RACE 1

Two well-bred sorts, RISING EAGLE and OCTOBER REEF, should fight out the first race on the day. Vercingetorix colt RISING EAGLE was unlucky not to win on debut as he lost ground and found only one better in a more experienced sort. Rafeef colt OCTOBER REEF was only a length behind when also in need of the experience and both look to have much more to come. There are first-timers in this one, follow the betting moves closely. BERRY LANCER and ELUSIVE DRAGON have run some decent races and must be considered for prize money.

RACE 2

RIVERA must rate the one to beat after a promising second place finish behind speedy colt Bisou Bisou. She finished clear second best and should make the required improvement. Watch out for ARABELLA FIGG who was not disgraced finishing a decent third behind winner Perfect Sky in her first outing. She can only improve and has a pedigree for more ground. LIGHTINTHEWOODS has shown useful ability. She could show more back from a break and the 1160m trip could suit.

RACE 3

UMZINGELI WENYATHI is in solid form at present. The son of Buffalo Bill Cody turned in a creditable effort in a strong race and could add another win to his tally. TWENTYTWENTYVISION looks a bit better than his last run when having things go wrong. It was not a bad run and he was beaten only 0.20 lengths by the former and is 3.5kg better off so must have a big say. But it doesn’t end there. If speedy PIVOTAL ROLE is ready after a rest he could be hard to catch. PLUS FOUR and STONEYWOOD aren’t ones to take lightly either.

RACE 4

The form of BEST CANDIDATE was franked when Sky Pilot came out to win recently. BEST CANDIDATE has shown versatility and even though his merit rating has been upped he still carries bottom weight and could go on to win again. BOUNDLESS LOVE was on a roll before coming up short over 2000m last time. Expect a better performance back over 1800m. THE PLAYBOY BOMBER’s last two wins have come on the inside track, but he has also won two on the Standside track. He has made good strides as a five-year-old but has a bit to find with top weight. JORDAN could be the dark horse.

RACE 5

DOCTOR STRANGELOVE took a big jump in distance in his stride, winning as he liked. He didn’t beat a strong bunch but the late maturing son of Master Of My Fate is only just getting the hang of things and could make a decent handicap debut. PAGE BOY will test him. He showed his wellbeing last time with a good win from a wide draw and goes well for rider Keagan de Melo. HEAL AND SOUL could also be dangerous. He has fair Western Cape form and wasn’t disgraced on local debut. THOONSIL was gutsy on the Poly and must also be respected.

RACE 6

The race has a wide-open look. NARETOI came in for support and had a ‘look in’ last time. Blinkers may do the trick this time. SPACE MISSION turned in a fluent performance on the Polytrack at Hollywoodbets Greyville. A wide draw is a worry. BRAVE WAAM suddenly got into the swing of things with a change of headgear. He can step up on his form at this venue. ITSNOWORNEVER wasn’t far off in stronger contests before striding short in his last start. He could prefer the drop in distance. GUERILLA WARFARE could suddenly pop up. More with upset claims.

RACE 7

VIBE SA won a cracker getting the better of DANTE’S BOND and the pair could fight it out again. MAX THE MAGICIAN was most unlucky in that race but will be drawn in gate No 1. ANTONIO GAUDI confirmed betting support with a good performance round the turn last time but has won down this straight too. He comes into it. ECHO CHECK tired late after showing good pace over 1000m. This is a better distance for him. It would be encouraging to see CHARMING CHEETAH come back to best. He had excuses in his last two and gets some reprieve at the weights with a 1.5kg claim.

RACE 8

WINTER IN AUCKLAND brings fair Western Cape form into the race and could be anything. She makes her debut for in form trainer Tony Peter. READY SET FIRE has figured it all out and won two in a row at the Vaal. He should have a big say even if switching to Turffontein this time. TIME WILL TELL has finished runner-up in his last three and could finally turn the form around with READY SET FIRE. He deserves a change of luck. Juvenile EVENING PARADE won in good style and is one to watch for more improvement. GEOSTORM, GUNBOAT and NKANDLA GOLD all can earn.

