RACE 1

1 TWO TIGERS   4 BANGKOK MAGIC   5 FREE ROAMING   2 SCOTCH AGAIN

Preview: TWO TIGERS (1) made marked improvement last time out and has the best of the draw. BANGKOK MAGIC (4) found some market support on debut over course and distance and is likely to make good improvement. FREE ROAMING (5) could to be the pick of the Kannemeyer runners although the Hollywood retained rider Gavin Lerena is aboard the debutante SCOTCH AGAIN (2). Free Roaming was a distant fourth over course and distance last time out but can do better with the experience. BRIGITTE ANNE (7) takes on males but is the most experience horse in the field and does have ability. (Andrew Harrison: 1-4-5-7).

RACE 2

2 BOURBON’S BEAST   3 QUANDURA   1 ROYAL SCEPTRE   9 CAPTAIN T

Preview: Tricky. BOURBON’S BEAST (2) has been disappointing at his last two but the switch to poly and blinkers could bring out the best. QUANDURA (3)  has made steady improvement and although taking on males she only has 50kg to shoulder. ROYAL SCEPTRE (1) has been up against strong maiden fields. He takes on older horses but is one to watch. CAPTAIN T (9) has been making steady improvement. He has done well on the poly and the step up in trip may suit. (Andrew Harrison: 2-3-1-9).

RACE 3

7 DE VLUGGE   4 ONE SMART COOKIE   3 FORWARD MOTION   5 PERILLIA

Preview: Competitive handicap. DE VLUGGE (7) is unbeaten on the poly at her last three and is holding form well. She meets slightly stronger here but has a handy galloping weight and can go in again. ONE SMART COOKIE (4) is seldom too far back and the blinkers are back on. FORWARD MOTION (3) does seem better than her last run in the soft. She had smart form before that and at best will go close. PERILLIA (5) is always dangerous and was a close-up second on the poly last time out. (Andrew Harrison: 7-4-3-5).

RACE 4

4 NAVIGATION   10 BENNY AND PAUL   11 COAST OF THE SUN   2 IMPRESSIVE

Preview: NAVIGATION (4) made a promising debut and the step up in trip will suit. BENNY AND PAUL (10) has drawn wide and returns from a short break but made a promising Hollywoodbets Kenilworth debut and should improve. COAST OF THE SUN (11) has also drawn wide but was very green on debut and can make the required improvement. IMPRESSIVE (2) has run two smart races over the distance. She has the best of the draw and can feature. (Andrew Harrison: 4-10-11-2).

RACE 5

11 AHEAD OF THE FACTS   2 CURIOUS GIRL   9 CONTINENTAL EXPRESS   10 DOUGLAS DRAGON

Preview: AHEAD OF THE FACTS (11) was just in need of his last run in the WSB 1900. He gives plenty of weight to all of his rivals but he stays well and should go a good run for your money. CURIOUS GIRL (2) is unbeaten since going over ground and put the colts to bed in the SA Derby. She gets 8.5kg from Ahead Of The Facts and as a Hollywoodbets Durban July entry on can expect another forward effort. CONTINENTALEXPRESS (9) is back over his preferred trip with a light weight. DOUGLAS DRAGON (10) has his first run for Vaughan Marshall and has some useful Highveld staying form. (Andrew Harrison: 11-2-9-10).

RACE 6

5 WISH LIST   7 KEUKENHOF   3 RAINBOW LORIKEET   4 CALLMEGETRIX

Preview: WISH LIST (5) was most impressive when winning the Gr1 WSB Fillies Guineas after winning the Gr1 Cape Derby. She takes on older horses here but does look capable of a fourth straight win. KEUKENHOF (7) was doing her best work late behind Wish List last time out. She is still improving and the extra will suit. RAINBOW LORIKEET (3) was not at her best in the recent Gr1 Empress Club Stakes but has smart Cape form to her credit. She has run well on this course. There should not be much between CALLMEGETRIX (4) and MINOGUE (6) who met last time out. Minogue is 1kg worse off at the weights for a length beating for the form should be franked. (Andrew Harrison: 5-7-3-4).

