Andrew Harrison

The striking grey Touched By Angels enjoyed a good spell in Cape Town this past summer with Peter Muscutt’s raiding string, winning twice and enjoying some success in useful company.

That form translated into a stunning victory in the B Stakes over 1400m that headed the card on the poly at Hollywoodbets Greyville yesterday giving Craig Zackey an armchair ride.

Up with the pace in the early exchanges, once Zackey lit the fuse crossing the subway it was a matter of how far as Touched By Angels exploded to win as he liked.

None of the opposition will ever get their names on jam tins but it was still an impressive performance from Muscutt’s charge and a crack at the Champions Season’s features must be on the cards.

Circumbendibus has been a revelation since arriving in KZN and Glen Kotzen’s gelding went back-to-back as he put plenty of daylight between himself and the opposition in the B Stakes over 1000m leading most of the way. Kalahari Roller finished off his race nicely to edge out Donquerari.

Sifiso Bungane will certainly have got a few choice words in his ear post-race from Zackey as the apprentice cut across the bows of Donquerari forcing Zackey to check and avoid visiting Royal Durban’s third fairway but Circumbendibus was always going two strides to Donquerari’s one and the six-year-old did well to stay on for third.

 Mighty Zambezi took full advantage of a healthy drop in the ratings as he made all under Cole Dicken to land the C Stakes over the minimum trip. Racing in cheek pieces for the first time, Wendy Whitehead’s charge made all and pulled away to win well with Rock Music, slightly hampered at the start, running on for second but a long way adrift of the winner.

Green Energy was sent out a short-priced favourite in the first in a field that cut up to five runners but his supporters may have been a touch nervous in the early exchanges. The odds-on chance looked to be under pressure as Kaz From Alcatraz and Pink Skies put plenty of daylight between them and the rest of the field with Serino Moodley looking to keep Adam Azzie’s charge focused around the turn but a full ten lengths adrift of the pacemakers.

However, once homeward bound, Green Energy found his stride and the result was a formality a long way out. It was the colt’s first run on the poly and he won like a horse with a bright future with a mile well within his compass.

The addition of blinkers finally got Winter Blessing over the line with Dezahn Louw riding a confident race on the Michael Roberts-trained filly with the two-year-old Royal Quest a well-beaten second.

Bangladesh found strong market support and Natie Kotzen’s gelding obliged with a comfortable win under Craig Zackey who continues on his hot winning streak. It was the first run for Kotzen after the Buffalo Bill Cody gelding had shown up well in his first run under Frank Robinson. Xiphos  finished a distant second but continues to earn for his owners.

Mountainsofthemoon found all the support in the first leg of the Pick 6 and it was money on the mark as Mauritian apprentice Anaa Mosaheb turned in a display worthy of the senior jockey to land the odds for Robbie Hill and his first winner in South Africa.

Lilac In Winter and Louw looked to have the race in hand as they moved in to challenge and looked to go a neck clear but Mosaheb kept his head down and pumping away with a minimal use of the stick, Mountainsofthemoon responded to get back the lead when it mattered. One of the first criticisms of apprentices when they start their careers, is that they can’t ‘push’ – Mosaheb certainly can.

 Nicholas Patel is one of the hardest working riders in Summerveld and his efforts have been rewarded with strong support from MJ Odendaal and Gareth van Zyl. Once just regarded as just a journeyman rider, he is being rewarded with more and better rides. However, he has been the regular rider of Baasie Raakvat for Odendaal and he produced the gelding with a well timed finish to comfortably get the better of Many Waters to win the C Stakes over 2400m.

Numzaan has always been a dangerous front runner but not the most reliable. He was at his best on the last as Callan Murray was never for the catching on Frikkie Greyling’s charge as he comfortably held off the challenge from Next Of Kin with favourite Gallic Victory, friendless in the market, plodding on for third and possibly looking for a lot further.

David Thiselton

Siboniso “Bo” Ngcobo regards his first winner, Lightning Jimmy, as the official start of his professional training career as he had operated with just a couple of horses for a whole year before that and as Lightning Jimmy won on 17 March 2024 it means by Bo’s yardstick it took him just two years and a couple of weeks to land the first stakes winner of his career.

That first stakes winner was also his first Graded winner and was also his first ever runner outside of KZN as the Clifton Stud-bred colt Better Never Ends caused a massive 40/1 upset in the Gr 2 TAB SA Nursery over 1160m at Turffontein Standside on Saturday.

Bo can add two more feathers to his cap as he became the trainer of the KZN-based stallion Declarationofpeace’s first stakes winner and he also achieved the rare feat of winning a Gr 2 with a maiden.

That is not bad for a yard that currently only boasts a string of ten horses.

The race only had four runners having cut up for the probable reason that the R3 million Race Coast Slipper to be run this Saturday at Hollywoodbets Greyville provided an attractive alternative for some of the better two-year-olds around.

