Category Archives: Racing News

Golden Angel can give punters wings

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Andrew Harrison

With Champions Season over it’s down to brass tacks at Hollywoodbets Scottsville today. With the local breeding season on the horizon there are a number of mares and fillies likely having their last tilt at a win so it could all be a little spicey.

The first is an open Maiden sprint with a number in with winning chance. Dean Kannemeyer’s filly Forthegoodtimes was not friendless in the market on debut and finished a close-up third over course and distance. She should come on lengths from that showing. Pink Skies has improved with every outing for Mike Miller and has taken on colts at her last two and not far behind. Back to a sprint she should feature prominently. Sweet Cherry found some market support on debut and was not far behind the Snaith runner Sweet Green. She should come on from that with a claiming apprentice aboard. Iceberg Rose has been a beaten favourite at her last two and narrowly beaten on this course last run so she should be competitive while five-year-old Tipperary has been runner-up at her last three and lines up for her 31st start.

Gimme The Power looks the part in the second and seldom far back. She is surprisingly still a maiden back is back to a sprint with Keagan de Melo staying aboard and should crack the ice. Floral Kingdom  is lightly raced but has shown up well in recent outings. She was a beaten favourite last run and the switch back to turf could be in her favour. Rustige Kracht was a distant fourth on debut and will need to improve. Umoyawokubamelela is an Australian import making her debut and will be one to watch.

The first leg of the Pick 6 is a tricky Open Maiden. Future Prospect is a lightly raced five-year-old. Never too far back, she caught the eye on this course last run when a close-up third. After The Fire has improved in blinkers and stepping up in trip. This is not a strong field and Glen Kotzen’s filly should feature prominently. Guild The Lily improved last run over a sprint and now jumps in trip, that on pedigree, should suit. Jenny Darling showed some improvement when stepped up in trip last run on the poly and could surprise.

Glen Kotzen could hold the keys to the fourth where Golden Angel looks the part. She played second fiddle to stable companion Sesame  last time out but is now 6.5 kg better off and should easily turn the tables. Hurricane Flight has been coming to hand slowly and found some market support last run and has another handy weight. Our Lady Fate has made some recent improvement in blinkers and must be factored in.

The fifth is a competitive C Stakes over 1600m. Buddy Boy was run out of it late over course and distance last time out and has improved in blinkers. He should put in another a bold claim. Double Causeway is the dark horse. He seems to have issues but after a lengthy break he started favourite against stronger first time out of the maidens. He finishing with only one behind but is still a colt and obviously has shown something on the home gallops. Song To The Moon has had one outing since arriving from the Cape for the winter season. He has a fair weight but also the best of the draw. Blizzard Boy has placed in all three start since shedding his maiden. He has a fair weight but should be competitive again.

If the first five on the card were tricky it gets more open from here. Captain’s Pride was not far back from a wide draw on the poly last time out and this trip suits. From a favourable draw she should be competitive. Izibulo showed some improvement in blinkers last run over shorter and should prefer the extra while Alltheboysiveloved  has had two outings since arriving from the Cape and was much improved without a tongue-tie last start and must have a strong chance. Blue Poppy is seldom far back and is course and distance suited.

In the seventh, Cappellino has been knocking on the door for some time now but all recent form has been on the poly which is a concern. He is 2.5kg better off with veteran Trafalgar Square who has also been consistent and should put in another forward showing in his 78th start. Bless Me Fred is over his best course and distance and is the pick of stable rider Rachel Venniker although stable runner Futano only has 49kg to shoulder and could surprise. Champagne Mac showed up well first run for his new stable and although struggling for his second win, he has been consistent over the trip.

No easy race to round off the card but Ricky Maingard can finish off a successful winter season raid with Billy Cool who was a comfortable winner on the poly last time out but had some fair Cape form prior to that. He did get a punishing six-point raise in the handicap which is a concern. Caribbean Gold  takes on males but was narrowly beaten over course and distance last time out with a first time tongue-tie. Blazing Fury is holding form well but does have a big weight and could prove to be the pick of the Louis Goosen runners. Cavalry Commander was a beaten favourite last run but goes well on this course which is always a plus.

