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

David Thiselton

See It Again proved himself the best middle distance horse in the land on Saturday at Turffontein Standside when adding the Gr 1 HKJC World Pool Premier’s Champions Challenge to his Gr 1 WSB Met victory.

Justin Snaith, who was holidaying in Mauritius, was elated on Saturday night on the island as he also won the Gr 1 TAB Empress Club Stakes with the best older female in the land, Double Grand Slam.

Snaith said, “See It Again was always travelling like the winner, he never really looked in danger and didn’t give us any anxious moments as he was perfectly handled by Craig Zackey. He cruised into the race with plenty in hand and, when asked, asserted himself decisively over his stablemate Okavango.

This victory is the culmination of three months of meticulous planning, and finally conquering the altitude is incredibly satisfying. It’s been a long-standing challenge for us, one we’ve worked at through years of trial and error, so to see it all come together like this is immensely rewarding.

Thanks to 4Racing and in particular, Joe Soma for being so accommodating.”

The Snaith participants on the day stayed at Joe Soma’s yard upon arriving at Turffontein on Friday morning after traveling up from their Summerveld base.

Snaith continued, “I watched the race with my brother and family in Mauritius, and it was a moment of real pride and joy. More than anything, it’s a testament to the team behind the horse. Nick Jonsson’s support has been unwavering – his loyalty and passion for the game are second to none, and success like this is thoroughly deserved. He’s not just an owner, but a true friend.

A huge effort from the team on course – Gokhan Terzi and Jenna Le Roux had everything spot on, with valuable support from Frank Robinson, who brought his experience from Summerveld. Andrew Fortune was also instrumental behind the scenes, always willing to lend a hand – even down to feeding the horses when he wasn’t in the saddle. There are many others who played their part – thank you!

And, as always, credit to Drakenstein Stud – phenomenal breeders year in and year out. Their horses are tough, resilient, and full of class.

I hope the punters capitalised on the day!

Both See it Again and Okavango will be aimed at the Hollywoodbets Durban July.”

See It Again’s task was made easier on Saturday by the scratching of the three-year-old pair Grand Empire and Trust, which is somewhat ironic because they were officially 10kg and 9,5kg under sufferance respectively according to their lowly merit ratings of 111 and 110, the ratings they ended up on after a merit rating appeal adjusted them down from the 120 and 119 merit ratings given to them by the professional handicappers after they had finished one-two in the Gr 1 SA Classic. The bookmakers seemed to agree with the professional handicappers as they had Grand Empire and Trust as joint second favourites for the Champions Challenge before their scratchings.

It seems Grand Empire and Trust’s merit ratings will both be protected for the R10 million Hollywoodbets Durban July. See It Again will thus have an ultra tough task in the July. As things stand he will have to give both Grand Empire and Trust, as well as the Gr 2 Wilgerbosdift Gauteng Guineas winner and SA Classic third-placed Splittheeights, 10kg apiece.

Justin Snaith said about Double Grand Slam, “There’s not much more I can ask of Double Grand Slam – she’s the standout filly of her generation and continues to prove it every time she steps onto the track. She’s been an absolute joy to train, and on the strength of today’s sensational performance, she’s far from finished on the racetrack.

Craig Zackey gave her a superb ride. The instructions were simple: sit on her for as long as possible, and he executed it perfectly. He barely moved a muscle, and when he finally asked, she showed an incredible turn of foot, quickening through the gears to win with authority and plenty in hand. She displayed her sheer brilliance.

It’s a privilege to train for owners like Gaynor Rupert, Gary Player and Dave Maclean. They never apply pressure and handle defeat with as much grace as they celebrate success – that’s the mark of true racing people.

A huge thank you to the entire team – Jenna Le Roux, Gokhan Terzi, Frank Robinson, Andrew Fortune, Robbie Miller, and many others behind the scenes. This result is the product of months of planning and collective effort. New Turf Carriers get our horses to their races swiftly and safely.

We were also very well looked after by 4Racing and Joe Soma – their hospitality was outstanding, and we are extremely grateful.

Hopefully punters were able to capitalise on the double, and we appreciate the continued support on the Highveld.

Congratulations to Varsfontein Stud on breeding yet another Gr1 champion.

Looking ahead, Double Grand Slam will target the Gr1 SA Fillies Sprint and the Gr1 Garden Province. There’s unfinished business in the sprint after her luckless run last year, and and we’re eager to set the record straight.”

Snaith was full of praise for groom Sokhe Mwelase, who is known to the yard as “Isaac”.

He said, “Isaac is the trusted handler behind both Double Grand Slam and See It Again. He spends more time with them than anyone else, and his natural feel, patience, and understanding of horses make him truly exceptional at what he does.”

Andrew Harrison

A promising career once headed for the annals of what could have been, has enjoyed a resurrection. See It Again, prematurely consigned to the dustbin of history after repeated refusals to enter the starting stalls, is on track for another crack at the Gr1 Hollywoodbets Durban July, a race that has eluded him in spite of his obvious talent.

