Please Note: South African Quartet Pools with fractional betting offered at Southwell (UK) – 5 July 2026

David Thiselton

The Gr 3 TAB Sea Cottage Stakes over 1800m is the headliner at Turffontein Standside on Sunday and the exciting prospect Errol Flynn could make another step towards a likely Gr 1 Betway Summer Cup long-term target.

The Master Of My Fate gelding bounced back from his Gr 1 SA Classic flop, for which he had genuine excuses, with two impressive victories over 1600m in which he put daylight between himself and the opposition. He now has another chance to prove he stays this trip. He should get stamina from his sire and although his dam was by sprinter What A Winter tha latter can throw some stamina and in this case the mare’s two wins were over 1400m and 1600m respectively. He has a fair draw of five in the eight horse field and Keagan de Melo is up.

Copper Eagle ran a fine second in the Gr 3 Jubilee over 1800m and if the winner Aladdin’s Lamp does well in the Hollywoodbets Durban July, then it will enhance his chances here, although he has a tricky draw of six.

Chronicle King has some class and should stay the trip, so has a shout from draw four under Gavin Lerena.

In the first leg of the Pick 6 over 1400m Spirit Of Gabz is the form choice, but has a wide draw. The dangers could be Dear Doc and Snowblade, who are both well drawn.

In the fifth race over 1160m the one to beat in an uninspiring race could be Campo Formio, who wasn’t disgraced on debut behind a fair sort. WhatsdamatterwithU has been well beaten in all his starts but has faced quality opposition and has not been totally disgraced. Pole Position is a first-timer by Gimmethegreenlight out a Var mare who has produced  a couple of horses rated higher than a 100, so he could be a threat from a nice high draw.

In the sixth race over 1800m Hawkbill will enjoy the trip and is the selection in a wide open event with just six runners. Putting the whole field in the Pick 6 might be the way to go.

In the eighth race over 1160m the in-form pair Taxi To The Moon and African Pride could fight it out, with preference for the latter because he is on the up, while Taxi To Moon is likely using it as a preparation race for the Gr 1 Mercury Sprint.

In the ninth over 1400m Master Christmas is well drawn in three and should make a bold bid over a suitable trip. The fillies Kensal Green and Warning Sound, if she takes her place after running on Thursday, could be the chief dangers.

In the third race over 1400m Within Reach is the form choice. Impressive won in taking style over this trip last time and although officially having a hard task at the weights with Within Reach on their last meeting she looks to be on the up.

In the second race over 2400m Enflame has tremendous Highveld staying form and can carry topweight to victory from pole position under Gavin Lerena.

In the first over 1160m Irish Wilma can go close if able to reproduce her penultimate start.

In the tenth over 1600m the progressive War Reporter can continue on his winning ways from a plum draw.

RACE 1

WINIKA and STAR MAGNOLIA have the form and experience to be competitive and will likely fight out the finish with a repeat of their career-best last starts. IRISH WILMA and WHAT NOW MY LOVE are open to improvement and could get into the picture. Newcomer BLUE STORM RUNNER is worth a market check and won’t need to be special to make her presence felt on debut. Watch the betting!

RACE 2

ENFLAME made no impression last time in a KZN feature but will be a different proposition back on the Highveld. He is course-and-distance suited and the best-weighted runner in the race. Stablemate ETHICAL returns from a layoff but is a maturing stayer with scope to improve on her reappearance. BREEZE OVER and MO MENT get the trip well and are weighted to be competitive but both are out of sorts. EUPHRATES has no stamina doubts but his better form has come at a lower level. DECEPTION PASS is unexposed over this distance but have earning potential.

RACE 3

SECRET FATE was outrun late when a game-in-defeat 3rd over track and trip recently. She’s 3kg better off with QUEEN LEILA so is weighted to turn the tables on her last-start conqueror who will likely remain competitive under top weight. WITHIN REACH was a fast-finishing 2nd over this trip when last seen, conceding 3kg to the winner who has won both subsequent starts. She resumes from a break and should make her presence felt with improvement expected on her reappearance. Recent maiden winner IMPRESSIVE and well-related likely improver BELLFLOWER also have the means to get involved.

