Category Archives: Racing News

See It Again is on the right track

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Andrew Harrison

A promising career once headed for the annals of what could have been, has enjoyed a resurrection. See It Again, prematurely consigned to the dustbin of history after repeated refusals to enter the starting stalls, is on track for another crack at the Gr1 Hollywoodbets Durban July, a race that has eluded him in spite of his obvious talent.

Since his relocation to the Western Cape where renown horse behaviorist Malan de Toit and trainer Justin Snaith have got the gelding to refocus and bring out his ability, their efforts were rewarded with victory in the Gr1 WSB Cape Town Met.

With his starting stall issues seemingly behind him, See It Again made the trip up to what was home ground in KZN before raiding Turffontein where he finished a good second in the Gr1 HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes over 1600m behind smart three-year-old Tin Pan Alley who saw his rating jump from 117 to 128 after the race much to the chagrin of Sean Tarry.

That said, See It Again faces another test on his journey into Champions Season in KZN when he lines up in the Gr1 HKJC Premier’s Champion Stakes over the testing Turffontein track on Saturday.

The Turffontein 2000m is not unfamiliar territory, See It Again finishing two lengths off winner Atticus Finch in last season’s Gr1 Betway Summer Cup giving the winner 6kg.

Saturday’s race is WFA which suggests that all being equal, Atticus Finch has it all to do at level weights.

Andrew Fortune rode a masterful race on See It Again to win the Met and he would dearly have loved to be aboard on Saturday but for a heavy fall at Fairview that saw him sidelined with broken ribs and collar bone. Speaking at Summerveld last Saturday he said things were on track for a return to the saddle in three weeks’ time.

Fortune has been replaced by Craig Zackey, an interesting call as Richard Fourie partnered See It Again in the Horse Chestnut and is now booked for stable companion Okavango while Zackey may well have had the choice of Grand Empire and Madison Valley. Okavango was game in a front-running display in the Listed Kings Cup when holding off the more than useful King Pelles at Hollywoodbets Scottsville and as both See It Again and Okavango are owned by Nic Jonsson, Okavango may be the sacrificial lamb with Fourie a master judge of pace.

Grand Empire and Trust fought a desperate duel in the Gr1 HKJC SA Classic, a nose separating the pair. Both go this trip for the first time but current crop of three-year-olds have yet to be solidly tested against top older horses and this race should give some indication of the depth. Both go this trip for the first time and both Tarry and Candice and Tammy Dawson have a knack for preparing their changes for the big days so it will be interesting.

In all, if See It Again puts in his best, he should be difficult to beat with the three-year-olds his most likely challengers.

It is a big day at Turffontein as their summer season draws to a close with a host of feature races on the 12-race card.

Main supporting feature is the Gr1 TAB Computaform Sprint that has attracted a big field of 17 runners where luck in running could play a pivotal role. The two most obvious contenders are Buffalo Storm Cody and last year’s winner, the ever game William Robertson, but they will be challenged by Fairview raider Kingdundee who comes off a four-race winning sequence and victory in the Gr1 Cape Flying Championship where he made a mockery of his 33-1 odds with favourite for the race Buffalo Storm Cody, well beaten, just over two lengths back.

Tony Peter’s charge has since made amends back on the Highveld where he got the better of William Robertson in a Pinnacle Stakes, the two meeting at level weights. Fourie replaces regular rider Gavin Lerena who will partner Clinton Binda’s gelding Ziyasha who goes into the contest of a recent victory. He is a horse who has had his ups-and-downs and although he looks safely held at the weights he could ride to the occasion. Lerena took a crashing fall at The Vaal midweek so his participation is uncertain at time of writing.

Buffalo Storm Cody is super quick and the Flying Championship was the only blemish in a five-race winning streak and goes for his 10th success in 17 outings.

William Robertson on the other hand was won 17 races from 56 starts and Corne Spies is not shy to saddle up. He has had two further outings since finishing second to Buffalo Storm Cody, winning and then finishing two lengths off Ziyasha in a Pinnacle Stakes, giving the winner 4kg.