RACE 9

Two-year-old LIFE IN COLOUR lacked extra after setting the pace in the Highveld Winter Juvenile Stakes. It was, nevertheless, a fair run and he should improve on his handicap debut. He takes on many hard-knocking older rivals. But a big threat could be lightly raced WILD AS THE WIND who could be flying under the radar. He is worth another try over the extra. DRIVELIKEAMASTER can take advantage as he has all the experience needed to win a race like this and can finally reward his followers. SATYAGRAHA’s merit rating has dropped, and he can pop up one of these days.

David Thiselton

The Turffontein Standside meeting today is headlined by a MR 100 Handicap and Max The Magician could be the one to side with presuming his number one draw is not disadvantageous.

The straight course used to favour high draws but seems to have ironed out lately and the five-year-old What A Winter gelding was unlucky in his last start when full of running and having nowhere to go. He eventually switched in for a run and was beaten 0,90 lengths into fourth. Gavin Lerena keeps the ride and the horse is 1,5kg better off with the winner of that race Vibe SA for the 0,90 length beating.

 Vibe SA was held up that day and ran on very well and Kyle Strydom is back aboard. He should make a bold bid although considering Max The Magician was unlucky and has a weight turnaround the latter is preferred.

Antonio Gaudi is tipped to finish second ahead of Vibe SA, because he looks to be coming into his own, although he does have a five point raise to overcome and he also won’t have the 1,5kg allowance of Mickaelle Michel that he had last time. Echo Check looked promising at one stage before going off the boil, but headgear has helped and a drop in merit rating should help him too, so he will be a threat.

Pumpkin Pie has some class and ran a good second on debut over this trip, so returning from a seven month layoff he could be effective running fresh over this trip. Dante’s Bond ran on well over course and distance last time and meets Vibe SA on the same terms for a neck beating but he is officially 1,5kg under sufferance, although Mickaelle Michel ‘s 1.5kg claim will help.

In the first leg of the Pick 6, Boundless Love has a better draw than last time when caught wide early and maybe wasting some energy. He will also prefer this slight step down in trip. The Playboy Bomber is in  fine form and has a chance off a three point higher mark for a good win last time, although he has a tricky draw. Best Candidate was game in victory last time and the form has been franked, although the concern is he did make a respiratory noise and he was also raised seven points. He sneaks into the handicap with the minimum weight and has a plum draw of two.

In the fifth race over 1800m, Heal And Soul had some decent middle distance form in Cape Town and should have come on from his Highveld debut when running on well for third over a too sharp 1450m. In December he finished just a neck behind Note To Self over this distance and he has got pole position. Dr Strangelove won well when stepped up to 2000m third time out and he starts off on a reasonable 78 merit rating, so will be a threat from a fair draw. Page Boy has always looked to be a promising sort, so now that he won nicely last time, his second career win, he could have a chance of following up. However, he does have a tough draw.

In the sixth over 1600m, Brave Waam looks to be a progressive sort and can do well from a good draw off an opening handicap mark of 79 in his fifth career start.  Knowmore stayed on resolutely to win his maiden over this trip and he should be staying on from a wide draw off an opening mark of 74, because the form has worked out well. Redlightgreenlight is a nice sort who is beginning to mature and his last run looks worse on paper because he ended up right at the back from a wide draw. If he breaks better than in his penultimate start, when third over this course and distance, then he could go close from a plum draw of two under Rachel Venniker, whose 1,5kg claim will be handy.

In the eighth over 1160m, Gunboat has a fine chance as he beat Ready Set Fire in his penultimate start giving the latter 4,5kg and now gets half-a-kilogram from him. He didn’t have much room last time when fifth and is better than that form appears and the winner was the decent Catfish, so he has a good chance in this field. Geostorm is a full-brother to champion sprinter Buffalo Storm Cody and has his third run after a layoff here so should go close off an 80 rating as he has scope for improvement. Evening Parade came through to win comfortably second time out and this two-year-old can do well under Gavin Lerena off an 84 merit rating.

In the ninth over 1400m, Winston’s Wonder ran on well from the back in first-time blinkers last time after being dropped out from a wide draw and he is now well drawn. Life In Colour is 1kg under sufferance but this well related two-year-old, who is by Malmoos and is a half-sister to the high class Duke Of Marmalade sprinter True To Life, can do well here over a suitable trip from a fair draw. Drivelikeamaster hit the front too soon down the Vaal straight last time and can do better.

