Alistair Cohen

Flying Finley is in the form of his life. He has sailed through the divisions and showed himself to be capable every time he takes another step into good company. He does not look out of place against a good field in race 8 over 1000m at Hollywoodbets Durbanville on Saturday.

Unseen in two months should not be a concern. He has been shrewdly placed by trainer Paul Reeves. He seems to have no issue stepping out fresh. The engagement of Keagan de Melo is also a huge benefit. Not only is de Melo trading at a great percentage on his return but he gets the best tune out of this son of Oratorio.

His last three runs have come under de Melo and his tale of the tape reads two wins and an admirable second, all at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth over 1000m. Three runs back he beat Lyrical Gangster. It was tough to predict his rise on the evidence of that performance but that gave him so much confidence. Plus, his versatility is another tool at his disposal. He can race with the speed and he is just as effective coming from off them.

His second run under de Melo was a good runner-up finish behind Magical Place. He followed up with a commanding win over Gold Giboski. That win is made more appealing because Gold Giboski beat a good field at Hollywoodbets Durbanville nearly two weeks ago. He was given a five-point penalty for that win but if he is to keep feature race company this summer, he ought to handle the handicapper’s new rating.

Sardinia Bay suggests that he has lost some of his sparkle but he grows an extra leg at this course as opposed to down the straight at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth. The revision to this trip should give him further potency and the booking of Richard Fourie catches the eye. For that reason, he must be respected. He is three runs unbeaten at this course. Last time he was here was on a lightning fast running track and he beat the well performed Candy Town and had her beaten for speed. That is what he is capable of.

Elusive Winter is also a 1000m specialist and is not to be taken lightly. The lack of a deluge of rain in Cape Town this winter will help his cause because he battles to see it out when the going becomes soft. There is rain forecast from next week so this race looks to be coming in time. Sifiso Bungane takes 2,5kg off his back and that weight swing puts him into the picture. He does need things to go his way but he is capable. Michelle Rix has her runners in top shape which is another plus.

Un Bel Di was a fluent winner last time but he will need to confirm. He is the opposite to the runners mentioned. The likely steaming hot speed could play into his favour. He does have a good turn of foot.

Senorita Lolita made a pleasing debut when she finished second behind Dream Trip over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth. From gate No 2 in race 1 over 1250m, she must have every chance to step forward and go one place better. She hails from the yard of Lucinda Woodruff.

Woodruff has a top chance in race 2 over the same trip. Winterworldoflove hails from a family that comes into their own with a few runs under the belt and time does them no harm either. She is related to Bunker Hunt, Salvator Mundi, My Soul Mate and Gimme What I Want who are all feature race performers. Winterworldoflove ran third on debut behind Supreme World in bottomless going. Callan Murray takes over. She could be the best bet on the card.

Ready For The Road and Masteronthemoon look set to fight out race 3 over 1600m. Ready For The Road has 0,5 lengths in hand over his main rival so it is hard to suggest that form will turnaround if all things are equal. They easily have the best form on offer and a Boxed Exacta is suggested for punters.

Mighty Mary gave a huge effort in her last run when she finished second behind Cutie Patootie over 1500m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth. She should kick on and go close in race 4 over the same trip under Richard Fourie. That was in April so fitness is to be taken on trust but Vaughan Marshall knows how to keep them fit. Expect a good challenge from Vroom Vroom who has been coming to hand and has form that puts her a shade behind Mighty Mary.

The next two races are not easy. Race 5 over 1500m a slight persuasion is for Mon Papillon who stepped up in trip last time and she acquitted herself well to finish second at this course over 1600m behind Before Sunrise. She had the worst of the draws and that was a good step in the right direction. She does need to confirm the run but she could be up to the task. Fourie rides for Paul Reeves.

