to lightly weighted horses, because of course the handicappers job is to equalize the chances of horses in a race if they were to meet again. The handicappers used the fourth-placed Viva’s Liberte as the line horse for the Daily News 2000 and raised Star Major four points to 122 and raised Happy Verse nine points to 119.

However, the sponsor shortened Star Major to  7/2, with Note To Self and Wish List now 11/2, while Happy Verse is out at 8/1 together with See It Again and Regulation.

Punters might prefer to look for horses who benefit from the raise in weights of others.

Note To Self should be cherry ripe for the July and being by stamina influence Futura out of a mare by stamina influence Judpot augurs well for the step up in trip to 2200m. Note To Self didn’t have as immediate a turn of foot as Star Major or Happy Verse and another discussion point might be whether he would benefit from blinkers. This might help him gallop resolutely from a long way out and make it into a stamina test.

Happy Verse has always been a horse who has oozed class and he is now beginning to fulfil it. The Daily News 2000 was his third run after gelding and he at last showed the class he had always promised. He can progress further as he had a nice smooth race in the Daily News and that should have brought him on, so he should be a big runner in the July. He is by Vercingetorix, who won the Daily News 2000 and a Gr 1 in Dubai over the same trip, out of a mare by stamina influence Giant’s Causeway, so he should also enjoy the July trip.

Star Major will also be a big runner. His part-owner Ravi Naidoo has preached this horse from a long time ago and he has proved to be spot on.  The Querari colt has matured into a top class horse and can follow in the footsteps of the like of Big City Life and Legislate by winning the Guineas, the Daily News and the July, although the latter pair had also both won the Cape Derby before arriving in KZN. Big City Life carried a mere 51kg in the July in an era when topweight was 58kg, while Legislate carried a record weight for a winning three-year-old of 56kg in a race where topweight was 60kg, although he did win it via the boardroom with an upheld objection whose outcome drew plenty of criticism. Star Major will, as things stand, carry 56kg too, although the topweight this year will be 62kg.

A horse who has snuck into the July picture is the Gr1 SA Classic winner Grand Empire. He was in position 20 on the first July log, but after the scratching of both Okavango and Jan Van Goyen, he could come into the all important top 18. On the negative side for Grand Empire is, although he might end up with bottom weight, how good a preparation is he going to have had by the time of the July? His final run before the July comes on Sunday at Turffontein in a 1400m Pinnacle event, so he will not have enjoyed as good a build up into the big race as the like of Happy Verse have had.

Happy Verse was in the outside looking in horses on the first log, and will likely leapfrog Grand Empire, so the latter might still be under pressure for a place in the final field.

On the other hand, Hazy Dazy, who was in 14th place on the first log, might be in trouble after seemingly being outclassed in the Daily News by the males as she was beaten 11,40 lengths into 8th. She might be dropped from the log.

Wish List has the same 117 rating as Hazy Dazy, so will carry 53,5kg in the July as things stand. Her four wins on the trot include two Gr 1s and two Gr 2s. She will easily get the July trip being a daughter of Legislate out of a Silvano mare, Wind Chill, who won the SA Oaks. There are not many horses who would fetched the pacemaker the way she did on Saturday as she had to make up a lot of ground up off a slow pace. However, the question is how much the effort took out of her. It was likely not quite the race the connections had envisaged.

Meanwhile, the next big upheaval to the betting and log positions etc happens this Saturday in the Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge race meeting, which not only features the Gold Challenge itself, but also the all important Gr 3 Betgames Cup Trial over 1800m, which is always a big July pointer race.

Regulation will be under big pressure to win the Cup Trial. He is an 8/1 shot for the July with the sponsor, despite having been in the outside looking in horses on the first log. He will likely need to win the race to definitely force his way in and on the downside he has drawn wide in barrier ten out of 11 for Saturday’s race. If he does win it there will be more pressure on the like of borderline horses like Grand Empire.

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.”