RACE 7

11 STAR MAJOR   6 NOTE TO SELF   7 JAN VAN GOYEN   4 MALMESBURY MISSILE

Preview: STAR MAJOR (11) came from last to first to win the Gr2 WSB Guineas beating the smart Tin Pan Alley. He does stay the trip and a wide draw should not be a factor. NOTE TO SELF (6) looks to be the pick of the Justin Snaith trio. He ran an excellent race behind older stable companion and more than useful Okavango last time out and he has not been out of the money in seven starts. JAN VAN GOYEN (7) is a double Gr1 winner and does look to be peaking at the right time. MALMESBURY MISSILE (4) has done well on this course. He goes this trip of the first time and is one to watch. HAZY DAZY (3) has shunned the Woolavington to take on the males. She has exceptional form against her own sex and it will be interesting to see how she goes here. (Andrew Harrison: 11-6-7-4).

RACE 8

7 CAPTAIN’S PRIDE   5 WHATASTAR   2 MYSTIC DANCER   9 CELESTIAL DANCER

Preview:  CAPTAIN’S PRIDE (7)  has gone close on the poly in stronger company although carrying a light weight. She is in good form and should feature. WHATASTAR (5) has been much improved on the poly  and her last win was over course and distance. She takes on stronger with a rating increase but can go in again. MYSTIC DANCER (2) is back on her favourite surface and shows steady form. She should be at her peak now after returning from a break. CELESTIAL DIAMOND (9) needed her last run badly after a lengthy break. She has the widest draw and makes her poly debut but she does look useful. (Andrew Harrison: 7-5-2-9).

RACE 9

11 DEFINITELY YES   6 IRELAND FOREVER   3 LITTLE BOY BLUE   2 GALLIC VICTOR

Summary: Wide open.  DEFINITELY YES (11) has the widest draw but won well from a wide draw last time out. He takes on stronger but is in good form. IRELAND FOREVER (6) may just have needed his last outing but was not far back. He makes his poly debut but looks to be on the up. LITTLE BOY BLUE (3) gets a first time tongue-tie and he has been consistent of late. GALLIC VICTOR (2) has run well on the poly. He gets first time blinkers and drops back to a sprint. GRAND APPEAL (8) was touched off last run but is back to a shorter sprint. He does however, have consistent form and a repeat of his last run should see him in the firing line. (Andrew Harrison: 11-6-3-2).

Andrew Harrison

The Gr1 Daily News 2000 is one of the defining races when it comes to three-year-old honours and also a gateway into the Gr1 R10 million Hollywoodbets Durban July. The race heads the card at Hollywoodbets Greyville today along with the Gr2 Lucky Fish Woolavington and the Lonsdale Stirrup Cup. Punters should note that races 4 to 7 are on the turf, the balance will be run on the poly track.

 If one follows the handicap ratings then we are in for a tight finish with many of the runners rated within a pound or two of each other.

 The James Crawford-trained Star Major has been in then out like most of his opposition however he put up a commanding performance in the Gr2 WSB Guineas at his last start. Visiting French jockey Mickaella Michel retains the ride and held her nerve in the Guineas as Star Major came from a long way last to beat the smart Tin Pan Alley. He does stay the trip and a wide draw should not be a factor given his style of racing and tomorrow he may well stamp himself as the best of his generation.

However, the Justin Snaith-trained Note To Self looks to be the pick of a smart Snaith trio and likely bookmakers choice as favourite. He ran an excellent race behind older stable companion and more than useful Okavango last time out and he has not been out of the money in seven starts. He gets the services of the super confident Andrew Fortune and could be a worthy favourite.

Mathew de Kock celebrated his Gr1 success in partnership with his father Mike with Haute Couture last Saturday and they will be pinning their hopes on Jan Van Goyen.  A double Gr1 winner, he does look to be peaking at the right time and if he stays the trip he is a big runner.

Out to spoil the party will be Snaith’s possible third string, Malmesbury Missile. He is well exposed but has done well on this course. He goes this trip of the first time and is one to watch. Corne Spies has shunned the Gr2 Woolavington with the filly Hazy Dazy  to take on the males. She fell at the last hurdle of the Triple Tiara, behind Littlemissmillion but has exceptional form against her own sex and it will be interesting to see how she fares.