Race 6 over 1250m is a stronger event but with no less knots to untie. Lyrical Gangster has been runner-up in his last two efforts and looks set to be on the premises again. Runs to All About Al and the hugely progressive Witch Hazel should set him up with a good winning chance. Two-year-old Another Hero has no weight to shoulder and he is an interesting runner.

Heritage Ridge was one of the wins of the winter when she was shoved out deep and forced to cover extra ground when successful over 1000m at this course last month. She is back over the same track and trip in race 7 under Gareth Wright for Michelle Rix. She had no right to win but she overcame all angles for a gallant victory. The confidence boost should make her the horse to beat.

RACE 1

3 JULIET OF VERONA must have a big winning chance in this field, she stayed on really well for second behind Peace Garland on the 16th of June, she will be given every chance from a good draw. 2 SENORITA LOLITA ran second on debut behind Dream Trip on the 23rd of June, she can only improve, include her into all bets. 1 RED FLAG finished fourth in the same race as Senorita Lolita last time, in hope that she handles the track, she will be amongst the places from a neat draw. 13 MARY CASSATT has run two lovely races in succession, if she gets some luck in running from a bad draw, she will trouble them in the finish.

RACE 2

1 WINTERWORLDOFLOVE ran a great race on debut, she stayed on beautifully for third behind Supreme World on the 23rd of June, she will love the step up in trip here, in hope that she has made further improvement at home, she will be hard to beat from a good draw. 10 PEACH COBBLER finished second in the same race as Winterworldoflove last time, she has solid form, the only negative is the bad draw, with some luck in running, she will go close to winning. 5 SPURIOUS just needed her run back after a break on the 16th of June, she will be much fitter going into this race on Saturday, watch her closely. 2 LANA’S GAL showed good improvement from her first run into her second run, she will love the step up in trip, include her into all bets from a neat draw.

RACE 3

5 MASTERONTHEMOON ran a great race for third behind Master Coiner on the 16th of June, he finds himself in the right race here, top jockey Richard Fourie sticks with this gelding, he will be hard to beat. 6 READY FOR THE ROAD finished second in the same race as Masteronthemoon last time, on his current form, he has a big winning chance. 8 BIG DEAL ran a fair race behind Navasnine on the 2nd of June, he could sneak into the places on his best form, watch him closely. 2 FATE OF PACE ran a shocker behind Mutiny In Heaven on the 24th of May, she is much better than that, if she bounces back to her best form, she could make the Quartet pay from a nice draw.

RACE 4

6 MIGHTY MARY has been rested for 91 days, she was very unlucky in her last start behind Cutie Patootie on the 18th of April, in hope that she doesn’t need this run back after a small break, she will go close to winning from a good draw. 8 EISTEDDFOD ran a great race for second behind Beneath The Clouds on the 21st of June, her form is solid, and she gets 2.5kgs off her back, she will run a big race here, include her into all bets. 7 VROOM VROOM moved up to a point when finishing fifth in her last start, she will be cherry ripe for this race on Saturday, watch her closely at a decent price. 9 UNA THE UNICORN has been rested for 110 days, she is much better than her last run, ignore that performance on the 30th of March, she has dropped further in the ratings, on her best form, she will be competitive.

RACE 5

2 MON PAPILLON finished like a train for second behind Before Sunrise on the 27th of June, the blinkers stay on, and she has a good draw, she will be very hard to beat in this field. 11 GIVEN TO FLY finished third in the same race as Mon Papillon last time, her form with the blinkers fitted is very good, unfortunately she has a big weight to shoulder, and she is badly drawn, with some luck in running, she will be amongst the places. 4 ELUSIVE GIFT has dropped even further in the ratings, she will be competitive from a good draw, watch her closely at a decent price. 9 MEG’S LEGACY finished just over two lengths behind Raffish Trend on the 27th of June, she will be just off the speed early, and she will be flying at them late.

