Race 1

 

1 ARISTOTLE 4 CHESTNUT BOMBER 6 BAKWENA 3 KUDZU

 

Preview: 1 ARISTOTLE won nicely last time and has a fine chance of repeating the feat with a further step up in trip against an uninspiring field. 4 CHESTNUT BOMBER is capable of running on well and should enjoy this trip. 6 BAKWENA has the ability to earn here. 3 KUDZU is never far off and could earn. (David Thiselton 1-4-6-3)

 

Race 2

 

5 EL ZANI 1 SLENDER SILHOUETTE 7 NICOLSON LANDING 3 MASTER’S LADY

 

Preview: 5 EL ZANI made a fine debut and could go one better, although by trends she is drawn on the wrong side. 1 SLENDER SILHOUETTE is usually thereabouts and from a middle to high draw should be thereabouts. 7 NICOLSON LANDING has a lowish draw of three but has the form to be a contender. 3 MASTER’S LADY is drawn on the right side and has a form chance. (David Thiselton 5-1-7-3)

 

Race 3

 

6 POWER OF TIGER 4 KING REDOUTE 5 MRS STORMIATRIX 7 BELLA BOOP BOOP

 

Preview: 6 POWER OF TIGER ws disappointing last time but is capable of better and now has a professional jockey aboard. 4 KING REDOUTE ran quite well over 1160m last time and could be in the shake up. 5 MRS STORMIATRIX 7 BELLA BOOP BOOP returns from a rest but might run well fresh over this trip. (David Thiselton 6-4-5-7)

 

Race 4

 

2 AFRICAN PRIDE 4 CHAPBOOK 3 TRAJANUS

 

Preview: 2 AFRICAN PRIDE has a lot of pace and his best performance was over this course and distance.  4 CHAPBOOK disappointed last time but if repeating his only 1000m start on the Highveld he has a big chance and he is drawn on the right side with Lerena up. 3 TRAJANUS disappointed last time but a line can be drawn through that run and at his best he has a shout. (David Thiselton 2-4-3)

 

Race 5

 

6 STONEYWOOD 1 CAROLINE ISLAND 8 PIVOTAL ROLE 5 HIS LORDSHIP

 

Preview: 6 STONEYWOOD looks to be a progressive sort who can follow up on his dominant. 1 CAROLINE ISLAND is hard-knocking and should be in the shake up. 8 PIVOTAL ROLE won easily second time out and the form has been franked, but he does return from a four month layoff. 5 HIS LORDSHIP is in good form and can earn again. (David Thiselton 6-1-8-5)

 

Race 6

 

3 STORMY DAY 7 MAVERICK QUEEN 4 TUSCAN ROMANCE 5 THERE SHE GOES

 

Preview: 3 STORMY DAY looked to be a highly promising sort until running no kind of a race last time but that was a Gr 3 event and she can bounce back in ordinary company after a three month layoff. 7 MAVERICK QUEEN is a hard knocker who should be right there. 4 TUSCAN ROMANCE is consistent and should be in the shake up again. 5 THERE SHE GOES is in fine form and goes well for this rider. (David Thiselton 3-7-4-5)

 

Race 7

 

4 PLUMBAGO PARK 5 QUIET WINTER 7 LOVABLE 8 FIERY FROLIC

 

Preview: 4 PLUMBAGO PARK has been knocking hard since her maiden win and can get it right here from a good draw over a suitable trip. 5 QUIET WINTER gets three points relief from the handicapper but does have a tough draw. 7 LOVABLE has run well in both starts and should be a big runner here, although the draw makes it tricky. 8 FIERY FROLIC has done well in all three runs on the Highveld and can earn again. (David Thiselton 4-5-7-8)

 

Race 8

 

5 COPPER CLIFF 7 CARTAGENA 9 COPPER PLATE 10 EUPHRATES

 

Preview: 5 COPPER CLIFF relished the step up in trip to 2000m last time and can make it a hattrick with a further step up to 2400m. 7 CARTAGENA is in fine form over staying trips and goes for the hattrick off a four point higher mark. 9 COPPER PLATE is well drawn and can go close if repeating his last start. 10 EUPHRATES has done well with blinkers on over staying trips and should be thereabouts. (David Thiselton 5-7-9-10)

 

Race 9

 

1 STORM AHEAD 3 FORCE PUBLIQUE 5 UNSOLVED RIDDLE

 

Preview: 1 STORM AHEAD has a form chance if producing his best. 3 FORCE PUBLIQUE is in with a shout in this line. 5 UNSOLVED RIDDLE can be right here if at his best. (David Thiselton 1-3-5)

