Andrew Harrison

With Champions Season over it’s down to brass tacks at Hollywoodbets Scottsville today. With the local breeding season on the horizon there are a number of mares and fillies likely having their last tilt at a win so it could all be a little spicey.

The first is an open Maiden sprint with a number in with winning chance. Dean Kannemeyer’s filly Forthegoodtimes was not friendless in the market on debut and finished a close-up third over course and distance. She should come on lengths from that showing. Pink Skies has improved with every outing for Mike Miller and has taken on colts at her last two and not far behind. Back to a sprint she should feature prominently. Sweet Cherry found some market support on debut and was not far behind the Snaith runner Sweet Green. She should come on from that with a claiming apprentice aboard. Iceberg Rose has been a beaten favourite at her last two and narrowly beaten on this course last run so she should be competitive while five-year-old Tipperary has been runner-up at her last three and lines up for her 31^st start.

Gimme The Power looks the part in the second and seldom far back. She is surprisingly still a maiden back is back to a sprint with Keagan de Melo staying aboard and should crack the ice. Floral Kingdom  is lightly raced but has shown up well in recent outings. She was a beaten favourite last run and the switch back to turf could be in her favour. Rustige Kracht was a distant fourth on debut and will need to improve. Umoyawokubamelela is an Australian import making her debut and will be one to watch.

The first leg of the Pick 6 is a tricky Open Maiden. Future Prospect is a lightly raced five-year-old. Never too far back, she caught the eye on this course last run when a close-up third. After The Fire has improved in blinkers and stepping up in trip. This is not a strong field and Glen Kotzen’s filly should feature prominently. Guild The Lily improved last run over a sprint and now jumps in trip, that on pedigree, should suit. Jenny Darling showed some improvement when stepped up in trip last run on the poly and could surprise.

Glen Kotzen could hold the keys to the fourth where Golden Angel looks the part. She played second fiddle to stable companion Sesame  last time out but is now 6.5 kg better off and should easily turn the tables. Hurricane Flight has been coming to hand slowly and found some market support last run and has another handy weight. Our Lady Fate has made some recent improvement in blinkers and must be factored in.

The fifth is a competitive C Stakes over 1600m. Buddy Boy was run out of it late over course and distance last time out and has improved in blinkers. He should put in another a bold claim. Double Causeway is the dark horse. He seems to have issues but after a lengthy break he started favourite against stronger first time out of the maidens. He finishing with only one behind but is still a colt and obviously has shown something on the home gallops. Song To The Moon has had one outing since arriving from the Cape for the winter season. He has a fair weight but also the best of the draw. Blizzard Boy has placed in all three start since shedding his maiden. He has a fair weight but should be competitive again.

If the first five on the card were tricky it gets more open from here. Captain’s Pride was not far back from a wide draw on the poly last time out and this trip suits. From a favourable draw she should be competitive. Izibulo showed some improvement in blinkers last run over shorter and should prefer the extra while Alltheboysiveloved  has had two outings since arriving from the Cape and was much improved without a tongue-tie last start and must have a strong chance. Blue Poppy is seldom far back and is course and distance suited.

In the seventh, Cappellino has been knocking on the door for some time now but all recent form has been on the poly which is a concern. He is 2.5kg better off with veteran Trafalgar Square who has also been consistent and should put in another forward showing in his 78^th start. Bless Me Fred is over his best course and distance and is the pick of stable rider Rachel Venniker although stable runner Futano only has 49kg to shoulder and could surprise. Champagne Mac showed up well first run for his new stable and although struggling for his second win, he has been consistent over the trip.

No easy race to round off the card but Ricky Maingard can finish off a successful winter season raid with Billy Cool who was a comfortable winner on the poly last time out but had some fair Cape form prior to that. He did get a punishing six-point raise in the handicap which is a concern. Caribbean Gold  takes on males but was narrowly beaten over course and distance last time out with a first time tongue-tie. Blazing Fury is holding form well but does have a big weight and could prove to be the pick of the Louis Goosen runners. Cavalry Commander was a beaten favourite last run but goes well on this course which is always a plus.

RACE 1

3 FORTHEGOODTIMES   7 PINK SKIES   6 SWEET CHERRY   13 ICEBERG ROSE

Preview: Open maiden. FORTHEGOODTIMES (3) was not friendless in the market on debut and finished a close-up third over course and distance. She should come on from that showing. PINK SKIES (7) has improved with every outing and has taken on colts at her last two and not far behind. Back to a sprint she should feature prominently. SWEET CHERRY (6) found some market support on debut and was not far behind the Snaith runner Sweet Green. She should come on from that with a claiming apprentice aboard. ICEBERG ROSE (13) has been a beaten favourite at her last two and narrowly beaten on this course last run. She should be competitive. (Andrew Harrison: 3-7-6-13).