RACE 6

1 SOOTY has been rested for 76 days, he was beaten just over three lengths by Cork Bay on the 3rd of May, he absolutely loves this track and distance, he will go close to winning from a good draw. 2 CORK BAY was heavily supported in the market when finishing third behind Witch Hazel on the 27th of June, the yard thinks highly of this gelding, he has a big winning chance from a neat draw. 7 LYRICAL GANGSTER has run two nice races in succession, he will be right there in the finish, include him into all bets. 9 ANOTHER HERO won a good race on the 23rd of June, he will need lots of luck in running from a bad draw, watch him closely.

RACE 7

6 HERITAGE RIDGE won a good race on the 27th of June, she was given two points for that win last time, at this level, she will always be competitive, include her into all bets, she can win again. 11 HIAWATHA GOLDBERG finished second behind Heritage Ridge last time, with some luck in running from a bad draw, he will trouble them in the finish. 8 SHIFTING PATH might be the value play in this tricky race, he finished just over five lengths behind Gold Dust on the 16th of June, he has dropped even further in the ratings, and he gets 2.5kgs off his back, watch him closely at a decent price. 4 PEACE OF MIND changed stables on the 22nd of June, she is very fast, on her best form, she can win a race like this.

RACE 8

7 SARDINIA BAY is much better than his last run, he was well beaten by Un Bel Di on the 21st of June, now that he is back at Hollywoodbets Durbanville, he will be very hard to beat. 10 FLYING FINLEY is in great form at the moment, he won a super race on the 19th of May, the form of that race has worked out well, with some luck in running from a bad draw, he will go close to winning again. 9 UN BEL DI quickened up smartly to win impressively last time, he was given four points for that win, if he brings that run to the track again on Saturday, he will trouble them in the finish. 8 ELUSIVE WINTER is very fast, he has dropped a point in the ratings from his last run, and he gets 2,5kgs off his back, he could sneak into the places from a tricky draw.

Please note: today’s meeting at Woodbine has been abandoned due to poor air quality.

Please Note: South African Quartet Pools with fractional betting offered at Newmarket and Wolverhampton (UK) – 17 July 2026

Soccer10 Friday 17 July 2026. ADD-IN R125 000. Estimated Pool: R1.5 Million. Pool Closes at 20h00.Sport 17 and Pool 1.

Soccer10 Saturday 18 July 2026. ADD-IN R125 000. Estimated Pool: R1.5 Million. Pool Closes at 18h00.Sport 19 and Pool 1.

Soccer Any 13Xtra Saturday 18 July 2026. Carryover R75 000. Estimated Pool: R200 000. Pool Closes at 16h00. Sport 13 and Pool 1.

Soccer13 Saturday 18 July 2026. Carryover R3 202 288. R8.5 Million (If only One 13 of 13 Winner). Pool Closes at 15h30. Sport 10 Pool 1.

Soccer4 Sunday 19 July 2026.  Carryover R25 000. Estimated Pool: R 75 000. Pool Closes at 18h00. Sport 23 Pool 2.

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.

David Thiselton

One of the intriguing questions that will be answered on World Pool Gold Cup day is whether the champion sire Vercingetorix can break his own South African record of 23 individual stakes winners in a season.

He is currently on 21 individual stakes winners and it will hinge on the big turf meeting on the last Sunday of the month as to whether he can break the record or not, because he does not have a runner in the only other stakes race still to be run this season, the Listed Champion Juvenile Cup at Fairview.

Vercingetorix will have many runners representing him on Gold Cup day such is his phenomenal influence on big races in the country.

However, the only ones that will count for this particular record will be the ones who have not previously won a stakes race this season.

A defending champion of one of the big races on the day actually falls into that category i.e. Gladatorian.

It is often said that horses coming fresh into the Gr 1 wfa HKJC Champions Cup have an advantage over those who have run in the July, but Gladatorian ran in the July last year and still managed to win the Champions Cup.