Hollywoodbets Scottsville Sunday 2 August 2026 – Comments by Andrew Harrison

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RACE 1

3 FORTHEGOODTIMES   7 PINK SKIES   6 SWEET CHERRY   13 ICEBERG ROSE

Preview: Open maiden. FORTHEGOODTIMES (3) was not friendless in the market on debut and finished a close-up third over course and distance. She should come on from that showing. PINK SKIES (7) has improved with every outing and has taken on colts at her last two and not far behind. Back to a sprint she should feature prominently. SWEET CHERRY (6) found some market support on debut and was not far behind the Snaith runner Sweet Green. She should come on from that with a claiming apprentice aboard. ICEBERG ROSE (13) has been a beaten favourite at her last two and narrowly beaten on this course last run. She should be competitive. (Andrew Harrison: 3-7-6-13).

RACE 2

3 GIMME THE POWER   10 FLORAL KINGDOM   9 UMOYAWOKUBAMBELELA    7 RUSTIGE KRACHT

Preview: GIMME THE POWER (3) is seldom far back and surprisingly still a maiden. She is back to a sprint with Keagan de Melo staying aboard and she should crack the ice. FLORAL KINGDOM (10) is lightly raced but has shown up well in recent outings. She was a beaten favourite last run and the switch back to turf could be in her favour. RUSTIGE KRACHT (7) was a distant fourth on debut and can improve. UMOYAWOKUBAMBELELA (9) is an Australian import making her debut and should be one to watch. (Andrew Harrison: 3-10-9-7).

RACE 3

3 FUTURE PROSPECT   4 AFTER THE FIRE   2 GUILD THE LILY   8 JENNY DARLING

Preview: Tricky Open Maiden. FUTURE PROSPECT (3) is a lightly raced five-year-old. Never too far back she caught the eye on this course last run when a close-up third. AFTER THE FIRE (4) has improved in blinkers and stepping up in trip. This is not a strong field and she should feature prominently. GUILD THE LILY (2) improved last run over a sprint and now jumps in trip that on pedigree should suit. JENNY DARLING (8) showed some improvement when stepped up in trip last run on the poly. She could surprise. (Andrew Harrison: 3-4-2-8).

RACE 4

7 GOLDEN ANGEL   4 HURRICANE FLIGHT  2 OUR LADY FATE  3 SESAME

Preview: Glen Kotzen could hold the keys to this race. GOLDEN ANGEL (7) played second fiddle to stable companion SESAME (3) last time out. However, Golden Angel is 6.5 kg better off and should easily turn the tables. HURRICANE FLIGHT (4) has been coming to hand slowly. She found some market support last run and has another handy weight. OUR LADY FATE (2) has made some recent improvement in blinkers and must be factored in. (Andrew Harrison: 7-4-2-3).

RACE 5

4 BUDDY BOY   3 DOUBLE CAUSEWAY   1 SONG TO THE MOON   10 BLIZZARD BOY

Preview: BUDDY BOY (4) was run out of it late over course and distance last time out. He has improved in blinkers and should put in a bold claim. DOUBLE CAUSEWAY (3) is the dark horse but obviously has issues. He has had a lengthy break but started favourite against stronger first time out of the maidens finishing with only one behind. He is still a colt but obviously has shown something on the home gallops. SONG TO THE MOON (1) has had one outing since arriving for the winter season. He has a fair weight but also the best of the draw. BLIZZARD BOY (10) has been placed in all three start since shedding his maiden. He has a fair weight but should be competitive. (Andrew Harrison: 4-3-1-10).

RACE 6

3 CAPTAIN’S PRIDE   5 IZIBULO   7 ALLTHEBOYSIVELOVED   2 BLUE POPPY

Preview: Wide open handicap. CAPTAIN’S PRIDE (3) was not far back from a wide draw on the poly last time out. This trip suits and from a favourable draw she should be competitive. IZIBULO (5) showed some improvement in blinkers last run over shorter and should prefer the extra. ALLTHEBOYSIVELOVED (7) has had two outings since arriving from the Cape. She was much improved without a tongue-tie last start and must have a strong chance. BLUE POPPY (2) is seldom far back and course and distance suited. (Andrew Harrison: 3-5-7-2).