RACE 2

3 GIMME THE POWER   10 FLORAL KINGDOM   9 UMOYAWOKUBAMBELELA    7 RUSTIGE KRACHT

Preview: GIMME THE POWER (3) is seldom far back and surprisingly still a maiden. She is back to a sprint with Keagan de Melo staying aboard and she should crack the ice. FLORAL KINGDOM (10) is lightly raced but has shown up well in recent outings. She was a beaten favourite last run and the switch back to turf could be in her favour. RUSTIGE KRACHT (7) was a distant fourth on debut and can improve. UMOYAWOKUBAMBELELA (9) is an Australian import making her debut and should be one to watch. (Andrew Harrison: 3-10-9-7).

RACE 3

3 FUTURE PROSPECT   4 AFTER THE FIRE   2 GUILD THE LILY   8 JENNY DARLING

Preview: Tricky Open Maiden. FUTURE PROSPECT (3) is a lightly raced five-year-old. Never too far back she caught the eye on this course last run when a close-up third. AFTER THE FIRE (4) has improved in blinkers and stepping up in trip. This is not a strong field and she should feature prominently. GUILD THE LILY (2) improved last run over a sprint and now jumps in trip that on pedigree should suit. JENNY DARLING (8) showed some improvement when stepped up in trip last run on the poly. She could surprise. (Andrew Harrison: 3-4-2-8).

RACE 4

7 GOLDEN ANGEL   4 HURRICANE FLIGHT  2 OUR LADY FATE  3 SESAME

Preview: Glen Kotzen could hold the keys to this race. GOLDEN ANGEL (7) played second fiddle to stable companion SESAME (3) last time out. However, Golden Angel is 6.5 kg better off and should easily turn the tables. HURRICANE FLIGHT (4) has been coming to hand slowly. She found some market support last run and has another handy weight. OUR LADY FATE (2) has made some recent improvement in blinkers and must be factored in. (Andrew Harrison: 7-4-2-3).

RACE 5

4 BUDDY BOY   3 DOUBLE CAUSEWAY   1 SONG TO THE MOON   10 BLIZZARD BOY

Preview: BUDDY BOY (4) was run out of it late over course and distance last time out. He has improved in blinkers and should put in a bold claim. DOUBLE CAUSEWAY (3) is the dark horse but obviously has issues. He has had a lengthy break but started favourite against stronger first time out of the maidens finishing with only one behind. He is still a colt but obviously has shown something on the home gallops. SONG TO THE MOON (1) has had one outing since arriving for the winter season. He has a fair weight but also the best of the draw. BLIZZARD BOY (10) has been placed in all three start since shedding his maiden. He has a fair weight but should be competitive. (Andrew Harrison: 4-3-1-10).

RACE 6

3 CAPTAIN’S PRIDE   5 IZIBULO   7 ALLTHEBOYSIVELOVED   2 BLUE POPPY

Preview: Wide open handicap. CAPTAIN’S PRIDE (3) was not far back from a wide draw on the poly last time out. This trip suits and from a favourable draw she should be competitive. IZIBULO (5) showed some improvement in blinkers last run over shorter and should prefer the extra. ALLTHEBOYSIVELOVED (7) has had two outings since arriving from the Cape. She was much improved without a tongue-tie last start and must have a strong chance. BLUE POPPY (2) is seldom far back and course and distance suited. (Andrew Harrison: 3-5-7-2).

RACE 7

3 CAPPELLINO   1 TRAFALGAR SQUARE   2 BLESS ME FRED   4 CHAMPAGNE MAC

Preview: Open handicap. CAPPELLINO (3) has been knocking on the door for some time now but all recent form has been on the poly which is a concern. He is 2.5kg better off with veteran TRAFALGAR SQUARE (1) who has also been consistent and should put in another forward showing. BLESS ME FRED (2) is over his best course and distance and is the pick of the stable rider Rachel Venniker although stable runner FUTANO (8) only has 49kg to shoulder and could surprise. CHAMPANGE MAC (4) showed up well first run for his new stable and although struggling for his second win, he has been consistent over the trip. (Andrew Harrison: 3-1-2-4).

RACE 8

10 BILLY COOL   6 CARIBBEAN GOLD   11 BLAZING FURY   7 CAVALRY COMMANDER

Preview: No easy race to round off the card. BILLY COOL (10) was a comfortable winner on the poly last time out but had some fair Cape form prior to that. He did get a punishing six-point raise in the handicap which is a concern. CARIBBEAN GOLD (6) takes on males but was narrowly beaten over course and distance last time out with a first time tongue-tie. BLAZING FURY (11) is holding form well but does have a big weight. He could prove to be the pick of the Louis Goosen runners. CAVALRY COMMANDER (7) was a beaten favourite last run but goes well on this course which is always a plus. (Andrew Harrison: 10-6-11-7).

David Thiselton

Mickaelle Michel ended a fairy-tale tour to South Africa on a high note at the World Pool Gold Cup meeting at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday when landing the Gr 2 World Pool Bet With Tote Umkhomazi Stakes over 1200m on the James Crawford-trained Fish Tales, who fittingly races in the famous colours of Tony Moodley.

