Please Note: South African Quartet Pools with fractional betting offered at Chester and Newmarket (UK) – 10 July 2026

RACE 1

A very open first race. Hopefully we are back on the turf again. TURBULENT has been consistent of late and should like it back on the grass. ALESIAN BEAU is clearly better than a moderate last performance. STORM BURST, DOUBLE DISTILLED and MRS SHACKLETON all make their local debuts and could be threats. LOVELY DANCER and JORDI have also done enough of late to suggest they can make the frame.

RACE 2

It is good to see the Western Cape trainers at this meeting and they could strike with NOBODY’S PERFECT. She was slowly away on local debut and should like it back on the grass. REMIND ME OF YOU proved in need of her Polytrack debut and should improve and contest the finish. DANCING AMBER was not disgraced in both her starts and is a threat. BLAZING FLAME showed improvement last time out and could have more to offer. HOWZIT BEAUT and SILVER ARROW make their debuts and could be ready to strike.

RACE 3

GIMMETHATWORLDCUP was not disgraced on Polytrack debut and is likely to improve. MAESTRO AZUL is probably looking for a lot further but might play a minor role. SILVA STREAKER was well beaten on debut when on the grass but has made significant improvement on the Polytrack since then and must be respected. QUEEN’S AWAY is improving and might earn some more money.

RACE 4

Trainer Alan Greeff must be well pleased with what KLEINZEE has done for him since joining his yard. The filly is unbeaten in three starts on the Polytrack for him. She would not be a surprise winner. TENJIKU makes a local debut and could improve. PORFIRIO is unreliable but quite capable of scoring. LAGUNA VERDE, ABOVE THE HORIZON and GLOBAL STATE are all in good form and can earn some more money.

RACE 5

PERFECT IMPACT is unbeaten in two starts for trainer Dean Smith. They were impressive victories but were on the Polytrack and he will need to show he is as good on turf. WORLD CHOICE is in good form but does have a tricky draw. DYNALLEY and ACTION AMERICA both arrive for this after good wins and may have more to offer. TRAIL RUNNER makes his local debut and has won a couple of times this season so must be respected for that. CORAL CREEK is better on the grass so the last run is safely ignored. RIP WHEELER won nicely last time out on the Polytrack and could be better than rated.

RACE 6

A good race with some in form runners. GENTLEMAN JOE steps up in distance but has consistent Western Cape form and his trainer has a good record when raiding the Eastern Cape. BOURNEMOUTH does well for jockey Richard Fourie and has no problems with this course and distance so will be a threat. BAD MEDICINE has won all five of his starts for trainer Kelly Mitchley and has every chance of scoring again. HOME REEF won this race last year and was not beaten far by BAD MEDICINE over 2800m not so long ago so can contest the finish. ANATOLIAN SILVER is consistent and can earn some more money.

RACE 7

A very good edition of the East Cape Paddock Stakes (Listed). Local star ANOTHERDANCEFORME has won 9 of her 10 starts, with two of those wins coming over this course and distance. She is not well drawn and has to give weight to all her rivals but may well win again. The Western Cape trainers are here to take her on and all of ROCCAPINA and ICY RAIN are capable of contesting the finish. SPLITTHEMAINBRACE, ENCHANTING CHOICE, FAMILY POWER and SILVA CITY are all in good form and will be hoping to earn some money.

RACE 8

A competitive end to what looks a decent card. SLASH ‘N BURN has run well in both local starts and with stable jockey Richard Fourie aboard could be the right one for this. Stable companion COASTAL PATH is consistent over this course and distance and is not out of it. CIAN THE CONQUEROR got close to scoring when last seen on the grass at this track and deserves respect for that. RHYTHM is consistent and has a chance. ALWAYS SHINING and DIABLO both seem better than their last runs and could play minor roles. EUGENIUS could be the surprise package of the race.

Fairview change of surface from the Turf to Poly track – 10 July 2026

Please note: Fairview’s Turf meeting on Friday, 10 July 2026 has been moved to the Poly.
Pen readings are still high, now ranging between 40 and 45.
Fairview had a further 7ml of rain overnight and more predicted for tomorrow.
Distance changes : Race 6 will jump at the 1400. Distance will then become 3150 for the Gold Cup. All other races remain as is.

David Thiselton

 

The Dean Kannemeyer-trained Vercingetorix filly Palace Of Arvernia produced a fine performance on Hollywoodbets Durban July day to win the Gr 2 Amusnet Golden Slipper over 1400m from a tough draw of 13 under Craig Zackey.

 

Kannemeyer had spoken about the toughness of the draw in the build up saying going up there is not wise because the others in front have got there for free, while dropping out left one with too much ground to make up.

 

He said the only way was to attempt to slot in and hope one got lucky, but admitted there would be no luck “nine out of ten times.”

 

However he is fortunate to have the national champion jockey elect riding for him and it was a combination of skill and luck that did the trick.

 

Palace Of Arvernia jumped well and Zackey eased her as she reached midfield and shifted inward.

