Race 1

 

1 ANUSHKA has been knocking on the door and should go close over a suitable trip from pole position. 2 SMART CHOICE has fine form over 1000m and has a plum draw.  4 ROYAL CREST has run two crackers over 1000m and has a fair draw. 7 YUKINKO is a first-timer by New Predator out of a Duke Of Marmalade mare who is from the good Circle Of Life family. (David Thiselton 1-2-4-7)

 

Race 2

 

5 STRONGER TOGETHER went close on debut and with expected improvement should be right there. 7 AMBER ALERT has a chance of repeating his penultimate start over this trip. 1 TIGER CODY is a first-timer by Buffalo Bill Cody out of a Var mare. 2 BILLY LOVER BOY is by Declarationofpeace out of a Right Approach mare. (David Thiselton 5-7-1-2)

 

Race 3

 

6 QUERARISTINYFERARI went close last time and is on the up so looks the one to beat over an ideal trip. 5 CARTEL QUEEN has been thereabouts recently and has a chance with a 4kg claimer up. 2 BERRINGTON BLEW can earn if repeating her last start. 7 WINTER MIRACLE has some ability and tries a drop in trip. (David Thiselton 6-5-2-7)

 

Race 4

 

9 VIKING LEADER has placed third in both starts and is the one to beat over a suitable trip. 8 LIGHT THE FIRE has the form to be a contender in this line up. 2 ETZEBETH is a big one-paced sort but of sent forward to the front could plug on into a place. 3 FULL MONTY ran an improved race last time in an open maiden and could earn from a good draw. (David Thiselton 9-8-2-3)

 

Race 5

 

2 MASTER BOMBER one well last time and can go close off a three point higher mark if repeating. 9 THE GLIDING FISH looks to have dropped to a cometitive mark and should be in the shake up. 6 MEERKAT MOON won well with the blinkers on and can follow up off a three point higher mark from a fair draw. 14 BEACH PALACE is usually thereabouts and is off a competitive mark but has a wide draw to overcome. (David Thiselton 2-9-6-14)

 

Race 6

 

2 DYLAN’S CHAMP disappointed on the poly last time but before that ran a cracker at this course and has a plum draw here. 10 GALLIC VICTOR is a talented sort and the best might not have been seen of him yet so he should be right there despite having to overcome a wide draw. 7 SOMMERSTERN has hard-knocking form in Cape Town and should go close here despite having a tricky draw. 3 MY LUCKY CHARM is in good form and should be right there from a good draw under a 4kg claimer. (David Thiselton 2-10-7-3)

 

 

Race 7

 

11 SYMPHONY IN WHITE has a lot of class and comes off two fine wins. 9 SWEETIE DARLING gets 3kg from Symphony In White for a mere 1,10 length beating so she should be right there. 2 BABELICIOUS went close to Princess Of Gaul in a Listed race when last tried over this trip so should be in the shake up here. 1 TARA STAR is ultra consistet and should make a bold bid. (David Thiselton 11-9-2-1)

 

 

Race 8

 

8 GOOD FOR YOU has a lot of class and has won a Gr 1 over 1200m here so should enjoy this 1100m trip. 14 SPEEDMAN hs won four out of five and looks to be an exciting prospect. 12 CIRCUMBENDIBUS is in devastating form at present and will be out to land a hatttrick and he should hanle the extra 100m. 13 KAALVOET went close in a Non-Black Type sprint last time over this trip at Turffontein Standside. (David Thiselton 8-14-12-13)

 

 

Race 9

 

11 BEST OF ALL won easily and impressively last time and starts off with a reasonable merit rating. 4 XENOPHON is tlented and and should start coming into his own. 7 ROCK MUSIC can earn again after a fair second over 1000m on the poly last time. 8 GORGEOUS GUY is an honest sort who should be in the shake up. (David Thiselton 11-4-7-8-9)

 

 

Race 10

 

7 MIDNIGHT LADY went close over 1200m in Cape Town ast time and has a big shout. 8 CELESTIAL DIAMOND has been knocking hard and should be right there. 9 CALL ME JANE has been ultra consistent over 1000m and tris 1100m. 2 VICTORY IN ORLEANS was not disgraced last time in a Plare race against Zalatoris and could earn here. (David Thiselton 7-8-9-2)

Devonne Govender

 

A competitive ten-race programme awaits racing enthusiasts and punters today at Hollywoodbets Scottsville.

