David Thiselton

Justin Snaith can end a magnificent Champions Season on a high as he has a strong team on World Pool Gold Cup day.

In the Gold Cup he has three runners and Jonathan Snaith said about them, “Ahead Of The Facts has established himself as South Africa’s leading stayer this season, but a 20-point rise in the ratings over the past seven months means the handicapper is beginning to catch up with him, especially over this testing 3200m. Even so, he remains in with a genuine winning chance. With Richard Fourie in the saddle and his trademark consistency, he deserves the utmost respect.

Magic Verse returned to something close to his best with an encouraging performance last time out when winning the July consolation race. While there are slight stamina concerns over the two miles, a slow run race, which appears very likely, would significantly increase his chances.

Native Ruler had little luck in the Hollywoodbets Durban July and, with a clearer passage, could easily have finished third. He has come through that race in outstanding order and is thriving at home. If he sees out the 3200m, he is capable of running a huge race and looks outstanding value at around 8-1. He is an underrated horse with his best racing ahead.”

The yard have a strong team of four in the Gr 1 wfa HKJ Champions Cup over 1800m and Jonathan said, “See It Again has been aimed specifically at this race and arrives in peak condition. He has enjoyed another outstanding campaign and victory here would see him complete the remarkable feat of winning three Gr1 wfa races in three different provinces as a six-year-old. On current form, he looks the horse they all have to beat. He is a Warhorse.

Eight On Eighteen is looking an absolute picture heading into Sunday. While there has to be some caution after his disappointing last start, virtually everything went against him on that occasion in a slowly run race that didn’t suit. His preparation has been faultless, his work has been excellent, and at his best he is an exceptionally difficult horse to beat. Pure class.

Legal Counsel may be feeling the effects of a demanding Hollywoodbets Durban July, which would have taken plenty out of him. Nevertheless, he has produced a series of top-class performances throughout the season on weight for age terms and, returning to what is arguably his ideal trip, he cannot be dismissed if reproducing his very best. He is an exciting prospect for the Cape Summer, which he will take in after a nice break.

Malmesbury Missile is probably at his most effective between 1400m and a mile, but if the pace is moderate he has enough quality to stay on into the money. At 25-1, he appeals as an interesting outsider, although the running of the race will have to go his way. Gavin Lerena is a huge asset to his chances.”

The yard have one runner in the Gr 2 Bet With The World Gold Bracelet over 2000m and Jonathan said, “Kubu takes a significant step up in class but enjoys a favourable weight pull against many of her rivals. While this is undoubtedly a stiff assignment, she has been working nicely at home. A top-three finish and valuable black type would be an excellent result, but she would need to deliver her best performance yet.”

Such is the Champions Season that Justin has enjoyed that he would be crowned KZN Champion Trainer if it was judged on stakes earnings instead of by number of wins. He has earned R11,820,556 in stakes in KZN this season with the next best being Gareth van Zyl on R6,600,181.

Van Zyl has had 49 wins in KZN this season with Alyson Wright next best on 46, but Van Zyl will retain his title because Wright only contests one more race in the season.

RACE 1

A very weak race and many of them are trying this distance for the first time. Anything is possible. MONKEY’S WEDDING has held his form and could score. SAPPHIRE SUN was often competitive without winning when in the Western Cape. She needed her local debut but could be a real threat. CAPRANICA makes his debut but will not be a surprise winner stepped up in distance. DEAD POETS SOCIETY has run well for this jockey a couple of times already and is not out of it. STRAIGHT RED and LYRICS AND SONGS have both shown improvement on the Polytrack and must be respected for that. LUCA DA WHEELS could be the surprise package going this distance. NIGHT IN JAPAN might play a minor role at very best.

RACE 2

REMIND ME OF YOU has run well in both her starts and could go one place better this time around. LUCY’S WORLD has not been at her best on the Polytrack but could be a threat on her best form. SPIRIT OF NICAL makes a local debut and is not out of it. STONE OF SCONE has been unreliable of late but should run well for Andrew Fortune. TIPSY showed improvement last time out and is not out of it. WITCHING HOUR is better than some recent form suggests and could surprise. Watch the betting on the newcomers, CAUTIONARY, PRINCESS CHANTE, QUEEN OF CASTILLE and LOVE YOU LOTS.

RACE 3

SONG OF MYSELF continues to win her races and there is no real reason she cannot win this as well. Stable companion INSTAWORTHY is well weighted and is a strong front-runner when in the right mood. LOTUS SILK is better than her last Polytrack performance. UNCONQUERABLE LADY could surprise over this course and distance. ROAMING SPIRIT was making good late progress last week and could be a threat. GENOVEFA is improving but does love the Polytrack. YOU’RE SO SPECIAL is suited to this course and distance and could be the surprise package of the race.

