David Thiselton

The Gr 1weight for age  HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes, to be run over 1600m at Turffontein Standside on Saturday, will have its best field for many a season, even if there are only nine runners.

The Gr 1 SA Classic and Gr 1 Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic have also attracted smallish but quality fields.

The Horse Chestnut shapes as a mile championship featuring the L’Ormarins King’s Plate winner The Real Prince against See It Again, who was an unlucky 0,25 length third in the King’s Plate before winning the WSB Met.

The Highveld challenge is led by Main Defender, who defeated the subsequently named Equus Horse Of The Year Dave The King by 2,75 lengths when winning this race in 2024.

Last year’s winner and runner up, Cosmic Speed and Texas Red are also in the line up.

There is also the reigning Highveld Horse Of The Year Fire Attack, whose King’s Plate run can be ignored as his preparation was interrupted and he proved it was all wrong when bouncing back to win first time out back on the Highveld.

His Alec Laird-trained stablemate Atticus Finch, a former Gr 1 Betway Summer Cup winner, was impressive when waltzing home to a three length win in this season’s Gr 2 Allied- Steelrode Onamission Charity Mile, despite carrying topweight.

The 117-rated three-year-old Tin Pan Alley has been preferred for this race as it is probably a more suitable trip for him than the Gr 1 SA Classic over 1800m.

The field is completed by Pressonregardless, who is outgunned on paper, but he has come into his own this season and possesses a lot of class.

See It Again is officially rated 130, so is officially 1kg better off with The Real Prince, who is rated 128.

On L’Ormarin’s King’s Plate form it is The Real Prince who emerges the victor by 0,25 lengths, but See It Again had to wait a tad to get into top gear in that race due to Dave The King falling back on him and that might have made the difference between victory and defeat.

On WSB Met form See It Again emerges the victor as The Real Prince was beaten 1,25 lengths into third.

See It Again had tough draws in both the King’s Plate and the Met, ten out of 14 and ten out of ten, and he has now drawn eight out of nine.

The draw should not bother him as he has a magnificent turn of foot.

Richard Fourie replaces the injured Andrew Fortune, a world class jockey for a world class jockey, so that is a further bonus to See It Again’s chances.

The Real Prince, who is also a Hollywoodbets Durban July winner, drew six in both the KIng’s Plate and Met and is now drawn seven. He also has a magnificent turn of foot and has his regular world class rider in Craig Zackey up.

Main Defender has his second run after a long layoff and came last in his comeback over 1160m in a small field. He has an exhilarating turn of foot at his best and has drawn well in four with the world class reigning champion jockey Gavin Lerena up.

Fire Attack will be running on strongly from draw five under Calvin Habib.

Cosmic Speed drew three when winning last year under Zackey and is now drawn six under Ryan Munger. However, he has 3,45 lengths and 3,20  lengths to make up on The Real Prince and See It Again respectively from King’s Plate form.

Texas Red was drawn five last year and has pole position this year with Matsunyane retaining the ride, but its a much tougher field.

If the Atticus Finch who won the Charity Mile turns up, he must have a chance from draw three, but he hasn’t been seen since being pulled up with something amiss in the Summer Cup. He was also last in the July, after having epistaxis.

Tin Pan Alley beat older horses in the Gr 2 Betway Jo’Burg Spring Challenge over 1450m, but Atticus Finch emerges better here at the weights on the form of that race and Tin Pan Alley might prefer the shorter 1450m trip. However, he has drawn well in two and Keagan de Melo is up.

Pressonregardless has Callan Murray up, but not only has to jump from draw nine out of nine, but he is officially 10,5kg under sufferance with the best in See It Again. He can’t be completely discounted though because this long-striding sort will relish the fast pace generated by a better class of horse, provided he finds cover from that wide draw.

In the SA Classic the highest rated horse, Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas winner Jan van Goyen, has draw well in three out of nine, while his Jackpot City Dingaans conqueror Trust has drawn two. The Gr 2 Gauteng Guineas one-two Splittheeights and Grand Empire have drawn eight and one respectively while other likely fancied horses One Eye On Vegas and the exciting but unexposed Errol Flynn have draw seven and six respectively.