 

The headline races on the card are undoubtedly the Dennis Drier Poinsettia Stakes (Grade 3) and the In Full Flight Handicap (Listed).

 

In Race 7, the Dennis Drier Poinsettia Stakes, Symphony In White is a leading contender. She has been in solid form lately and was very impressive when winning at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth in her last start. She also performs exceptionally well at this track, with a standout run on the 31st of May 2025 in the South African Fillies Sprint (Grade 1). She appeared to be traveling well when hampered at a crucial stage, ultimately finishing just 4.55 lengths behind the winner. Andrew Fortune knows her well, and she could take some beating here.

 

But the race doesn’t end there, as several others are in good form. Stablemate Babelicious is a must-include in all bets. She has shown she can finish strongly on her day and will be right there with Serino Moodley aboard.

 

Mai Sensation, trained by Lucinda Woodruff and ridden by Juan Paul V’D Merwe, commands respect. She hasn’t been far off in recent outings and will be a serious contender if bringing her best form. Another runner to consider is Asiye Phambili, trained by Duncan Howells. She performs very well at this track and packs plenty of class. With Sean Veale aboard, she’s sure to be a massive runner.

 

Race 8, the In Full Flight Handicap (Listed), this looks set to be another fiercely contested race with many runners holding solid form.

 

Speedman from the Sean Tarry yard stands out on current form. The son of Vercingetorix was highly impressive when winning his last start and appears destined for bigger things. With Craig Zackey in the saddle, who knows him well, another big performance is expected. His versatility across different distances is a sign of a very smart horse.

 

Kaiboy, trained by Candice Bass, is another to keep an eye on. He outran his odds last time out, finishing a close-up fourth behind Dance Variety at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth.He has always been highly regarded, he’s sure to make his presence felt in a big way with Serino Moodley aboard.

 

I’m A Fireball from the Mike and Mathew de Kock yard is another lively contender. He secured a gutsy win at Hollywoodbets Scottsville when beating the classy Roland Garros on the 1^st of March 2026. His last run was outstanding, finishing second behind Malmesbury Missile, and he’s definitely one to watch.

 

All in all, it looks to be a mouth-watering card for punters, and the Pick 6 could be the way to go, with massive pools expected.

Please Note: South African Quartet Pools with fractional betting offered at Doncaster and Leicester (UK) – 25 April 2026

This decision follows the recording of over 60mm of rainfall at Turffontein over the past seven days, including in excess of 20mm overnight.

As a result, sections of the track have become waterlogged, with conditions currently inconsistent across the course.

In addition, the weather forecast for the remainder of today remains unfavourable.

While improved conditions are expected from Saturday onwards, Tuesday presents the most suitable window for racing, as forecasts beyond that indicate a return to less favourable weather patterns.

The decision to postpone has been made proactively, as even in the absence of further rainfall, the current state of the track would remain unsuitable for racing and could compromise both safety and fairness.

As a consequence of this change:

The race meeting originally scheduled for Tuesday, 28 April 2026 at Vaal Racecourse will be abandoned.

An additional race meeting will be scheduled for Monday, 4 May 2026, which will be a Work Riders’ meeting.

Entries for this meeting will be disseminated via the NRB in due course.

Race times for the rescheduled meeting on Tuesday, 28 April 2026 will be communicated as soon as possible.

Andrew Harrison

The battle for a place in this year’s R10 million Hollywoodbets Durban July began in earnest on Wednesday with the announcement of the first 63 entries. Given the that first entry fee is a modest R2 500 there are plenty of connections willing to take their chances at this early stage.