RACE 7

3 CAPPELLINO   1 TRAFALGAR SQUARE   2 BLESS ME FRED   4 CHAMPAGNE MAC

Preview: Open handicap. CAPPELLINO (3) has been knocking on the door for some time now but all recent form has been on the poly which is a concern. He is 2.5kg better off with veteran TRAFALGAR SQUARE (1) who has also been consistent and should put in another forward showing. BLESS ME FRED (2) is over his best course and distance and is the pick of the stable rider Rachel Venniker although stable runner FUTANO (8) only has 49kg to shoulder and could surprise. CHAMPANGE MAC (4) showed up well first run for his new stable and although struggling for his second win, he has been consistent over the trip. (Andrew Harrison: 3-1-2-4).

RACE 8

10 BILLY COOL   6 CARIBBEAN GOLD   11 BLAZING FURY   7 CAVALRY COMMANDER

Preview: No easy race to round off the card. BILLY COOL (10) was a comfortable winner on the poly last time out but had some fair Cape form prior to that. He did get a punishing six-point raise in the handicap which is a concern. CARIBBEAN GOLD (6) takes on males but was narrowly beaten over course and distance last time out with a first time tongue-tie. BLAZING FURY (11) is holding form well but does have a big weight. He could prove to be the pick of the Louis Goosen runners. CAVALRY COMMANDER (7) was a beaten favourite last run but goes well on this course which is always a plus. (Andrew Harrison: 10-6-11-7).

Michel’s fairy tale farewell

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David Thiselton

Mickaelle Michel ended a fairy-tale tour to South Africa on a high note at the World Pool Gold Cup meeting at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday when landing the Gr 2 World Pool Bet With Tote Umkhomazi Stakes over 1200m on the James Crawford-trained Fish Tales, who fittingly races in the famous colours of Tony Moodley.

Fish Tales, who was bred by Ascot Stud and is by their underrated stallion Heavenly Blue, is now unbeaten in two starts.

His victory was all the more commendable in that he had to overcome a draw of 11 out of 13 runners.

Mickaelle took the athletic bay colt up to mid division and in expert fashion managed to slot him into a one wide position with cover before he had used up too much energy.

The colt continually found after being switched out in the straight and hit the front at about the 150m mark before going on to win by 1,10 lengths.

Fish Tales’ red and yellow checks, emerald sleeves and cap colours were carried to Summer Cup victory by the Mike de Kock-trained Rudra in 2006 and earlier that same year were carried to Gr 1 Champions Cup glory by Equal Image. Many other good horses have carried the colours.

Tony races in partnership with his son Nishen and the other owners in Fish Tales are Raphael Goolam and Selvan Naidoo. Fish Tales is in fact the first horse Raphael has ever owned.

Nishen said after the win, “My Dad has been involved in horseracing for the longest of time. He has never left the sport. We did go a little bit quiet, I think horseracing is a wheel, you will be at the top one day and be at the bottom again and now we are slowly rising to the top again.”

He said about the purchase of Fish Tales, “When we saw him at the August two-year-old Sale last year we absolutely fell in love with him. He is by Heavenly Blue, who I think is overlooked, he is such an underrated sire, and he is one of the better Heavenly Blues that we’ve seen. Myself and some friends decided to get involved and here we are today.”

Ashley Parker of Ascot Stud was alerted many years back to the fact that Fish Tales’ dam Caviar was for sale and he snapped her up.

The Var mare was trained by the late Colin Scott and won five times over distances from 1000m to 1400m.

The Australian-bred Heavenly Blue, who is by the iconic four-times Australian Champion Sire Snitzel, won the Gr 1 SA Classic over 1800m and he was third in the Gr 1 SA Derby.

Fish Tales, who has plenty of substance, ran like a horse who would enjoy further.

James Crawford said they would have preferred to have come into the race with one more run under the belt and he added, “He is still green and immature and once the penny drops we’ve got a lot more fun to have.”

Fish Tales is an exciting classic prospect.

He is a half-brother to the useful King Prawn, an Alan Greeff-trained three-year-old gelding whose two wins include the Listed Champion Juvenile Cup over 1400m, although he has had a somewhat disappointing three-year-old season.

Fish Tales was bought for R375,000.

At this year’s National Yearling Sale his full-brother was bought for R200,000 by Jaap van de Vendel and will be trained by Alan Greeff.

Caviar is currently in foal to the Mauritzfontein-based sire Digital Age, a Gr 1-winning son of Invincible Spirit..

Caviar’s third dam is the Champion Broodmare Soho Secret, which means she is from the family of the good racehorse and influential matriarch Secret Pact.

Caviar has had six runners for four winners and Fish Tales is her second stakes winner.