In the third race over 1000m Umizngeli Wenyathi is in fine form and with Rachel Venniker’s 1,5kg claim can go close. In the second over 1160m Rivera made a good debut and will be hard to beat. In the first over 1160m, Rising Eagle is the one to beat after making a good debut from this same number one draw over course and distance.

Please Note: South African Quartet Pools with fractional betting offered at Chester and Newmarket (UK) – 10 July 2026

David Thiselton

The Dean Kannemeyer-trained Vercingetorix filly Palace Of Arvernia produced a fine performance on Hollywoodbets Durban July day to win the Gr 2 Amusnet Golden Slipper over 1400m from a tough draw of 13 under Craig Zackey.

Kannemeyer had spoken about the toughness of the draw in the build up saying going up there is not wise because the others in front have got there for free, while dropping out left one with too much ground to make up.

He said the only way was to attempt to slot in and hope one got lucky, but admitted there would be no luck “nine out of ten times.”

However he is fortunate to have the national champion jockey elect riding for him and it was a combination of skill and luck that did the trick.

Palace Of Arvernia jumped well and Zackey eased her as she reached midfield and shifted inward.

Fortunately, Too Fast To Fiesta just ahead of her was forced to shift outward at the same time and provided Palace Of Arvernia with cover, albeit in a three wide position.

Zackey had her nice and relaxed in the running and switched her to the outside in the straight. She accelerated smartly, although she did shift inward slightly.

This might have contributed to the unlucky horse of the race, Alice B Toklas, being squeezed out as she was moving through threateningly inward of Palace Of Arvernia.

The stipendiary steward report on the incident said:

“ At the 350m TOO FAST TO FIESTA, which commenced to hang in, brushed ALICE B TOKLAS inwards, onto LADY HARLEQUIN, which had to be steadied when awkwardly placed on the heels of FERRARI FLAIR, which was directed outwards when insufficiently clear. As a consequence VIKING LASS was directed inwards away from LADY HARLEQUIN, which was thereafter not persevered with. Jockey S Moodley was charged with a contravention of Rule 62.2.7, in that as the rider of FERRARI FLAIR, he failed to ensure that he did not cause interference to LADY HARLEQUIN (Z Lloyd) at the 300m. Jockey S Moodley signed an Admission of Guilt and is suspended for 7 days (Dates to be advised) “

The stipes have a better view than the public video footage but from the angle provided with the latter it looked as if Palace Of Arvernia inward shift had caused Too Fast To Fiesta to hang inward.

Alice B. Toklas was completely squeezed out and had to re-gather, so did extremely well to eventually run a 1,10 length second.

Meanwhile, Palace Of Arvernia, who continued to shift in until Zackey changed whiphands to his right hand, had swept to the front and won comfortably.

The rematch between her and Alice B Toklas in the Gr 2 Thekwini Stakes will be interesting, although Palace Of Arvernia has unfortunately draw wide again at 20 out of 20, while Alice B. Toklas has drawn three.

Dean Kannemeyer revealed after the race he and Jehan Malherbe of Form Bloodstock had spotted this filly at the National Yearling Sale and said, “We thought she was a well balanced rangy filly and was going for the right price. Sandy Irvine was on the phone and we were very fortunate to get her at the right price … well when they win they are always the right price! We are very excited about her.”

The Al Adiyaat-bred filly is out of the Gr 3 Pretty Polly Stakes winner (1100m) Palace Of Dreams and is from the family of the like of champion filly Kiss Of Peace (Fordham) and the Gr 1 Cape Guineas winner Kilindini (Silvano).

She was bought for R575,000 and has earned R415,625 for owners Sandy Irvine and Peter Moor courtesy of two wins and a fourth place finish in the Gr 2 Allan Robertson Championship over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville.

David Thiselton

The Vaughan Marshall-trained Vibe Check was one of the meeting bankers on Hollywoodbets Durban July day and he not only duly delivered, but likely won many new fans in the process as this strongly built, imposing colt has a rare presence about him.