In the Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic Hazy Dazy has drawn four out of ten in her bid to keep her Wilgerbosdrift Triple Tiara hopes alive.

Alistair Cohen

Expect the pace to be blistering in race 2 over 1000m at Hollywoodbets Durbanville today. Some of the quickest in Cape Town will test their pace against each other. With the promise of a hot speed, the one who could sit back and wait to pounce could be the most dangerous. That is the talented North Point as he continues his rise through the ranks.

Setback by injury for a few months, many forgot the promise North Point showed as a two-year-old toppling the likes of Demanding Dave. From five starts he claimed two wins and two places through his juvenile campaign. Rested between May and November 2025, expectations might have been curbed slightly for his return.

He lost none of his exuberance and obvious natural ability. To return to the course in the form that he has is the mark of a talented horse. After six months away from racing he came back with a superb 0,4-length second behind Demanding Dave over this trip at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth. He hit the line with plenty of gusto suggesting that he would be hugely dangerous in his next run. Keep in mind that Demanding Dave has now completed three wins-on-the-bounce.

North Point duly followed up with a classy win over subsequent winner, Black Eagle over the same Hollywoodbets Kenilworth trip. He might be one-dimensional in that he is best over the minimum trip but there are serious races in that range.

With Elusive Winter and Candy Town in this race, they are likely to do what they do best. Their best assets are their speed which should allow North Point to have horses who have battled it out up front to aim at. It is never as simple as wait and pounce but he should have every opportunity judging how the race should transpire. JP van der Merwe knows him best and he takes the ride for James Crawford.

Elusive Winter never does things the easy way. His speed is a weapon and that has carried him to five wins and eight places through his career. Michelle Rix has done a fine job keeping this horse on the boil. He was hammered early by the handicapper for winning on debut so patience had to be exercised for him to spark into life. One can be sure that despite his brave but vulnerable running style, that he has tons of tenacity to pull this off. Especially with Sifiso Bungane taking 4kg off his back.

Candy Town is another known element of pace. She probably has more natural gas but she is prone to the odd howler. Her cheap speed makes her interesting on a dry track but she is not the easiest to follow. At her best, she is very dangerous. Keagan de Melo takes the ride.

Fort Yukon ran his best race in his most recent appearance and he could confirm that improvement against a rather poor field in race 1 over 1600m. His last run came over 1400m down the road at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth and he finished second behind Cedar Point. That elevation in form and proximity to the winner should be enough to propel him to victory. Calvin Habib rode him last time and he is back aboard for Adam Marcus.

There are a few with chances in race 3 over 1000m. Lyrical Gangster has always suggested some promise but he has fallen short of kicking on from a rather weak level. He might still have the tools to make progress and he could be the horse to beat. He left the maiden ranks in his penultimate run when he reverted to this trip and he followed up with a neat second post-maiden. He might have a little more scope than his rivals.

Kamchatka is the most interesting runner in race 4 over 1250m. She gave the entire field stacks of weight in the Clapham Stakes over 1600m exactly a month ago. She was not disgraced when she finished fifth behind her stable companion, Rose Woott. If she can fit into this sprint trip, she will take a ton of beating. Her exploits this summer read well with runs to Legal Counsel and Sukhumvit. Legal Counsel was runner-up in the Grade 1 World Sports Betting Cape Town Met.

There is a good spread of chances in race 5 over 1250m. Star World could be peaking at the right time to score an overdue second career victory. She has placed in her last two starts which came over this course and distance. Richard Fourie sticks with her for Vaughan Marshall. She finished ahead of Final Call last time and he is 4kg better off for two lengths. That should keep her ahead of a rival with a chance. Others to consider are Flying South, William’s Woman and South Of France.

Gin Palace was a fluent winner of her most recent start when she beat South Of France by a length over 1400m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth. Andrew Fortune did duty on her last time and the run before when his irons snapped and he was of no assistance. She is tipped to complete back-to-back wins in race 6 over 1400m. Corne Orffer has won on Gin Palace before and he replaces the medically indisposed Andrew Fortune. Dream Searcher could be her main danger. She gets on so well with jockey Craig Bantam. They are never easy to ignore.