 

Fortunately, Too Fast To Fiesta just ahead of her was forced to shift outward at the same time and provided Palace Of Arvernia with cover, albeit in a three wide position.

 

Zackey had her nice and relaxed in the running and switched her to the outside in the straight. She accelerated smartly, although she did shift inward slightly.

 

This might have contributed to the unlucky horse of the race, Alice B Toklas, being squeezed out as she was moving through threateningly inward of Palace Of Arvernia.

 

The stipendiary steward report on the incident said:

 

“ At the 350m TOO FAST TO FIESTA, which commenced to hang in, brushed ALICE B TOKLAS inwards, onto LADY HARLEQUIN, which had to be steadied when awkwardly placed on the heels of FERRARI FLAIR, which was directed outwards when insufficiently clear. As a consequence VIKING LASS was directed inwards away from LADY HARLEQUIN, which was thereafter not persevered with. Jockey S Moodley was charged with a contravention of Rule 62.2.7, in that as the rider of FERRARI FLAIR, he failed to ensure that he did not cause interference to LADY HARLEQUIN (Z Lloyd) at the 300m. Jockey S Moodley signed an Admission of Guilt and is suspended for 7 days (Dates to be advised) “

 

The stipes have a better view than the public video footage but from the angle provided with the latter it looked as if Palace Of Arvernia inward shift had caused Too Fast To Fiesta to hang inward.

 

Alice B. Toklas was completely squeezed out and had to re-gather, so did extremely well to eventually run a 1,10 length second.

 

Meanwhile, Palace Of Arvernia, who continued to shift in until Zackey changed whiphands to his right hand, had swept to the front and won comfortably.

 

The rematch between her and Alice B Toklas in the Gr 2 Thekwini Stakes will be interesting, although Palace Of Arvernia has unfortunately draw wide again at 20 out of 20, while Alice B. Toklas has drawn three.

 

Dean Kannemeyer revealed after the race he and Jehan Malherbe of Form Bloodstock had spotted this filly at the National Yearling Sale and said, “We thought she was a well balanced rangy filly and was going for the right price. Sandy Irvine was on the phone and we were very fortunate to get her at the right price … well when they win they are always the right price! We are very excited about her.”

 

The Al Adiyaat-bred filly is out of the Gr 3 Pretty Polly Stakes winner (1100m) Palace Of Dreams and is from the family of the like of champion filly Kiss Of Peace (Fordham) and the Gr 1 Cape Guineas winner Kilindini (Silvano).

 

She was bought for R575,000 and has earned R415,625 for owners Sandy Irvine and Peter Moor courtesy of two wins and a fourth place finish in the Gr 2 Allan Robertson Championship over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville.

David Thiselton

 

The Vaughan Marshall-trained Vibe Check was one of the meeting bankers on Hollywoodbets Durban July day and he not only duly delivered, but likely won many new fans in the process as this strongly built, imposing colt has a rare presence about him.

 

Marshall has said the Maine Chance Farms-bred Querari colt would be even better suited to 1600m, so fans can possibly look forward to him running again on World Pool Gold Cup day, although he has unfortunately drawn very wide.

 

In the Gr 2 Omoda Golden Horseshoe over 1400m on Saturday the big horse jumped well from pole position under Sean Veale and was soon using his massive stride out in front with the rest of the field looking like whippets behind him.

 

Veale revealed later that Vibe Check had been very green and he had battled to get him to corner.

 

The big bay kept going well in the straight  and fended off late challenges from Green Energy, Secretary Bird and Red Spice to win by 0,40 lengths.

 

Veale pointed out Vibe Check was still growing and had put on 7kg since his last start.

 

He said, “There is a lot of improvement to come.”

 

What makes the Vibe Check story even more compelling is that he races in a famous set of silks that have resurfaced.

 

The colours white with red stars and a green cap used to be owned by two former Chairmen  of the Durban Turf Club Douglas Saunders and his son Chris, who won two Julys together with these colours, Jollify winning it for them in 1967 in the big race’s most famous finish, the dead-heat with the immortal Sea Cottage, and then ironically winning it with Sea Cottage’s half-brother Naval Escort in 1969.

 

The colours have been taken over by Irishman Seamus Burns, whose family own Lodge Park Stud,  a highly esteemed thoroughbred breeding farm and racehorse nursery situated in Freshford, County Kilkenny, Ireland.

 

Seamus apparently has an annual holiday to Cape Town, or at least used to, that coincides with the like of the Race Coast Sales Premier Yearling Sale and he is no stranger to big race success in South Africa, winning the Gr 1 Gold Medallion with the Vaugan Marshall-trained Ambiorix (Vercingetorix) in 2021.

 

In the Gr 1 Premiers Champion Stakes on World Pool Gold Cup day Vibe Check has drawn 34 out of the 36 entries.

 

Marshall did say on Saturday after the win that Vibe Check would take his place in the latter race, but he might think twice from a draw that is going to end up very wide. On the other hand the big horse’s front-running style might make it well worth having a go as his early pace could see him finding the rail in front without expending too much energy.

 

Vibe Check cost R650,000 at the Race Coast Summer Sale last year.