Marshall has said the Maine Chance Farms-bred Querari colt would be even better suited to 1600m, so fans can possibly look forward to him running again on World Pool Gold Cup day, although he has unfortunately drawn very wide.

In the Gr 2 Omoda Golden Horseshoe over 1400m on Saturday the big horse jumped well from pole position under Sean Veale and was soon using his massive stride out in front with the rest of the field looking like whippets behind him.

Veale revealed later that Vibe Check had been very green and he had battled to get him to corner.

The big bay kept going well in the straight  and fended off late challenges from Green Energy, Secretary Bird and Red Spice to win by 0,40 lengths.

Veale pointed out Vibe Check was still growing and had put on 7kg since his last start.

He said, “There is a lot of improvement to come.”

What makes the Vibe Check story even more compelling is that he races in a famous set of silks that have resurfaced.

The colours white with red stars and a green cap used to be owned by two former Chairmen  of the Durban Turf Club Douglas Saunders and his son Chris, who won two Julys together with these colours, Jollify winning it for them in 1967 in the big race’s most famous finish, the dead-heat with the immortal Sea Cottage, and then ironically winning it with Sea Cottage’s half-brother Naval Escort in 1969.

The colours have been taken over by Irishman Seamus Burns, whose family own Lodge Park Stud,  a highly esteemed thoroughbred breeding farm and racehorse nursery situated in Freshford, County Kilkenny, Ireland.

Seamus apparently has an annual holiday to Cape Town, or at least used to, that coincides with the like of the Race Coast Sales Premier Yearling Sale and he is no stranger to big race success in South Africa, winning the Gr 1 Gold Medallion with the Vaugan Marshall-trained Ambiorix (Vercingetorix) in 2021.

In the Gr 1 Premiers Champion Stakes on World Pool Gold Cup day Vibe Check has drawn 34 out of the 36 entries.

Marshall did say on Saturday after the win that Vibe Check would take his place in the latter race, but he might think twice from a draw that is going to end up very wide. On the other hand the big horse’s front-running style might make it well worth having a go as his early pace could see him finding the rail in front without expending too much energy.

Vibe Check cost R650,000 at the Race Coast Summer Sale last year.

Soccer4 Friday 10 July 2026. Carryover R25 000. Estimated Pool: R 75 000. Pool Closes at 20h45. Sport 23 Pool 2.

Soccer10 Friday 10 July 2026. ADD-IN R150 000. Estimated Pool: R1.8 Million. Pool Closes at 20h45. Sport 18 and Pool 1.

Soccer6 Saturday 11 July 2026.  ADD-IN R50 000. Estimated Pool: R 400 000. Pool Closes at 20h00. Sport 6 Pool 1.

Soccer10 Saturday 11 July 2026. ADD-IN R150 000. Estimated Pool: R1.8 Million. Pool Closes at 20h00. Sport 20 and Pool 1.

Soccer Any 13Xtra Saturday 11 July 2026. Carryover R100 000. Estimated Pool: R200 000. Pool Closes at 15h00. Sport 13 and Pool 1.

Soccer13 Carryover R 972 540 Sunday 12 July 2026. R 2.5 Million  (All 13 Correct Jackpot Pool). Pool Closes at 13h30. Sport 12 Pool 1.(If only One 13 of 13 Winner)

David Thiselton

Summerveld trainer Gareth van Zyl was very excited by the third place finish of King Pelles in Saturday’s Hollywoodbets Durban July and added that the Equus Champion Stayer had come out of the race well, so will be defending his crown in the Gr 3 World Pool Gold Cup on the 25th.

The result showed that the older horses were out at the weights with the three-year-olds and Gareth mentioned that before adding, “To have split the three-year-olds showed that he has improved, so it is very exciting.”

King Pelles was actually a touch unlucky as he was sitting in what was in retrospect the perfect position behind Wish List approaching the straight, but lost that position when Gladatorian switched outward off the rail.

Nevertheless, after being shuffled backwards and having to come around the horses in front he showed a fine turn of foot and became a threat to the three-year-olds Note To Self and Wish List.