Nevertheless, Better Never Ends seemed a bit out of his depth having had six runs for two second places and two fourths in Maiden Juvenile Plates, while he had been comfortably beaten, although without being totally disgraced, in two Futurity Plate races.

However, Bo went into the race quietly confident and revealed, “He had been starting to mature and was starting to do things right. He is a November foal and initially taking him to the track had been quite a mission. But he was starting to know what was going on.”

Bo said he would not have transported him up to the race had he not believed in his ability.

He continued, “His track work had been outstanding before we took him to Jo’Burg. I knew he had the ability, but I was just worried about his maturity, although I knew the penny had been starting to drop”

The win was particularly rewarding for more reasons than one.

Bo explained, “My son Qiniso, who has just been licensed by SAJA to ride in races, has been doing a great job with him at track and he has built up a good understanding with Better Never Ends.”

He continued, “So I was more confident than ever before going into a race, but on the other hand there was just that little bit of doubt that he would act up being at a new track and I was concerned he might spook at new surroundings.”

However, the race panned out perfectly.

The 5/10 favourite was Gimme A Vodka, who was coming off a fine 1,70 length second to the biggest talking horse in the juvenile ranks, World Attraction, a Mike and Mathew de Kock-trained One World colt who has won both of his starts in effortless fashion.

The 9/4 second favourite was the Buffalo Bill Cody colt, the Bronx Bull, who won second time out and the form of that win had worked out exceptionally well.

The 25/2 third favourite in the small field was also a maiden, the United States gelding Kudikaran, but his 3,20 length place finish in his only start was behind the exciting prospect Turn It Up, a half-brother to Gr 1 winner Proceed, although admittedly he had received 3kg from Turn It Up.

In the race on Saturday Better Never Ends had the advantage of the standside draw.

There were a few other factors which had buoyed Bo’s confidence.

Firstly, the horse was wearing second time blinkers and had run well in them first time out in a 1400m event at Hollywoodbets Greyville,  finishing a 3,90 length fourth.

Secondly, Bo had run Better Never Ends often and he had always returned sound as a bell,so he had not had to do much with him at home and he knew he was a very fit horse.

Thirdly, he asked the physiotherapist Paige Janse van Rensburg, who works on his Hollywood-trained horse Eventidor, to do some work on Better Never Ends.

He said, “I noticed she had been doing  very good job for Hollywood, so I asked her to do some of my horses as well. She did physio on him and put tape on him to help with his blood circulation.”

Better Never Ends jumped superbly in the race and Muzi Yeni had him nice and relaxed.

He just sat on him and would have been pleased to see Gimme A Vodka and The Bronx Bull going eyeball to eyeball in front of him and it got better as Kudikaran then tracked inward to join them.

Better Never End got a beautiful tow and was going easily through the halfway mark of the 1160m contest.

Bo said, “The moment Muzi took him to the outside rail and he started running on I knew it was race over.”

Gimme A Vodka and Kudikaran were spent forces and while The Bronx Bull rallied he clearly did not have as much in the tank as Better Never End, who surged forward to win by a comfortable 0,90 lengths.

Bo will now give him a deserved rest and then aim him at the Gr 1 Gold Medallion.

However, he feels he will get better as he goes further and thinks he will get at least a mile.

Better Never Ends is out of four-time-winning Hussonet mare Endearment, whose first four foals were all winners, including five-time winner Phaka Imali (Var), five-time-winner Acacia’s Blossom (Flower Alley) and three-time-winner Agrado (Global View).

Bo landed him at the August National Two-Year-Old Sale for R360,000 on behalf of owner Dladla Family Trust (Nom: Mr Q J Manoko).

Bo said he always placed importance in the eye of the horse and he said at the Sale Better Never End’s eye was full of intelligence.

The Dladla Family Trust also own the promising Alson Ndzilana-trained Nightshine (Rafeef), who has finished second in both of his starts to date.

Bo has had an interesting working career, first managing his father’s business then working as a fireman and as he was a qualified mechanical engineer he worked in various positions in that field “just to check it out.”

However, his love lay with horses and he had held a chairmanship in the sport of rural horseracing before deciding to join the professional circuit.

He started with Tony Rivalland on March 1, 2015 and after four years with him joined a couple of other yards to gain further experience. He worked for  Nathan Kotzen for a year and then worked for Peter Muscutt for a year, before returning to Rivalland for one final year.

He then felt confident enough to start out on his own and has sure done a fine job with such limited numbers.

He has had eleven wins and 33 places and that includes getting now fewer than six wins out of the Elusive Fort gelding Eventidor, who is still competitive at the age of seven.

He hopes the Gr 2 win will help him expand to 20 to 25 horses and what is particularly exciting at present is there could soon be a father/son trainer/jockey partnership in KZN.