The Stuart Ferrie-trained six-year-old gelding has not had the best of luck with draws in his career, but in last year’s Champions Cup he landed draw three and for once his well known late charge did not come too late. This year he has drawn three out of the 12 horses who are still standing their ground, so will have every chance of defending his title. The man who knows him best, Sean Veale, looks likely to take the ride again as he is contracted to Hollywood Racing and hence rode the Hollywood Racing-owned Isivivane in the July.

In the opening race of the meeting, the Listed Tote Stakes Darley Arabian over 1600m, the Alyson Wright-trained four-year-old Vercingetorix gelding Position Of Power is out of an unraced Horse Chestnut mare who was in turn out of an Elliodor mare who won four times from 1200m to 1600m, so he is interesting stepped up from sprints if taking his place here. His sprints record is six wins, three seconds and a third from 12 starts. He is drawn 18 out of the 35 entries still standing so his final barrier position all depends on how it cuts up.

In the Gr 2 World Pool Bet With Tote Umkhomazi Stakes over 1200m the Mike and Mathew de Kock-trained Vercingetorix two-year-old colt Rising Eagle won comfortably over 1160m on the Turffontein Standside track in his second career start on Saturday. His time did not compare favourably on the day but on the other hand he jumped from an unfavourable low draw and still won. He now has a very wide draw of 40 among the many entries and will need some luck in the running if he lines up in this race.

In the Gr 2 Douglas Whyte Thekwini Stakes over 1600m the Louis Goosen-trained Ferrari Flair is still a maiden but has been performing well in stakes races, including finishing a close third in the Gr 3 Strelitzia Stakes over 1100m and a 2,30 length third in the Listed Amusnet Devon Air Stakes over 1400m. She was not disgraced when a 3,25 length eighth in the Gr 2 Amusnet Golden Slipper over 1400m, but she does not have as good a draw here and she has a bit to find on those who beat her in the latter race.

In the Gr 1 World Pool Moment Of The Day Premiers Champion Stakes over 1600m Rising Eagle is also an entry here and on pedigree should enjoy this 1600m trip as he is out of a New Approach mare who won up to 1800m. However, he has a draw of 23 among the many entries so has a tough task.

The Gr 1 wfa Mercury Sprint sees the hard-knocking Andre Nel-trained four-year-old Vercingetorix gelding O’Tenikwa having an outside chance if able to find a couple of extra lengths on his best form. He has a fair draw of seven.

In the Gr 3 World Pool Gold Cup over 3200m the Dean Kannemeyer-trained five-year-old Vercingetorix gelding Continentalexpress has some fair staying form and carries a lightweight from a plum draw, so he can’t be written off.

In the Gr 2 Bet With The World Gold Bracelet over 2000m the Candice and Tammy Dawson-trained Minogue will make a last ditch bid to win bold black type before being retired to stud and she will certainly deserve it. On the form of her run in the Gr 2 Woolavington 2000 she has a definite chance. She is sure to revert to the handy to front-running tactics that suit her best from a pole position draw, having not being suited to being dropped out to last in the July. The Candice Bass-trained four-year-old Vercingetorix filly Rahhabba won the non-Black type WSB Scarlet Lady over 1750m and was just touched off in the Listed IOS Insider East Coast Cup over 2000m. So carrying just 55kg from a plum draw in the Gold Bracelet she has an outside chance, although she officially has a tough task at the weights.

In the last feature of the season, the Listed HKIR In December Umngeni Handicap over 1000m, the Glen Kotzen-trained four-year-old Vercingetorix gelding Circumbendibus is a hard-knocking sort who has a definite chance. His draw is unknown at the time of writing, but he enjoys this course and distance. The James Crawford-trained Dame Of Trix is an interesting runner here as she won impressively over this trip at Turffontein last time and she could be better than her 98 merit rating suggests. She could land a fair draw when it cuts up as she is drawn 14 out of the 35 entries still standing. Position Of Power, mentioned earlier in the article, has hard-knocking sprint form and is also an entry here, although he is drawn 24, so will likely have a tough barrier position on the day. The Tony Rivalland-trained five-year-old Vercingetorix gelding King Of The Gauls is course and distance suited as he is very quick and he won this race from a wide draw two years ago, but the problem here is he has to do it from another wide draw off an eight point higher merit rating. The Louis Goosen-trained three-year-old Vercingetorix gelding Blazing Fury is a hard-knocking sort who has a two length fourth in a Gr 3 Sprint to his name, but he will officially have a tough task at the weights if he gets in here and he has a wide draw.