 

Race 10

 

8 SPIRITED GIRL 12 KYLIE’S ANGEL 6 CONCORDIA 7 PRINCESS LOLA

 

Preview: 8 SPIRITED GIRL looks the one to beat in this line up. 12 KYLIE’S ANGEL has a form chance if at her best. 6 CONCORDIA ran well last time and can earn again. 7 PRINCESS LOLA capable of being right there if at her best. (David Thiselton 8-12-6-7)

 

David Thiselton

 

There is unlikely to be a SA Triple Crown winner this season because although in the past Mike and Mathew de Kock would have had two live horses going forward with Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas winner Jan Van Goyen and Saturday’s Gr2 TAB Gauteng Guineas winner Splittheeights, the Cape Guineas no longer counts as an alternative first leg.

 

Mike De Kock said about the impressive winner of Saturday’s Gauteng Guineas, Splittheeights, “He is not a Derby horse, so even if he wins the SA Classic he won’t go for the last leg.”

 

He said about the owners of Splittheeights, Jayson and Preshalin Murugasa, “They have had horses for about eight to ten years and have spent a helluva lot of money in the game. But they are fantastic people and unbelievably good sports. You normally say that about the winners, but they have also lost for a long time and have taken it all on the chin. They have spent a lot at the Sales. In fact I think Brett Crawford bought this horse for them, credit to him, although I would have to confirm that. I have really enjoyed training for them. They (Jayson and Preshalin) give it a good Turffontein shout when they hit the front, don’t you worry about that!”

 

The Vercingetorix colt Splittheeights was a R600,000 purchase at the National Yearling Sale bought by JASM Solutions who were often associated with the Brett Crawford yard.

 

His Gauteng Guineas victory was also the perfect start for the De Kocks in terms of a new sponsorship.

 

The yard was announced in the big Lucky Fish promotion at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Friday night as the second yard to be sponsored by Race Coast’s new fixed odds betting and online casino betting arm.

 

Mike said, “It proved to be a very “Lucky” move!”

 

Mike said both Splittheeights and Jan Van Goyen would go for the SA Classic and One Eye On Vegas would also probably run in the Gr 1 1800m classic on March 7.

 

He said about Splittheeights’ stamina estimation, “Vercingetorix has a lot of quick runners, but he is a super sire, he throws two-milers and he throws five furlongs. Raymond Danielson felt that he still had more at the line, but I recognise the fact that he is a half-brother to William Robertson, so the extra 200m is not guaranteed for us. We are well aware of that, so it is going to be interesting.”

 

Asked on how confident they were before the race of Splittheeights winning, Mike said, “We were pretty confident, but we were nervous of our other horse One Eye On Vegas. I think One Eye On Vegas drawn three of four would have given him a little bit more cheek.”

 

One Eye On Vegas ran on well from last on Saturday after being dropped out from a wide draw  and he crossed the line 0,90 lengths behind the winner in third place, before being demoted to fourth after an objection against him on behalf of the favourite Trust was upheld.

 

Mike said about One Eye On Vegas’ SA Classic participation, “I have always been a little bit wary of the extra 200m for One Eye On Vegas, but based on Saturday we will have to try. He is fast more than he’s got stamina, he’s a pretty quick horse and he’s by Buffalo Bill Cody, so one has to say his top end is probably a mile, but given Saturday’s performance, finishing like he did, I would say we have to run him in the 1800m.”

 

He can not have any such qualms about Jan Van Goyen, because asked on whether he viewed him as a Hollywoodbets Durban July horse, he replied, “Most definitely.”

 

He said a line could be drawn through Jan Van Goyen’s Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas run and explained that just a glance at the sectional timing of the race was enough to confirm that the jockeys of the De Kock coupling Dave The King and Jan Van Goyen had had no idea how fast they were actually going. Dave The King had set a ridiculous pace, and Jan Van Goyen had chased it a few lengths behind him.

 

However, he said Jan Van Goyen was fine and would be running in the SA Classic.

 

He added that the R10 million prize for the July would make the build up for a potential three-year-old runner a whole new ball game and elaborated, “Handicapping is going to be everything.”

 

He said running in open races would be avoided by potential July three-year-olds, because of the risk of a massive merit rating raise.

 

Avoiding certain races will likely be even more in vogue this year due to the longer handicap being introduced with a 10kg spread in the weights.