RACE 1

Preview: TRACKSUIT DAVE (1) is improving quickly and should win. MASTEROFTHEBAROQUE (3) is lightly raced, can improve and has place claims. BEACH WALKER (2) can place and ROCK MY BOAT (4) could get involved. (Warren Lenferna 1-3-2-4)

RACE 2

Preview: An interesting line up! FORRIES FAVOURITE (1) improved a touch at the second time of asking and with more to come possibly on the cards, has each way claims. PROPHECIES (3) more than likely can serve up more and should go close. HIGHWAY HEIRESS (2) and REGAL QUEEN (4) can do better – place chances. (Warren Lenferna 1-3-2-4)

RACE 3

Preview: GREAT RIFT VALLEY (3) ran a cracker on debut and should now be tough to beat. HIGHWAY CODE (5) ran well on debut but never second time out – expect better. PARACHUTE ADAMS (6) should be in the first three and THE NAME OF DLADLA (7) is a must for the quartet. (Warren Lenferna 3-5-6-7)

RACE 4

Preview: MISS RIVER DANCER (5) has shown potential in both runs to date and has serious each way claims – bright win. TAKEACHANCEONME (6) surely has any amount of improvement to come and can go very close – big danger and possible value. MIRACULOUS MOMENT (4) is a massive runner and an inclusion in all bets – serious threat. NICOLSON LANDING (1) should be in the shake – up. (Warren Lenferna 5-6-4-1)

RACE 5

Preview: MONEY HEIST (2) is taking time to win again but is running well and looks ready for a winning run. CHESTNUT BOMBER (9) is another taking time for the next win but is seldom far off the action and should make his presence felt. ARISTOTLE (1) won well last time and is probably the one they all have to fear the most – big chance and THE AFRICA HOUSE (7) popped up to place at long odds last time – value for the places. (Warren Lenferna 2-9-1-7)

RACE 6

Preview: WAYNE (5) has solid form, nearly won last time – winning chance. Stable companion HAWKBILL (2) won well last time and has every chance of following up. DANCE KING (6) has a bright place chance and THE PLAYBOY BOMBER (7) should be in the first four – quartet non-negotiable! (Warren Lenferna 5-2-6-7)

RACE 7

Preview: DECEPTION PASS (7) went close under the in-form rider last time and they can go one better now. ARIOVISTUS (2) ran well last time and is the exacta and swinger suggestion. Plenty more can be expected from him – second run on the Highveld. KUDZU (3) and CARNELO (8) can never be dismissed – respect and include. (Warren Lenferna 7-2-3-8)

RACE 8

Preview: RINGA RINGA ROSES (2) has solid form and clearly has some ability. She has strong winning claims. STREISAND (1) showed guts and determination when winning last time and can go back-to-back. The two ladies, LADY ELLIOT (7) and LADY SABRINA (3) should make their presence felt. (Warren Lenferna 2-1-7-3)

RACE 9

Preview: DRIVELIKEAMASTER (4) keeps running second but is keeping it together well and would be deserving of the second victory. FATHER CHRISTMAS (5) is consistent and has strong each way claims. COPPER CLIFF (6) is one for the shortlist and GREENLIGHT RACER (7) is on a winning spree and there is no reason why he can’t do it again despite the layoff. (Warren Lenferna 4-5-6-7)

Soccer10 Friday 10 April 2026. ADD – INN R200 000. Estimated Pool: R 2 Million. Pool Closes at 19h00. Sport 7 and Pool 1.

Score10 Friday 10 April 2026. ADD-IN R10 000. Pool Closes at 21h00. Sport 9 and Pool 1.

Soccer4 Saturday 11 April 2026. ADD – INN R25 000. Estimated Pool: R 100 000. Pool Closes at 13h30. Sport 19 Pool 1.

Soccer10 Saturday 11 April 2026. ADD- INN R200 000. Estimated Pool: R 2 Million. Pool Closes at 15h00. Sport 16 and Pool 1.

Soccer CORNERS Saturday 11 April 2026. Carryover R 6 851. Pool Closes at 15h30. Sport 74

Soccer SCORES Saturday 11 April 2026. Carryover R 2 524. Pool Closes at 15h00. Sport 73

Soccer Any 13Xtra Saturday 11 April 2026. Carryover R100 000. Estimated Pool: R400 000. Pool Closes at 13h30. Sport 13 and Pool 1.

 Score6 Saturday 11 April 2026. ADD-IN R5 000. Pool Closes at 16h00. Sport 6 and Pool 1.

Soccer6 Sunday 12 April 2026. ADD-INN R75 000. Estimated Pool: R 500 000. Pool Closes at 15h00. Sport 4 Pool 1

Soccer10 Sunday 12 April 2026. ADD- INN R200 000. Estimated Pool: R 2 Million. Pool Closes at 15h00. Sport 8 and Pool 1.

Please Note: South African Quartet Pools with fractional betting offered at Kempton and Nottingham (UK) – 8 April 2026