A simple view of Show Off’s last run which came over 1400m at this course will remind racing fans just how unlucky he was. He was baulked twice and after he came from the clouds to finish second behind Boogiefied, beaten 0,4 lengths. No fault of Gareth Wright aboard, he should have won. He is back over the same course and distance in race 7. Consider chances from King’s Quest, Astronomical Boy and Nightrain.

There is not much to get excited about in race 8 over 1400m. Theleia could prove to confirm her better last run when she ran second behind Peaches And Cream over this course and distance. She has always given the impression that she needs time and racing. Things seem to be falling into place.

CAPTION: Trainer James Crawford runs NORTH POINT in Race 2 – the JOIN THE RACE COAST TURF CLUB MIDDLE STAKES at Hollywoodbets Durbanville – Wednesday 04 March 2026

RACE 1

4 FORT YUKON ran a great race at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on the 4th of February, he caught the eye for second behind Cedar Point, this doesn’t look to be the strongest maiden race on paper, he will go very close to winning from a good draw. 8 SUPER VIKING was gelded on the 14th of January, he was last seen staying on beautifully for third behind District Master on the 13th of January, the form of that race has worked out well, if he gets some luck in running from a tricky draw on Wednesday, he will go close to winning. 7 BOURBON KING ran a fair race last time, he was beaten just under five lengths by Cedar Point, he will love the step up in trip to 1600m, watch for sharp improvement from this gelding. 5 TAKETHEGREENLIGHT ran a much better race at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on the 22nd of February, he was only beaten just over two lengths by Greenchoice, if he brings that run to the track on Wednesday, he will be competitive at a decent price. (Brandon Bailey: 4 – 8 – 7 – 5)

RACE 2

3 NORTH POINT won impressively at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on the 4th of February, he was given three points for that good win, he is packed with class, there is no doubt that he can win again, include him into all bets. 4 ELUSIVE WINTER was only beaten just over two lengths by All The Rage in the Winchester Sprint Cup on the 31st of January, he is very fast, on his best form, he will be hard to catch late, watch him closely. 1 SARDINIA BAY has been rested for 102 days, he ran a fair race behind Green Gateway in the Listed Sophomore Sprint, top jockey Richard Fourie has been booked to ride this gelding on Wednesday, he should run a big race from a neat draw. 2 UN BEL DI has been rested for 102 days, he ran a great race for fourth behind Mai Sensation in the Bantry Bay stakes on the 22nd of November, he is super consistent. (Brandon Bailey: 3 – 4 – 1 – 2)

RACE 3

8 ALL ABOUT AL won a terrific race at Hollywoodbets Durbanville on the 17th of January, he was given three points for that victory, Trainer Adam Marcus has done a wonderful job with this gelding, if he gets some luck in running from a tricky draw here, he can definitely win again. 1 MOODY BLUE stayed on well for third behind Rattlesnake on the 4th of February, he never runs a bad race, from a good draw on Wednesday, he should get the perfect run, include him into all bets, he will go close to winning. 5 PEACE OF MIND finished second in the same race as Moody Blue last time, she was a touch unlucky in that race, she is very fast, on her best form, she will make them all work for victory. 2 LOVE SHACK needed her run badly on the 14th of February, she was only beaten just under three lengths on that occasion, she could be some decent value in this tricky race, if the gaps open at the right time, she will be right there in the finish. (Brandon Bailey: 8 – 1 – 5 – 2)

RACE 4

4 MISS WORLD must have a good winning chance in this field, she was only beaten just over three lengths by Jet Force on the 14th of February, she has no weight on her back, and she drops in trip to 1250m, she can definitely win a race like this. 5 WANDER DUNE has been rested for 140 days, she is much better than her last run, the drop in trip is key for this filly on Wednesday, if she doesn’t need the run back after a lengthy break, she will be competitive. 2 KAMCHATKA was beaten just over five lengths by her stable companion in the Clapham Stakes on the 4th of February, she is a big filly with a big action, she might enjoy the drop in trip to 1250m, include her into all bets. 3 TULIP FIELDS has been rested for 88 days, she was last seen finishing just under six lengths behind Quickstepgal in the Grade 1 Cape Fillies Guineas, she is a classy filly, watch her closely. (Brandon Bailey: 4 – 5 – 2 – 3)