Viva’s Liberte has been coming along the right way for Candice Bass and was a close-up second last time out. If Craig Zacey can get him to settle early he could upstage the more fancied runners.

Wish List is likely to be in short order for the Gr2 Lucky Fish Woolavington 2000 although she does take on older runners. Snaith’s three-year-old filly was most impressive when winning the Gr1 WSB Fillies Guineas at Hollywoodbets Greyville after winning the Gr1 Cape Derby against males at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth. She is bidding for a fourth straight win and looks to have the class to pull it off.

Biggest threat could come from fellow three-year-old Keukenhof. Dean Kannemeyery’s filly was doing her best work late behind Wish List in the Guineas. She is still improving and the extra will suit. The older brigade consists of Rainbow Lorikeet who was not at her best in the recent Gr1 Empress Club Stakes but has smart Cape form to her credit. She won over course last season when rounding off in the Gr2 Gold Bracelet which is to her benefit and although she has not won since, barring the Empress Club, she has been in the money in all four of her other starts.

There should not be much between Highveld raiders Callmegetrix and Minogue who met last time out. Minogue is 1kg worse off at the weights for a length beating so that form should hold up.

Snaith could well be in line for a feature-race treble as he saddles Ahead Of The Facts in the Lonsdale Stirrup Cup (Listed) over 2400m. Ahead Of The Facts was just in need of his last run in the Gr3 WSB 1900 and although he gives plenty of weight to all of his rivals he stays well and should give a good run for your money although he does face a rising star in the filly Curious Girl.

Mike and Mathew de Kock’s charge  is unbeaten since going over ground and put the colts to bed in the Gr1 SA Derby. She gets 8.5kg from Ahead Of The Facts which is a lot of pudding but as a Hollywoodbets Durban July entry one can expect another forward effort.

Of the balance, Continentalexpress is back over his preferred trip with a light weight while Douglas Dragon  has his first run for Vaughan Marshall and has some useful Highveld staying form to back his claims although he is well down in the pecking order according to handicap ratings.

Please note: South African Quartet Pools with fractional betting offered at Carlisle(UK) and Down Royal(IRE) – 29 May 2026.

David Thiselton

Viva’s Liberte won his first two career starts and has never been out of the frame in seven career starts (Picture: Wayne Marks)

Viva’s Liberte seemed to settle a touch better than usual in the Gr 3 Legal Eagle Stakes over 1800m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on May 3 and stayed on well for a 0,30 length second to La Pulga.

He was then brought to Summerveld and has just been kept ticking over in preparation for the Gr 1 Daily News 2000 on Saturday.

Trainer Candice Bass said about his apparent tendency to take a strong hold, “Craig (Zackey) seems to find that he gets a little bit strong. I don’t know because he’s never strong at home. I just think he’s got a very big action more than the fact that he’s strong.”

She said there were no specific tactics from draw five out of eleven and  added, “He will be placed where he is comfortable, where he is not pulling, and hopefully there’s a little bit of pace.”

She concluded, “He’s doing well and he will definitely get the trip, no doubt about that.”

The Lammerskraal Stud-bred and Khaya Stables-owned Vercingetorix gelding is out of Jet Master mare Viva Maria, who led from pillar to post when winning the Gr 1 Woolavington 2000 back in 2012.

Khaya Stables won the Daily News 2000 two years ago with the Dean Kannemeyer-trained Green With Envy.

Back in 2013 their Kannemeyer-trained charge Capetown Noir was beaten a long-head into third and ironically the winner of that race was Viva Liberte’s sire Vercingetorix.

So being by a Daily News winner out of a Woolavington winner, Viva’s Liberte has the perfect pedigree for Saturday’s race.

Khaya Stables are the Hollywoodbets Durban July trophy holders with  the Kannemeyer-trained The Real Prince having scored last year.

They will want to have a double hand this year and Viva’s Liberte will need a big run here to force his way into the final field.

The 114-rated horse is on the outside looking in horses on the first July log.