Fish Tales won by 2,30 length on debut over 1160m on June 7 and now that he has confirmed that promise he is definitely one to follow.

Meanwhile, Mickaelle Michel will be back in South Africa in October.

Before departing the racecourse on Sunday she was presented with a framed enlargement of a Sporting Post front page headline commemorating the day she made history on Star Major in the Daily News 2000, becoming only the second woman in South African history to win a Gr 1 event.

Her 47 wins on this tour were achieved at a strike rate of 9.2% and included one Gr 1 and three Gr 2s.

Direct equine flights to the UK now permitted

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In exciting news for the South African horseracing industry it has been announced the UK have opened a direct equine export route from South Africa, which cements two-way trade for the SA Equine Industry.

SA Equine Health & Protocols NPC (SAEHP) sent out the following press release:

UK Opens Direct Equine Export Route from South Africa, Cementing Two-Way Trade for SA Equine Industry

Cape Town, 15 July 2026 — SA Equine Health & Protocols NPC (SAEHP) is pleased to announce that the British Government has confirmed a decision permitting direct import of live horses from South Africa to Great Britain. Following a positive assessment of South Africa’s disease control measures, imports will be permitted from the approved vector-protected quarantine station in Cape Town, for registered equines complying with UK import conditions.

This milestone reflects sustained collaboration between SAEHP, the South African Department of Agriculture, and the Western Cape Department of Agriculture — a powerful demonstration of this public-private partnership’s success in maintaining South Africa’s equine disease control measures to the highest international standard and translating that credibility into real market access.

The announcement follows closely on South Africa’s opening of imports from Dubai, New Zealand, and Australia earlier this year -making genuine two-way trade a reality for the South African equine industry.

Adrian Todd, Managing Director of SAEHP, thanked the Hong Kong Jockey Club for its funding, technical support, and vision in opening South Africa to the world, noting that the growing number of trade partners now opens a world of opportunity for South Africa across all equestrian disciplines.

About SAEHP:SA Equine Health & Protocols NPC is a South African public-private partnership established to ensure the sustainability and security of the African Horse Sickness control zones through risk mitigation measures and controls, operating under the authority of the South African National Director of Animal Health in partnership with the National Department of Agriculture and the Western Cape Department of Agriculture.

Exciting new July Handicap conditions

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David Thiselton

 

The Hollywoodbets Durban July conditions have been finalised and the final field panellists might be in for an interesting evening before the Final Field And Barrier Draw Ceremony, whilst the three-year-olds look to be on the back foot at present.

 

There will be a longer handicap this year with a 10kg spread in the weights from a topweight of 62kg down to a bottom weight of 52kg.

 

Furthermore, it will just be a straight handicap, unlike recent July conditions in which there was a maximum and minimum weight for certain age groups and genders.

 

If the final field happens to have a spread that is less than 10kg, the topweight will still be 62kg. If, for example, there is a weight spread of 7kg among the entries, then the bottom weight will be 55kg.

 

If the topweights are scratched after the setting of the weights, then the new topweight will be dragged up to 62kg. For example if the topweight after scratchings is 60,5kg, it will be dragged up to 62kg and after the rest of the field have been dragged up the bottom weight will become 53,5kg.

 

The final field will not necessarily be chosen by merit rating order.

 

Justin Vermaak, Executive Racing and Bloodstock of Race Coast, said, “There will be a final field selection panel like before and merit rating will be a leading aspect, but the panel will also take current form and distance suitability into account etc.”

 

In recent years the final field panellists have not had it too tough as the field was cut up before the final field announcement, with a lot of horses being scratched due to the recognition by the connections they do not have much chance, either due to the weights not favouring them or due to them being off form – the final declaration fee could have, in those cases, been considered a waste of money.

 

However, with the longer handicap, there are going to be more horses who still have form chances on paper.

 

Looking at last year’s July for example, third-placed Selukwe was rated 111 and had to carry 54kg due to the condition that the minimum weight for an older male was 54kg. He was thus 2kg under sufferance with the 127-rated topweights, both older horses, and he was 4kg under sufferance with the officially best weighted horse, the 129 rated (nett 125-rated) Eight On Eighteen, who was set to carry 57kg despite being the highest merit rated horse in the race due to a condition that three-year-old males could not carry more than 57kg.

 

In last year’s race Oriental Charm carried 60kg, Eight On Eighteen carried 57kg and Selukwe carried 54kg.

