Andrew Harrison

Derby’s and Oaks are traditionally restricted to three-year-old colts (and geldings in this country) and fillies respectively. With a dearth of horses in this age group that are bred to stay or do stay, fields for these restricted races melted down to a point that Graded status was reduced and eventually opened to all ages.

Strictly speaking, today’s Tote Derby and Tote Oaks at Hollywoodbets Scottsville are misnomers but still retain Gr3 status and have attracted competitive fields that have traditionalist grinding their teeth, still add up to competitive racing.

Given all the withdrawals from the Hollywoodbets Durban July last Monday, Future Swing has made it into 18^thplace on the official July log and will be hoping to cement his place in the line-up with a win in the Gr3 Tote Bets Derby at Hollywoodbets Scottsville today.

Justin Snaith gelding was a close-up second to the lightly weighted Field Marshal in the Lonsdale Stirrup Cup last time out and is now 5.5kg better off at the weights so should be able to turn the tables. 

However, Glen Kotzen’s runner Holding Thumbs has stood his ground for a July berth and is currently on the periphery. A win come Saturday could see him leap-frog Future Swing into 18^th place on the log so there is still a lot to play for.

Holding Thumbs is 2.5kg better off with Future Swing on their Field Marshal encounter and stays the distance well so looks the part. 

Cape Eagle has been a soldier for the Andre Nel yard and goes well over course and distance. He had no luck in running in the WSB 1900 but is seldom out of the money and this race is right up his alley. Field Marshal looks well held at the weights considering his Lonsdale Stirrup Cup performance but is an improving three-year-old and Frank Robinson’s charge can still give a lot of cheek.

In the Tote Oaks, Candice Dawson’s filly My Soul Mate stays well and was runner-up in a strong Tote Woolavington 2000 field and will be a big runner. However, Sean Tarry, who boast a phenomenal feature race record at this course, saddles World Of Alice who was narrowly beaten in the Gr2 SA Oaks by star filly Fiery Pegasus. She was a little disappointing last time out but rates a strong chance in this line-up. Dean Kannemeyer steps out Give Me Everything who goes  this trip for the first time. She looks held by My Soul Mate on their last meeting but can turn the table as she steps up in trip. One can never discount a Justin Snaith entry and Knockout has not been far back at recent outings. She steps up in trip and cannot safely be left out of any exotic bet calculations.

In the first race on the eight race programme Celestial Diamond was friendless in the market on debut but finished close-up in spite of racing green over course and distance. Duncan Howells is always patient with his two-year-olds but his one looks primed. Tulip Fields found good market support when making her debut over 1400m on the poly for Kannemeyer. She raced green and although down in trip and on the turf she has a strong chance. Water Hyacinth found market support last time out and was not far back. She can feature but a weather eye on the market could pay dividends.

Mike and Mathew de Kock, successful with Dave The King last Saturday, saddle Gotta Go Eddie in the second. The gelding has shown up well in both starts and was a fair second over course and distance on debut. Boardwalk Breez has not been far back in two starts for Paul Lafferty and should be all the better for the experience and Yeni stays with the ride. French War Lord raced green in a promising debut and is sure to improve on that effort.  

It should pay to keep an eye on the first timers in the opening leg of the Pick 6 but of those that have run, That’ll B The Day was narrowly beaten on this course at just his second outing and will be the horse to beat.

Light The Fire was green in a promising debut and should come on with the outing while the regally-bred Gimme Rules makes his debut and is a full brother to Gr1 performers. His performance will be watched with more than just passing interest. Next Of Kin comes from a top stable and will also be worth watching in the betting. 

Star In Motion steps up in trip for Kannemeyer in the fourth but has been narrowly beaten at his last two on the poly. The extra should suit so he can go one better. World Of Royalty has put in two smart efforts over shorter in soft ground and was a beaten favourite last time out. This trip will suit and he should put in a big showing. Captainship started at long odds when going the trip for the first time from the widest draw at Hollywoodbets Greyville. He has Richard Fourie in the irons to help his chances. The Michael Roberts-trained Vencedor has come good of late and stays the trip well. He is another to consider. 

In the fifth, Blue Holly is back over what looks to be her preferred trip.  This is her third run in KZN and should be at her peak. Mia’s Athena was well regarded by her stable early in her career but has had her problems. This is her third run back after a lengthy break and she was close-up last start and has a light weight. She can give apprentice Savanna Valjalo her first winner. Convocation was possibly out-classed in the SA Fillies Sprint last time out after showing good form to weaker prior to that. She may prefer it a touch further while Vision To Achieve has been in mustard form over course and distance. She has a handy weight and can go in again. 

The last is a competitive handicap but Rosh Kedesh is down in class and has shown up well in two KZN starts. He should be primed for this. Honor The King was not far back when starting favourite last run and the extra furlong will suit but he faces Serpentine Fire on 1.5kg worse terms for a length beating. There should be very little in it this time around with Serpentine Fire having the better draw which could swing it in his favour. 

