Royal Victory should prove hard to beat

Andrew Harrison

Punters face a competitive nine-race card at Hollywoodbets Scottsville today where the headliner is the umThombothi Stakes a non-black type race over 1950m with a healthy stake of R200k.

However, the presence of Nathan Kotzen’s champion Royal Victory appears to have chased most opposition away in spite of potentially juicy rewards. Royal Victory is likely to start a short priced favourite as he has much in his favour but in a small field Muzi Yeni will need to judge pace carefully. Andre Nel’s assistant Byron Forster saddles Selukwe who is held by Royal Victory on current showings but is holding form well. Silent War has come to hand nicely and failed narrowly last time out and while Miss Platina looks to be out of her depth even off a light weight she can earn a slice of the pie.

The opening leg of the PA is tricky. Lava Burst may just have needed his last run although not beaten far he should feature. Kwagga Blitz has some patchy Highveld form but the step up in trip could now be what he’s looking for. A deep draw is a concern but he is a big runner. Mark Dixon reports that Master Du Rouvray is working well at home after a break and he has shown some promise while Zyakala has improved with a tongue-tie and is not out of it. 

Our Lady Fate has been much improved in a tongue-tie and this trip over 1400m in the opening leg of the Pick 6 is right up her alley. Like A Prayer is lightly raced an appears to have come to hand. She comes with promising Highveld form to back her claims and will be a big threat. Zena Rose is way better than her last run and goes well this distance and should improve on her last effort. Takatalvi has a tough draw but ran a cracker at long odds last time out against a winner who looks useful. 

Tyrconnell will have plenty of supporters in the sixth, another competitive handicap, given his recent form and given the jockey bookings as Sean Veale will have had the pick of the four Hollywood Racing horses. However, Tyrconnell got a four-point rise in the handicap for his last win which sees Imposing 4.5kg better off, taking Rachel Venniker’s allowance into account, for a length beating which could be enough to turn the tables. Also better off is Bowie who has the benefit of a pole position draw. Savantrix won well to weaker last run but is lightly raced and possibly still on the up. 

Beach Palace takes a big drop in class but the corresponding jump in weight may not be an issue in the sixth and he could be one of the better bets on the card along with Hodgepodge in the next. Connoisseur is struggling for his second win but has made some recent improvement and has been dropping in the handicap while Attaboy may just have needed his last run and has a 4kg claimer aboard from a favourable draw. 

Hodgepodge has run two smart races since shedding her maiden and the form of her last effort over course and distance has worked out well. Danger could be Buttercup Baby who won well at just her second start and looks progressive. Rachel Venniker stays with the ride and her 1.5kg allowance will help. Radu has been consistent and although seemingly held by Hodgepodge on their last meeting she is not without a squeak. 

In the eighth, Prized Platinum has hit form on the Highveld and looks more than capable in this line-up. Cotton Ron has been a soldier for Louis Goosen and ran out a comfortable winner over course and distance last time out. He took a five-point rise in the handicap but that may not be enough to stop him from another win. El Draque is never far back and is now 3kg better off with Cotton Ron for a two length beating on their last meeting which should see him closer. Now I Got You is in good form and has a 2.5kg claimer up to help his chances. 

The last is another wide open handicap. Abaddon is lightly raced and although a narrow maiden winner last run he does have some scope. Magma Magic was touched off at long odds first up out of the maidens and can go one better while Who Blinked made steady improvement leading into his maiden win. He also looks progressive. Professor Lupin is way better than his last run. Trip may be on the sharp side but he does have a useful 2.5kg claimer aboard.

Soccer10 Price change on Wednesdays

Please Note: From December, Unit cost of all Soccer10 Pools closing on Wednesdays will be R3.

The R3 unit cost on Wednesdays is on a trial basis only & follows requests from many customers to increase the Soccer10 Unit.

The unit cost of Soccer10 Pools on all other days remains R2.

KZN Racing – The New Dawn Takes Shape

All systems go on 1 January 2025

Horseracing in KwaZulu-Natal took the next step to the dawn of a new era with the publication on Thursday of a revitalized racing programme and the news of the introduction of incentives and stakes adjustments that will align the province with the status quo in the Cape.

The introduction of the new-look programme and policies on the East Coast comes into play as a result of the proposed acquisition of Gold Circle by the Hollywood Sportsbook Holdings group, which now hinges on the required approval of the KZN Economic Regulatory Authority (KZNERA).

Whilst the outstanding approval of the KZNERA is critical to the transaction, and will be the final step in transferring ownership, Hollywoodbets and its appointed Chairman Designate of Gold Circle, Greg Bortz are in management and strategic decisions during the interim period, with Hollywoodbets investing funds at its own risk to ensure the continuity of horse racing in KZN, and the survival of Gold Circle.