David Thiselton

The big news at the end of last week was the scratching of Star Major from the Gr 1 HKJC Champions Cup which effectively takes him out of the running for the Equus Horse Of The Year Award.

The connections have renounced the false rumour that he had been sold and said the temperature he was shown to have had before his scratching from the Hollywoodbets Durban July had remained in flux and had put him out of work for eleven days, which was no way for a horse to go into the Gr 1 weight for age Champions Cup.

See It Again is in the pound seats for the Equus Horse Of The Year award having won the Gr 1 wfa Sun Met and the Gr 1 wfa Premier’s Champion Challenge. If he can add a third Gr 1 weight for age race he will surely be a shoe-in.

However, Questioning and The Real Prince are also still in the running.

Questioning is the most in-form horse in the country and could add the G1 weight for age Mercury Sprint to his Gr 1 wfa Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge win. He has also won two Gr 2s, the Khaya Stables Diadem Stakes over 1200m and the IOS Drill Hall stakes over 1400m.

In fact Questioning might even be considered if not winning the Mercury provided See It Again does not win the Champions Cup. The reason for the consideration would be that he narrowly beat See It Again when a short-head second in the King’s Plate and he beat an admittedly below par See It Again by 5,45 lengths when winning the Gold Challenge.

However, open Gr 1 weight for age wins usually carry the day in the Equus Horse Of The Year award.

The Real Prince could join See It Again on two Gr 1 wfa wins if landing the Champions Cup as he was the winner of the King’s Plate. If he wins the Champions Cup he will also have levelled the tally between himself and See It Again this season to 3-3.

Both horses have had two Gr 1 wfa places besides their wins, with See It Again finishing a 0,25 length third in the King’s Plate and a 3,75 length second in the Gr 1 Wilgerbosdrift HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes, while The Real Prince was a 1,25 length third in the Met and a 2,95 length fourth in the Gold Challenge. So See It Again will probably edge it between those two even if The Real Prince wins the Champions Cup.

However, Questioning could spoil the party for both of them.

The five-year-old Querari gelding has transformed this season from a hard-knocking Gr 1 sort into a horse with the X-factor and he will be going for his fifth victory in succession in the Mercury, presuming he takes his place.

The only reason for him not to take his place would be the unfortunate wide draw he has landed.  However, such have his performances been of late coupled with his obvious zest for racing that it would be no surprise to see him storming to victory, provided he can find some cover around the turn. However, he will need plenty of luck and even then he is up against the highest rated horse in the land, Buffalo Storm Cody.

The latter demonstrated his class last time out in his preparation run for the Mercury when eating up the ground late with his huge stride in the Gr 3 Post Merchants. That was run over the same 1200m course and distance as the Mercury and the weight turnaround will see him 2kg better off with Post Merchants winner Jet Force for a half-a-length beating.

However, Buffalo only beat Tenango by a short-head in the Post Merchants and faces him on the same terms. Furthermore, Tenango has landed a plum draw. Tenango was a 1,60 length second to Buffalo in last year’s Mercury when jumping from draw 13 compared to Buffalo’s 9, so on the draw reversal from that race he has a chance too.

Buffalo has a fair draw of nine this year out of the 24 entries still standing their ground, so should come into a nice draw.

The Gr 1 SA Fillies Sprint winner Asiye Phambili also comes into it with her 2,5kg gender claim and she has landed draw eleven among the entries.

