RACE 1

(3) GOLDEN GREY has been holding consistent form and will have a big chance in this line up however has had many chances. (4) FIZZLY BUBBLY is never far back and with the claimer up he will have a big say. (8) GENTEEL ran a cracker in the last start and must be respected. (1) BOMBER BAY is capable of making it into the quartets. (Devonne Govender 3-4-8-1)

RACE 2

(3) LAUGH TILL I CRY has been consistent and should go close based on that, she has a much better draw this time and is sure to run well. (1) MIDNIGHT MUSIC has scope to improve, she has run well on poly and will be a big challenger here. (4) JUST FOR U has been placing at big odds and will be in the firing line again however does have a tough draw. (6) WINTER’S DRAGON is never far back and can place, include in quartets. (Devonne Govender 3-1-4-6)

RACE 3

(5) NOTORIX ran a cracker in the last start hence he will be the firm first choice. (7) RAVILIOUS is never far back, he is capable of winning this and must be respected here. (3) WORDSWORTH is another who is racing well and is expected to go close for the in form yard of Cliffie Miller. (2) THING CALLED LOVE is capable of much better and can get a lot closer. (Devonne Govender 5-7-3-2).

RACE 4

(2) SMASHING won easily in the last start and be a massive contender here despite the tough draw. (5) SWEET JULIA was narrowly beaten in the last start and another big run is expected. (12) PITON DE NEIGE is holding solid form and must be respected here. (9) JET SET RUN has scope to go well and can be included into larger perms. (Devonne Govender 2-5-12-9).

RACE 5

(2) GREEN OKRA has never been far back and can win this on best form however has had many chances. (7) OPERA VERSE has run well on the poly and on best form is capable of winning this. (3) BROOKSIDER could represent some value here and must go into all bets, he has decent draw and shouldn’t be far if reproducing some of the earlier good runs on poly. (9) STAR TROOPER doesn’t have the best form on paper and is unreliable however he does have scope to improve and can be included into larger perms. (Devonne Govender 2-7-3-9)

RACE 6

(9) BRETTY won a gutsy race in the last start, she goes well on this track and another big run is expected. (10) COLORAMA is holding consistent form and will be a big challenger to the top selection. (5) COURAGEOUS has been holding form and will be in the firing line again. (1) ALADO’S HABIT won a good race when cracking her maiden, she has scope to go well and cannot be ignored here. (Devonne Govender 9-10-5-1)

RACE 7

(7) GUARDING THE WALL goes extremely well on the poly, his recent form is solid and a huge run is expected. (13) KING RAHUL is holding consistent form and gets the claimer up which brings him right into this contest. (1) A BIT CHILLY ran extremely well in the last start and will be in the firing line. (2) KING’S SAILOR placed at huge odds and could make the frame again if repeating that performance. (Devonne Govender 7-13-1-2)

RACE 8

(1) WALKONTHEWILDSIDE is holding solid form and will take some beating here. (8) THREE CHEERS was a gutsy winner in the last start and will be there again however takes on stronger now. (7) LADY ZULTANITE has been consistent and another decent run is expected however she will have to lift to beat the top selection. (9) DARLING HARBOUR is another who is never far back and can get involved again. (Devonne Govender 1-8-7-9)

David Thiselton

Gavin Lerena and Richard Fourie, who are two of the three protagonists in the thrilling chase for the national jockeys title, cut contrasting figures towards the end of Sunday’s Hollywoodbets Scottsville meeting as the former spoke confidently about his Hollywoodbets Durban July rides, while the latter confirmed he was “feeling terrible” after being booked off his last few rides.

Lerena’s one winner on Sunday followed a five-timer on Saturday and with Fourie and Zackey also each having one winner on Sunday the situation is now Lerena on 243 wins achieved at a strike rate of 25.26%, Fourie on 239 at 25.16% and Zackey on 236 at 17.57%.

Lerena said about the championship race and whether he would travel to all centres, including the East Cape, from now onward, “It’s not easy to get rides. Durban hasn’t been very kind to me the last couple of weeks either, but we’ll ride wherever we can. it’s still a long month to go, but I’m just enjoying the racing and enjoying the competitiveness of it and may the best man win.”

Lerena has some fine rides on Hollywoodbets Durban July day.

in the big one he rides the Frank Robinson-trained Madison Valley.

Gavin said, “His gallop was very good. He’s sound, he feels very well and he’s very fit, so I am looking forward to riding him with 54kg”

The Clifton Stud-bred Mambo In Seattle gelding has some good formlines as his Betway Summer Cup run puts him ahead of Royal Victory, See It Again and Atticus Finch at the weights in the July.

However, Gavin was asked whether he felt the Hollywoodbets Greyville 2200m was too tight for the rangy Madison Valley and whether the straight was too short and he replied, “Not really, I mean he’s won most of his races at Hollywoodbets Greyville. He’s got the stamina, he ran very well in the Gold Cup last year and  obviously he’s coming off a win in the Cup Trial (1800m) at Hollywoodbets Greyville. It’s always nice to be coming off a win..

In the Gr 1 Ridgemont Garden Province Stakes, his mount Rascova meets her arch rival Double Grand Slam with the tally currently at Double Grand Slam seven and Rascova five.

Gavin first of all revealed that despite Rascova having only had the one run since joining the Sean Tarry yard after her win in the Gr 1 Maine Chance Farms Majorca Stakes on WSB Met day, she had never  been out of work. She will therefore be fit enough.