 

Under this year’s conditions the weights for those three horses would have been: Oriental Charm 62kg, Eight On Eighteen 61kg and Selukwe 54kg. Selukwe would have been 2kg and 4kg better off with Oriental Charm and Eight On Eighteen respectively under today’s conditions.

 

He would have been 2kg better off with the winner The Real Prince too and, on paper, would have been beaten 0,30 lengths instead of by 2,65 lengths.

 

There could theoretically have been a horse who would have been even more favoured by today’s conditions than the 111-rated Selukwe example.

 

Using last year’s race under today’s conditions, an older horse who had been rated 107 would sneak into the handicap under today’s conditions.

 

A 107-rated older horse last year would have had to carry 54kg, 6kg less than the topweight, but under today’s conditions it would have only had to carry 52kg, which would be 10kg less than the 62kg topweight.

 

Therefore, there are theoretically going be a lot more horses standing their ground at the time of the final field selection process this year, because a lot more of them will have chances of winning on paper than would have been the case under the old conditions.

 

Furthermore, with stakes of R10 million up for grabs there will be less cases of horses being scratched due to the  connections deeming them to be off form. They might still want to take their chances.

 

The difficulty for the panel will come in deciding whether a lower rated horse is deemed to have better recent form or better distance suitability than a higher rated horse.

 

For argument sakes let’s assume that we go back to last year and there are still many horses standing their ground until the bitter end. After the top 17 are selected, according to the last log and current form, let’s assume the next two horses are the 115-rated Madison Valley and the 120-rated The Real Prince.

 

The Real Prince is rated five points higher than Madison Valley, but he has never run a race beyond 1600m before.

 

Madison Valley on the other hand finished a close fourth in the Betway Summer Cup over 2000m and in his final run before the July he won the traditional July pointer, the Hollywoodbets Dolphins Cup Trial over 1800m.

 

Which one are they going to put in the all important 18th slot?

 

Such a scenario is going to have much more chance of happening this year.

 

Although it has been said that weight avoidance tactics are going to be used this year, those who do take that route are probably going to run a bigger risk of not qualifying than ever before.

 

Now on to the three-year-olds.

 

Eight On Eighteen was held in high regard last year and came into the race 2kg well-in, according to official merit ratings, and yet he was not able to win the race.

 

Under today’s conditions he would have had to carry 61kg, effectively 2kg more.

 

So it was tough last year for a top, top three-year-old who was favoured by the old conditions.

 

How tough will it be for good-but-not-great three-year-olds under the new conditions, considering there is no maximum weight for them and no minimum weight for older horses?

 

Likewise it will be tough for females.

 

Furthermore, this year’s three-year-old crop are arguably overrated off their current merit ratings.

 

For example, Gauteng Guineas runner up Grand Empire could not win the Wolf Power 1600 against older horses when 2kg under sufferance off a 102 merit rating (effectively a 106 merit rating), yet he is now rated 120. There will be cries of “but the handicapper is clueless” when looking at that, but those who do say that are clueless themselves, because the handicapper rates a race on that race, not on past races, and Tin Pan Alley had earned his 117 rating by beating older horses and Grand Empire had then beaten him. Furthermore, Grand Empire was likely not at his peak for the Wolf Power with the Triple crown series looming.

 

Nevertheless, the overall impression is the current three-year-old male crop is not shining and it is questionable whether any of them have properly earned a rating of 120 or above.

 

It could well be an older horse July, but on the other hand there is an impressive unexposed horse like Note To Self among the three-year-olds and more such types might emerge.

 

The build up to this year’s Hollywoodbets Durban July is going to be more intriguing than ever!

 

London News July centenary victory

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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.

A New Era of Racing: Colossus Pools Launched on 1st December with UK Racing!

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Race Coast is thrilled to announce a game changing new era for South African horse racing punters with the official launch of horse racing with Colossus Pools on Monday, 1 December 2025!

Following the successful introduction of Colossus world class sports pools, we are now bringing this innovative technology to the multi-leg racing bets. To kick off the launch, the horse racing pools will feature predetermined, high value UK race meetings, giving local punters access to massive international jackpots.

This marks a major step forward for the sport, combining the thrill of racing with modern, flexible features.