Last season’s Computaform victory was a deserved maiden Grade 1 success for William Robertson and if anything, he will strip fit.

Kingdundee is a 1000m specialist and runners from the Eastern Cape can never be ignored. Dean Smith’s runner comes with more than creditable form given his Flying Championship win and although Buffalo Storm Cody may have run below par on the day, form is form.

The SA Derby will be run as a Gr2 for the first time and has attracted a bigger than usual field. It is a highly competitive contest where Mike and Mathew de Kock’s filly Curious Girl will be out to become the first filly in over 100 years to put one over the colts. In her favour is that she has won over the distance and cruised home in the Oaks Trial. Lerena is penciled in to ride. Of the males, Texas Missile strikes as a progressive stayer and comes from the right stable as Alec Laird is a master of staying horses.

Spies has his hopes pinned on William Robertson for the Computaform and Hazy Dazy in the Wilgerbosdrift Bridget Oppenheimer SA Oaks. The daughter of Act Of War has the trophies for the first two legs of the Triple Tiara in the cabinet and the Oaks will see her follow in the footsteps of some of South Africa’s champion fillies. Spies has stayed loyal to apprentice Trent Mayhew who rode an exception front-running race in the SA Fillies Classic to hold off the smart Golden Palm. On that showing the extended trip should hold no fears.

Turffontein Standside Saturday 4 April 2026 – Comments by David Thiselton

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RACE 1

1 ONE OF THOSE DAYS 3 MILLENNIUM WARRIOR 8 COME TOGETHER 6 PROPER

Preview: 1 ONE OF THOSE DAYS ran a cracker last time and now has a plum draw over an ideal trip. 3 MILLENNIUM WARRIOR has been knocking on the door over 16000m and has a fair draw. 8 COME TOGETHER’s best run was over this trip category but she doesn’t have an easy draw.  6 PROPER looks to have scope for plenty of improvement after an inauspicious debut behind Splittheeights (David Thiselton 1-3-8-6).

RACE 2

8 VOLCANIC HEAT 2 FATEFUL LOVE 3 GET UP 4 GOOD DAY SUNSHINE 5 GRISELDA

Preview: 8 VOLCANIC HEAT was beaten by a top colt last time and can bounce back. 2 FATEFUL LOVE was an easy and impressive winner on debut and Allan Greeff won this race last year. 3 GET UP impressed on debut and should be in the shake up. 4 GOOD DAY SUNSHINE won well first time out and has a good chance. 5 GRISELDA has been beaten by two good sorts. (David Thiselton 8-2-3-4-5)

RACE 3

2 GIMME A VODKA 5 NIGHTSHINE 6 THE BRONX BULL 3 KINGS MOUNTAIN 7 TWILIGHT

Preview: 2 GIMME A VODKA was close up to a top colt last time. 5 NIGHTSHINE is a maiden but looks capable of stepping up. 6 THE BRONX BULL ran well on debut and followed up with a good win. (David Thiselton 2-5-6-7)

RACE 4

2 ALADDIN’S LAMP 1 POETS WARRIOR 3 DAIMYO 7 ENFLAME

Preview: 2 ALADDIN’S LAMP is a progressive sort who could develop into a classy stayer. 1 POETS WARRIOR is capable of dominating and kicking on. 3 DAIMYO has run some fine races over staying trips. 7 ENFLAME looks to have some class and scope for improvement. (David Thiselton 2-1-3-7)

RACE 5

8 ONE EYE ON VEGAS 2  MAIN DEFENDER 4 TEXAS RED 1 COSMIC SPEED

Preview: 8 ONE EYE ON VEGAS caught the eye in both the Gauteng Guineas and SA Classic with a strong finish and should enjoy this trip. 2  MAIN DEFENDER has the class to take care of this field but has had a few issues. 4 TEXAS RED is ideally course and distance suited but has a tough draw. 1 COSMIC SPEED will enjoy this course and distance but does have a tricky draw. (David Thiselton 8-2-4-1)

