MDevonne Govender 

It was a bright beautiful day at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth yesterday and punters were treated to an exciting ten race programme.

Meu Capitano demolished his rivals in the Winter Sprint pulling clear of Questioning and Jerulsalema rain.

The Piet Steyn trained son of Captain Of All travelled well in the running and once Richard Fourie asked him to quicken, he finished brilliantly. He is a horse who keeps improving and is one to keep an eye on.

Lion Rampart romped home in the Somerset 1200 (Listed) for trainer Vaughan Marshall with Richard Fourie aboard. The talented son of One World raced handy for majority of the trip and just continued to find into the closing stages.

Miss World, Talk To The Master and Un Bel Di rounded up the placings in that order.

Richard Fourie has been absolutely outstanding scoring 5 wins on the card and is now only 9 wins away from breaking the record and receiving the R1 000 000 incentive.

The Glen Kotzen trained Worldly delivered in fine style claiming race one under another top rider from Richard Fourie. The heavily supported Scottish Links who finished third was always in the vanguard and looked the likely winner, however once Worldly hit top gear he powered home.

La Pulga was game in defeat claiming the second prize whilst Scottish Links rounded up the trifecta and Green Orka finished fourth for the quartet.

Air Raid claimed the second race in fine style for trainer Candice Bass-Robinson with Aldo Domeyer aboard. He looks a smart horse in the making and could be one to follow. 

We Have Touchdown made good improvement to finish in second with Cumbre Vieja running third and Captain West only managing fourth place.

Justin Snaith dominated race three with Powerandtheglory proving to strong under the front running tactics from Richard Fourie. Stated ran on well for second followed 

by Western World in third.

All Out For Six landed the opening leg of the Pick 6 for trainer Vaughan Marshall under a driving ride from Ashton Arries. Kinda Wonderful challenged all the way to line and finished second whilst Mauritius Kestrel finished third and World Of Pleasure fourth.

Trainer Andries Steyn ended the day on a high when Miss New York flew up to win race ten under a powerful ride from Devin Ashby at massive odds.

Senhora Victoria was heavily supported in the betting market and filled up the exacta spot. The quartet returned huge dividend of R 56810.00

David Thiselton

Sean Tarry should seriously be considered for the freedom of Pietermaritzburg such is his phenomenal success at the Hollywoodbets Scottsville Festival Of Speed meeting.

On Saturday The King of Hollywoodbets Scottsville sent out six runners in the annual jackpot of Gr 1 events for a return of two wins, three seconds and a third.

He increased his number of Gr 1 wins at the Pietermaritzburg venue to 20 courtesy of two sons of Gimmethegreenlight, two-year-old colt Proceed and three-year-old colt Lucky Lad, who won the Gold Medallion and Golden Horse Sprint respectively, both ridden by Richard Fourie.

Lucky Lad is fast gaining legendary status such is his phenomenal finishing speed.

He looked to have no chance entering the last 100m of the 1200m Golden Horse Sprint, but then turned it on like an express train to just get up in a blanket finish.

The Hollywoodbets Scottsville straight course is perceived to have a draw bias, which is thought by most jockeys to favour low draws.

Although, outside draws are able to win these days, the outside drawn horses tend to track inward which leads to crowding towards the inside.

Fourie was drawn eleven out of 16 in the Golden Horse and found a whole vanguard in front of him on the outside after Lucky Lad, who has never had great gatespeed, had been dropped out as usual.

After switching inward the writing looked to be on the wall for the 18/10 favourite because the gap between the inside horses and the outside horses closed. How was he going to get through?

At the 350m mark Fourie opted to ease his mount and drift outward.

With the chief protagonists either on the inside or drifting that way he saw daylight with about 200m to go.

However, he still had about five lengths to make up on the leader Cruise Control, who was on the inside rail.

Fourie has said in the past that a rider has to keep on riding Lucky Lad hard and he will eventually take off. However, he now looked to have too little ground in which to get the colt going.

By the 100m he still had four lengths to make up on Cruise Control, a former East Cape horse who was bought by the Hollywood Syndicate and was having his fiirst run for Duncan Howells.

He also still had to overtake I Am Giant, another recent Hollywood purchase in training, At My Command and Sun Blushed, who were all closing in on Cruise Control.