He will be going all out, whereas some of the runners will just be looking for nice preparation runs unto the July.

Viva’s Liberte has plenty of class and might well take to the Hollywoodbets Greyville circuit, like his mother and father did.

Bass has two runners in the Gr 2 Lucky Fish Woolavington 2000, Rainbow Lorikeet and Beach Verse.

The former will be going for the Gr 1 Ridgemont Garden Province Stakes on July day, so is not among those horses who will be wanting to protect their merit ratings.

She ran well below par in the Gr 1 Empress Club Stakes last time at Turffontein and Candice said, “That wasn’t her run. She’s doing well, I just hope she’s not short of a run having to go over 2000m.”

She said about Beach Verse, “She was very green at Greyville first time out, she was pulling at the back of the field and I think she will run a much better race this time around.”

Please Note: Hollywoodbets Greyville Net Pick6 Carryover: R 500 000. Estimated Pool: R 3 Million. Saturday, 30 May 2026 Race 4 off at 14h55.

PLEASE NOTE!

Soccer 10: 1UU V3 – 28 MAY 2026
Match 3(M3): FK DECIC vs MORNAR  Displayed Incorrectly on Website .

Soccer 6: 6GG V2 P1 – 28 MAY 2026
Match 3(M3): TALA’EA EL GAISH vs WADI GEGLA FC . Match Kick off Early .
Match 4(M4): ISMAILY SC vs PHARCO FC. Match Kick off Early.

Soccer 6: 6HH V3 P1 – 29 MAY 2026
Match 1(M1): Al MOKAWLOON vs MODERN SPORT FC . Kick off changed to 16:00.

All results (the field) will qualify for the above match.
In terms of TOTE rules, all choices (the field) will apply in determining results and payouts.

Please Note:The Eliteserien match between Lillestrom and Viking FK (Match 4) that was originally scheduled for 30th May 2026, has been postponed.

All results (the FIELD) will qualify for the above match.

In terms of Race Coast rules, all choices (the field) will apply in determining results and payouts.

Soccer10 Friday 29 May 2026. ADD-IN R250 000. Estimated Pool: R2 Million. Pool Closes at 19h00. Sport 17 and Pool 1.

Soccer10 Saturday 30 May 2026. ADD-IN R250 000. Estimated Pool: R2 Million. Pool Closes at 18h00. Sport 7 and Pool 1.

Soccer13 GUARANTEED JACKPOT Saturday 30 May 2026. R17.5 Million (If only One 13 of 13 Winner). Pool Closes at 15h30. Sport 10 Pool 1.

Soccer Any 13Xtra Saturday 30 May 2026. Carryover R100 000. Estimated Pool: R250 000. Pool Closes at 15h00. Sport 13 and Pool 1.

David Thiselton

Star Major is the second favourite for the Gr 1 Daily News 2000 and this progressive Querari colt has been in fine fettle at Randjesfontein after his superb win in the Gr 2 WSB Guineas.

Tim Woodruff is the Randjesfontein assistant to trainer James Crawford and he said about the Maine Chance Farms-bred bay, who is owned by passionate Durban-born owner, Ravi Naidoo, together with Neville Isdell, Mr J I Bloch and Mrs Prakashni Pillay.

Tim said, “He is all good, we have just tried to freshen him up because it is a quick turnaround between races, but he is doing good. You do get your things between races you sometimes have to deal with, but I do think he will be alright for the Daily News.”

Star Major jumped from a wide  draw in the WSB Guineas and was dropped out.

He turned for home in last place with a number of lengths to make up, but then produced a good turn of foot followed by an impressively resolute finish coupled with an eyecatching late gear change that saw him surging to a 0,90 length victory over the hot favourite Tin Pan Alley.

 Of course sectional timing invariably shows that apparent late surges or apparent flying finishes are usually an optical illusion caused by the other horses slowing down at a more rapid rate than the apparently strong-finishing horse. Invariably the surging horse is actually also slowing down.

Indeed the sectional timing of the WSB Guineas shows Star Major’s 100m to finish time to be his slowest sectional of the entire race.