RACE 6

1 DOUBLE GRAND SLAM 5 MINOGUE 2 RAINBOW LORIKEET 9 GOLDEN PALM

Preview: 1 DOUBLE GRAND SLAM is full of class and will be hard to beat if things go according to plan. 5 MINOGUE deserves win at the highest level and gets a fair opportunity here. 2 RAINBOW LORIKEET is an honest sort who should be right there again. 9 GOLDEN PALM hasn’t live up to super star status but is still classy and would not be a surprise winner. (David Thiselton 1-5-2-9)

RACE 7

1 BUFFALO STORM CODY 3 WILLIAM ROBERTSON 4 TRUTH 16 WHISTLE THE TUNE

Prevew: 1 BUFFALO STORM CODY is full of speed and class and can win a second career Gr 1. 3 WILLIAM ROBERTSON is a former winner of this race and is still evergreen. 4 TRUTH has plenty of speed and could be in the shake up. 16 WHISTLE THE TUNE has some eye-catching form and could earn. (David Thiselton 1-3-4-16)

RACE 8

11 TRUST 10 GRAND EMPIRE 1 SEE IT AGAIN 3 FIRE ATTACK

Preview:  11 TRUST has shown some outstanding ability and has an electric turn of foot. 10 GRAND EMPIRE won the Gauteng Guineas and should relish this step up in trip. 1 SEE IT AGAIN is full of class and comes off a win the Met. 3 FIRE ATTACK is last year’s winner and should make a bold bid. (David Thiselton 11-10-1-3)

RACE 9

13 CURIOUS GIRL 8 MASTER SPY 4 SALANI KAHLE 5 TEXAS MISSILE

Preview: 13 CURIOUS GIRL won The Oaks trial impressively and can follow up with a weight advantage against the boys here.  8 MASTER SPY looks to be crying out for this trip. 4 SALANI KAHLE has caught  the eye and is the type who would appreciate this course with its long straight. 5 TEXAS MISSILE has run some fair races and has scope for further improvement. (David Thiselton 13-8-4-5)

RACE 10

1 HAZY DAZY 2 CHARGE IT 4 LITTLEMISSMILLION 3 DAISY JONES

Preview: 1 HAZY DAZY is out to land the Triple Tiara and can do so as she has class and looks likely to stay. 2 CHARGE IT might have to play second fiddle to Hazy Dazy again. 4 LITTLEMISSMILLION could finish third as she has a nice rangy stride and should be on the up. 3 DAISY JONES ran well when well drawn last time and has another good draw. (David Thiselton 1-2-4-3)

RACE 11

8 PLAY WITH THE WIND 3 AFRICAN PRINCE 5 XENOPHON 4 STONEYWOOD

Preview: 8 PLAY WITH THE WIND is progressive and can defy the handicapper again. 3 AFRICAN PRINCE has come decent form and should be a contender. 5 XENOPHON can do well having caught the eye before.  4 STONEYWOOD is closely related to Dyce and with improvement can be in the shake up. (David Thiselton 8-3-5-4)

RACE 12

3 OKLAHOMA SMOKESHOW 4 KAMBATI 5 BRAVE VIKING 8 SPACE MISSION

Preview: 3 OKLAHOMA SMOKESHOW won impressively las time and can follow up. 4 KAMBATI has won his last two in fine style and has a fair draw over an ideal trip. 5 BRAVE VIKING can never be ignored over this trip. 8 SPACE MISSION has the form to be right there. (David Thiselton 3-4-5-8)

Flying Fate can decide your day

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Andrew Harrison

Punters face a competitive card on the Hollywoodbets Greyville poly this evening where one of the better bets on the programme could come in the first where Dean Kannemeyer sends out Flying Fate.