Fish Tales, who was bred by Ascot Stud and is by their underrated stallion Heavenly Blue, is now unbeaten in two starts.

His victory was all the more commendable in that he had to overcome a draw of 11 out of 13 runners.

Mickaelle took the athletic bay colt up to mid division and in expert fashion managed to slot him into a one wide position with cover before he had used up too much energy.

The colt continually found after being switched out in the straight and hit the front at about the 150m mark before going on to win by 1,10 lengths.

Fish Tales’ red and yellow checks, emerald sleeves and cap colours were carried to Summer Cup victory by the Mike de Kock-trained Rudra in 2006 and earlier that same year were carried to Gr 1 Champions Cup glory by Equal Image. Many other good horses have carried the colours.

Tony races in partnership with his son Nishen and the other owners in Fish Tales are Raphael Goolam and Selvan Naidoo. Fish Tales is in fact the first horse Raphael has ever owned.

Nishen said after the win, “My Dad has been involved in horseracing for the longest of time. He has never left the sport. We did go a little bit quiet, I think horseracing is a wheel, you will be at the top one day and be at the bottom again and now we are slowly rising to the top again.”

He said about the purchase of Fish Tales, “When we saw him at the August two-year-old Sale last year we absolutely fell in love with him. He is by Heavenly Blue, who I think is overlooked, he is such an underrated sire, and he is one of the better Heavenly Blues that we’ve seen. Myself and some friends decided to get involved and here we are today.”

Ashley Parker of Ascot Stud was alerted many years back to the fact that Fish Tales’ dam Caviar was for sale and he snapped her up.

The Var mare was trained by the late Colin Scott and won five times over distances from 1000m to 1400m.

The Australian-bred Heavenly Blue, who is by the iconic four-times Australian Champion Sire Snitzel, won the Gr 1 SA Classic over 1800m and he was third in the Gr 1 SA Derby.

Fish Tales, who has plenty of substance, ran like a horse who would enjoy further.

James Crawford said they would have preferred to have come into the race with one more run under the belt and he added, “He is still green and immature and once the penny drops we’ve got a lot more fun to have.”

Fish Tales is an exciting classic prospect.

He is a half-brother to the useful King Prawn, an Alan Greeff-trained three-year-old gelding whose two wins include the Listed Champion Juvenile Cup over 1400m, although he has had a somewhat disappointing three-year-old season.

Fish Tales was bought for R375,000.

At this year’s National Yearling Sale his full-brother was bought for R200,000 by Jaap van de Vendel and will be trained by Alan Greeff.

Caviar is currently in foal to the Mauritzfontein-based sire Digital Age, a Gr 1-winning son of Invincible Spirit..

Caviar’s third dam is the Champion Broodmare Soho Secret, which means she is from the family of the good racehorse and influential matriarch Secret Pact.

Caviar has had six runners for four winners and Fish Tales is her second stakes winner.

Fish Tales won by 2,30 length on debut over 1160m on June 7 and now that he has confirmed that promise he is definitely one to follow.

Meanwhile, Mickaelle Michel will be back in South Africa in October.

Before departing the racecourse on Sunday she was presented with a framed enlargement of a Sporting Post front page headline commemorating the day she made history on Star Major in the Daily News 2000, becoming only the second woman in South African history to win a Gr 1 event.

Her 47 wins on this tour were achieved at a strike rate of 9.2% and included one Gr 1 and three Gr 2s.

In exciting news for the South African horseracing industry it has been announced the UK have opened a direct equine export route from South Africa, which cements two-way trade for the SA Equine Industry.

SA Equine Health & Protocols NPC (SAEHP) sent out the following press release:

UK Opens Direct Equine Export Route from South Africa, Cementing Two-Way Trade for SA Equine Industry

Cape Town, 15 July 2026 — SA Equine Health & Protocols NPC (SAEHP) is pleased to announce that the British Government has confirmed a decision permitting direct import of live horses from South Africa to Great Britain. Following a positive assessment of South Africa’s disease control measures, imports will be permitted from the approved vector-protected quarantine station in Cape Town, for registered equines complying with UK import conditions.

This milestone reflects sustained collaboration between SAEHP, the South African Department of Agriculture, and the Western Cape Department of Agriculture — a powerful demonstration of this public-private partnership’s success in maintaining South Africa’s equine disease control measures to the highest international standard and translating that credibility into real market access.

The announcement follows closely on South Africa’s opening of imports from Dubai, New Zealand, and Australia earlier this year -making genuine two-way trade a reality for the South African equine industry.

Adrian Todd, Managing Director of SAEHP, thanked the Hong Kong Jockey Club for its funding, technical support, and vision in opening South Africa to the world, noting that the growing number of trade partners now opens a world of opportunity for South Africa across all equestrian disciplines.

About SAEHP:SA Equine Health & Protocols NPC is a South African public-private partnership established to ensure the sustainability and security of the African Horse Sickness control zones through risk mitigation measures and controls, operating under the authority of the South African National Director of Animal Health in partnership with the National Department of Agriculture and the Western Cape Department of Agriculture.