However the fact that he was able to have the fastest 100m to finish time of the whole field, despite having had to make up many lengths to get there, seems to show that he has got some stamina.

He did win the Gr 3 Politician Stakes over 1800m and finished a fair 3,20 length fourth in the Gr 1 Lucky Fish Cape Derby over 2000m, both at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth. In the latter race he ran on despite having been a bit keen in the running.

That would illustrate he has the stamina, but hopefully he will be able to settle better this time.

He settled very well in  the WSB Guineas and due to his wide draw Tim Woodruff said the same tactic of being dropped out will be employed.

He added, “Obviously it’s a short straight so it’s obviously not ideal. But just looking for a good run  and then obviously the July afterwards.”

He gave his opinion on the 2000m distance, “He should get the trip.”

Querari won a Gr 1 over 2000m and Star Major is out of a mare by stamina influence Silvano and this mare not only won over 1900m, but was an own sister to Follow The Star, who won the Listed Glenair Trophy over 2800m.

So on pedigree he will easily stay the trip.

Mickaelle Michel retains the ride and if winning it she will become only the second woman in SA history to win a Gr 1, the only one to date to have won one being Lisa Prestwood on the Buddy Maroun-trained Al Nitak in the Golden Horse Sprint on June 1, 2023, almost exactly 23 years ago.

Mickaelle has been in excellent form and Tim confirmed that if everything went well in the Daily News she would keep the ride for the Hollywoodbets Durban July too.

Tim agreed she had been outriding many of her male weighing room colleagues and added, “She has got the touch.”

It would be somewhat ironic if Mickaelle did win the Daily News with a horse conditioned by assistant trainer Woodruff, because Tim’s mother Carol (nee Millard) was the first woman to have a professional license in SA. She had started riding work for her legendary father Terrance Millard at the age of 12 and from age 14 started riding in and winning many amateur races. She was apprenticed overseas and rode in the tough school of England and Germany in professional races. However, the SA authority of the time refused to allow her to ride in professional races in SA, gross unfairness. To get around the legalities the authority installed a rule that overseas apprentices wee not allowed to ride here. This came back to bite them because years later a top apprentice from Europe came over only for everybody to discover he was not allowed to ride here. Carol was able to ride in Cape Hunt races against professional jockeys, ironically a more dangerous discipline than flat racing, and she was able to ride in Zimbabwe under a “Day” license, which was usually utilised when there were not enough professional riders available. She remembers winning a Cape Hunt race on Hawkins, who had formerly been one of Terrance Millard’s many Gold Cup winners. She also finished second in “The Schweppes” in Zimbabwe.

But back to Star Major, who is still a colt meaning a Daily News win will look very good on his stallion CV.

Tim said, “If you win the Guineas and the Daily News it is just next level.”

Tim said Star Major had a fine chance of realising the dream of Ravi Naidoo and no doubt all the other owners too, a win in the R10 million Hollywoodbets Durban July.

He concluded, “He is ticking all the boxes, He’s a machine.”

David Thiselton

The July build up of 60 years ago was like no other before it and It is fitting that this year’s Hollywoodbets Durban July, carrying a record-breaking stake of R10 million, falls on such an auspicious anniversary date

In the month of May 60 years ago the great Sea Cottage began his July preparation by running in a race often used by Syd Laird as starting point for his best July contender, the Gr 1 Newbury Stakes over 1200m.

Sea Cottage beat another famous horse in the 1966 Newbury renewal, the previous year’s Gr 1 SA Guineas winner William Penn, whose story bears repeating.

Willaim Penn had won six Grade 1s up until being retired to stud in 1969 and was a July runner up by half-a-length in 1968, carrying topweight and giving the winner Chimboraa 24 pounds.

His wins included the 1968 J&B Met with topweight. He was two-one up in meetings between himself and his more celebrated half-brother Hawaii, who went on to become USA’s Champion Grass Horse as well as a successful sire, standing at Claiborne where he produced 25 stakes winners including Epsom Derby winner Henbit. William Penn proved infertile at stud, siring only nine foals, although they included three stakes winners. He was brought out of retirement as a ten-year-old and the first run of his comeback was in the J&B Met of January 1972. He flew up for second, three lengths behind the winner Force Ten to whom he gave 18 pounds. He went on to race successfully until he was eleven, the best performance of his final season being a 0,2 length second to the great In Full Flight in the Grade 1 Champions Stakes over 2000m at Greyville, beating another champion, Mazarin.