RACE 5

6 STAR WORLD had absolutely no luck out the gates at Hollywoodbets Durbanville on the 14th of February, she was badly bumped early, and she still managed to finish strongly for second behind Lady Look Alike, she loves Hollywoodbets Durbanville, she has a big winning chance in this field. 7 SOUTH OF FRANCE stayed on well for second behind Gin Palace on the 4th of February, she is very consistent, unfortunately the wide draw here will make life tough for her, but she will be storming home late, include her into all bets. 4 WILLIAM’S WOMAN was beaten just under five lengths by Caribbean Gold at Hollywoodbets Durbanville on the 14th of February, she has dropped even further in the ratings, she should be amongst the places on her best form. 5 FINAL CALL finished fourth in the same race as Star World last time, she will be doing some good work late, watch her closely at a decent price. (Brandon Bailey: 6 – 7 – 4 – 5)

RACE 6

7 DREAM SEARCHER continues to impress, she won a great race at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on the 4th of February, she was given four points for that impressive win, Jockey Craig Bantam sticks with this mare, she will be just off them early, and she will be running on strongly late, she can definitely win again. 8 GIN PALACE was given a great ride by jockey Andrew Fortune on the 4th of February, she quickened away from the field in good style, the yard thinks highly of this filly, if she beats the tricky draw on Wednesday, she will be competitive. 1 PENTOLINA ran a much better race last time, she was doing some good work late for third behind Amayah on the 14th of February, the blinkers stay on, she will be there amongst the places again from a good draw. 6 RIKKITIKKITAVI ran a cracker for second behind Dream Searcher on the 4th of February, she is consistent, and she is better off at the weights this time with Dream Searcher, her chances must be respected. (Brandon Bailey: 7 – 8 – 1 – 6)

RACE 7

3 KING’S QUEST ran a lovely race from a bad draw at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on the 31st of January, he was doing some good work late behind Foudre last time, he has dropped in trip, and he has dropped further in the ratings, he will be flying at them late from a good draw. 9 IT IS MY TIME was heavily backed in the market at Hollywoodbets Durbanville on the 14th of February, unfortunately the race didn’t go according to plan for this gelding, he stopped late to finish just over two lengths behind Boogiefied, he likes to be on speed early, if he gets to the front cheaply, he will be hard to run down late, include him into all bets. 6 SHOW OFF ran a terrific race for second in the same race as It Is My Time on the 14th of February, that was his first run back after a long break, he can only improve, there is no doubt he can win a race like this. 1 COASTAL COMMANDER continues to slide in the ratings, he was beaten just over three lengths by Stormwatch on the 4th of February, the blinkers have been removed, he should run a big race from a neat draw. (Brandon Bailey: 3 – 9 – 6 – 1)

RACE 8

5 THELEIA stayed on nicely for second behind Peaches And Cream on the 14th of February, she certainly enjoyed the step up in trip to 1400m last time, this looks to be the right field for her to exit the maiden ranks, she will be hard to beat. 11 HOMING PIGEON finished just under two lengths behind Loui’s Star on the 11th of February, she is very consistent, the blinkers stay on, and she drops in trip on Wednesday, if she beats the bad draw, she will go close to winning. 8 MEGHAN’S DIAMOND ran a fair race for third behind Ebisu on the 14th of February, she looks to be in a good space at the moment, on her best form, she will be right there in the places. 1 VIVO PER LEI looked to be travelling like a winner last time when finishing third behind Cedar Point, she might try and steal the race from the front, watch her closely. (Brandon Bailey: 5 – 11 – 8 – 1)

David Thiselton

The Chris Waller-trained Australian racehorse Autumn Glow has become a global sensation after making it ten wins unbeaten when winning the Aus $1 million Gr1 Verry Elleegant Stakes run over a mile at Randwick on Saturday and this is a triumph for South African thoroughbred breeding, because she is out of the former Duncan Howells-trained Equus Champion Sprinter Via Africa.

Her success is good news for Cape Town-based racing man Rod Mattheyse because he not only has a share in Via Africa, but also has an interest in her family in South Africa.