 

However, the three-year-old classics should not be compromised as De Kock pointed out that the three-year-old form had shown there to be no dominant horse and their form was well exposed. They look to be overrated even with no big ratings for any of them yet.

 

He said Trust had not shown himself to be a 119 on Saturday, although admitting he might not have performed to his best. Trust was hampered at a crucial stage too.

 

He pointed at numerous examples of exposed three-year-olds, with two examples being from Saturday’s Gauteng Guineas, the 0,30 lengths runner up Grand Empire and the 2,15 length fifth-placed Yippee Kiyay.

 

He said, “Those are two well exposed three-year-olds in my opinion and Grand Empire actually didn’t win that Listed race against older horses either (off a 102 merit rating he had finished second to 104-rated Pressonregardless (in the Wolf Power 1600 (handicap)). So what does that say about the three-year-olds? What are their real ratings?”

 

The build up to this year’s Hollywoodbets Durban July is certainly going to be fascinating and have tongues wagging as trainers jostle for position, weighing up the weight they come in with against the risk of not qualifying if they are too cautious.

 

David Thiselton

The Mike and Mathew de Kock-trained Splittheeights has emerged as a contender for best three-year-old male in the land with an impressive victory in the Gr 2 TAB Gauteng Guineas on the Turffontein Standside track on Saturday, while the Corne Spies-trained Hazy Dazy made a mockery of her good value odds to easily win the Gr 2 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas.

Considering Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas winner Jan Van Goyen was beaten by Trust in the Gr 2 Jackpot City Dingaans and Splittheeights has now beaten Trust twice since then, Splittheeights can claim to be the best three-year-old in the land. On the other hand, Trust was unlucky in Saturday’s race.

Splittheeights is yet another big race winner for the mighty sire Vercingetorix. He is out of the Trippi mare Massachusetts which makes him a half-brother to the Gr 1 Computaform Sprint winner William Robertson.

William Robertson has done well over a mile too and has a Gr 3 fourth place over 1800m, while Vercingetorix won Gr 1s over 2000m and 1800m, so there was no real concern over the step up in trip.

In his previous start in the Gr 3 Got The Greenlight Stakes over 1400m, Splitheeights he had turned it on in impressive style and although receiving 2kg from Trust, he had beaten him by 2,50 lengths, which put him half-a-length ahead of Trust on paper. He had also caught the eye more than Trust had in that race.

Nevertheless, Trust had beaten the champion Jan Van Goyen over 1600m and was not only back to that trip, but he was reunited with his regular rider Serino Moodley.

So, Trust started as the 9/4 favourite, first drifting out to 5/2 before shortening late, whereas Splitheeights vied for favouritism but started at 5/2.

A good pace was set by Splittheeights’ 25/1 chance stablemate Yippee Kayay with the 33/1 shot stablemate I’m A Fireball behind him.

Trust broke well and was in joint third place, but was caught one wide without cover. Splitheeights had the perfect position under Raymond Danielson, sitting in behind Trust. Yippee Kayay stole a march as they turned for home and opened up a big lead.

Dingaans third-placed All Systems Go, an East Cape raider, was the first to give chase together with Radio Star on the outside. Splitheeights switched out and swept past Radio Star with an impressive burst while still in the hands. Trust was still biding his time in the centre.

As Moodley got to work on Trust, One Eye On Vegas switched outward under Sean Veale and took up his running, forcing Trust to be eased. Meanwhile, the smart Grand Empire had come from backward of midfield to challenge for the lead. One Eye On Vegas was also making  big forward strides too.

However, Splittheeights was going best of all and Danielson just had to keep him straight and administer a backhand or two to get the job done winning by 0,60 lengths from Grand Empire with One Eye On Vegas 0,30 lengths further back. Trust rallied late to be beaten just 1,40 lengths into fourth with Yippee Kayay running a brave a 2,15 length fifth.

Serino Moodley objected on behalf of Trust against One Eye On Vegas and was placed third, while the latter was demoted to fourth and an inquiry has been opened into the incident.

Bred by Ridgemont, Splittheeights was an August 2yo Sale R600 000 purchase, and is owned by PM Murugasa.

Splittheeights has now won three races with two places from his five starts for stakes earnings of R994 888.

In the Gauteng Fillies Guineas, the Corne Spies-trained Hazy Dazy was allowed to drift out to 25/1, despite having won the Gr 3 Ducat Africa Fillies Mile in her last start on Betway Summer Cup day and  the form of that race had been franked when runner up Charge It had come out and won the Listed War Of Athena Handicap over 1800m in her next start.