He clung on to third place, beaten 1,55 lengths, just ahead of another three-year-old Viva’s Liberte.

Australian-based Chad Schofield, the son of former top Durban-born jockey Glyn Schofield, said afterwards he felt he had a chance of winning and added that he could feel that had the race been over a touch further he would have had a very good chance.

It was another heady day for chief owner Ravi Padayachee, with this being the passionate Durbanite’s first July runner, and in the last few hundred metres he and his fellow owners would likely have just about lifted the roof off the grandstand from his private box. To win the Hollywoodbets Durban July is every owner’s dream and would be an especially auspicious achievement for a hometown owner.

Ravi’s Lucky Vest 12 CC owns King Pelles in partnership with Dave MacLean, Gary Player and N V Parmanand.

King Pelles put all of them in the spotlight last season by landing four Gr 3 staying events including the KZN Derby, the Gold Vase and the Gold Cup and walking away with the Equus Champion Stayer award.

He has taken them on another exhilarating journey this Champions Season and will put the cherry on the top if successfully defending his Gold Cup crown, although he is going to have stiff opposition from this year’s Gr 3 New Turf Carriers Western Cape Stayers and Gr 3 Durban Gold Vase winner, the Justin Snaith-trained Ahead Of The Facts.

David Thiselton

The Gr 3 Durban Gold Vase on Hollywoodbets Durban July day has always been a pointer to the Gr 3 World Pool Gold Cup and this year’s winner of the former race, the Justin Snaith-trained Ahead Of The Facts, will have a fine chance of landing a treble of staying events in the latter race as he also won the Gr 3 New Turf Carriers Western Cape Stayers.

An interesting fact about the Futura gelding is that he is the first horse to be running in the colours of Garth Musikanth, whose brother Dean is also a part-owner along with Zev Blieden, Ryan Copeland, Darren Smith and J Murcia.

Ahead Of The Facts, ridden by the peerless Richard Fourie, was backed as if he couldn’t be beaten and the flood of money saw him starting at 15/10.

Fourie dropped the 110-rated gelding out from a wide draw of nine.

He was content to sit near the back before improving position around the final bend.

Fourie went for a run down the inside and Ahead Of The Facts showed a turn of foot that was reminiscent of last year’s Equus Champion Stayer King Pelles.

He made up the ground in a matter of strides and went on to win by half-a-length from Master Redoute and Shoot The Rapids, who were the winner and runner up in the Gold Cup two years ago.

The winning margins of 0,50 lengths and 1,30 lengths flattered Master Redoute and Shoot The Rapids as Fourie was easing Ahead Of The Facts up at the line.

However, Ahead Of The Facts was receiving 1,5kg from both of them and there will be a weight reversal in the Gold Cup considering Ahead Of The Facts was raised seven points to 117, while Master Redoute was raised three points to 115 and Shoot The Rapids remains on 117.

Fifth-placed Holding Thumbs, beaten 3,40 lengths, was lowered one point to 117.

The Gold Cup weights are subjected to the Operator’s Condition 2.1.2.10 which states:

Handicap Races of 2800m and further (including Graded, Listed and other Feature races): Weights may be compressed at the discretion of the Handicapper i.e. the Handicapper may depart from allocating 0,5 kg for each merit rating point.

Ahead Of The Facts will thus have it harder on paper, but Jonathan Snaith stated after Saturday’s race that the Gold Vase was actually just a stepping stone race to the Gold Cup.

He said, “The Gold Cup was his main mission. He has had three runs in Durban and the Gold Vase was the one in between. Hopefully his best run will be his third run.”

The owners were all ecstatic and Dean Musikanth said, “He is our first stakes winner and we have won Grade 3s with him on Met day and July day. He cost just R100,000 and considering his class that was for nothing! I am over the moon, I actually don’t know where to walk, but I do know where to have a drink!”

The Capetonian group of friends were looking forward to a celebratory toast to their champion and revealed that Richard had been very confident before the race.

Garth Musikanth confirmed he had got his colours completed about two years ago especially for this horse, who made his debut as a two-year-old on August 31, 2024, although he did own a handful of horses before that.