There were some nibbles about her chances on debut but the daughter of Master Of My Fate raced green in spite of finishing off her race well. She is sure to have come on from that effort. Biggest danger could come from the Duncan Howells-trained Peace Rose who has improved with each outing. She was narrowly beaten last time out and should be a big runner.

Of the balance Siyabamelela is holding form and from the best of the draw must have a winning chance along with Vaan’s Spirit who has run two promising races on the poly over further but is back to a sprint and gets 1.5kg relief from the saddle.

Dream Decision can kick off the Place Accumulator. She has been runner-up in open handicaps with a light weight and meets some modest opposition and can go one better. Can We Start could be a threat as she started favourite last run over further but faded badly. All three runs have been in the soft and the switch to poly could bring out the best. Cali Bullet was well beaten when trying further but shows some ability and can feature.

Master Du Rouvray could start favourite in the first leg of the Pick 6 as Mark Dixon’s runner is never far off. He has a big weight but goes well over course and distance. Biggest danger could be High Queue who is hardly ever out of the money of late and is course and distance suited. Sesame takes on males but won well under a big weight on the poly last time out. However, she did get a five-point raise in the handicap which could be an issue.

Punters are faced with a string of competitive handicaps for the rest of the card starting in the fourth. Magic Maverick has been shown signs of coming to hand for Gary Rich and with a 1.5kg allowance, a light weight and a world class rider aboard she should go close. Takeyourbestshot will be a big threat as he has excellent poly form but Keagan de Melo is replaced by a 4kg claiming visiting apprentice who needs to prove better than his allowance. Chasing Gold was a length back to Takeyourbestshot last time out but is 9kg out at the weights with her rival give the apprentice claim. National Dream is showing signs of his best and now gets blinkers. He can surprise.

The fifth is a seriously competitive handicap. Ragnar The King has come down in the ratings and is back over what looks to be his preferred surface. He should start at lengthy odds. Favourite could be the Mike and Mathew de Kock-trained My Lucky Charm who showed up well on his local debut after showing some fair Highveld form. He is down in class and is progressive. Deandre’s Dream ran well below ability when taking on stronger last start as he showed up nicely on the poly at his penultimate start and looks competitive in this line-up.

Thought Control makes her poly debut in the sixth but showed up well first run out of the maidens. She meets Spirit Of Shimla on 1kg better terms after their meeting in the maidens and although there should not be much between the pair the weight could tell. Oklahoma Girl is lightly raced but has her peak run for Mike Miller after returning from a break. She showed early promise before winning her maiden. Oh My Gucci Girl only has 48kg to shoulder from the best of the draw. Kom Naidoo is likely to tell the apprentice to make the pace and see if they can catch you.

The seventh is another open handicap but Queen is over her best course and distance. She has a good draw and should feature prominently. Grue of Ice has been knocking at the door for some time now and boasts consistent form over course and distance. She has a useful apprentice back aboard. Time In Paris has been improving nicely of late and now gets a 4kg claimer aboard which could be enough to see her home. Rafeef’s Choice is another that has been improving of late and was touched off last run. Her last win was on the poly.

Finally Catch A Penny can round off the meeting for Glen Kotzen and Sean Veale. Catch A Penny shed her maiden in KZN but currently boasts useful Cape form. She was touched off last run and should go close again. Magical Sky has won both of her recent starts over course and distance and obviously enjoys the poly. Summer Winter is seldom far back and was possibly in need of her last run. Ruby Rising has her third run back from a break for Duncan Howells and she was a close-up third last run and has a good chance.

Hollywoodbets Greyville Poly Friday Night 3 April 2025 – Comments by Andrew Harrison

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1

3 FLYING FATE   2 PEACE ROSE   1 SIYABAMBELELA   4 VAANS SPIRIT

Summary: FLYING FATE (3) raced green when finishing off her race well on debut. She is sure to have come on from that effort. PEACE ROSE (2) has improved with each outing. She was narrowly beaten last time out and should be a big runner. SIYABAMBELELA (1) is holding form well and from the best of the draw must have a winning chance. VAANS SPIRIT (4) has run two promising races on the poly over further. She is back to a sprint and gets 1.5kg relief from the saddle. (Andrew Harrison: 3-2-1-4).