Others to consider are the in-form Taxi To The Moon, while Cosmic Speed and Cats Pajamas are capable sorts who have not landed favourable draws.

In the Champions Cup See It Again’s chief opposition could come from his own stablemate Eight On Eighteen.

The Lancaster Bomber gelding is the reigning Equus Horse Of The Year, but has had an interrupted season. His run in the Gold Challenge can be ignored as he was caught wide behind an unsuitable slow pace. He put up a fine workout at the Hollywoodbets Durban July Gallops and Richard Fourie has since been quoted as saying it would require a crowbar to separate him from Eight On Eighteen, so good did he feel in the gallop.

Eight On Eighteen will appreciate the step up in trip and has drawn a fair six out of 12. He will come in nice and fresh having not run in the July.

Running in the July did not stop Gladatorian from winning the Champions Cup last year and he has landed a plum draw again.

Legal Counsel can’t be ignored either having run a short-head second to Questioning in the Gold Challenge and second to See It Again in the Met. In the July he was asked to lead with topweight and it proved too much. He should appreciate the step down in trip in the Champions Cup and is a tough horse.

Former Equus Horse Of The Year Dave The King has won this race before, but is not in the best form, while Main Defender would have been capable of winning this race at his best, but also needs to bounce back.

Alistair Cohen

Justin Snaith is positively cruising towards another Champion Trainer title but he is certainly not resting on any laurels to take his foot off the gas towards the end of the season. In A Timely Manner hails from his yard and this underachieving son of boom sire, Legislate could be on his way to a breakthrough win. He runs in race 8 over 1600m at Hollywoodbets Durbanville on Tuesday.

He has come up against some good opposition lately and remains consistent. Perhaps a rating relief would have gone a long way, but the handicapper has been impressed enough against good company to leave him rated 92. Digging deep, he is out of a Silvano mare and the great sire only had his progeny hit their straps as older horses. He is riding four-years-old now and that hints that better days lie ahead.

The recent company he has kept includes a trip to Gqeberha where he finished behind the brilliant Anotherdanceforme. There is no disgrace finishing 5,5 lengths behind one of the stars of the Eastern Cape giving her 2kg. He was given a two-month layoff after that run and he found Chasingtherainbow too good over 1400m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth. Again, he fell short by 3,8 lengths which sounds like a good beating but one needs to keep in mind that Chasingtherainbow has won subsequently against far stronger. In A Timely Manner then went very close to beating Blind Date in his most recent appearance in the middle of June. The 0,4-length deficit behind a horse evidently on the up must give him a good leg up against this division.

These are the calmest waters that In A Timely Manner has been in for a while. He gets the services of JP van der Merwe. From a good gate of No 3, plenty is stacked in his favour.

Katsu must be respected with only 50kg to carry. Eduan Muller takes a valuable 4kg off his back. After running to the likes of Tenpenny, La Pulga and Major Master lately, he too plummets in class. Two of those named ran in the Grade 3 Magical Zulu Kingdom Campanajo 2200 last Saturday. Major Master was carded to run in a Listed feature. Katsu does not win too often which is his biggest query. Despite some good numbers and largely consistent runs suggesting he should run another solid race, it is hard to have full faith in him. This is his first run in three months so fitness might not be at his peak. Lucinda Woodruff trains. She is probably the most in-form yard in the country at the moment.

It Is My Time is never far behind In A Timely Manner and he is picked to get into the money. It would be unfair on It Is My Time to tip the latter strongly and ignore the chances of the former. There should be little between them again.

A fun rivalry is starting to form between Objet D’Art and Give It Laldy. Both are improving young horses with good days ahead. Both of them are held in high regard by their connections. They meet in race 6 over 1250m.