Ahead Of The Facts in fact finished a tailed off last on debut over 1250m at Hollywoodbets Durbanville, beaten 17,95 lengths and it was only when stepping up to 2000m in his fourth start that he began to show what was to come.

That is not surprising considering he is by stamina influence Futura out of a one-time-winning mare by stamina influence Silvano.

 Saturday was his fifth career win.

Jonathan Snaith found Ahead Of The Facts at the 2023 National Yearling Sale and said, “We were fans of Futura. We had a good Futura in our yard at the time called Future Swing who was shaping up to be a stayer. Ahead Of The Facts was a magnificent horse, beautiful conformation and he moved like a dream. He was a bit light and immature and I think that is why no-one liked him. But he had the frame and he had the action and he had a beautiful temperament, which we noticed at the Sale. He’s been a wonderful buy and I think he’s a massive runner in the Gold Cup as well. Considering this was not his main mission it was an impressive win and it was the way he won … he went from second last to first in a matter of strides, an impressive turn of foot. Richard, more so than Justin, was very confident. He said he had been unlucky in his previous start when he ran second and he actually said in the parade ring to the owners, ‘What are you nervous about? He is going to win whether I go to the front or stay at the back. I’ve got this!’ He was extremely confident from weeks ago and I think it was reflected by the money that poured on and everybody bankered him in the Pick 6 … he was a lot of people’s Pick 6 banker, so we are delighted that the public have benefited.”

Andrew Harrison

With the Hollywoodbets Durban July done and dusted it’s back to bread and butter racing at Hollywoodbets Scottsville today where the card is headed by the Tote For The Win B Stakes over 2000m.

Gareth van Zyl thought enough of Salani Kahle to run him in the Gr2 SA Derby but he came up short against the filly Curious Girl who was a runner in the Hollywoodbets Durban July.

Given the weights in the July, Curious Girl was an unlikely winner being 6kg out on the official handicap but that said, Salani Kahla takes on a lot weaker and although he has a big weight he shows lots of potential. This will be an acid test.

Dean Kannemeyer has stepped Uzwano up in trip but the gelding is in good form over shorter. He will see this out and should go close. Stuart Ferrie saddles the smart filly Hodgepodge who stays well and has a handy galloping weight. She should be competitive.

 Of the others, Queue Wing seldom runs a bad race. He is up in class and also in distance but has a light weight. One to watch.

Mike and Mathew de Kock can open the afternoon with Putthelightsout  who was a beaten favourite on the ploy last run but faces modest company here and should go close back on turf.

In the first leg of the Bi-Pot Christmas Rose was touched off second time out and has made steady improvement and should go close. She is the pick of the Glen Kotzen stable trio. Danger is Blenheim Palace who is making steady improvement and has found market support in the past. This trip should suit. America First took on older runners in an Open Maiden last start and can do better.

The opening leg of the PA has some well-bred first timers so keep an eye on the betting but Lenoxx  found all sorts of traffic last time out and shows some promise. He should put in a big effort. Tiger Cody has improved in blinkers and is back to shorter and looks the biggest threat.  First timers Hot Blooded and Bullet Catch are ones to watch in the market.

Charlie Bucket can kick off the Pick 6. Paddy Kruyer’s gelding has consistent Cape form over the distance and was a beaten favourite at his last two. He gets a 1.5kg allowance from the saddle and can make amends. Deonarie has shown up well in both starts and steps up in trip but has the best of the draw while Redoubt Express found market support when making a smart debut on the poly. The turf should not be an issue and he rates a strong winning chance.

In the fifth, Peeping Tom has been knocking on the door for some time for Doug Campbell. He stays the trip and should be one of the better bets on the card. Bourbon’s Beast tends to lack finish but is never too far back and should go well in this company. Augrabies was a beaten favourite last run. His best recent form has been on the poly but he is in modest company.

Ricky Maingard’s runners have won four of the six races that they have contested in Champions Season and Tunguska comes off some smart recent Western Cape form in the seventh. The stable has hardly missed since arriving in KZN. Blizzard Boy has shown up well in two starts on the poly since arriving in KZN. He shed his maiden on the turf and should run well in this field. Red Cardinal is down in class and handicap. If he stays the trip he will be a contender.

