RACE 1

(1) BUFFALO BILL ran well and on debut with natural improvement will be there again. (9) SOMBREUIL made good progress in her last start and is another who will challenge for top honours. (4) ZAMBEZI SUNSET was fancied on debut, she will improve with the experience under the belt. (10) THROW A PARTY is making steady progress and must be respected for the placings. (Devonne Govender 1-9-4-10)

RACE 2

(6) SILVAN MISTRESS is knocking on the door and will have an outstanding winning chance here. (1) DARLINGBUDSOFMAY will enjoy the 1400m trip and is expected to get much closer. (4) GOLDEN CROC is making steady progress and must be respected. (2) FARAWAY GIRL is capable of running into the placings, she has scope to improve. (Devonne Govender 6-1-4-2)

RACE 3

(15) EXALTED LOVE represents good Cape form and will be the firm first choice with Muzi Yeni up. (2) AMERICAN MATADOR has been holding form and warrants huge respect here. (5) GOLDEN GREY is another who has been consistent and is capable of winning this however has had many chances. (4) GLOBAL CHIEF does not have the best form on paper however he did give the impression of likely improvement earlier in his career, he may have lost his way but could sneak into the quartets on best form. (Devonne Govender 15-2-5-4).

RACE 4

(15) YOU’RE SO SPECIAL has run two cracking races, she gets a top rider up and will take some beating here. (5) TIME IN PARIS has run well in the province and will be a huge contender here. (4) RUBY CLAIRE is never far back and can make the frame. She has had many chances but cannot be totally ignored. (6) WINTER IN PARIS is another who is never far back and can get much closer, she gets the claimer up and must be respected. (Devonne Govender 15-5-4-6)

RACE 5

Open race, many in with chances. (2) CROWNED HORNBILL has solid form and rates a big winning chance, however there are many dangers. (7) BEECHAMWOOD BOY ran extremely well and is capable of winning this if building on that run. (4) BETHEL is very capable on her day, she has never been far back and isn’t one to discount. (9) SWISS WALT is holding consistent form and is in with a lively chance. (Devonne Govender 2-7-4-9)

RACE 6

(1) SPLICETHEMAINBRACE packs plenty of class and will be the banker of the day. She has run well behind a top horse in the form of My Best Shot and will take some beating here. (4) GIMME’S LASSIE is holding consistent form, her last run was a cracker and she can fill in the exacta spot. (2) WINTER GREETING is capable on her day, on best form she can feature in this line up. (5) LOVEGRASS ran well in her last start and can get into the quartets. (Devonne Govender 1-4-2-5)

RACE 7

(5) WALKONTHEWILDSIDE ran extremely well from a tough draw in her last start. She has a much more reasonable draw now and will be the firm first choice. (1) ESSENTIAL is capable of much better, her last start is best ignored. She will be in the mix. (12) ENCHANTING CHOICE ran a cracker in the last start, if she repeats that performance she will challenge. (9) STATE SECRET is a honest type and can make the placings. (Devonne Govender 5-1-12-9)

RACE 8

(2) PEACE IN OUR WORLD has ran a cracker behind My Best Shot and repeat of that will see him go close. (1) MASTER FORESTER is capable of much better so that last run is best ignored. (4) JUAN CARLOS is holding solid form and he will have a big say here. (10) PAINITE is never far back and is very capable of winning this. (Devonne Govender 2-1-4-10)

Graeme Hawkins

The R650 000 Kwazulu-Natal Breeders Mile heads the 10-race programme at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday 22 June and the former East Cape star, Cherry Ano, looks set to take home the lion’s share of the purse for Owner-Breeder, Henning Pretorius. Cherry Ano, a 5yo son of Cape Town Noir, has won eight of his twenty five starts, with six of these victories coming over 1600 metres. Cherry Ano has had three starts in KwaZulu Natal since being relocated to the Summerveld-based stable of Wendy Whitehead and his last two starts have been most encouraging.

In his penultimate outing, Cherry Ano finished fourth behind the useful Underworld who has subsequently been supplemented for the Hollywoodbets Durban July after running a very close second in the Hollywoodbets Dolphins Cup Trial (Gr3). Then a month ago, Cherry Ano took third spot behind multiple Grade 1 winner, Dave The King, and that level of form is surely strong enough to suggest he will prove a tough nut to crack in this 11-strong field.