The scoreboard shows 1-1 between them. Both of the have been off for nearly three months but both of them should end up running at a fair level during the Cape summer.  Preference is for Objet D’Art using their last meeting as a guide. He is 2kg better off with Give It Laldy when there was 0,3 lengths between them. The counter to that is Give It Laldy is drawn in gate No 1 and he has Gavin Lerena in the irons. Give It Laldy has the Champion Jockey in waiting, Craig Zackey aboard.

Warrior Of Destiny makes appeal in race 1 over 1600m. His main danger looks to be Royal Light and they met last time when Warrior Of Destiny finished two lengths ahead. It is hard to motivate that deficit to be turned around. It is not a strong race by any stretch. Pedigree suggests that this trip should suit ideally too.

Race 2 is the first of two apprentice races. Le Concierge stands out as the horse to beat with Varun Jodhee in the saddle. Every run has been better and his last start was pleasing when beaten less than a length by Another Hero at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth over 1200m. His last run is easily the best run on offer throughout the entire field.

Trainer Adam Marcus has a strong hand in race 3 over 1000m with Ruby Rex and Black Erika. Interesting jockey bookings are at play because Craig Zackey has gone with Ruby Rex who won a weak maiden last time. Zackey rode Black Erika to a narrow win last time. Ruby Rex defeated Miss Smiley by 1,25 lengths. She had the race sealed a long way out but that is not a race to easily hang much faith in. It could be a tip in itself from Zackey so Ruby Rex is given the verdict.

Trip To Camelot is on the up and he finally gets to run over 2000m for the first time. He looks set to complete a hat-trick of wins in race 4 under Zackey. He is a real grinder who looks like he is making hard work of his wins but he is related to SA Derby winners so his running style is no shock. He could develop into a very smart four-year-old now that his wheels are in motion. If he steps into this trip as expected, it could give connections plenty of hope for the future. He will face hard opposition from Chance Encounter, Fort Liam, Phantom Man and Backinthefastlane who all have their capabilities.

It has been many moons since Beer With The Boys last won but his form has turned for the better and he must stand a huge chance in race 5 over 2000m. Jumping from draw No 1, he gets the services of Gavin Lerena. He takes on a field of horses either straight out of the maidens of battling to find direction after a string of wayward efforts. He seems most reliable to at least run into the money and with some luck, win it.

The second apprentice event is race 7 over 1250m where Take It As Red can take advantage of a return to form. She has finished fourth in her last three runs while her rating continues to slowly drop. Eduan Muller is carded to take the ride for Piet and Elbert Steyn. She could not have found a more winnable race.

A very nice race awaits in the last. Race 9 over 1400m has some interesting dynamics attached. Highly rated Miami Summer returned from a six month break last time and he clearly needed the run finishing three lengths behind Clark Griswold in fourth. He is 2kg better off. Clark Griswold is also rated by his yard and his last win was commanding. The addition of recent winners Signor Dante and Gold Dust adds to the intrigue of the race.

David Thiselton

The Gr 3 World Pool Gold Cup has attracted a fine entry of stayers and among them are three former winners of the prestigious 3200m race.

Last year’s winner King Pelles, the 2024 winner Master Redoute and the 2023 winners Future Pearl are all entries and there are also two former runner ups,  last year’s runner up Holding Thumbs and the 2024 runner up Shoot The Rapids.

Also entered are the Gr 3 Durban Gold Vase (3000m) winner, Ahead Of The Facts, the Gr 3 Lucky Fish Winter Stakes (2400m) winner Native Ruler and the Gr 3 Magical Zulu Kingdom Campanajo 2200 winner, Magic Verse.

King Pelles showed his class in the Hollywoodbets Durban July, splitting the dominant three-year-old males and finishing a 1,55 length third. He was used as the line horse so remains on 122.

Native Ruler on 121 is carrying 60kg and King Pelles’ weight is still pending, but with the compressed weight structure he might carry 60kg too or 60,5kg at the most. He has an unusually good turn of foot for a horse who gets two miles and managed to carry the topweight of 60kg to victory last year.