RACE 4

A tricky race and it could be worth going wide in the Pick 6. ASTRONOMICAL BOY was a hit-and-miss performer in the Western Cape and may well win on local debut. His stable companions are a concern, though. FOREST SPY, THE WINTER LAKE and FRENCH FLAME are all effective over this track and distance so must be respected. AUGUSTA ROSSO has run well in better races than this and should be competitive. CIAN THE CONQUEROR, DUPONT EMERALD and OVERTURE could surprise.

RACE 5

Trainer Alan Greeff has a decent hand to play in this race. KLEINZEE has been very impressive with some solid wins on the Polytrack and will have Richard Fourie in the irons. However, SILVAN MISTRESS is going to be a threat. She clearly did not like the Polytrack and has won well a couple of times of late and will have Andrew Fortune in the irons. INGQWELE has won his last three starts but has a tougher task under a penalty. LAGUNA VERDE and ABOVE THE HORIZON have been consistent of late and are not out of it. WORLD CHOICE is in good shape and can make the frame.

RACE 6

A very open race and we need to go wide in all the exotics, particularly the Pick 6. GREEN PLANET is well drawn and could bounce back to score. ASINANTANGA is unreliable but has a place chance. CORAL CREEK and SILVER OF SUNSHINE are both capable of scoring over this course and distance. PYRO EDITION is threatening to win and must be respected. CHEERFUL CHARLIE B is better than his last run and must be included in all bets. SILENT TRIGGER and RUN THE WORLD are also hinting that they could score soon.

RACE 7

A very interesting race. Only 8 runners carded for this and trainer Alan Greeff has five of them. Which one of them will prevail? Jockey Richard Fourie rides CHATTERBOX. She was a recent maiden winner and could have more to offer this distance. Stable companion FIRST OFFICER is consistent and clearly not out of it. GIMMETHATWORLDCUP was impressive second time out and should run well for Andrew Fortune. CASPERITA showed she is back to best with a handicap win and will not go down easily. FATEFUL LOVE seems to have lost her way and makes up the Greeff entrants. Dean Smith has two runners. JUST CARTER is consistent and ran on well in his recent defeat and is not out of it. GLOBAL THRILLER did not show his best last time out but might make the frame. FYFIELD LEGEND is consistent but this is a tougher race.

RACE 8

A very open last race handicap. KING VISERYS was caught too far back last time out but can win a race over this course and distance. TEEREX remains in very good form and should fight it out once again. CAN YOU DANSE is better than his last run and could surprise. HONORINE’S GIMMIE is consistent and must be respected for that. REAL WAR is in good form and should contest the finish. Stable companion TRAVEL MASTER enjoyed front-running tactics last time and may follow up. MIO DESTINO showed improvement last time out and is another to consider.

Please Note: South African Quartet Pools with fractional betting offered at Sandown and Thirsk (UK) – 24 July 2026

Please note that following an average pen of 35 and gallops this morning Fairview’s Turf meeting on Friday, 24 July 2026 has been moved to the Poly.

Race 1 distance becomes a 2200m.

All other distances remain as is.

David Thiselton

Summerveld trainer Louis Goosen has a couple of runners on World Pool Gold Cup day on Sunday at Hollywoodbets Greyville as well as a reserve and he is bullish about all three of them.

In the Gr 1 World Pool Moment Of The Day Champion Stakes over 1600m he runs the giant horse Erik Dubois who ran on well last time out in the Gr 2 Durban Golden Horseshoe over 1400m and is improving all the time.

Goosen said, “He is a big, solid sort, you are talking about a 600kg two-year-old and he is still growing in the hindquarters, so I don’t know if he will even fit into the starting stalls – they might have to extend the back or something! He is a magnificent horse. You will see the best of him at three, but I think he is a huge, huge runner in the Champion Stakes on Sunday. He is still a soft, big boy, but he is coming on all the time. He is at the top of his game.”

As opposed to the Golden Horseshoe when drawn widest of all in 14 and dropped in near the back before running on for a 2,95 length sixth, the Laurence Wernars family-owned horse is now drawn three and he has the bonus of three-time SA Champion jockey Lyle Hewitson aboard.

Earlier in the Gr 2 World Pool With Race Coast Debutante over 1200m he runs Ferrari Flair. This Vercingetorix two-year-old filly might still be a maiden, but she has shown class against the best.

In the Gr 3 Tote Strelitzia Stakes over 1100m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville she finished a 0,35 length third in her career third start.

She followed that with a 6,25 length seventh in the Gr 2 Allan Robertson Championship over 1200m in which she ran on very well from last after being squeezed out at the start.

Next time out she ran a fine 2,30 length third to Alice B Toklas in the Listed Devon Air Stakes over 1400m from a pole position draw.

In her last start she didn’t find much extra late when handy and running a 3,25 length eighth in the Gr 2 Amusnet Golden Slipper over 1400m.