Hazy Dazy did have to overcome a tough draw of 12 out of 14 and her rider Trent Mayhew is still an apprentice. However, she ultimately outclassed the opposition to prove herself a smart prospect.

Mayhew managed to get her into a one wide position with cover in about sixth place. She was the third horse in the one out train. Her classy but speedy stablemate Elegantrix led with Daisy Jones sitting on her quarters with the hot favourite Golden Palm in the box seat and Warm Reception and Frangipani inside of Hazy Dazy.

Golden Palm had hit the front going through the 400m mark and Hazy Dazy appeared to be battling to get going. However, she was not losing any ground and then when she changed legs she sauntered to the front while still actually looking green. She won by 2,10 lengths with seemingly a ton in hand.

Charge It, who started at 7/1, ran on well to be her runner up again.

Golden Palm started at 87/100 and was a 3,10 length third. Her excuse might have been that she was sent for home too soon, but that was understandable from Craig Zackey, who is a master of timing, because in the Gr 1 WSB Cape Fillies Guineas she had got going too late under Keagan de Melo.

The Justin Snaith-trained raider Lowveld Lily ran on very well from backward of midfield to finish a 4,35 length fourth.

The small horse with the big action Littlemissmillion flew late to deny the rank outsider Daisy Jones fifth place.

Hazy Dazy was bred by Breedon Stud Close Corporation and is by Act Of War out of the Eightfold Path mare, Rabbedoe. She was a BSA December Online sale R37 500 purchase and in seven starts has five wins a place and earnings of R929 550 for owners Mr D Dasrath & Mrs C Dasrath, Messrs R P Macnab, S Poriazis, Vikash Sobaren, X Spies & D Vayapuri.

 

 

 

Andrew Harrison

King Pelles fluffed his lines in the Gr1 Betway Summer Cup but he was back in fine form at Hollywoodbets Scottsville yesterday. Shouldering top weight, S’manga Khumalo gave him a confident ride to win the UmThombothi Stakes but he was hard-pressed by pacemaker Go Grayson Go who was running up to his name.

Over a distance that is palpably short of his best, King Pelles was helped by Go Grayson Go, Frikkie Greyling’s colt setting a solid gallop and keeping all honest which will have helped the favourite.

King Pelles was in cruise mode at the top of the straight and had the measure of most of his rivals, but apprentice Dezahn Louw was extracting more out of his mount and Khumalo had to work a little harder than expected to get the favourite home.

Van Zyl was candid in his post-race interview saying that he expected King Pelles to win a little more comfortably that what he was forced to do. “He was fit enough to win but we did not want him to ‘empty’ out too much with this run.”

Barring a first timer ‘springer’ Green Energy was the best bet on the card and those that cashed in were well rewarded with Buffalo King Cody attracting most of the market attention.

Adam Azzie has obviously learned well from his father Mike, as the Gimmethegreenlight colt was turned out without a hair out of place and he arrived in similar fashion as the Gauteng raider tried hard. He was in contention for a few strides but once Serino Moodley put the hammer down, Green Energy pulled away to win in the manner of a horse that has a future.

Dennis Bosch has been around the block more than just a few times. He no longer chases the limelight, although if the right horse came along he would give Andrew Fortune a run for his money, but he is as shrewd as they come. First timer Durban Diamond landed a gable in the second as replacement rider Craig Zackey landed the gamble with the more exposed Japura chasing her home ahead of Mekong who was all at sea and one for the notebook.

Past Is Prologue is a filly that sits close to Gareth van Zyl’s heart. “It was a long journey with her and she has been lightly raced for a reason but she has been worth it. I got two take ways from Cape Town other than the experience …..she was two.”

A filly with a high knee action, we may not see her around a turn anytime soon but she is a good-looking daughter of Futura.

Keagan de Melo was booked off after an injury suffered at Turffontein on Saturday and he missed out on a possible treble with replacement riders filling in. Durban Diamond for Zackey, Calvin Habib on Sovereign Gem for Alyson Wright and Rachel Venniker for Garth Puller on Mohave Prince in the Progress Plate where Salani Kahle, after his recent victory was sent out favouite. But he didn’t make much impression from the back of the field as Royal Sword found himself in front and hard to catch in a small field but stable companion Mohave Princes made pressing progress to get home late ahead of Gotta Go Eddie with Royal Sword staying on for the minor money.