Ahead Of The Facts showed a magnificent turn of foot when winning the Gr 3 Durban Gold Vase and went from about second last to third in a matter of strides. He proved he will get the Gold Cup trip too as he was being eased at the line. The Gold Cup has always been his target, so he should come on from that run a bit too, so will be dangerous carrying 58,5kg off a 116 merit rating.

Master Redoute and Shoot The Rapids come into the reckoning based on the Gold Vase form as they will be 1,5kg and 1kg better off with Ahead Of The Facts respectively for a half-a-length and a 1,30 length beating.

Shoot The Rapids is capable of some fine performances as he proved when runner up two years ago despite going too fast near the front. This season he won the RA Stakes at Turffontein Standside by 9,50 lengths and has been right there in his last few starts, including a 1,30 length third in the Gr 3 Lucky Fish Winter Stakes and a 1,30 length third in the Gold Vase. He is set to carry 59kg which puts him in with a chance although he has landed a wide draw.

Master Redoute had had a fine preparation and should make a bold bid carrying 58.5kg.

Holding Thumbs will be 1kg better off with Ahead Of The Facts for a 3,40 length beating. He is a gallant sort who is capable of a strong finish, but he has unfortunately drawn very wide.

Future Pearl has a lot of class and although he has not run a place since winning the Gr 3 Tabgold Derby over 2400m two years ago he loves Hollywoodbets Greyville and showed signs he could still have what it takes when finishing 4,50 lengths back in the equivalent of that race this year, the Gr 3 Lucky Fish Winter Stakes. He will be 2,5kg better off with Native Ruler for that 4,50 length beating and he should have come on from the run.

Native Ruler won the Winter Stakes in impressive style and ran a good sixth in the July. That was the same position he finished in the July last year, but he ran off a two point higher merit rating this year and, furthermore, had the conditions of the race been the same as last year he would have finished fourth.

Magic Verse is an interesting entry as he was a comfortable winner of the July consolation race, the Gr 3 Magical Zulu Kingdom 2200. He finished a 0,75 length second to Holding Thumbs in the Gr 3 Cape Of Good Hope Chairman’s Cup over 2500m on LKP day and he wasn’t disgraced in the Gr 3 New Turf Carriers Western Cape Stayers over 2800m when beaten 5,55 lengths by Ahead Of The Facts, He will face Holding Thumbs on half-a-kilogram better terms from the Chairmans and will face Ahead Of The Facts on 1,5kg better terms.

Johnny The Thief finished second in the July consolation, beaten 1,40 lengths, and faces Magic Verse on 1,5kg worse terms due to the compressed weight conditions.

Jazz Cafe is an interesting lightweight as the winner of the Gr 3 Lucky Fish Winter Fillies Stakes as that was her first attempt at a staying trip and she beat the SA Derby winner Curious Girl.

Enflame has won five out of his last seven starts and they have been exclusively over staying trips from 2400m to 3200m, so he has a chance if finding his Highveld form, although the concern is his well below par effort at Hollywoodbets Greyville in the Winter Stakes.

Continentalexpress has some good staying form, although he was beaten 5,50 lengths in the Lonsdale Stirrup Cup over 2400m when stepping up to stakes race company.

He was almost three lengths ahead of Vihaan’s Bomb in the latter race and the latter takes his place in the Gold Cup after finishing fourth in the Gold Vase.

Chill In The Air was well beaten in the Gold Vase, but did beat Vihaan’s Bomb in the Lonsdale Stirrup.

It will be interesting to see whether there will be any supplementary entries today (Monday), considering the relatively small size of the field of 14 entries.

The Highveld four-year-old Erupt gelding Corrupt won well over 2600m at Turffontein Inside last Thursday off an 84 rating and this progressive sort would be up with the other bottom weights in the Gold Cup if given a chance.

The declaration stage of the Gold Cup in on Thursday.