By the 50m mark Lucky Lad still had three lengths to make up on Cruise Control and a length and a length-and-a-half on the other pair.

He then suddenly seemed to realise what his task was.

He put his head down, his ears back and produced a breathtaking surge.

He got up on the line to win by a head from At My Command with I Am Giant a short-head further back and a tiring Cruise Control beaten 0,30 lengths. 

Sun Blushed was beaten 1,50 lengths and Melech, who was completely outpaced early, flew up on the outside for a two length sixth.

Lucky Lad was bred by Varsfontein Stud and the question now is whether he will line up in the Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge over 1600m at Hollywoodbets Greyville next weekend.

He did only have to carry 54,5 kg on Saturday off his 121 rating and the presence of the 130 rated Dyce in the field meant he was one of only four horses who was in the handicap.

In the Gr 1 Gold Medallion  Proceed also jumped from gate eleven, which was also the same gate Lucky Lad won the Gold Medallion from last year. 

The Gimmethegreenlight colt was also dropped out by Fourie, but in a smaller 14 horse field a fortuitous gap opened for him to be driven through and he ran on to beat stablemate Cosmic Speed, who had stuck to the outside of horses throughtout from draw 13, by 0,75 lengths. 

The maiden Winds Of Change comes from strong formlines and also showed that wide draws are not unfavourable by finishing a 2,15 length third with One More and Pistol Pete next best.

Proceed is owned and was bred by Laurence Wernars.

In the SA Fillies Sprint Raymond Danielson proved once again that out of the riders in the country who are not considered “top echelon” he by far the most valuable at Gr 1 level. He scored his umpteenth Gr 1 win on the Candice Bass-Robinson-trained Trippi filly October Morn. He has ridden this filly twice and has scored a Gr 2 and Gr 1 won on her.

On Saturday, he sat on her from draw three and wisely produced her at the 400m mark because there was still room on the inside.

The Tarry-trained Mrs Browning had been prominent throughout in the centre from draw five.

This pair lcoked horns in the final stages but October Morn got the better of Mrs Browning to score by long head. 

The Tarry-trained Winter Greeting stayed on to be beaten 3,45 lengths into third with Time For Orchids and Shantastic next best. 

It was yet another Hollywoodbets Scottsville triumph for Avontuur Stud, who bred October Morn in partnership with David Abery, who bravely bought his racing partners in Miss October out a few years ago in order to breed with her and it is paying dividends.

Barend Botes had earlier landed a first Gr 1 success of his 30 year training career when Quid Pro Quo flashed up late to deny the Tarry-trained Rodeo Drive with Symphony In White close up too. 

The favourite Gimmie’s Countess was most unlucky, with no way to go on the inside rail until late on and she finished a 0,65 length fourth with the fancied KZN horse Just Reckless fifth after hanging badly outward and costing herself.

Quid Pro Quo is owned and was bred by GC Kalil and is by the Jet Master sire Lance, who was ironically trained by Tarry. 

Andrew Harrison

Retired training legend Dennis Drier was dubbed the ‘King of Hollywoodbets Scottsville’ but he has now been dethroned by ‘Emperor’ Sean Tarry.

It was nail-biting stuff for the supporters of favourite Lucky Lad in the Gr1 Golden Horse Sprint, but he recorded Tarry’s 20^th Grade 1 victory at the Scottsville track on Saturday. A runaway winner of the Gr1 Gold Medallion last year, some breathing issues curtailed much of Lucky Lad’s three-year-old season but they now appear to have been remedied and the son of Gimmethegreenlight got up in the last stride to edge out At My Command and I Am Giant with Cruise Control filling the shallow end of the purse.

‘It was a great win, spectacular, but I did have my heart in my mouth,” commented Tarry post-race. “Whew, it wasn’t nice to watch.”

In a thread that went all through the Grade 1 races on the afternoon, Richard Fourie found himself in desperate trouble with two furlongs to travel. Caught at the back of the field, every door was shut in his face and in desperation he switched Lucky Lad wide out for a clear run.

From there on, Lucky Lad picked up the bit and in a remarkable turn of foot, Fourie got him up on the line. “I don’t know if he was finishing well or the other horses stopping but he was favourite and I’m glad he got there for the punters,” concluded Tarry.