RACE 1

4 CELESTIAL DIAMOND   13 TULIP FIELDS   6 DANCEWITHDIAMONDS   2 WATER HYACINTH

Summary: CELESTIAL DIAMOND (4) was friendless in the market on debut but finished close-up in spite of racing green over course and distance. TULIP FIELDS (13) found good market support when making her debut over 1400m on the poly. She raced green and although down in trip and on the turf she has a strong chance. DANCEWITHDIAMONDS (6) comes from a very much in form stable and one to watch in the betting. WATER HYACINTH (2) found market support last time out and was not far back. She can feature. (Andrew Harrison: 4-13-6-2).

RACE 2

10 GOTTA GO EDDIE   3 BOARDWALK BREEZE   11 FRENCH WAR LORD   6 THE CENTURION

Summary:  GOTTA GO EDDIE (10) has shown up well in both starts and was a fair second over course and distance on debut. BOARDWALK BREEZE (3) has not been far back in two starts to date. He should be all the better for the experience and Yeni stays with the ride. FRENCH WAR LORD (11) raced green in a promising debut and is sure to improve on that effort.  THE CENTURION (6) was not far back in his Hollywoodbets Kenilworth debut in soft ground. He started at longs odds but may be worth watching here. (Andrew Harrison: 10-3-11-6).

RACE 3

2 THAT’LL BE THE DAY   6 LIGHT THE FIRE   12 GIMME RULES   11 NEXT OF KIN

Summary: Keep an eye on the first timers. THAT’LL B THE DAY (2) was narrowly beaten on this course at just his second outing. That experience will count in his favour.  LIGHT THE FIRE (6) was green in a promising debut and should come on with the outing. The regally-bred GIMME RULES (12) makes his debut and is a full brother to Gr1 performers. NEXT OF KIN (11) comes from a top stable and will be worth watching in the betting. (Andrew Harrison: 2-6-12-11).

RACE 4

1 STAR IN MOTION   3 WORLD OF ROYALTY   4 CAPTAINSHIP   7 VENCEDOR

Summary: STAR IN MOTION (1) steps up in trip but has been narrowly beaten at his last two on the poly. The extra should suit and he can go one better. WORLD OF ROYALTY (3) has put in two smart efforts over shorter in soft ground and was a beaten favourite last time out. The trip will suit and he should pout in a big showing. CAPTAINSHIP (4) started at long odds when going the trip for the first time from the widest draw at Hollywoodbets Greyville. He has Richard Fourie in the irons. VENCEDOR (7) has come good of late and stays the trip well. He is another to consider. (Andrew Harrison: 1-3-4-7).

RACE 5

5 BLUE HOLLY   3 MIA’S ATHENA   6 VISION TO ACHIEVE   4 CONVOCATION

Summary: Open. BLUE HOLLY (5) is back over what looks to be her preferred trip.  This is her third run in KZN and should be at her peak. MIA’S ATHENA (3) has had her problems but has her third run back after a lengthy break. She was close-up last start has a light weight. She can give apprentice Savanna Valjalo her first winner. CONVOCATION (4) was possibly out-classed in the SA Fillies Sprint last time out after showing good form to weaker prior to that. She may prefer it a touch further. VISION TO ACHIEVE (6) has been in mustard form over course and distance. She has a handy weight and can go in again. (Andrew Harrison: 5-3-6-4).

RACE 6

6 MY SOUL MATE   9 WORLD OF ALICE   3 GIVE ME EVERYTHING   4 KNOCKOUT

Summary: MY SOUL MATE (6) stays well and was runner-up in a strong Woolavington 2000 field. She will be a big runner. WORLD OF ALICE (9) was narrowly beaten in the Gr2 SA Oaks by star filly Fiery Pegasus. She was a little disappointing last time out but rates a strong chance ion this line-up. GIVE ME EVERYTHING (3) steps up to this trip for the first time. She looks held by My Soul Mate on their last meeting but can do better than that. KNOCKOUT (4) has not been far back at recent outings. She steps up in trip and cannot be left out of any calculations. (Andrew Harrison: 6-9-3-4).

RACE 7

6 HOLDING THUMBS   8 FUTURE SWING   2 CAPE EAGLE   5 FIELD MARSHAL

Summary: FUTURE SWING (8) was a close-up second to the lightly weighted FIELD MARSHAL (5) last time out. He is 5.5kg better off at the weights so should be able to turn the tables. HOLDING THUMBS (6) is 2.5kg better off with Future Swing on their Field Marshall encounter. He stays the distance well and looks the part. CAPE EAGLE (2) goes well over course and distance and had no luck in running in the WSB 1900. He is seldom out of the money. Field Marshal looks well held at the weights but is an improving three-year-old and can still give a lot of cheek. (Andrew Harrison: 6-8-2-5).