Based on official handicappers’ ratings the Sean Tarry-trained Dantonfromsandton would appear the biggest threat to Cherry Ano’s supremacy but the 3yo son of Willow Magic has yet to win beyond 1200m and is not guaranteed to see out this trip. He was a remote fourth in the Byerley Turk (Gr3) over 1400m in March following which Dantonfromsandton won a very good race over 1200m when beating the talented Quantum Theory at the Vaal two months ago. Sean Tarry has over the years done remarkably well at the annual KZN Breeders’ Raceday but I fear that Dantonfromsandton’s lack of stamina might well be exposed here. 

Soldier’s Eye is a useful 4yo daughter of Rabada and she represents the Highveld-based stable of Weiho Marwing with reigning national Champion apprentice Kobeli James Lihaba in the saddle. Sporting the colours of Gerald Kalil, Lihaba rode Soldier’s Eye to victory in her most recent outing over 1600m at Turffontein and she could well finish in the money here. Hat’s Pride has been struggling to find his best form and has not won since 29 September 2023. However, Glen Kotzen’s charge showed very useful potential earlier in his career, including when finishing fifth in the Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas (Gr1) behind Snow Pilot. He is rated 18 pounds lower than Cherry Ano and given that in terms of the conditions of the KZN Breeders’ Mile he only receives 0,5kgs, it is a tall order to expect Hat’s Pride to have a clear winning chance.

A more interesting contender could be the relatively unexposed Legal Counsel from the stable of Champion trainer Justin Snaith. The 3yo son of Legislate has won three of his seven starts and could prove better than his current rating (98) suggests. Legal Counsel will have no problem with the trip and his last run, when second behind Thisiswhatitmeans just three weeks ago, suggests that Snaith has him in very good shape. Saxon Dynasty is another lightly raced 3yo, having only had four starts to date for two wins. By Querari, Saxon Dynasty will be ridden by championship-chasing Gavin Lerena but there is every chance that he will find 1600m very much on the sharp side, with his most recent victory having been recorded over 2200m.

As a 5-time winner African Skyline comes into the race with more than just a glimmer of hope. Trained by Garth Puller, African Skyline won a minor Feature over 1500m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville in February but on the evidence of his last run in May, he should be safely held by Cherry Ano. Noble City, stable companion to Saxon Dynasty, has been struggling of late but two years back he ran second in this race behind MK’s Pride and then last year was certainly not disgraced when third behind the brilliant Mrs Geriatrix. He could prove a worthy inclusion in Trifecta and Quartet permutations.

Apache Son, Go Grayson Go and Kaygee’s Delight complete the line-up but it would come as something of a surprise if the winner was to emerge from this trio. In summary, Cherry Ano looks to carry too many guns for the opposition and is a confident selection to provide Henning Pretorius’ Summerhill Equestrian Stud with a Champagne-popping victory.

The first race on Sunday, a Maiden Juvenile Plate over 1400m, is due off at 11:40 and the popular “Win-If-You-Lose” on-course competition will afford 10 Couples the opportunity to win entrance tickets to the 2025 R5-million Hollywoodbets Durban July on Saturday 5 July.

Please Note: South African Quartet Pools with fractional betting offered at Royal Ascot (World Pool) and Goodwood – 20 June 2025.