RACE 4

SPIRIT OF GABZ has improved in two recent Highveld outings around the bend, the latest in a minor feature over course and distance. He should play a leading role with a repeat of that performance. Maidens EXPERT WITNESS, RAFE’S ORACLE and SNOWBLADE are closely matched on the form of their 1600m meeting on the Inside track last month. They should improve to be competitive in receipt of 3kg from the selection. Well-bred newcomer HARTREE is worth a market check on debut and recently gelded DEAR DOC is another to keep an eye on.

RACE 5

Hard race to assess but the value could lie with WHATSDAMATTERWITHU on his reappearance after a break. Soundly beaten in his 3 starts, he bumped highly rated multiple winners on each occasion and is open to any amount of improvement after a subsequent gelding operation. WISH YOU WERE HERE and CAMPO FORMIO have the benefit of experience that should stand them in good stead against several unraced rivals. GLASTONBURY FIRE and PARISIENNE QUEEN warrant respect on debut, as do 2yo newcomers POLE POSITION and SPICY PLUM. Follow the betting market for clues!

RACE 6

THE EQUATOR made an encouraging return to form last time in his first start for this stable behind a Durban July contender in a course-and-distance Grade 3 event. He will have tightened up with the run and is weighted to fight out the finish. WILD INTENT is out of sorts and held on that form but has the means to pose a threat, as does distance-suited KING’S EXPRESS who gets 7.5kg from the selection. DON’T CRY FOR ME and FIRE ‘N FLAMES will appreciate stretching out to this trip so can’t be ignored.

RACE 7

ERROL FLYNN is unbeaten in 2 starts with blinkers fitted. He hit the line strongly when winning over 1600m last time and will be hard to beat over this extended trip on the evidence of that performance. COPPER EAGLE was a fast-finishing 2nd in a course-and-distance Grade 3 last time (conceding weight to the 5yo winner who runs in the Durban July) and will play another leading role with if reproducing a similar effort. GOT THE FEELING is held on from and at the weights by the selection but has earning potential. CHRONICLE KING and GOLDEN OPERATOR are untried over 1800m but warrant respect too.

RACE 8

TAXI TO THE MOON, prolific after gelding, produced another career-best effort to win a KZN Grade 2 last time. He carries a 3-point penalty for that victory but is weighted to remain competitive, even with 62kg on his back. Fillies ALMOND SEA and ONE FINE WINTER are the joint best-weighted runners in the race so have to be respected, though a bigger threat may come from hat-trick seeking 3yo AFRICAN PRIDE who is at the top of his game and open to further improvement in his peak outing. ZALATORIS, CHARMING CHEETAH, CHAPBOOK and SLINKY MAPIMPI are useful sprinters so aren’t taken lightly either.

RACE 9

MASTER CHRISTMAS bounced back to form last time in a stronger race over this distance so a repeat of that performance off an unchanged mark could suffice. Maturing WARNING SOUND, consistent 3yo KENSAL GREEN and versatile CHESTNUT BOMBER are up in the ratings after encouraging last starts but should remain competitive. DANTONFROMSANDTON may have more of a place chance than a winning one.

RACE 10

WAR REPORTER has gone from strength to strength this year after an 8-month absence, winning two of his three comeback appearances. As a lightly raced 4yo, he remains open to improvement and is probably better than rated so it could pay to follow his progress. Stablemates PRINCESS KEIRA, TOP SHELF TEDDY and UTSAAH have the form and experience at this level to be competitive. SKY PILOT hit the front 400m out on his handicap debut but was outrun late over 1700m so this shorter trip could be more to his liking. SUNSET WARRIOR, MILLENNIUM WARRIOR and returning HARUN AL RASHID can also get a look in.