The Class 4 over 1750m was a competitive handicap but French Trip was given a smart ride by promising apprentice Mxolisi Mbuto. Sitting just off the pace and told not to break his mounts stride by seasoned Gr1 winning trainer Duncan Howells, he took the shortest way home with a clear run at the line and got home rather comfortably ahead of favourite Actor with Continentalexpress running on strongly and one to take note off when next he stretches to over 2400m and further.

David Thiselton

The 2026 Hollywoodbets Durban July will be a milestone one with the prize money doubled to R10 million and with a longer handicap introduced as the topweight will be upped to 62kg and bottom weight lowered to 52kg.

It will fittingly fall on the 30th anniversary of the centenary July, which turned out to be one of the greatest of all Julys as it was won by the legendary Alec Laird-trained London News, who went on to put South African racing on the map by winning the QE II Cup in Hong Kong.

The renowned South African wildlife painter Henk Vos released his celebrated work, the Painting Of The Century, depicting a century of July winners, after the July’s centenary running.

The iconic painting now hangs in the Classic Room at Hollywoodbets Greyville.

Alec Laird actually ordered one of the prints of the painting before it was completed as the print had the first of his great Uncle Syd Garrett’s five July winners on the left and the greatest of his father’s record seven July winners, Sea Cottage, was in the centre.

The right hand side just had a blank with a silhouette of a horse, because Vos did not know yet which horse he was going to paint there.

Alec, who trained out of Randjesfontein on the Highveld, related, “He hadn’t made up his mind what horse he was going to put in the last panel (the 20th panel) and he even said to me ‘I would like you to win the July because I would like to put you as the last painting.’ With about a year to go I said to him I’m not going to make it.’”

However, fate then had it that London News not only became the 14/10 favourite for the 100th running of the July, but he was also saddle cloth number 20, being the only three-year-old in the field and the bottom weight.

Piere Strydom recalled, “I remember at the traditional Friday night cocktail Henk Vos was there with his big painting and there was one spot left for the 100th winner and I can still remember saying to someone that I think my picture’s going to be up there.”

London News duly won the race and Alec, London News and Piere Strydom are now at the forefront of the famous painting’s 20th panel and the horse is fittingly carrying the no. 20 saddle cloth.

The London News story starts at the National Yearling Sale of 1994.

Alec recalled big owners Laurie and Jean Jaffee’s chief aim at that Sale was to buy a yearling by their own 1987 July winner, Bush Telegraph.

Alec recalled Harmony Forever being his number one choice at that Sale.

However, he remembered London News being “a nice horse.”

He added, “On the first day a Bush Telegraph colt called Mr Newspaperman went for about R300,000. London News looked more athletic and Jean Jaffee actually said to me, ‘What about this one?’ On the first day they didn’t get a horse, the second day they didn’t get one and the more they asked me about London News the nicer he got, because I was otherwise going to go home without a horse!”

The Jaffees managed to secure London News.

Alec recalled, “He was a light youngster and even as a three-year-old was quite light. He didn’t show immediately, but we always had the feeling that he would be a nice horse when he matured.”

In fact, London News made a particularly inauspicious debut, beaten no fewer than 16,5 lengths under Anton Marcus in a 1200m Maiden Juvenile Plate over 1200m at the Vaal on June 6, 1995.

However, he got better and better and when he smashed the Greyville 2000m course record, which still stands today, in the Gr 1 Daily News 2000, he had won six out of eleven starts including the Dingaans and two middle distance Gr 1s.

Piere Strydom was aboard for the Daily News 2000 too.

He reflected on the 1996 July, the first of his four victories in South Africa’s greatest race, “London News was a lekker horse to ride because he had gate speed, a lot of natural speed and he would travel right up there in front and he had a good kick. But at the top of the straight (having led) I thought with a light weight let me just let the reins go a bit and get a length or two for the short straight. But he accelerated way quicker than I had expected and that’s when he made up three or four lengths on the field. Obviously it was going to tell at the end and he was stopping quite badly at the end. I heard the horses coming and I was just hoping for the line and he held on.”

Alec added, “Mike Rattray had invited me to watch in his box because it was on the line and he won by a neck but my eyes wouldn’t believe it because there was so much pressure. I wanted to see the number up!”

Alec described the emotion of being on the honour roll together with his late record-breaking seven-time July-winning father Syd.

In fact his extended family is comfortably the most prolific July-winning family in history with his grandfather Alec winning one as a jockey, his great Uncle Syd Garrett winning two as a jockey and three as a trainer, his father Syd winning a record seven as a trainer, and the cousins Dennis Drier, Alec Laird and Charles Laird each winning one July apiece – a total of 16 for the July dynasty.