2

2 DREAM DECISION   7 CAN WE START   6 CALI BULLET   1 QUANDURA

Summary: DREAM DECISION (2) has been runner-up in open handicaps with a light weight. Meets modest opposition and can go one better. CAN WE START (7) started favourite last run over further but faded badly. All three runs have been in the soft and the switch to poly could bring out the best. CALI BULLET (6) was well beaten when trying further. Shows some ability and can feature. QUANDURA (1) has shown some ability and can improve with first time tongue-tie. (Andrew Harrison: 2-7-6-1).

3

7 MASTER DU ROUVRAY    5 HIGH QUEUE   4 SESAME   1 THE WOLF

Summary: MASTER DU ROUVRAY (7) is never far off. He has a big weight but goes well over course and distance. HIGH QUEUE (5) is hardly ever out of the money of late. Course and distance suits and he has a strong winning chance. SESAME (4) takes on males but won well under a big weight on the poly last time out. She did get a five-point raise in the handicap which could be an issue.   THE WOLF (1) goes well on the poly and has been improving slowly of late. He should be in the shake-up. (Andrew Harrison: 7-5-4-1).

4

3 MAGIC MAVERICK   4 TAKEYOURBESTSHOT   7 NATIONAL DREAM   5 CHASING GOLD

Summary: MAGIC MAVERICK (3) has shown signs of coming to hand and with a 1.5kg allowance, a light weight and a world class rider aboard she should go close. TAKEYOURBESTSHOT (4) has excellent poly form. De Melo is replaced by a 4kg claiming visiting apprentice who could prove better than his allowance. CHASING GOLD (5) was a length back to Takeyourbestshot last time out but is 9kg out at the weights with her rival give the apprentice claim. NATIONAL DREAM (7) is showing signs of his best and now gets blinkers. He can surprise. (Andrew Harrison: 3-4-7-5).

5

6 RAGNAR THE KING   7 MY LUCKY CHARM   3 DEANDRE’S DREAM   4 GREEN MILE

Summary: Competitive handicap. RAGNAR THE KING (6) has come down in the ratings and is back over what looks to be his preferred surface. He should start at lengthy odds. MY LUCKY CHARM (7) showed up well on his local debut after showing some fair Highveld form. He is down in class and progressive. DEANDRE’S DREAM (3) ran well below ability when taking on stronger last start. He showed up nicely on the poly at his penultimate start and looks competitive in this line-up. GREEN MILE (4) enjoys the poly and was not far back on her handicap debut. He can feature in the placings. (Andrew Harrison: 6-7-3-4).

6

4 THOUGHT CONTROL   3 SPIRIT OF SHIMLA   2 OKLAHOMA GIRL   1 OH MY GUCCI GIRL

Summary: THOUGHT CONTROL (4) makes her poly debut but showed up well first run out of the maidens. She meets SPIRIT OF SHIMLA (3) on 1kg better terms and although there should not be much between the pair the weight could tell. OKLAHOMA GIRL (2) is lightly raced but has her peak run after returning from a break. She showed early promise before winning her maiden. OH MY GUCCI GIRL (1) only has 48kg to shoulder and from the best of the draw she could prove the one that they all have to catch. (Andrew Harrison: 4-3-2-1).

7

2 QUEEN FENN   6 GRUE OF ICE   10 TIME IN PARIS   7 RAFEEF’S CHOICE

Summary: Competitive handicap. QUEEN FENN (2) is over her best course and distance. She has a good draw and should feature prominently. GRUE OF ICE (6) has been knocking at the door for some time now. She boast consistent form over course and distance and has a useful apprentice back aboard. TIME IN PARIS (10) has been improving nicely of late. She now gets a 4kg claimer aboard which could be enough to see her home. RHAFEEF’S CHOICE (7) is another that has been improving of late and was touched off last run. Her last win was on the poly. (Andrew Harrison: 2-6-10-7).