Programme and related reading matter, click here.


Subject to the fulfillment of other outstanding conditions precedent, the deal effectively unlocks a R500 million rescue injection from Hollywoodbets, and a takeover of the sport in the holiday province, which is set to include track upgrades and other infrastructural and operational initiatives.

The new KZN programme covers the period 1 January to 28 February 2025 and introduces the stakes-boosted class racing structure to the province, while unveiling financial incentives via the RaceCoast incentive scheme with the ultimate aim of improving racehorse ownership in KZN and achieving enhanced field sizes with the knock-on vital lifeblood of increased betting turnovers.

Down South, the RaceCape incentive programme has proven a winner and has underscored the unprecedented turnaround in Cape horseracing by providing further opportunities for the local racing community and increased employment prospects for grooms and work riders, as well as raising the bar for all related and ancillary horse racing services.

“We are very excited about future plans for KZN racing,” Cape Racing Executive: Racing & Bloodstock Justin Vermaak told the Sporting Post on Thursday, as he outlined broad plans to revolutionise the appeal of the sport across the board for all stakeholders in KZN.

“We need to provide owners and trainers with an even and attractive playing field that makes them want to race. Stakes and rewards need to be meaningful. That ultimately leads to better field sizes, more exciting racing and improved betting turnovers. Punters are key to the success of the process. We are implementing a first world reform in terms of transparency when it comes to information. Items like horse weights, for example, will be published. They are, after all, a form assessment tool. Horses working at our training centres and tracks will all have easily identifiable bar-coded saddle-cloths. So, there are no secrets. If Oriental Charm or One Stripe is on track, the public will share in it,” added Vermaak, who confirmed that barrier draws after acceptance was another operational change which would be implemented on 1 January 2025.

Veteran KZN trainer Garth Puller, who attended a recent stakeholder’s meeting at Summerveld hosted by Greg Bortz, Justin Vermaak, Gold Circle and Hollywoodbets officials, enthused that he was thrilled by the news of the takeover by business-minded racing people who were brave and bold enough to step in and turn the ship around.

“This has come very late for me at my age, but it’s a lifechanger and the future is brighter than it was yesterday,” reflected a delighted Puller as he told the Sporting Post that the adjusted stakes and ‘very welcome’ incentives would boost cash-flows,  while also making it so much easier to help him and his colleagues market the basic ownership product.

“And we are getting draws after acceptances. Wonderful! I was calling for that 25 years ago at Hollywoodbets Durbanville. Bigger fields mean a faster pace, means better form, means better truer results. It’s an ecosystem of positivity. It all feeds on itself,” added the horseman who is never scared to pass an opinion.

Puller said the repair of the Polytrack at Hollywoodbets Greyville was ‘definitely quite overdue and welcome news’.

“That’s our stage. The track must be safe for horse and rider, be true and competitive, and have credibility with all role-players. That’s not a negotiable.”

On the ‘abolition’ of the committee structure to facilitate decision making and policy, Puller said that he was so pleased to hear that all reasonable suggestions will be considered by management.

“Wonderful! So there are no more long-winded committees to hide behind and to dither over. How refreshing.  I believe every stakeholder in this sport in KZN needs to doff a cap to Hollywoodbets and Mr Bortz. This investment and takeover is a brave move. But we know that with the passion for horse racing of the local population in this province, we can make it work. And by putting the structures in place they are making sure we have no excuses. Let’s look forward and get on with rebuilding KZN racing. I am absolutely thrilled. This is good news,” he concluded.

2024 Betway Summer Cup First Log

Johannesburg, 15 October 2024 – 4Racing in conjunction with the Handicappers have published the first log for the 2024 R6 million Gr1 Betway Summer Cup to be run at Turffontein on Saturday 30 November.

Second entries close at 11am on Tuesday 05 November, and final entries at 9am on Monday, 18 November 2024, after which weights will be announced. Declarations must be in by 11am on Wednesday, 20 November 2024 and barrier draws will be conducted at a Betway event on 20 November 2024. The final log will be published on Tuesday 05 November 2024.

Tabgold Media Release: Launch of Pick 6 QuickMix

TABGOLD have added a Pick 6 to their daily menu of QuickMix bets, which are popular with many customers because they combine races from different local and international meetings, and are completed much quicker than multi-race bets on single meetings.


The addition of the Pick 6 brings the number of QuickMix pools offered most days to six – three Jackpot QuickMixes and a QuickMix BiPot, Place Accumulator and Pick 6. Until further notice, the QuickMix Pick 6 will always be the last six legs of the Place Accumulator QuickMix.

To play the Pick 6 QuickMix, TABGOLD retail customers must mark VENUE SPM and RACE 2 on the betting form.