David Thiselton

The Gr 3 TAB Sea Cottage Stakes over 1800m is the headliner at Turffontein Standside on Sunday and the exciting prospect Errol Flynn could make another step towards a likely Gr 1 Betway Summer Cup long-term target.

The Master Of My Fate gelding bounced back from his Gr 1 SA Classic flop, for which he had genuine excuses, with two impressive victories over 1600m in which he put daylight between himself and the opposition. He now has another chance to prove he stays this trip. He should get stamina from his sire and although his dam was by sprinter What A Winter the latter can throw some stamina and in this case the mare’s two wins were over 1400m and 1600m respectively. He has a fair draw of five in the eight horse field and Keagan de Melo is up.

Copper Eagle ran a fine second in the Gr 3 Jubilee over 1800m and if the winner Aladdin’s Lamp does well in the Hollywoodbets Durban July, then it will enhance his chances here, although he has a tricky draw of six.

Chronicle King has some class and should stay the trip, so has a shout from draw four under Gavin Lerena.

In the first leg of the Pick 6 over 1400m Spirit Of Gabz is the form choice, but has a wide draw. The dangers could be Dear Doc and Snowblade, who are both well drawn.

In the fifth race over 1160m the one to beat in an uninspiring race could be Campo Formio, who wasn’t disgraced on debut behind a fair sort. WhatsdamatterwithU has been well beaten in all his starts but has faced quality opposition and has not been totally disgraced. Pole Position is a first-timer by Gimmethegreenlight out a Var mare who has produced  a couple of horses rated higher than a 100, so he could be a threat from a nice high draw.

In the sixth race over 1800m Hawkbill will enjoy the trip and is the selection in a wide open event with just six runners. Putting the whole field in the Pick 6 might be the way to go.

In the eighth race over 1160m the in-form pair Taxi To The Moon and African Pride could fight it out, with preference for the latter because he is on the up, while Taxi To Moon is likely using it as a preparation race for the Gr 1 Mercury Sprint.

In the ninth over 1400m Master Christmas is well drawn in three and should make a bold bid over a suitable trip. The fillies Kensal Green and Warning Sound, if she takes her place after running on Thursday, could be the chief dangers.

In the third race over 1400m Within Reach is the form choice. Impressive won in taking style over this trip last time and although officially having a hard task at the weights with Within Reach on their last meeting she looks to be on the up.

In the second race over 2400m Enflame has tremendous Highveld staying form and can carry topweight to victory from pole position under Gavin Lerena.

In the first over 1160m Irish Wilma can go close if able to reproduce her penultimate start.

In the tenth over 1600m the progressive War Reporter can continue on his winning ways from a plum draw.

David Thiselton

 

The Gr 3 Post Merchants will be one of the most interesting races on Hollywoodbets Durban July day, but the conditions of the race mean the highest rated horses are ostensibly slung in.

 

The highest rated horse in the land, the 132-rated twice Gr 1-winning sprinter Buffalo Storm Cody, is thus very well in at the weights, and second best in is Dave The King, who is the most interesting runner, followed by Tenango and Princess Of Gaul, who are joint third best in.

 

The race has merit-rated band conditions with one key difference.

 

Usually the horses that are higher rated than the highest band are allotted half-a-kilogram for every point they are above that highest band.

 

However, the highest band in this case reads “122 or more … 62kg”.

 

That band would normally read 122 to 126 and under the normal rules for merit-rated band events Buffalo Storm Cody would be carrying 65kg as he is six points higher than the top rating of the highest band. So, he is ostensibly 3kg well in carrying 62kg.

 

Dave The King would normally be carrying 63kg, but carries 62kg, so is 1kg better off than normal, but is 2kg under sufferance with Buffalo Storm Cody.

 

Tenango is merit rated 126, so he is top of what the band would normally be, but is officially 3kg under sufferance with Buffalo Storm Cody.