He said, “It was a good run last time at Hollywoodbets Scottsville (SA Fillies Sprint over 1200m). It got a bit tight that last 100m, so she didn’t really round her race off. But she’s doing nicely. It’s a competitive field. It’s always her and Double Grand Slam and now you’ve got the three-year-olds coming through. So, it’s going to be an exciting race.

In the Gr 2 Splashout Golden Slipper, he rides the Tarry-trained Gr 2 TAB SA Nursery and Gr 3 TAB Protea Stakes winner Green Diamond, albeit from a tricky draw of ten in the 1400m contest.

He said, “Not the greatest of draws, but a very good filly. She’s an exciting ride for the day. I think she will enjoy the step up in trip, it’s all about getting her in a good rhythm and she’s got a great finish on her.” 

In the Gr 2 Omoda Golden Horseshoe over 1400m he rides the Gr 2 Corne Spies-trained filly Elegantrix, who was runner up in the Gr 1 Allan Robertson over 1200m last time to the unbeaten Direct Hit, and he said, “She’s well drawn and beat the boys in her penultimate start (in the Gr 3 TAB Godolphin Barb Stakes over 1100m. It was a great run last time just in behind Direct Hit. The boys are getting bigger and stronger, but she’s very game and I think she’ll enjoy the 1400m.”

In the Gr 3 Post Merchants over 1200m, Gavin rides the Tony Peter-trained Buffalo Storm Cody from draw nine and he said, “He’s jumping from an awkward gate. His last two wins were down the straight, but I think he’s a much better horse around the turn, so I think he’s going to be a big runner.”

In the Gr 3 Durban Gold Vase he rides the crack Frank Robinson-trained stayer Shoot The Rapids, who has to carry joint topweight of 60kg from draw five.

He said, “it’s never easy to carry 60kg over those type of trips, but he’s always stayed well and obviously he was up alongside Madison Valley in the Gallops, so I’m hoping it all goes well.”

In the Gr 3 Magical Zulu Kingdom 2200 he rides the Tarry-trained Litigation and he said, “it was a great fourth last time in the Cup Trial (1800m). He has a lot of weight to shoulder, but in saying that it was a very good last run from him and he’s come on from that run. The only thing that doesn’t really suit is there’s a lot of speed in the race and he almost wants to dictate, so we’re going to have to play the race by ear and hope it works out for him.”

In the Listed Premier Gateway International Handicap over 1600m, Gavin rides the Justin Snaith-trained Underworld from pole position and he said, “I think he is a big runner over the mile, he’s probably better suited to the mile. The only thing is it’s a handicap and he’s got to give away quite a bit of weight.”

Please note that betting is now OPEN for the Hollywoodbets Durban July 2025.

Please note: South African Quartet Pools with fractional betting offered at Chelmsford and Musselburgh (UK) – 01 July 2025.

Andrew Harrison

It has been many a year since the race for the Jockey Championship has resulted in a three-way contest but with a month to go it is still tight at the top with Gavin Lerena, champion Richard Fourie and Craig Zackey all in contention.

Lerena hit a purple patch at Turffontein on Saturday, pulling four winners clear of the reining champion Fourie with Zackey sudden finding himself seven winners adrift to the log leaders going into yesterday’s Hollywoodbets Scottsville meeting.

But with the first three races done, the numbers stayed  the same as all three leading riders were on the board.

Zackey had the easiest ride as Dean Kannemeyer’s filly Princess Of Gaul made short work of her opposition in the first. Sent out favourite, Zackey tracked the pace as young Jacey Botes tried to run them off their feet on Perfume Power but once Zackey released the break a furlong out, it was just a matter of how far as the quickened away to win as she liked.

Fourie was in the winner’s circle in the second but had to work hard for his victory on Clinton Binda’s colt Chapbook. Still green, Fourie had to nurse him through the latter exchanges  but once finding his feet, the son of Rafeef finally got the message  to go through for a comfortable victory.

Lerena kept the status quo as far as the championship numbers were concerned as he deputized for an indisposed Andrew Fortune on the Yogas Govender-trained  Soho Star. Narrowly beaten at his last two over the Hollywoodbets Scottsville 1200m, Lerena extracted the best out of the gelding to get home ahead of stable companions Vihaan’s Web and Quandray.

Apprentice Brevan Plaatjies is currently leading in the apprentice championship ahead of Trent Mayhew. Plaatjies rode his 40^th winner last Wednesday losing his 2.5kg claim, but he was still competitive off his 1.5kg claim as he rode an excellent race on the Bo Ngcobo-trained Ralph The Rascal.

Caught up a blind alley, Plaatjies hunted a gap, shifting in before it opened and sent Ralph The Rascal through to a smart win.

Ngcobo has a small string but has shown that he knows how to train a racehorse in the short time that he has had his trainer’s brief and given better support he will not let his patrons down.

Some apprentices never get to ride out their claim but Plaatjies and Jacey Botes are likely to leave their apprenticeship having ridden over 60 winners and into the ‘big’ world when they are not so popular anymore.

So it is imperative for an apprentice to make a name for themselves as early into their careers as possible and Botes is going the right way. Still claiming 4kg he has a keen judge of pace and some tactical ‘nous’ as he showed aboard Paul Lafferty’s runner Forward Motion. 

Although only shouldering 48.5kg, Botes had his mount in front early but was no tearaway, judging the pace nicely and then keeping his mount running strongly to the line.

He has still got a long way to go and raceriding can be a fickle profession but Botes is going about it the right way.