It must be noted that the Pick 6 first-timer rule will apply to South African races in the bet if these races form part of a South African Pick 6. The first-timer rule will not apply to all other races, including South African races that are not part of a local Pick 6.

SA Quartet pools on selected UK meetings – September 2024

Local Quartet pools with fractional betting on selected UK race meetings will return to the TabGold betting menu from this Thursday following a mixed reception from customers to the introduction of commingled Quartet pools on all UK and Irish race meetings last month.

Such commingled Quartet pools have been welcomed in some quarters, but many TabGold customers have complained that this has resulted in them being unable to play fractional Quartet bets on UK races.

TabGold have taken note of the complaints and from this Thursday 12 September customers can enjoy the best of both worlds. As before local Quartet pools with fractional betting will be offered on two UK meetings most days with commingled Quartet pools on all other UK and Irish meetings.

Whether an Irish or UK meeting has local or commingled pools will be displayed clearly on Tab sheet race cards in store and online.

Unfortunately for several reasons, including vast differences in exchange rates, it is not technically possible to offer fractional bets on pools commingled internationally.

The minimum unit for commingled bets is R1 (more in the case of countries like the USA) and this is itself a fractional bet in international tote pools.

As an example, the unit of a UK Tote Quartet is one Pound and a customer playing a R1-unit Quartet with TabGold on a UK race is buying about 1/24th of the bet, depending on the exchange rate on the day. And if that bet is the only winning ticket, the customer will get 1/24th of the pool and the remainder will be carried over. To get the full UK Tote payout on a commingled Quartet requires playing the bet to a R24 unit.

That aside, the introduction of commingled Quartet bets has given TabGold customers many more opportunities to play Quartets on UK and Irish races, and access to bigger pools and payouts.

KZN Awards Horse Of The Season quandary

David Thiselton

The KZN Racing awards will be held on 30 August in the Classic Room at Hollywoodbets Greyville and there is going to be a quandary this year about the KZN Horse Of The Season just as there was last year.

The Horse Of The Year award, unlike the other awards, are open to horses from the yards of trainers who are not domiciled in KZN as long as the subject horse has had three or more runs in KZN. It can thus be won by an out of province horse who has excelled in KZN during the season. The other awards can only be won by horses from KZN  yards, although Glen Kotzen and Dean Kannemeyer count as KZN yards because they have had satellite yards in KZN for many years.

The Horse Of The Year exclusion was probably made due to there not being a suitable candidate for some seasons in recent times. However, should not genuine KZN-trained horses like the Michael Roberts-trained See It Again last year and the Nathan Kotzen-trained Royal Victory this year be acknowledged in some way? Everybody in the industry would have viewed the former as the best horse from KZN in the 2022/2023 season, although the Peter Muscutt-trained Isivunguvungu could also have laid a claim, and this season Royal Victory is viewed by all and sundry as the best horse from KZN, although the Gareth van Zyl-trained Flag Man could also lay a claim having performed better on paper than Royal Victory in both the Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Durban July and Gr 1 wfa HKJC Champions Cup.

The Highveld racing awards could also potentially lead to an out of province horse being named Horse Of The Season. They are actually called the Highveld Feature Season awards as they go on performances of horses on the Highveld in features races during the season. Royal Victory was thus named the Champion Middle Distance Horse and Champion Older Male in the Highveld feature Season awards this year and he was only ousted in the Horse Of The Season award by the outstanding Mike de Kock-trained Gimme A Nother.

However, the big difference is that the Highveld features only have a sprinkling of out of province horses competing in them. The Horse Of The Season award will virtually always be won by a Highveld horse and was this year it went to the outstanding Mike de Kock-trained Gimme A Nother, even though Royal Victory became the first out of province horse in history to win both of the Highveld’s biggest races, the Gr 1 Betway Summer Cup and the Gr 1 World Pool Premier’s Champions Challenge.

The KZN horses, on the other hand, have to compete with every champion from every province, because all champions from around the country descend on KZN for the three month long world famous racing festival, The Champions Season.

Last year the Horse Of The Season was won by the Sean Tarry-trained Princess Calla, who won three Gr 1s in KZN during the season.

This year the favourite must be the Mike de Kock-trained Dave The King. He qualifies because he ran in KZN three times in the season and he won two open weight for age Gr 1s in KZN. He was in fact the only horse in the country to have won two open wfa Gr 1s last season.

However, Royal Victory is a history-making KZN horse. On top of being the first out of province horse to do the Highveld double of the Summer Cup and Premier’s Champions Challenge, he is in fact the first out of province horse to have ever won the Premier’s Champions Challenge and the second out of province horse this millennium to have won the Summer Cup.