That said, two of the early entries line up on the turf at Hollywoodbets Greyville this evening, the three-year-old Count Of Rouen and Johnny The Thief although both may have to take a back seat in a competitive handicap where Dean Kannemeyer has two lively contenders in the Class 3 Handicap over 1900.

Kannemeyer sends out Continentalexpress and Uzwano. Continentalexpress is consistent but would probably be more effective over further and while Uzwano goes this trip for the first time his pedigree suggests that he should easily see it out and may be the pick of the pair with Hollywood Racing’s Sean Veale in the irons.

Peter Muscutt sends out Count Of Rouen who was in need of his last run. As a Hollywoodbets Durban July entry he will need to put in a forward showing. Go Grayson Go is the likely pacemaker. He has been caught late at his last two over 1950m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville and may just last over this 50m shorter. Mohave Prince is unbeaten in two since the blinkers were added, has a handy weight helped by Rachel Venniker’s allowance.

MJ Odendaal has always held Johnny The Thief in high regard and he was running on well over a distance well short of his best last time out. Only time will tell whether his is good enough to make the July field.

Punters face a competitive field from the first race where most are first timers so the betting should prove your best guide.

The second could rest between Peace Rose and Peach Melba although Emerald Forge makes her local debut and has been expensive to follow on the Highveld where she has started favourite on numerous occasions only to disappoint but must have shown some ability.

Kiartay and Bison Warrior could suffice in the first leg of the PA. Kiartay made a smart debut before taking on winners in a feature next time out, both runs at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth. He has the best of the draw in his first outing for Tienie Prinsloo. Bison Warrior was run out of it late last run and the step up in trip with some experience under his girth should see him close again.

In the first leg of the Pick 6 Bai Yulu made a smart debut at long odds for Mike and Mathew de Kock. She is bred to stay this trip and any improvement can see her home. Gold Gold Baby has some promising Western Cape form and meets little of note in this line-up and is the one to beat. Surprise could come in the form of Flickering Light who showed signs of coming to hand  when stepped up to 1600m last run. This trip should suit.

Tough handicaps follow. In the fifth, Tobacconist has come well at his last two and is over his ideal trip and Veale stays with the ride in preference to top weight Trois Quatre. Stuart Ferrie’s filly Hodge Podge is in cracking form and she followed up two close-up finishes behind subsequent Gr2 SA Derby winner Curious Girl with a comfortable victory over Fine Wine who has since gone on to frank that form. Of the balance I’m Invictus won well second time of asking when tried in blinkers. He has a handy weight and looks promising. Leading rider Craig Zackey takes the ride on My Boy Lollipop who has no recent form over shorter. The step up in trip and jockey booking could be a pointer.

In the seventh, Silver Salute was a comfortable winner over course and distance in her local debut. She only got a three-point raise in the handicap and can follow up. Blue Poppy was well beaten by Silver Salute when last they met but it was a below par performance from a wide draw. She should finish closer. Grand Occasion has been in mustard form of late and won well from a tricky draw when beating Blue Poppy last time out. Michaelle Michel’s 1.5kg allowance offsets her rating increase and she can confirm that result. West Side Story showed some improvement when going a mile again. She has a light weight and has an upset chance.

The eighth is a wide open handicap but Tyroconnell  has been knocking at the door of late in useful company. He has no weight on his back and gets cheek pieces again which can see him go one better. Queue Wing is a veteran with 48kg to shoulder from a good draw. Judged by jockey bookings Green Glow would look to be Kannemeyer’s second string but Serino Moodley was aboard when shedding his maiden and the gelding is way better than his last effort. Stable companion Kanaal Skater s better than his last run from a wide draw and has a winning chance on his penultimate showing while Sundance Kid has been runner-up at his last three but all have come on the poly which is a concern.

The last is another tricky handicap but Take Your Place has shown up well in two recent outings against speedy opposition. She gets a three-point relief in the handicap that should see her competitive in another wide open race. Call Of The Karoo was a beaten favourite last start when taking on stronger. She has top weight but also a stronger rider aboard. Amafort is unbeaten in two with blinkers and a useful 4kg apprentice aboard and has a hattrick chance.