Tarry was denied a third Grade 1 winner on the afternoon as Mrs Browning was out-gunned in the dash to the wire by the Candice Bass-Robinson-trained October Morn, the lessor fancied of her two runners in the Gr1 SA Fillies Sprint. Raymond Danielson was well acquainted with his mount after having ridden her to victory earlier in the season at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth.

Fourie looked to have time his run to perfection as Mrs Browning pulled clear of a cavalry charge but October Morn was not going away and Danielson got his filly’s nose in front when it counted with Winter Greeting well back in third. Unfortunately for supporters of Asiye Phambili, she jumped awkwardly dislodging Rachel Venniker. 

Tarry scored his 19^th Grade 1 winner at Hollywoodbets Scottsville with a one-two as Proceed and stable companion Cosmic Speed dominated the Gr1 Gold Medallion. It is a race that Tarry has won three year’s running starting with Thunderstruck and Lucky Lad’s romp last season.

But it was not plane sailing as it took all of Richard Fourie’s expertise to get him home. Instructions were to give his mount a chance which, in layman’s terms, means waiting as late as possible before making a finishing move. Two furlongs out it looked to have all gone wrong as Proceed faced a wall of runners, but Fourie barged his way through a tight gap and the diminutive son of Gimmethegreenlight responded with a telling turn of foot to win going away.

Story of the afternoon was Quid Pro Quo’s win in the Gr1 Allan Robertson Championship. “Horses in training is more my game,” according to winning trainer Barend Botes who reckons that young horses are over-priced so it was home-bred Quid Pro Quo who have him his first Grade 1 winner when she landed the Gr1. Owned and bred by Gerald Khalil, Quo Pro Quo also have you sire Lance his first Grade 1 winner.

As in the Gold Medallion, the race was not without incident as the field concertinaed up the inside rail, Gimme’s Countess one of the chief sufferers and S’Manga Khumalo, draw in pole position was forced into the middle of the track looking for running room after a tardy start. 300 m out Rodeo Drive and Symphony In White had the race to themselves with Gimme’s Countess, after having to check for a few strides, making progress.

That this stage Quid Pro Quo was in a hopeless position faced with a wall of horses. However, Rodeo Drive shifted in towards Symphony In White and the barn door opened. Quid Pro Quo was quickly through and won going away. 

The 2024 Hollywoodbets Durban July wave is building for the traditional vibrant, spectacular celebration of fashion and action at the continent’s premier horseracing event on Saturday, July 6.

While the trainers, owners and jockeys are plotting and planning to ensure the top horses are in peak condition for the R5 million, 2 200m test of equine excellence, the country’s top  designers are making sure their creations reflect this year’s theme and wow the audience at South Africa’s premier annual showpiece of style.

On the track, Champions Season is well under way with the first meetings of “July Season” giving clues as to who will be the horses to watch at the Hollywoodbets Durban July, when the top-class field fight for the most prestigious title in South African racing.

The “Ride the Wave” theme was launched in late March and immediately provided fashion houses, designers, young creatives and the hospitality service providers with an opportunity to let their imagination run wild and explore the infinite possibilities flowing from the concept.

As always, the release of the theme started an immediate buzz in the fashion design community and the fashion programme, that is an integral element of Africa’s Greatest Horseracing Event, sprang into life.

The six stellar South African designers who will headline the fashion element at the Hollywoodbets Durban July Invited Designer Showcase presented by Durban Fashion Fair have been announced and have already produced some wonderful creations.

As the professionals are looking seaward for inspiration, the future stars are also preparing for the chance to make a name for themselves inside and outside the industry in the Hollywoodbets Durban July Young Designer Award presented by Durban Fashion Fair. After a gruelling judging programme, the top 10 students from fashion design colleges and technikons across KwaZulu-Natal will be shortlisted. These elite young creators will be given the opportunity of a lifetime when they get to showcase their “Ride the Wave” designs alongside the Durban Fashion Fair Rising Stars and the invited designers.

This will take place at the Gateway Theatre of Shopping at the Hollywoodbets Durban July Fashion Experience Preview Gala. The Top 10 Young Designers will then get to display their creations on raceday for the more than 50 000 adoring fans at the 2024 Hollywoodbets Durban July.

The vibrant pre-race day fashion shows provide ample opportunity for the industry leaders to show off their ideas, allowing for the fashionistas and socialites to be inspired to build their own creations – ensuring that when the big day comes around, Hollywoodbets Greyville Racecourse will be a vibrant wave of colour and creativity.