Introducing Unprecedented Control

For the first time in South African racing, you will be able to take advantage of key features that put you in control of your bet:

  • Cash Out: Don’t wait until the last race! You will now receive leg-by-leg offers to Cash Out all or part of your ticket as the pool progresses. Secure a profit early or reduce your risk, giving you unprecedented control over your potential winnings.
  • Syndicate Betting: Join forces with other punters to crowdfund a single, high stakes ticket. Share the cost, increase your chances of hitting the jackpot, and share the rewards with the betting community. You can become a Syndicate Captain or contribute to a ticket led by an expert.

Race Coast is committed to innovating and ensuring our horse racing proposition is the most exciting and engaging in the country.

Get Ready to Play!

Look out for the Colossus button on the www.tote.co.za website and from December 1st, toggle between Football and Horse Racing, and experience the new generation of betting.

Massive UK Jackpots, More Control, and Shared Success—get ready to elevate your racing experience!

Get Ready for a Game Changer! Introducing Colossus – Bigger Pools, More Control!

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We are thrilled to announce a ground-breaking new chapter in your betting experience! We’ve partnered with Colossus Bets, a leading UK-based company, to bring you an exciting new product never before seen in the South African tote betting market.

What is Colossus Bets?

Imagine betting into massive, guaranteed prize pools, often reaching life-changing sums, with the added power of controlling your bet as the action unfolds. That’s the essence of Colossus Bets! It’s a revolutionary way to play, combining the thrill of traditional tote betting with unparalleled flexibility.

Understanding the Bet Types & Functionality:

Colossus Bets specialises in pool betting, where you bet against other players. The total money wagered is placed into a “pool”, and the prize money is shared among all winning tickets. The more people who play, the larger the potential jackpot! 

Some of the Bet Types on offer

  • Pick 1×2: This is a straightforward pool where you predict the result of each match – Home Win (1), Draw (X), or Away Win (2).

 

  • Correct Score: This is a more challenging but potentially more lucrative pool, where you must predict the exact final result of each match

 

  • Both Teams to Score: This is for fans of goals and fast paced action. Your task is to simply predict whether or not both teams will score at least one goal in a selected series of matches

 

Innovative Functionality

  • Cash Out: This feature allows you to lock in a profit before all matches (legs) in your ticket are completed. After each leg, Colossus bets will make you an offer to buy your ticket based on its current value. You can choose to accept the guaranteed payout or stay in the game for a chance at the full jackpot.

 

  • Syndicate Betting: Colossus Bets offers a unique way to play through Syndicate Tickets, allowing Players to team up and increase their chances of winning. Creating a Syndicate – If you have a betting strategy or consider yourself a “Pro”, you can create a Syndicate Ticket and invite other Players to contribute towards the payment of the ticket. Joining a Syndicate – Alternatively, you can join a Syndicate Ticket that another Player has already created. When you contribute to a Syndicate Ticket, you will own a share of that ticket. This share is directly proportional to the amount of money you contributed. If the Syndicate Ticket wins, you will receive a proportionate share of any returns (such as dividends or cash-out proceeds) based on your contribution. In essence, Syndicate Tickets allows Players to pool their resources, share the risk, and share the rewards!

 

  • Guaranteed Huge Sports Pools: Colossus Bets offers guaranteed prize pools often reaching life-changing proportions. This means greater potential payouts for a winning ticket!

 

  • Consolation Prizes: For many pools, if you narrowly miss the jackpot by getting a number of the selections correct, you can still win a share of a consolation prize. This means that you can still get a payout even if your ticket isn’t a perfect winner.

How to find the Colossus Product

To access the Colossus soccer products, simply follow these steps:

  • Log in to your TOTE account on www.tote.co.za
  • Once logged in, look for the “Colossus” button on the main navigation bar.
  • Click the button to be taken to a new page, displaying all the available Colossus products
  • Start playing!

 

Why is this a game changer for South Africa?

Colossus Bets is renowned for pioneering the Cash Out feature in multi-leg pool betting, Syndicate Betting, and for offering some of the largest sports jackpots globally. This partnership brings that innovation and scale directly to you, providing a fresh and exciting way to engage with your favourite sports.

We are confident that Colossus Bets will transform your betting experience, offering bigger thrills and more control than ever before.

Ready to get in on the action? The Colossus button on www.tote.co.za is your portal to this revolutionary product. Don’t miss out!

Be sure to look out for the Colossus horse racing products – Coming Soon!