She now reverts to a 1200m trip.

Goosen said, “We have got her absolutely spot on and I think she is definitely a runner. We had to decide whether to go up to the mile or back to the 12 and as she has run some crackers over sprints we decided to come down in trip. We managed to get Richard Fourie for the ride.”

Ferrari Flair has landed a plum draw of three and as a non-winner gets 2,5kg from the Gr 2 Amusnet Golden Slipper winner Palace Of Arvernia. Interestingly the latter beat her by 1,40 lengths in the Allan Robertson over this trip, so that puts them just about together at the weights here.

Ferrari Flair should be staying on strongly and has a chance.

The yard’s reserve runner is Blazing Fury, who is second reserve for the Listed HKIR In December Umngeni Handicap over 1000m.

Louis said, “Blazing Fury will be one of the nicest place bets in a long time if he gets in as he has been set 52kg and I will have claimer Blaine Marx-Jacobson up. He will be out at the weights still but it won’t matter he will be a huge runner if there are two scratchings.”

Soccer10 Friday 24 July 2026. ADD-IN: R125 000. Estimated Pool: R1.4 Million. Pool Closes at 20h45. Sport 17 Pool 1

Soccer10 Saturday 25 July 2026. ADD-IN: R125 000. Estimated Pool: R1.4 Million. Pool Closes at 23h30. Sport 20 Pool 1

Soccer Any 13Xtra Saturday 25 July 2026. Carryover R75 000. Estimated Pool: R200 000. Pool Closes at 17h30. Sport 13 and Pool 1.
Soccer13 Saturday 25 July 2026 Carryover R3 395 532 R8.5 Million (If only One 13 of 13 Winner). Pool Closes at 15h30. Sport 10 Pool 1.

Hollywoodbets Greyville Net Pick6 Carryover: R 1 Million. Estimated Pool: R 8 Million. Sunday, 26 July 2026 Race 4 off at 14h35.

Hollywoodbets Greyville Net Jackpot 3 Carryover: R 500 000. Estimated Pool: R 2 Million. Sunday, 26 July 2026 Race 7 off at 16h35.

David Thiselton

The two two-year-old races are often stumbling blocks in the Pick 6 on World Pool Gold Cup day as the juveniles often mature at different rates and unexpected results can transpire.

The Gr 2 Douglas Whyte Stakes over 1600m looks to be a race in which punters can go narrow and they will be hoping there are no surprises. Master Of My Fate filly Alice B Toklas was desperately unlucky in her last start in the Gr 2 Amusnet Golden Slipper over 1400m. After being settled near the back she was slicing through the field like a hot knife through butter while still on the bit and she was then unfortunately badly squeezed out. Even more impressive was that she picked herself up and rallied, passing a few horses late to finish second. Her Hussonet dam Alice Springs’ four wins included three over this trip and furthermore Alice B Toklas is a half-sister to the One World filly World Of Alice who finished a shorthead second in the Gr 2 Wilgerbosdrift SA Oaks over 2450m among other good performances. So, on pedigree evidence Alice B Toklas should relish the step up in trip and her running style also lends herself to that belief. She has a plum draw of three with Richard Fourie staying aboard and at first sight could be a banker consideration. However, both Marchland and Within Reach are two others who need to be taken seriously. In Marchland’s case it must be remembered that an East Cape raider, Golden Palm, won this race last year. Marchland is by the exciting up and coming sire Malmoos and she has won her three career starts at Fairview from 1200m to 1400m with consummate ease and looks to be full of class. The form of her last win in a Listed race over 1400m on the poly has worked out very well. She has a fair draw of six and her regular rider Muzi Yeni is aboard. Within Reach is a Sean Tarry-trained stablemate to Alice B Toklas and impressed last time when surging through to win fluently over 1400m. She was receiving 2kg from the runner up Queen Leila, who has some fair form. Within Reach is also by Malmoos and considering her Oratorio dam Jetorio’s two wins were over 1600m and 1800m respectively she will relish the step up in trip. She has a tricky draw of seven but Keagan de Melo up is a plus and she could be a threat. Those three should suffice for the Pick 6.