Rod noticed a small share was available in Via Africa in Australia a few years ago and said, “I decided to take it up and one of the main reasons was because I owned her half-sister by What A Winter out here called, I Like It Hot.”

The good news is that the speedy I Like It Hot, who won one race for Dennis Drier in KZN and one for Tara Laing in the East Cape, is now producing at stud.

Rod revealed, “Her first foal is a Rafeef filly who is on the Race Coast Sales Premier Yearling Sale in a couple of weeks’ time. She now has a Thunderstruck at foot and is in foal again to Rafeef.”

He added, “The Rafeef on the Sale is a first foal, but she is high quality and very correct. She is beautiful.”

He continued, “The Thunderstruck … well call me a breeder, but she’s an absolute bomb! She’s obviously got a bit more Var in her than the Rafeef one. But I can’t wait for the next Rafeef to come around as she throws a bit of scope to him as well.”

Meanwhile Via Africa is in foal to the most expensive stallion in Australia, Zoustar.

She is standing currently at Widden Stud.

As Autumn Glow’s unbeaten record grows comparisons are being made to two previous sensational females trained by Chris Waller, Winx, who won 33 races in a row and won a record 25 Gr 1s, and Black Caviar, who holds a modern international record for top level  thoroughbred racing because she won all 25 of her races.

Rod said, “I think one of Autumn Glow’s owners, John Messara of Arrowfield Stud, is circumspect in the number of times he races his mares. They tend to give her a target of about four or five runs and then rest her. John Messara is of the view that if you over-race a mare they don’t produce at stud.”

Autumn Glow has won two Gr 1s to date.

The George Ryder Stakes (Gr 1, 1500m) at Rosehill on March 21 shapes as her next assignment, with Waller leaving the door ajar for a potential rise to 2000 metres, possibly in April’s Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Gr 1, 2000m) back at Randwick, should she continue to dominate at weight-for-age level. The Doncaster Mile (Gr 1, 1600m) also remains in calculations, though the handicap conditions pose their own challenges.

“I’d love to try her at 2000 metres, but she’s got to be dominant in her next win to give us that ultimate satisfaction that she can run it, otherwise it’s probably the Doncaster,” Waller said.

He continued, “She’s a different type to some of those good horses I’ve trained, when they get back and have your heart in your mouth. She’s up on the speed. She puts herself there, so that’s the difference.”

Rod said there was also a possibility she would travel to Royal Ascot, depending on how the next two races went.

A story surfaced a couple of years ago that Via Africa had been seen in poor condition at a Sale.

Rod explained she has got a knee problem, but is as sound as a mare can possibly be. She is still comfortable on the knee and it is not hindering her at all at the moment and the right thing would be done if it was bothering her.

Furthermore, he said she was a mare who lightened up a lot with travel and with the bit of associated stress, so the picture taken in the small window of one Sale she travelled to was not at all the correct presentation of her wellbeing.

He said John Kelly, the owner of Newhaven Stud where she was standing at the time, was a highly respected horseman. That is to the extent that he is one of only three non-Chinese owners in Hong Racing.

“He is not somebody who is going to be mal-treating horses and she only moved to Widden Stud because that was where she was being covered. That made it as stress-free as possible for her and she is happy and content there and being well looked after.”

Via Africa has actually produced two Gr 1 winners.

The first of them was called In The Congo by Snitzel, trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott.

In The Congo has already had a milestone at stud in that in his first year he received more mares than any other first season sire in the whole of Australia.

Interestingly, in the only Gr 1 he won he beat Anamoe, who is currently the most fashionable first season sire in Australia. This nine-time Gr 1-winning Anamoe’s opening service fee was Aus$121,000 and he has already had a Aus$1 million progeny at the Sales.

In The Congo, whose first crop are now yearlings, has had a Aus$625,000 colt purchased by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott.

Things are looking bright for the family of Via Africa and Autumn Glow will continue to be followed with awe by South African racing fans.

Andrew Harrison

Justin Snaith was hoping for an early strike with Roland Garros as the Champion Trainer starts his Champions Season raid but I’m A Fireball put paid to that as Mike and Mathew de Kock’s gelding put a disappointing run in the Gr2 Gauteng Guineas behind him to win the March Stakes over 1400 m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville yesterday.