Gold Circle confirmed earlier this month that racecourse entrance tickets at R230 are available through Ticketpro’s website (www.ticketpros.co.za) or select SPAR Payzone Kiosks nationwide. Tickets will also be sold from June 24 at the sales kiosk in Avondale Road at Hollywoodbets Greyville Racecourse on weekdays and race days in the weeks leading up to race day. Entrance tickets will be on sale on race day, but it is best to get your tickets before race day to avoid the queues at the entrances. On-site parking is also on offer at R170 per vehicle.

With the pandemic restrictions now a fading memory, the excitement and fervour of the racegoers grew in 2022 and 2023, and the hospitality suites are once again proving as popular as ever and look set to grow even more in 2024. The various marquee and suite hospitality areas in the infield Marquee Village and in the Grandstand provide plenty of entertainment for the socialites, and are perfect venues to socialize while taking in the on-course action.

Early indications are that this year’s event will continue the growth seen over the past couple of years and the variety and range of hospitality packages, at varying prices, are available for what once again promises to be arguably the country’s most memorable social and horseracing event.

Don’t miss the wave as it builds to a crescendo of colour, action and entertainment on July 6.

David Thiselton

The Justin Snaith-trained WSB Met winner Double Superlative might well be making an audacious attempt to become only the eighth horse in history to have won both the Met and the July.

It was generally believed the five-year-old Twice Over entire had been retired to stud but his owner, Durban-based businessman and prolifically successful racehorse owner Nick Jonsson, has revealed otherwise.

Jonsson said, “We were thinking of sending him to stud and there wasn’t really enough support to get me excited about it. So, he is sound and he had a bit of a break after the Met and Justin put him back in training and we thought, ‘Let’s have a go.’ He is a fantastic horse. He is only lightly raced, he’s only had 13 starts and is a five-year-old, nearly six. He is enjoying his racing too and is in a good space.”

Double Superlative is entered in the Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge, but is likely to avoid it in favour of running in a Pinnacle Stakes event over 1600m at Hollywoodbets Greyville on June 15.

Jonsson said, “He is ready for the Gold Challenge, but we’re not sure we’re going to run him there. We’ve entered him just in case we change our minds. We’ve entered him in a Pinnacle for the 15th, which we think is a better race for him, and then he’ll run in the July.”

Jonathan Snaith, who plays a big role in Snaith Racing’s success, said, “Double Superlative is particularly well. He loves his training and his racing and is such a happy horse right now. Depending on his performance and fitness level, the connections will make a decision either on the Hollywoodbets Durban July or the Champions Cup.”

Jonsson confirmed this outlook by saying, “He is in a good space but of course he hasn’t run since the Met, he’s got to have a warm up, let’s see how he goes.”

However, he is clearly keen to run him in the big one to the extent he has even contacted his Met rider Daniel Muscutt to take the ride. The response from the latter was positive.

Jonsson continued, “He is obviously well weighted in the July. He will get 4kg from See It Again and as things stand he will only be giving Green With Envy half-a-kilogram. So he’s in a good place in the weights if he runs, but that’s our plan, to run him in the July.” 

Jonsson concluded, “We will supplement when we want to, their is no big rush. I think he is obviously a big runner at that weight if he runs, and at this stage we plan to run him, and I have got Daniel Muscutt to ride him. He’s going to come out and ride him and let’s see if we can do the double.”

The seven horses to date to have won both the Met and the July have been Hussein in the 1920s, Yataghan and Politician in the 1970s, London News in the 1990s, Pocket Power in the first decade of the millennium, Igugu in the second decade of this millenium and Kommetdieding this decade.

Jonsson will be out to win his third July and have his second individual July winner.

His first July winner was the dual July-winning legend Do It Again, who is by the unfashionable sire Twice Over.

Having failed narrowly to win the big race last year with Twice Over colt See It Again, Jonsson will soon have six July entries this year, See It Again, Double Superlative, Mucho Dinero, Triple Time, Without Question and Hluhluwe.  

Amazingly the first four of those mentioned above are all by Twice Over. Nick Jonsson is obviously not among the many who have snubbed Twice Over. 

See It Again and Double Superlative will both have massive chances and Mucho Dinero could also be a sneaker if bouncing back to his best.