The Gr 1 World Pool Moment Of The Day Champion Stakes is more open. Sean Tarry could be in the winner’s box here too. Prayersandpromises ran on in eyecatching style after ending up last in the Gr 2 Golden Horseshoe over 1400m from a wide draw. He should enjoy the step up in trip and has a chance from a better draw of seven. Moana is not visibility eyecatching, but her form is noteworthy. She beat Within Reach in her second start over 1400m, albeit when receiving 3kg, and she has followed up with two wide margin victories over 1600m. She has a good draw of five with Calvin Habib aboard and her 2,5kg gender claim will help. Vibe Check is an imposing, classy sort who creates a big impression. He likes to set the pace and has a wide draw, which creates a concern because on pedigree he has a slight stamina doubt despite two easy wins over 1400m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville which preceded his narrow victory in the Gr 2 Omoda Golden Horseshoe over 1400m at Hollywoodbets Greyville. He is by Querari out of Captain Al mare Victoria Lavelle, whose four wins were from 1000m to 1200m, and furthermore Vibe Check has two decent half-sisters who are both sprinters despite being by Vercingetorix and Silvano respectively i.e. Tulip Fields and Virginia Beach. He is likely to lead but will he be able to hang on? Red Spice is a must include despite a wide draw. He was inconvenienced at the start of the Golden Horseshoe and ended up too far back. However, he stayed on well for a 1,25 length fourth. On pedigree there must be a stamina doubt as he is by speedster Erik The Red out of a Right Approach five-time winning sprinter. However, he is held in high regard and Erik The Red does seem to be fairly versatile as a sire and he also gives the impression he could stay this trip. The Corne Spies-trained gelding Life In Colour won his last start over 1400m in impressive style and although he was only running off an 87 merit rating he is well related, being a a half-brother to Gr 3-winning and Gr 1 SA Fillies Sprint runner up True To Life. Being by Malmoos he might be able to stay the trip and is worth considering. Erik Dubois is a big and maturing son of Erik The Red who ran on well from a wide draw in the Golden Horseshoe and from a good draw here he could be a threat. Secretary Bird, Green Energy, Bachata, Better Never Ends and Viking Leader have all caught the eye before, so all in all this looks like a race to consider putting the whole field in.

The two races are often the pivotal ones of the Pick 6.

Those who can get through them with narrow selection could find themselves in the pound seats, but there often regrets that wider choices were not taken.

Andrew Harrison

Louis Goosen has always had a soft spot for apprentices just learning their trade and has been a mentor to many. Qiniso Ngcobo is the son of Summerveld trainer Bo Ngcobo who does not have the biggest string so chances for his son were always going to be limited.

But Goosen was sufficiently impressed with Qiniso to entrust him on his star mare Arverni Princess who had won four of her last five starts and smart over course and distance at Hollywoodbets Scottsville yesterday.

Always up with the pace as is her want, Ngcobo just had to keep his head and punch for the line, which he did to land the first win of his career holding off Ruby Rising who came with a telling late run but not able to get to the winner.

Warrior Royale is not the easiest to work with as alluded to by Mike Miller‘s assistant Craig Eudey post-race but when she puts her mind to racing she is more than useful. She had to have a shoe attended to at the start and not easy to load, but once out of the gates she was not for the catching.

Recording her fifth win from just 13 outings, she kept galloping all the way up the straight with challenges blunted early. Tulip Fields ran on but never a threat but finished off to snatch second ahead of Miss World and De Vlugge, the latter possibly more effective on the poly.

Dancing Party, badly hampered by a loose horse at her last start, made no mistakes in the card opener. Mekong tried to make all but was tracked by Callan Murray aboard Dancing Party and once Murray asked for maximum, she drew off to win comfortably with Mekong well clear of the balance of her rivals.

Steamy Window, after smart efforts behind Vibe Check and Viking Leader, looked the part in the Juvenile Plate but it was not to be.  Omkhulu Boss cracked the whip. Making steady improvement and taking full advantage of his 3kg pull with winners, Glen Kotzen’s gelding strode to a comfortable victory with Kid From The South chasing him home and Steamy Windows just managing to hold on to third.

It’s only a week or two before all thoroughbred races horses turn one year older but Doug Campbell’s two-year-old Sei Bella and Mike Miller’s Tears Of The Sun put one over their year older rival Gimme The Power in the first leg of the PA. Gimme The Power had the race at her mercy a furlong out but was not able to hold the challenges from her younger rivals.

Some way out, Candice Bass was in line for a one-two in the apprentice Class 5 with Taylor’s Version trying to make all and Lilac In Winter also in contention at the 400m mark. However, the places reversed over the final 200m as Damyan Pillay slipped Lilac In Winter up the inside of her stable companion to finish off the race in commanding fashion with favourite Hop Hop Spinnekop, giving Mxolisi Mbuto a hard time as she tried to duck in, doing enough to split the Bass runners.

Not to be outgone, Gareth van Zyl went one better with Wiccan Warrior and I Am Invictus finishing one-two in a tight finish to the Class 4. It was a three-way contest over the last 200m with Buddy Boy also in contention with little more than a head separating the three at the line.

Lunch Money, having his first outing for Frikkie Greyling, was given a confident ride by Girish Sam-Burthia in a tight finish to the Apprentice D Stakes with One Armed Bandit and the balance of the runners a long way back. The two came together a long way out in a ding-dong battle with Samo-Burthia having his hands full to keep Lunch Money on a straight course but punching out hands and heels, Lunch Money just managed to hold One Armed Bandit at bay.