RACE 8

2 ROSH KEDESH   1 SERPENTINE FIRE   10 HONOR OF KINGS   13 RED MOUNTAIN

Summary: Competitive handicap. ROSH KEDESH (2) is down in class and has shown up well in two KZN starts. He should be primed for this. HONOR OF KINGS (10) was not far back when starting favourite last run. The extra furlong will suit and he can make amends. SERPINTINE FIRE (1) is 1.5kg better off with Honor Of Kings for a length beating. There should be very little in it this time around with Serpentine Fire having the better draw this time around. RED MOUNTIAN (13) is never far back and although drawn wide he has a 4kg claimer aboard and the blinkers are back on. (Andrew Harrison: 2-1-10-13).

Soccer10 Add-In: R100 000 on Saturday 14 June 2025. Pool Closes at 22h30, Sport 8 and Pool 1. Estimated Pool: R1.4 Million.

Soccer13 Net C/Over: R4 067 862 on Saturday, 14 June 2025 – Pool Closes at 15h30, Sport 10 Pool 1 – All 13 Correct Jackpot Pool: R9 Million (if only One 13 of 13 Winner)

Soccer Any 13Xtra Add-In: R50 000 on Saturday 14 June 2025. Pool Closes at 15h00. Sport 13 and Pool 1. Estimated Pool: R175 000.

Soccer13 Net C/Over: R1 194 316 on Sunday, 15 June 2025 – Pool Closes at 14h30, Sport 11 Pool 1 – All 13 Correct Jackpot Pool: R3.7 Million (if only One 13 of 13 Winner)

David Thiselton

Twice South African champion jockey and New Zealand reigning champion jockey Warren Kennedy is arriving in South Africa this weekend three weeks before the Hollywoodbets Durban July and is seeking a ride in the big race.

He has apparently received offers already and will be choosing his best option.

Kennedy has never won the July before but regards his third place finish on the notoriously difficult Mike de Kock-trained 100/1 shot Forest Path in the 2009 July as one of his career best rides.

His first ride in the July was in 2004 on the unplaced 100/1 shot Cousin John.

His best finish other than his third place in 2009 was fourth on the Glen Kotzen-trained Eyes Wide Open in 2019.

Kennedy was SA champion jockey in the 2019/2020 season and the 2021/2022 season with 209 and 263 wins respectively.

Winning a championship in your home country is one thing, but to do it in a foreign country in your first full season there is an extraordinary feat and that is what Warren managed in New Zealand in a gruelling but memorable 2023/2024 season, in which he had 140 wins in 849 rides for a strike rate of one every 6.06 rides or in South Africa terminology 16.9%.

His season included a memorable seven-timer, which is a New Zealand record. 

Kennedy relocated to New Zealand in October 2022 and his seven-timer happened in a major ten-race meeting at Pukekohe on New Year’s Day 2024. It beat the previous single day record of six by Lance O’Sullivan, who was the co-trainer of three of Kennedy’s winning rides. Kennedy, who was booked on nine horses, partnered four of the first five winners of the day, which included two Gr 2 successes and he completed a hat-trick in races six, seven and eight, including the first Gr 1 race of 2024, the Railway Stakes aboard Waitak.

Kennedy was involved in an intense tussle for the title last season with the reigning champion Michael McNab. An untimely injury to the latter saw Warren ultimately pulling clear to win by 16.

The New Zealand press were high in their praise.

“To move to New Zealand as a total unknown here and win the premiership inside two years defies belief and McNab can take comfort he has conceded his title to a horseman of rare talent and drive,” wrote journalist Michael Guerin in the New Zealand Herald. “He (Kennedy) has been equal parts magnificent in the saddle, professional out of it and robotic in his determination to add the New Zealand jockey’s title to the two premierships he won in his native South Africa.”

Other records Warren set besides the seven in a day was becoming the first jockey to ever surpass NZ$5 million in stakes earnings in one New Zealand season and he might well have been the first foreign rider to win the title.

He said chasing the premiership had actually required more travel and had been just as taxing on him as it had been in South Africa.

He said towards the end of last season, “In SA you just fly into the major centres and you’re just about on course. But In New Zealand to get to some courses requires a two hour flight and a three hour drive. There are some pretty remote race courses and it’s quite a mission to get there, so it’s been very, very busy, really a lot of travelling.

Warren’s focus changed this season as his wife Barbara, former Summerveld assistant trainer to Dean Kannemeyer, took out her training license last season and he helps out as much as he can at the yard in addition to his other riding commitments.

This season Barbara has had ten wins in just 71 outings, a fine strike rate of 14.08%. She looks set to win more support at that rate.

Warren is likely to ride in meetings out here before the July, although he did not speak of that chance.