8

4 CATCH A PENNY   1 MAGICAL SKY   2 SUMMER WINTER   7 RUBY RISING

Summary: CATCH A PENNY (4) shed her maiden in KZN but currently boast useful Cape form. She was touched off last run and should go close again. MAGICAL SKY (1) has won both of her recent starts over course and distance. She obviously enjoys the poly and can go in again. SUMMER WINTER (2) is seldom far back and was possibly in need of her last run. RUBY RISING (7) has her third run back from a break. She was a close-up third last run and has a good chance here. (Andrew Harrison: 4-1-2-7).

Soccer Updates and Carryovers – 3 April, 4 April and 5 April 2026

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Soccer10 Friday 3 April 2026. ADD – INN R200 000. Estimated Pool: R1.7 Million Pool Closes at 16h00. Sport 8 and Pool 1.

Soccer10 Saturday 4 April 2026. ADD- INN R200 000. Estimated Pool: R1.7 Million. Pool Closes at 13h45. Sport 14 and Pool 1.

Soccer Any 13Xtra Saturday 4 April 2026. Carryover R100 000. Estimated Pool: R250 000. Pool Closes at 13h45. Sport 13 and Pool 1.

Soccer13 Saturday 4 April 2026. Carryover R 5 909 134. R16 Million (All-13-Correct Pool). Pool Closes at 15h45. Sport 10 Pool 1.

Soccer CORNERS Saturday 4 April 2026. Carryover R 5 155. Pool Closes at 15h30. Sport 71

Soccer SCORES Saturday 4 April 2026 Carryover R 2 312. Pool Closes at 13h45. Sport 72

Soccer4 Sunday 5 April 2026. ADD – INN R25 000. Estimated Pool: R 100 000. Pool Closes at 15h00. Sport 19 Pool 1.

Soccer6 Sunday 5 April 2026. ADD-INN R75 000. Estimated Pool: R 400 000. Pool Closes at 18h00. Sport 3 Pool 1

Bass-Robinson Horses (Liesl King)