David Thiselton
Gareth van Zyl had high hopes for his two first-timers at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Monday and felt he had some other fair chances, but he never expected to have a six-timer.
There were only eight races at the meeting and Gareth revealed that he had a very strong chance with a scheduled race that was scrapped, so it could have been seven. His previous best on a day was four winners.
The six-timer has seen him pull six wins ahead of Garth Puller in the KZN Trainers Championship, so he should retain his title.He is now on 44 wins achieved at a strike rate of 13.84% with Pulller on 38 wins (10.95%), Alyson Wright on 35 (10.06%), Dean Kannemeyer on 34 wins (16.50%) and Peter Muscutt on 32 wins (21.62%.).
Gareth’s day started with an unusual first-timer, a horse bred by Sabine Plattner’s La Plaisance Stud but sold at the Sales.
Gavin van Zyl spotted this Vercingetorix colt, Wild Justice, who is a half-brother to the like of recent Gr 3 WSB 1900 winner Selukwe and to the decent 119-rated Supreme Warrior, and had to go to R900,000 to clinch him at last year’s BSA August two-yar-old Sale.
Nicholas Patel is very much part of the Van Zyl yard team and he was given the ride on the 4/1 shot Wild Justice, who showed great resolve to get the better of the 87/100 favourite Holy Star. Wild Justice is owned by Al Khayl Breeders (Pty) Ltd, Lucky Vest 12 CC (Nom: Mr Ravi Padayachee) & Miss Trinisha Pillay.
Gareth’s high hopes that the Laurence Wernars-owned Blue Sky Thoroughbreds-bred Legislate filly Serengetti Sun would make it two first-timers on the trot then came to fruition as the tall filly responded to strong urgings by S’Manga Khumalo to get up by a head and convert 83/100 odds. This half-sister to the ultra consistent Mogok 102-rated sprinter-to-1400m horse African Skyline went for R600,000 at the BSA August Two-year-old Sale after being chosen by Gavin van Zyl and Justin Vermaak. She looks like she might need a bit further.
In the third race Gareth said Futura filly Are You Sure, who is out of a Gimmethegreenlight filly, had shown herself to be a 1000m horse early on but having strengthened and matured she enjoyed the step up to 1200m and won by a cosy two length under Khumalo to convert 18/10 odds. She thus got rid of her maiden tag at the eighth time of asking but not before running three seconds, a third and three fifths for owners Mrs I Reddy,Messrs Kenny Naidoo,T Pillay,Theron Pillay,J A Vosloo,Lucky Vest12CC(Nom:Mr Ravi Padayachee) & SMB InsuranceBrokersCC(Nom:Mr M A Brackett). She was purchased for R160,000 at the BSA National Yearling Sale.
Gareth then made it a fourth win in the first four races when the consistent older filly Prankster (Canford Cliffs) won under Khumalo by three lengths over 1100m, despite 6/1 odds. Gareth had hopes for her as she had “seemed to be getting a little bit lazy” and the strong rider Khumalo was thus a “significant jockey strike.”
The yard’s only race contested that they did not win on the day was the fifth over 2400m and Gareth knew that the maiden King Celtillius would be up against it his first attempt at a staying trip running against winners in a C Stakes event under 4kg claimer Mxolisi Mbuto. So it proved as he could only manage a 4,25 length fourth.
In the seventh race Gareth felt Luhamba Phambili (Danon Platina) had credentials on form and the she duly delivered with a comfortable 2,50 length victory at odds of 5/2 to give Khumalo a five-timer on the day as he had also won the sixth race on the Wendy Whitehead-trained Giambattista.
Gareth said, “As the third, fourth and fifth winnners progressed I was just going through the day and enjoying it, but when I was hoping for the sixth that’s when the awareness and the tension set in.”
The punters also latched on to the trend for the day as they backed the Rafeef gelding Rafa’s Boy from 7/1 into 4/1 for the 1000m Bright Future Class 4 Handicap.
Gareth felt Rafa’s Boy might battle to overcome the seven point raise after his easy course and distance win in his previous start.
However, Anthony Delpech provided some excellent advice for Sean Veale.
Gareth said, “Anthony had noticed the ground had cut up and suggested Sean go to the front.”
It is harder for horses to fetch a leader when the ground is loose.
Veale rousted his mount out of the gates and took the lead towards the outside, having jumped from draw ten.
He drifted steadily inward to the inside rail and Rafa’s Boy held on from a fast-finishing Mar Del Plata to win by 0,60 lengths and clinch a quick double for Hollywood Racing.
Gareth said retaining the championship had been one his chief goals since closing his Cape Town operation and he will be hard to catch now.
This is actually the second time a trainer has won six races on a day this calendar year. Alan Greeff did it on 21 February on the Fairview polytrack, also at an eight race meeting. Greeff also scored a six-timer, at a ten race meeting at Fairview, on 14 April 2023.
Van Zyl and Khumalo had a fine long weekend together as they also won the Gr 3 Tote Derby on Saturday with Duke Of Marmalade gelding King Pelles. Gareth said he would find a race for this horse on Hollywoodbets Durban July day before thinking about running him in the Gold Cup.

RUGBY 8 WIN MARGIN on Friday, 20 June 2025
C/Over R 63 797 Pool Closes at 21h00 Call Bet V65

Soccer10 On Friday, 20 June 2025 ADD-IN: R 200 000 Pool Closes at 20h00
Sport 14 and Pool 1 Estimated Pool: R1.8 Million

Soccer 4 On Saturday, 21 June 2025 ADD-IN: R 25 000 Pool Closes at 21h00
Sport 18 and Pool 2 Estimated Pool: R75 000

Soccer 6 On Saturday, June 2025 ADD-IN: R 50 000 Pool Closes at 21h00
Sport 5 and Pool 2 Estimated Pool: R300 000

Soccer ANY 13 XTRA On Saturday, 21 June 2025 CARRYOVER: R 50 000
Pool Closes at 15h00 Sport 13 and Pool 1 Estimated Pool: R200 000

Estimated Pool: R200 000 Soccer 13 On Sunday, 22 June 2025 CARRYOVER: R4 007 046 Pool Closes at 15h30 Sport 10 and Pool 1 ALL 13 CORRECT JACKPOT POOL: R 10 Million