The eighth is wide open. Red Coral is a filly taking on males but was a beaten favourite last run on the poly and can make amends. Let It Roll was a recent maiden winner and takes on older runners. However, he has improved with each outing and has a handy galloping weight. Dancing On A Cloud was much improved last run after switching yards and has always shown promise while Radu has been consistent of late and now gets a 2.5kg claimer aboard.

In the last, Preacher Man is a two-year-old filly taking on males but was a beaten favourite last run. She is down in class with first time blinkers and looks the part. Diamond Maker won at long odds last start in first time blinkers and is back over a sprint. He could follow up. Yannakis has won his last two over course and distance and his 4kg claimer retains the ride. Princess Goldie is back on turf. Her poly form is consistent but she can do better here.

David Thiselton

Cape trainer Des McLachlan scored the first KZN Graded race win of his career on Saturday when landing the Gr 3 Post Merchants with Jet Force and it was his best KZN result since his Gr 1 Cape Guineas winner Ethno Centric placed in the Gr 1 SA Guineas in 2001.

McLachlan had formed a prolific partnership with Grant van Niekerk before the latter left to ride in Maurtitius and Van Niekerk flew over to ride Jet Force on Saturday.

It was Grant’s only ride on the day and he rode a pearler.

Jet Force was backed in from 20/1 to 5/1, which was not surprising as he came in with a record of two wins in three starts over the 1200m trip and his recent form over further was either wins or performances where not disgraced against the best of the best.

Jumping from a good draw of four Jet Force did not get the best of breaks but Van Niekerk managed too get him forward enough to find a position just backward of midfield.

After lifting his head momentarily he did settle well once he had cover.

At the top of the straight he still had plenty to do and had about five lengths to make up.

However, a nice gap opened for him and he ran on well through it to hit the front 100m out before fending off Buffalo Storm Cody and Tenango, beating them by half-a-length and 0,55 lengths respectively.

He had earlier overtaken the 7/2 favourite Buffalo Storm Cody as the latter was battling to get going on the outside. However, when Buffalo did find his big stride he was eating up the ground and, like last year, he put in a good preparation for the Gr 1 wfa Mercury Sprint over the same course and distance.

Des said he would also consider running him in the Mercury Sprint, which takes place three weeks after the Post Merchants on the 25^th of July.

He will only be 2kg worse off than Buffalo Storm Cody in the Mercury, so on paper will have a chance.

He has duly been nominated and is sitting with a fair draw at the time of writing of nine out of 26 horses still standing their ground, although there is a draw reversal against him with Buffalo Storm Cody as the latter was drawn nine on Saturday and is now drawn eight in the Mercury.

Jet Force will also be 2kg worse off with Tenango, who ran on superbly on Saturday from the back after jumping from draw five.

Tenango has landed a plum draw of two in the Mercury.

The Beaumont Stud-bred four-year-old Master Of My Fate gelding Jet Force was the last lot on the November Two Year Old Sale of 2023 and Des landed him for R350,000.

Des always goes to the stud farms before the Sales to look at horses and revealed, “I liked him all along and he just grew on you and grew on you, there was improvement all the time.”

He added, “Horses find you.”

He said, “He took a while to get going as he was very difficult, so we decided to cut him. We just gave him time to mature, we weren’t in a rush and he has done us proud up till now.”

Jet Force started his career in the February of his three-year-old year with a win over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth and has won seven out of his 13 starts to date, including the Listed Jet Master Stakes over 1600m and the Gr 3 Variety Club Mile.

Van Niekerk has ridden him to five of his victories.

Des’s long term aim for Jet Force is to go give him a break in Cape Town and then go for the Green Point and the L’Ormarins King’s Plate.

He concluded, “He was still a little bit immature in this year’s Green Point and King’s Plate, he was very, very green, he didn’t know what it was all about as the Green Point was only his third run around the turn. It was quite difficult for him, a lot for him to take on and he didn’t disgrace himself. I think he has got the ability to be competitive in features.”

Jet Force is owned by Messrs Denis Le Breton & A L Taylor, Mr K & Miss K Geemooi & Mrs G C Hutchinson.