He could well go home empty-handed on KZN Awards night. If Dave The King is to be named Horse Of The Season then he must also surely be named Champion Older Male. Furthermore, the Dean Kannemeyer-trained Green With Envy ran three times in KZN during the season, so qualifies for awards as explained earlier by Kannemeyer’s KZN status, and like Royal Victory he won two middle distance Gr 1s during the season and one of them was in KZN, so he must be in pole position to win the Middle Distance award.

So the widely acknowledged best horse in KZN, Royal Victory, might be completely unacknowledged in his home province.

There are special awards occasionally put on at racing award ceremonies and this might be a case in point of creating one.

However, what would probably be better considering the realities of racing in KZN during any given season, would be to create a new permanent award to acknowledge KZN’s best horse of the season. The award should only be open to horses from KZN yards. 

UNIT COST OF COMMINGLED TRIFECTAS REDUCED

Here’s good news for TabGold customers who take Trifecta bets on races in Australia, the UK, Ireland and France. 


Commingled Trifecta pools with Tote Ireland will be offered on all Irish races for the first time from this Friday and simultaneously the unit cost of commingled Trifecta bets on Australian, UK and French races will be reduced from R2 to R1. The unit cost of the Trio on French races also drops to R1. 

Commingled Trifecta bets on racing in Australia, France and the UK were introduced last month.
The benefits of commingling Trifecta pools with host totes (Tabcorp in Australia excluding thoroughbred venues in Victoria and South Australia; PMU in France, the UK Tote and Tote Ireland), as opposed to local pools, are many more Trifecta betting opportunities on races in those countries and bigger pools, which in turn afford TAB customers the chance to win bigger payouts.

BETTING UNITS CHANGED FOR TRIO ON FRENCH RACING & TRIFECTA COMMINGLING FOR Australia, France, UK and Ireland- Friday, 17th November 2023

Here’s good news for TabGold customers who take Trifecta bets on races in Australia, the UK, Ireland and France. Commingled Trifecta pools with Tote Ireland will be offered on all Irish races for the first time from this Friday and simultaneously the unit cost of commingled Trifecta bets on Australian, UK and French races will be reduced from R2 to R1. The unit cost of the Trio on French races also drops to R1.

ALL TRIFECTA AND TRIO bets will be set as R 1.00 units which will be effective from Friday, 17th November 2023.

The unit cost of a Trio on French races will now be R1 with no fractional betting. So a four-horse Trio will cost R4 (four combinations @ R1 each) and a five-horse Trio R10 (10 combinations @ R1).

An example of a multiple Trio is numbers 1, 2 and 3 for first; number 4 for second and numbers 5 and 6 for third. That’s six combinations @ R1 each for R6 (1-4-5; 1-4-6; 2-4-5; 2-4-6; 3-4-5; 3-4-6).
The standard R6 minimum bet will apply in all cases and all payouts displayed will be to a R1 unit.

The unit cost of commingled Trifectas on Australian, French and UK racing will now be R1 with no fractional betting. Thus a three-horse Trifecta Box will cost R6 (six combinations @ R1) and a five-horse box R60 (60 combinations @ R1).
The standard R6 minimum bet will apply in all cases and all payouts displayed will be to a R1 unit.

The Pinnacles Day 1 – Saturday 18 November 2023

The 2023 WA Champion Fillies Stakes winner – Admiration Express

Summer is around the corner in Australia, meaning it’s time for the scorching Perth Summer Carnival to kick off with five consecutive Saturday’s making up The Pinnacles at Ascot. Day One has two major highlights with firstly, the G3 $300,000 WA Champion Fillies Stakes for three-year-old fillies over 1600m. In recent years, this race has been a launching pad for superstars from the west and a key lead up to the G1 Northerly Stakes in three weeks. Arcadia Queen won in 2018 before winning multiple Group 1’s and Kay Cee placed in 2019 before winning the Northerly Stakes. The Placid Ark Stakes has had its prizemoney boosted to $500,000 in recent years and provides an opportunity for up & coming three-year-old sprinters to make a name for themselves. The undercard includes the G3 R.J. Peters Stakes offering a last chance to qualify for next weeks Railway Stakes plus the G3 Colonel Reeves Stakes and Listed Jungle Mist Classic for sprinters.

Western Mail (Lochie Taylor & Scott Embry cover the feature races and feature stories for the first day of the Pinnacles)

https://digitalpigeon.com/msg/a_C5QIQSEe6wRQaDhYOasw/E1x8L8IrBEUnYjkeatowQA?aid=Le2KIFo4EeehdQbtG5M1VQ

Trackwork Interviews

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  • Trevor Andrews, trainer – Paris Calling, Ayumi & Krysanova.
  • Mitchell Pateman, trainer – Almighty Class.
  • Jake Casey, co-trainer – Hanchi, Snow Prince, Read Admiral & Laverrod.