Changes to the merit ratings

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David Thiselton
The new merit ratings are out from the Gr 1 HKJC World Pool SA Classic and the handicappers look to have largely managed to get the merit ratings back to the way they had wanted them after the TAB Gauteng Guineas.
The original line horse used for the Gauteng Guineas was Tin Pan Alley, who was rated 117, whilst the appeal panel decided a more appropriate line horse was the 108-rated Grand Empire.
However,  both of those horses are now Gr 1 winners, with Grand Empire having won the SA Classic on Saturday by a short-head from Trust, and Tin Pan Alley having slammed some of the best in the country by 1,75 lengths when winning the Gr 1 Wilgerbosdrift HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes over 1600m.
The appeal panel’s overall rating of the race thus looked to be too low.
The handicappers have managed to use the evidence from the SA Classic, as well as other factors, to get Trust back to the merit rating they had him on after the Guineas i.e 119 and have changed the ratings of the other runners accordingly.
The ratings look to now have a realistic look to them.
Meanwhile, Tin Pan Alley has been raised ten points to 128 after his impressive Horse Chestnut Stakes victory.
Hazy Dazy remains unchanged on 117 after her cosy win in the Gr 1 Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic.
The NHA press release explained all of the changes to the Gr 1 runners:
WILGERBOSDRIFT H F OPPENHEIMER HORSE CHESTNUT STAKES (GRADE 1)
Three-year-old TIN PAN ALLEY has been awarded a revised merit rating of 128, up from 117, following his emphatic victory in the Grade 1 Wilgerbosdrift H F Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes run at weight-for-age over 1600m at Turffontein standside track on Saturday.
In assessing the race, the Handicappers identified the consistent TEXAS RED (third place) as the line horse, leaving his rating unchanged at 119.
TIN PAN ALLEY’S commanding win over 1600m on a yielding track dispelled any doubts about his aptitude for the trip. The Handicappers had already considered him suitable for the distance, having used him as the line horse in the original TAB Gauteng Guineas ratings. However, the TAB Gauteng Guineas was subsequently reduced to a level of 109 following an appeal.
The outcome of the TAB Gauteng Guineas appeal has had significant knock-on effects. The three-year-old cohort that dominated the Guineas was reduced from a level of 121 to 109. TIN PAN ALLEY, who finished fourth in that race, has now gone on to win a Grade 1 WFA event.
Effectively, based on the reduced Guineas level, his performance rating has risen from 104 to 128 in just 28 days. While the Handicappers clearly believe TIN PAN ALLEY improved in this race, the improvement would reasonably be measured from 117 to 128 based on the Handicapper’s original assessment of the Gauteng Guineas.
When rating the Guineas, the Handicappers considered the pecking order of the field, the quality of the race as a Grade 2 event, and fairness from a handicapping perspective to ensure horses would meet on proper handicap terms in future contests. The appeal outcome created distortions, including the subsequent reduction of TRUST’S rating from 119 to 108 – a decision made two runs after his Grade 2 Jackpot City Dingaans victory, which the Handicappers regard as contrary to the principles of handicapping.
TIN PAN ALLY’S performance in this WFA race highlights the strength of this year’s three-year-old crop.
No other horses received upward adjustments in this race. COSMIC SPEED’S rating was reduced slightly, from 124 to 122.
HKJC WORLD POOL SA CLASSIC (GRADE 1)
GRAND EMPIRE, winner of the Grade 1 HKJC World Pool SA Classic over 1800m, has had his official merit rating raised from 108 to 120.
The Handicappers unanimously agreed that runner-up TRUST reaffirmed the 119 performance he achieved in the Grade 2 Jackpot City Dingaans last November, where he defeated the 118-rated JAN VAN GOYEN. The Dingaans level remains the officially adopted benchmark for that race.
In the assessment of this race, the Handicappers concluded that TRUST once again performed to that same level of 119. TRUST was used to that mark and was accordingly adjusted to 119.
A collateral line of form with TIN PAN ALLY’S win in the Wilgerbosdrift H F Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes (Grade 1) indicates that the Grade 1 HKJC World Pool SA Classic is undervalued, however, the Handicappers do not practise retrospective ratings.
Furthermore, the TRUST appeal panel concluded with the following recommendation: “Following the running of the SA Classic, the Handicappers should re-evaluate the entire three-year-old crop.”
Three additional horses received merit rating increases in this race:
  • SPLITTHEEIGHTS: 109 to 116
  • ONE EYE ON VEGAS: 106 to 115
  • RADIO STAR: 95 to 107
WILGERBOSDRIFT SA FILLIES CLASSIC (GRADE 1)
HAZY DAZY’S official merit rating remained unchanged at 117 after she held off her rivals to win the Grade 1 Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic over 1800m. HAZY DAZY remains 3 points lower that her male counterpart GRAND EMPIRE, which is within the range of the filly’s allowance while keeping her equal to the Western Cape Leading filly WISH LIST, who is also rated 117.
The Handicappers identified LITTLEMISSMILLION as the line horse, leaving her rating unchanged at 107.
Two horses received rating increases based on their margins ahead of the line horse at level weights:
  • SCARLETT HEART (third): 91 to 108
  • DAISY JONES (fourth): 106 to 108

Exciting new July Handicap conditions

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David Thiselton

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Now on to the three-year-olds.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Likewise it will be tough for females.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

London News July centenary victory

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David Thiselton

The 2026 Hollywoodbets Durban July will be a milestone one with the prize money doubled to R10 million and with a longer handicap introduced as the topweight will be upped to 62kg and bottom weight lowered to 52kg.

It will fittingly fall on the 30th anniversary of the centenary July, which turned out to be one of the greatest of all Julys as it was won by the legendary Alec Laird-trained London News, who went on to put South African racing on the map by winning the QE II Cup in Hong Kong.