Back To Sea Cottage who was back at Greyville a week after the Newbury Stakes to win the Gr 1 SA Guineas by 3,5 lengths, his eleventh career victory in just 12 starts.

Six days later the country woke up to shocking news.

On that bright Friday morning Sea Cottage had been shot while walking under the Blue Lagoon bridge on the way to the Syd Laird ring on the beach.

The story is well documented with the shooter Johnny Nel being apprehended later the same day. The well-known gangster had foolishly used his easily recognisable yellow-coloured convertible to drive to the shelter on the south side of the bridge, which is still the same structure today as it was back then, to perform the dastardly deed.

He was allegedly acting on behalf of bookmaker Sonny Chislett, who had allegedly approached the owner of the Monaco Club, Monty Labuschagne, with the news that if Sea Cottage won the July he would have to close his business and therefore he demanded the debt he was owed by the latter be paid up.

Labuschagne’s alleged response was what would it be worth if they stopped Sea Cottage from winning the July and Chislett’s alleged response was that he would forego the debt.

It was Nel, a bouncer at the Monaco club, who hatched the plan.

If Nel can be forgiven to any extent it was in his later testimony that he had found it difficult to shoot an animal and had deliberately aimed for the soft flesh of the hindquarter in order to not kill him.

Syd Laird was still able to nurture Sea Cottage through the worst of the injury and he had him ready to run in the July three weeks after the shooting.

The big bay unfortunately suffered interference at a crucial stage and ended up running a four length fourth.

It was a bitter-sweet day for Laird because Sea Cottage’s six-year-old stablemate Java Head won the race.

However, the following year saw the July’s most celebrated renewal.

The 1967 SA Guineas winner Jollify, who was receiving 27 pounds from Sea Cottage, stole a march at the top of the straight under a fine ride by John Gorton.

Sea Cottage had a lot of ground to make up, but began eating up the ground.

He had to get around King Willow, who was going straight, before the natural instinct of shifting towards the leader, was able to happen.

A flying Sea Cottage with his enormous stride bore down on the three-year-old, despite the latter showing no signs of stopping.

The two Birch Brothers-bred horses flashed past the post together.

But had Sea Cottage got there in time?

Commentator Ernie Duffield thought not and said, “I think Jollify has held on.”

Minutes later the on course crowd let out a roar when the numbers were put up together to declare a dead-heat.

But the rest of the country apparently had to endure an agonising wait for news as the radio commentary ended and they went back to the  studio.

Craig Peters, who has by the way commentated 39 Julys, ten more than Ernie Duffield’s previous record of 29, recalled that day, at which time he was a young boy living with his parents in Mayfair, Johannesburg.

He said, “It was only sometime later on Pat Carr’s Forces Favourites program that we heard it was a dead-heat and I was absolutely elated (especially considering he had shed tears after Sea Cottage’s defeat the previous year). We saw the photo in the Stop Press and about two weeks later we watched the African Mirror footage of the race at the Drive-In. I remember also being at Sea Cottage’s last ever race, the Cutty Sark at Gosforth Park, which attracted a massive crowd. I watched by standing on the bonnet of my father’s car.”

“The immortal” Sea Cottage won twenty of his 24 races and there was still a reminder of him nearby at Hollywoodbets Greyville until recent years.

Syd Laird had always been terrified somebody would “get to” Sea Cottage and had metal plates fitted over the air vents on the road side of his stable.

His old stable served as a vendor stall in recent times at The Stables Lifestyle Market next to the Hollywoodbets KIng’s Park rugby stadium.

His stable was the third one down from the main entrance.

Those rusty metal plates were still in place across the air vents on the roadside of the stall until the closure of the market in March 2020.

Sadly, the building soon became completely dilapidated and an intriguing piece of Durban history went down with it.