 

Equally well treated with the latter is the crack filly Princess Of Gaul, who is 114-rated but gets a 2,5kg gender allowance.

 

The worry about Buffalo Storm Cody is that he might be using it as a preparation for the Gr 1 Mercury Sprint, which he appeared to do last year because last year he only ran a 1,65 length fourth in this race carrying 56kg, meaning he was 5,5kg better off than weight for age with the highest rated runner, and he then came out and won the weight for age Mercury Sprint over the same course and distance by 1,60 lengths. Interestingly he jumped from draw 9 in the Mercury, the same draw he has in this year’s Post Merchants. This horse does appear at his best around the turn. Richard Fourie up is a bonus.

 

Dave The King is interesting, because although his best form is over a mile and middle distances he went at a blistering gallop in the L’Ormarins King’s Plate. It was a ridiculous pace, but he displayed his speed around the turn in that race as he went through the first 400m in a time just 1,7 seconds slower than the pacemaker and the winner of the Gr 1 World Pool Cape Flying Championship over 1000m. He has had four starts over 1200m in his career and won three of them easily and his only loss was when returning from a layoff and having a seasonal reappearance preparation run and running just 2,65 lengths behind former Post Merchants winner, the now 127-rated Gladatorian. Dave The King has drawn seven which should give him room to go to the front if quick enough and the latter is actually a concern, because of course leading over 1200m is a different ball game to leading over 1600m.

 

Tenango ran a good 1,95 length seventh in the Gr 2 Golden Horse Sprint, where he carried topweight. That should have brought him on for this race and he has a plum draw of five. Keagan de Melo is contracted to part-owner Laurence Wernars and takes the ride here having not ridden him in the Golden Horse. He will likely be all out to win this race as the Mercury will be a lot tougher, although he did show his class and course and distance suitability by finishing a fine second in the latter race last year, despite jumping from draw 13. Tenango looks to be a massive runner.

 

Princess Of Gaul is also a big runner carrying just 55,5kg and jumping from draw three under Craig Zackey. She won the Gr 2 World Pool With Race Coast Debutante over course and distance last year in just her second career start. Last time out she showed he class over this trip by finishing just 2,60 lengths behind Asiye Phambili and Double Grand Slam in the Gr 1 SA Fillies Sprint. If the latter pair were in the Merchants they would likely be the two favourites so with Princess Of Gaul beaten by that margin under weight for age conditions and now being 4kg better off than weight for age conditions with the first three mentioned she should also be a massive runner.

 

Cafe Culture is a former winner of this race, but is officially 4kg under sufferance with Buffalo Storm Cody and has a tough draw of 13, but he should be kicking on if managing to find cover in a handy position.

 

One of the joint topweights is the 122-rated Outlaw King, who is thus officially 5kg under sufferance with Buffalo Storm Cody. However, he is ultra courageous and often defies the official weights, as he did when a 1.05 length third in the Cape Flying. His last run in the Golden Horse is best ignored as he stumbled at the start.

 

Cats Pajamas is also rated 122 and has a fine course and distance record and was just a 1,75 length fourth in the Mercury last year. However, he has the widest draw of all.

 

Speedman is rated only 105 and carrying 54kg is officially 6kg under sufferance with Buffalo Storm Cody, but he is an up and coming sort who could prove better than rated, so he is the dark horse.

 

One Eye On Vegas was third in the Golden Horse and finds himself officially 4,5kg under sufferance with Buffalo Storm Cody, but he is a progressive sort with speed and class so should be running on from draw 11.

 

Jet Force is also a classy sort who could surprise dropped down in trip. He is 4,5kg under sufferance with Buffalo, but is well drawn.

 

Jerusalema Rain beat Buffalo Storm Cody by a neck in the Gr 2 Senor Santa over 1160m, but is now 4kg worse off.

 

The ones mentioned are the ones who make the most appeal and the selection is Buffalo Storm Cody to beat Tenango with Princess Of Gaul, Speedman and Jet Force next best.