The renowned South African wildlife painter Henk Vos released his celebrated work, the Painting Of The Century, depicting a century of July winners, after the July’s centenary running.

The iconic painting now hangs in the Classic Room at Hollywoodbets Greyville.

Alec Laird actually ordered one of the prints of the painting before it was completed as the print had the first of his great Uncle Syd Garrett’s five July winners on the left and the greatest of his father’s record seven July winners, Sea Cottage, was in the centre.

The right hand side just had a blank with a silhouette of a horse, because Vos did not know yet which horse he was going to paint there.

Alec, who trained out of Randjesfontein on the Highveld, related, “He hadn’t made up his mind what horse he was going to put in the last panel (the 20th panel) and he even said to me ‘I would like you to win the July because I would like to put you as the last painting.’ With about a year to go I said to him I’m not going to make it.’”

However, fate then had it that London News not only became the 14/10 favourite for the 100th running of the July, but he was also saddle cloth number 20, being the only three-year-old in the field and the bottom weight.

Piere Strydom recalled, “I remember at the traditional Friday night cocktail Henk Vos was there with his big painting and there was one spot left for the 100th winner and I can still remember saying to someone that I think my picture’s going to be up there.”

London News duly won the race and Alec, London News and Piere Strydom are now at the forefront of the famous painting’s 20th panel and the horse is fittingly carrying the no. 20 saddle cloth.

The London News story starts at the National Yearling Sale of 1994.

Alec recalled big owners Laurie and Jean Jaffee’s chief aim at that Sale was to buy a yearling by their own 1987 July winner, Bush Telegraph.

Alec recalled Harmony Forever being his number one choice at that Sale.

However, he remembered London News being “a nice horse.”

He added, “On the first day a Bush Telegraph colt called Mr Newspaperman went for about R300,000. London News looked more athletic and Jean Jaffee actually said to me, ‘What about this one?’ On the first day they didn’t get a horse, the second day they didn’t get one and the more they asked me about London News the nicer he got, because I was otherwise going to go home without a horse!”

The Jaffees managed to secure London News.

Alec recalled, “He was a light youngster and even as a three-year-old was quite light. He didn’t show immediately, but we always had the feeling that he would be a nice horse when he matured.”

In fact, London News made a particularly inauspicious debut, beaten no fewer than 16,5 lengths under Anton Marcus in a 1200m Maiden Juvenile Plate over 1200m at the Vaal on June 6, 1995.

However, he got better and better and when he smashed the Greyville 2000m course record, which still stands today, in the Gr 1 Daily News 2000, he had won six out of eleven starts including the Dingaans and two middle distance Gr 1s.

Piere Strydom was aboard for the Daily News 2000 too.

He reflected on the 1996 July, the first of his four victories in South Africa’s greatest race, “London News was a lekker horse to ride because he had gate speed, a lot of natural speed and he would travel right up there in front and he had a good kick. But at the top of the straight (having led) I thought with a light weight let me just let the reins go a bit and get a length or two for the short straight. But he accelerated way quicker than I had expected and that’s when he made up three or four lengths on the field. Obviously it was going to tell at the end and he was stopping quite badly at the end. I heard the horses coming and I was just hoping for the line and he held on.”

Alec added, “Mike Rattray had invited me to watch in his box because it was on the line and he won by a neck but my eyes wouldn’t believe it because there was so much pressure. I wanted to see the number up!”

Alec described the emotion of being on the honour roll together with his late record-breaking seven-time July-winning father Syd.

In fact his extended family is comfortably the most prolific July-winning family in history with his grandfather Alec winning one as a jockey, his great Uncle Syd Garrett winning two as a jockey and three as a trainer, his father Syd winning a record seven as a trainer, and the cousins Dennis Drier, Alec Laird and Charles Laird each winning one July apiece – a total of 16 for the July dynasty.