Callan Murray intimated that the 1600m of the Guineas had been a touch too far from a wide gate but he had no hesitation in taking I’m A Fireball to the front from the start.

Under pressure all the way up the straight, I’m A Fireball kept finding. In contrast, favourite Roland Garros was a long way off the pace turning for home and at one stage looked to be struggling. However, the grey finally got it all together and was making strong progress late, but too late, with I’m A Fireball holding him off by a fast-diminishing half-length.

Mike Miller has few peers in starting off young horses and while most of his contemporaries sit back and wait to bring on their charges, Miller has them out early and reaps the rewards.

He landed the first two on the card  as Japura finally got her nose in front in the card opener after finishing runner-up to Durban Diamond at her previous start.

The stable then had a solid form-line going into the next where Durban Diamond was close to the top of the boards. All the money was for Global Trend and it was money on the mark as the daughter of Red Ray cantered home ahead of stable companions Royal Crest and Ode To The Sea giving the yard a well-deserved trifecta.

Miller stable rider Tristan Godden got the first two home for the yard but switched to the Peter Muscutt-trained  Psyche in the first leg of the Pick 6. Godden admitted in a post-race interview after Global Trend’s win, that Psyche had disappointed in all three starts when starting favourite. There were no mistakes yesterday. Taking up the running early in the straight Psyche put all behind her cantering home with veteran Skipper O’Malley a well-beaten second.

Rachel Venniker has hit a rich vein of form at recent meetings. She booted home a treble in the night meeting at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Friday and followed up yesterday on JP’s Palace for Darryl Moore whose yard has also found form with the United States back at his best on Friday night’s poly.

Riding s copybook race. Venniker has JP’S Palace poised on the rail as Terminator set the pace but once taking over the lead it was tough going as challenges came from all sides but the son of Potala Palace showed mountains of courage in fighting them all off and getting home just ahead of Mister Nibbles and Tyrconnell.

Terry Fripp is doing a masterful job for Milnerton-based Candice Bass as her Summerveld assistant as the numbers show. Fripp joking said that he was winning maidens but Lilac In Winter put that straight as she ran out a comfortable winner of the Class 5.

Sneeuwitjie has upset more than one exotic bet, both her victories coming at long odds, and for a few strides it looked as if she would scupper a few more. However, she was out of gas over the final furlong as Serino Moodley got the best out of Lilac In Winter who ran on strongly to keep Greenlight Queen at bay with Sneeuwitjie staying on for second and R6.30 a ‘drum’.

Vihaan’s Web is relatively lightly raced as a four-year-old but made it four from a dozen starts as he held on just long enough to edge out favourite Fortress Of Fire in the Class 3 over 1200m. The result may have boiled down to 1kg with Gareth van Zyl’s charge hold on under 2.5kg claimer Damyan Pillay and Venniker with her 1.5kg allowance closing fast but just not quickly enough.

Apprentice Bongani Makhubo comes with a pedigree in racing second to none with his father a long-time employee of the Mike and Mathew de Kock yard and also an accomplished rider in workrider’s races.

At just his sixth ride as an apprentice, Bongani shed his maiden as he fittingly got Queen Braganza home in the last for the De Kock yard. He will need some tidying up as he had reins as long as fishing lines in the drive for the line, but Queen Braganza responded gamely to comfortably hold off Captain’s Pride and deny Venniker a second winner.

David Thiselton

Richard Fourie’s decision to jump off Note To Self and get on to Wish List upon the injury to the latter’s original jockey Andrew Fortune, proved to be spot on as she became the ninth filly in history to win the Gr 1 Lucky Fish Cape Derby at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday and the first filly for 27 years to do it.

However, Note To Self is also a horse to take out of the race as he impressed again with his acceleration from the back and his enormous stride and his second place finish gave owners Nancy Hossack and Jonathan Bloch, as well as trainer Justin Snaith, the exacta. Jonathan Snaith has a share in Note To Self.