Since his relocation to the Western Cape where renown horse behaviorist Malan de Toit and trainer Justin Snaith have got the gelding to refocus and bring out his ability, their efforts were rewarded with victory in the Gr1 WSB Cape Town Met.

With his starting stall issues seemingly behind him, See It Again made the trip up to what was home ground in KZN before raiding Turffontein where he finished a good second in the Gr1 HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes over 1600m behind smart three-year-old Tin Pan Alley who saw his rating jump from 117 to 128 after the race much to the chagrin of Sean Tarry.

That said, See It Again faces another test on his journey into Champions Season in KZN when he lines up in the Gr1 HKJC Premier’s Champion Stakes over the testing Turffontein track on Saturday.

The Turffontein 2000m is not unfamiliar territory, See It Again finishing two lengths off winner Atticus Finch in last season’s Gr1 Betway Summer Cup giving the winner 6kg.

Saturday’s race is WFA which suggests that all being equal, Atticus Finch has it all to do at level weights.

Andrew Fortune rode a masterful race on See It Again to win the Met and he would dearly have loved to be aboard on Saturday but for a heavy fall at Fairview that saw him sidelined with broken ribs and collar bone. Speaking at Summerveld last Saturday he said things were on track for a return to the saddle in three weeks’ time.

Fortune has been replaced by Craig Zackey, an interesting call as Richard Fourie partnered See It Again in the Horse Chestnut and is now booked for stable companion Okavango while Zackey may well have had the choice of Grand Empire and Madison Valley. Okavango was game in a front-running display in the Listed Kings Cup when holding off the more than useful King Pelles at Hollywoodbets Scottsville and as both See It Again and Okavango are owned by Nic Jonsson, Okavango may be the sacrificial lamb with Fourie a master judge of pace.

Grand Empire and Trust fought a desperate duel in the Gr1 HKJC SA Classic, a nose separating the pair. Both go this trip for the first time but current crop of three-year-olds have yet to be solidly tested against top older horses and this race should give some indication of the depth. Both go this trip for the first time and both Tarry and Candice and Tammy Dawson have a knack for preparing their changes for the big days so it will be interesting.

In all, if See It Again puts in his best, he should be difficult to beat with the three-year-olds his most likely challengers.

It is a big day at Turffontein as their summer season draws to a close with a host of feature races on the 12-race card.

Main supporting feature is the Gr1 TAB Computaform Sprint that has attracted a big field of 17 runners where luck in running could play a pivotal role. The two most obvious contenders are Buffalo Storm Cody and last year’s winner, the ever game William Robertson, but they will be challenged by Fairview raider Kingdundee who comes off a four-race winning sequence and victory in the Gr1 Cape Flying Championship where he made a mockery of his 33-1 odds with favourite for the race Buffalo Storm Cody, well beaten, just over two lengths back.

Tony Peter’s charge has since made amends back on the Highveld where he got the better of William Robertson in a Pinnacle Stakes, the two meeting at level weights. Fourie replaces regular rider Gavin Lerena who will partner Clinton Binda’s gelding Ziyasha who goes into the contest of a recent victory. He is a horse who has had his ups-and-downs and although he looks safely held at the weights he could ride to the occasion. Lerena took a crashing fall at The Vaal midweek so his participation is uncertain at time of writing.

Buffalo Storm Cody is super quick and the Flying Championship was the only blemish in a five-race winning streak and goes for his 10^th success in 17 outings.

William Robertson on the other hand was won 17 races from 56 starts and Corne Spies is not shy to saddle up. He has had two further outings since finishing second to Buffalo Storm Cody, winning and then finishing two lengths off Ziyasha in a Pinnacle Stakes, giving the winner 4kg.

Last season’s Computaform victory was a deserved maiden Grade 1 success for William Robertson and if anything, he will strip fit.

Kingdundee is a 1000m specialist and runners from the Eastern Cape can never be ignored. Dean Smith’s runner comes with more than creditable form given his Flying Championship win and although Buffalo Storm Cody may have run below par on the day, form is form.

The SA Derby will be run as a Gr2 for the first time and has attracted a bigger than usual field. It is a highly competitive contest where Mike and Mathew de Kock’s filly Curious Girl will be out to become the first filly in over 100 years to put one over the colts. In her favour is that she has won over the distance and cruised home in the Oaks Trial. Lerena is penciled in to ride. Of the males, Texas Missile strikes as a progressive stayer and comes from the right stable as Alec Laird is a master of staying horses.

Spies has his hopes pinned on William Robertson for the Computaform and Hazy Dazy in the Wilgerbosdrift Bridget Oppenheimer SA Oaks. The daughter of Act Of War has the trophies for the first two legs of the Triple Tiara in the cabinet and the Oaks will see her follow in the footsteps of some of South Africa’s champion fillies. Spies has stayed loyal to apprentice Trent Mayhew who rode an exception front-running race in the SA Fillies Classic to hold off the smart Golden Palm. On that showing the extended trip should hold no fears.