Note To Self was also arguably a touch unlucky! Grant van Niekerk, who picked up the chance ride, said he would have just about won it if Fourie had not “cut him off” at around the 400m mark, although the overall evidence would point to the incident as unlikely to have affected the result.

Wish List’s antics at the start did not affect her performance and she is now a two-time Gr 1 winner after winning the Gr 1 Cartier Paddock Stakes over 1800m in her last start under Fortune.

The stipendiary steward report read, “WISH LIST (R Fourie) was stubborn loading and had to be hooded.”

It said later, “In view of the report from the Starter regarding WISH LIST (R Fourie), Trainer SJ Snaith will be advised to have this filly re-schooled prior to her next engagement in terms of Rule 61.6.10.”

Viva’s Liberte took the lead after jumping well from draw seven, although the stipendiary report indicated he had pulled hard early. Better Man came from the widest draw of the eight horse field to slot into second place.

Happy Verse was in third place on the rail as the field began to stretch out on the back of the strong pace. Star Major also pulled hard early and was eventually switched out to sit on the quarters of Happy Verse.

Wish List had the perfect position on the rail in fifth place behind the strong pace. Pay The Palace was sitting one wide with cover from Star Major.

Note To Self was inconvenienced slightly early on when the pulling Star Major was switched outward to get alongside Happy Verse, but thereafter he settled nicely behind Wish List.

Ignite The Fire was unruly from the off and  eventually ran around the field when JP van der Merwe could no longer hold him and he finished tailed off.

In the straight the talented Viva’s Liberte continued to stretch out towards the middle.

However, Wish List surged forward still under a strong hold and had joined him by the 300m mark.

At the 400m mark Wish List appeared to take up the running of Note To Self who was chasing under a drive from Van Niekerk, who also gave him a back hander to try and get into the gap.

However, the stipendiary report just said, “At the 300m NOTE TO SELF (G van Niekerk) was directed outward when unable to secure a clear run between the inside running rail and WISH LIST (R Fourie).”

However, they have not opened an inquiry into the incident.

Furthermore, Wish List was still under the hands then and was being eased at the line, so it is unlikely the incident would have altered the result.

Fourie drove Wish List with the hands from the 300m mark and did not draw the stick once.

She drifted off the rail and this saw Note To Self chasing with his long stride along the rail, but he was making no inroads until Wish List was eased before the line.

The official margin was 0,75 lengths.

Viva’s Liberte stayed on gamely to be beaten three lengths with Star Major a neck behind him and Happy Verse a further 0,40 lengths back.

Star Major off a 114 looks to be the obvious line horse as he ran exactly to the form of the Politician Stakes with Happy Verse, beating him by 0,40 lengths.

That means Note To Self could go up to 119 and be the highest rated three-year-old in the land, which is also a fair fit as he beat Happy Verse by 2,85 lengths whereas the 118-rated Jan van Goyen beat Happy Verse by 2,75 lengths in the Gr 1 Hollywood bets Cape Guineas.

The 115-rated Wish List was receiving 2,5kg from the males, so might just get a point or two due to the ease of the victory.

Wish List is by former Cape Derby winner Legislate out of the SA Oaks-winning Silvano mare Wind Chill and she was bred by Maine Chance Farms.

The Gr 2 Khaya Stables Diadem Stakes saw the versatile Vaughan Marshall-trained Questioning, a five-year-old Querari gelding, continuing his fine season and running out a 2,5 length winner under Fourie from O’Tenikwa, Outlaw King, I Am Giant and Asiye Phambili.

The Dean Kennemeyer-trained Princess Of Gaul (Vercingetorix) scored a third career Graded stakes win when landing the Gr 3 Splashout Prix du Cap over 1400m under Craig Zackey.

The Gr 3 Ridgemont Cape Of Good Hope Nursery over 1200m was won by the Piet and Elbert Steyn-trained Red Spice (Erik The Red) under Keagan de Melo, the Listed Kenilworth Cup over 2500m was won by the Paddy Kruyer-trained Tenpenny (What A Winter) under JP van der Merwe and the Listed Play ‘N Go Jet Master Stakes over 1600m was won by the Des Machlachlan-trained Jet Force (Master Of My Fate) under Grant van Niekerk.

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!

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.