David Thiselton

One of the intriguing questions that will be answered on World Pool Gold Cup day is whether the champion sire Vercingetorix can break his own South African record of 23 individual stakes winners in a season.

He is currently on 21 individual stakes winners and it will hinge on the big turf meeting on the last Sunday of the month as to whether he can break the record or not, because he does not have a runner in the only other stakes race still to be run this season, the Listed Champion Juvenile Cup at Fairview.

Vercingetorix will have many runners representing him on Gold Cup day such is his phenomenal influence on big races in the country.

However, the only ones that will count for this particular record will be the ones who have not previously won a stakes race this season.

A defending champion of one of the big races on the day actually falls into that category i.e. Gladatorian.

It is often said that horses coming fresh into the Gr 1 wfa HKJC Champions Cup have an advantage over those who have run in the July, but Gladatorian ran in the July last year and still managed to win the Champions Cup.

The Stuart Ferrie-trained six-year-old gelding has not had the best of luck with draws in his career, but in last year’s Champions Cup he landed draw three and for once his well known late charge did not come too late. This year he has drawn three out of the 12 horses who are still standing their ground, so will have every chance of defending his title. The man who knows him best, Sean Veale, looks likely to take the ride again as he is contracted to Hollywood Racing and hence rode the Hollywood Racing-owned Isivivane in the July.

In the opening race of the meeting, the Listed Tote Stakes Darley Arabian over 1600m, the Alyson Wright-trained four-year-old Vercingetorix gelding Position Of Power is out of an unraced Horse Chestnut mare who was in turn out of an Elliodor mare who won four times from 1200m to 1600m, so he is interesting stepped up from sprints if taking his place here. His sprints record is six wins, three seconds and a third from 12 starts. He is drawn 18 out of the 35 entries still standing so his final barrier position all depends on how it cuts up.

In the Gr 2 World Pool Bet With Tote Umkhomazi Stakes over 1200m the Mike and Mathew de Kock-trained Vercingetorix two-year-old colt Rising Eagle won comfortably over 1160m on the Turffontein Standside track in his second career start on Saturday. His time did not compare favourably on the day but on the other hand he jumped from an unfavourable low draw and still won. He now has a very wide draw of 40 among the many entries and will need some luck in the running if he lines up in this race.

In the Gr 2 Douglas Whyte Thekwini Stakes over 1600m the Louis Goosen-trained Ferrari Flair is still a maiden but has been performing well in stakes races, including finishing a close third in the Gr 3 Strelitzia Stakes over 1100m and a 2,30 length third in the Listed Amusnet Devon Air Stakes over 1400m. She was not disgraced when a 3,25 length eighth in the Gr 2 Amusnet Golden Slipper over 1400m, but she does not have as good a draw here and she has a bit to find on those who beat her in the latter race.

In the Gr 1 World Pool Moment Of The Day Premiers Champion Stakes over 1600m Rising Eagle is also an entry here and on pedigree should enjoy this 1600m trip as he is out of a New Approach mare who won up to 1800m. However, he has a draw of 23 among the many entries so has a tough task.

The Gr 1 wfa Mercury Sprint sees the hard-knocking Andre Nel-trained four-year-old Vercingetorix gelding O’Tenikwa having an outside chance if able to find a couple of extra lengths on his best form. He has a fair draw of seven.

In the Gr 3 World Pool Gold Cup over 3200m the Dean Kannemeyer-trained five-year-old Vercingetorix gelding Continentalexpress has some fair staying form and carries a lightweight from a plum draw, so he can’t be written off.

In the Gr 2 Bet With The World Gold Bracelet over 2000m the Candice and Tammy Dawson-trained Minogue will make a last ditch bid to win bold black type before being retired to stud and she will certainly deserve it. On the form of her run in the Gr 2 Woolavington 2000 she has a definite chance. She is sure to revert to the handy to front-running tactics that suit her best from a pole position draw, having not being suited to being dropped out to last in the July. The Candice Bass-trained four-year-old Vercingetorix filly Rahhabba won the non-Black type WSB Scarlet Lady over 1750m and was just touched off in the Listed IOS Insider East Coast Cup over 2000m. So carrying just 55kg from a plum draw in the Gold Bracelet she has an outside chance, although she officially has a tough task at the weights.

In the last feature of the season, the Listed HKIR In December Umngeni Handicap over 1000m, the Glen Kotzen-trained four-year-old Vercingetorix gelding Circumbendibus is a hard-knocking sort who has a definite chance. His draw is unknown at the time of writing, but he enjoys this course and distance. The James Crawford-trained Dame Of Trix is an interesting runner here as she won impressively over this trip at Turffontein last time and she could be better than her 98 merit rating suggests. She could land a fair draw when it cuts up as she is drawn 14 out of the 35 entries still standing. Position Of Power, mentioned earlier in the article, has hard-knocking sprint form and is also an entry here, although he is drawn 24, so will likely have a tough barrier position on the day. The Tony Rivalland-trained five-year-old Vercingetorix gelding King Of The Gauls is course and distance suited as he is very quick and he won this race from a wide draw two years ago, but the problem here is he has to do it from another wide draw off an eight point higher merit rating. The Louis Goosen-trained three-year-old Vercingetorix gelding Blazing Fury is a hard-knocking sort who has a two length fourth in a Gr 3 Sprint to his name, but he will officially have a tough task at the weights if he gets in here and he has a wide draw.

Andrew Harrison

Small fields but it is competitive racing on the poly at Hollywoodbets Greyville today and there are no ‘gimmes’ as they say in golf.

Headlining the card is the Lucky Fish Silver Run Class  where Justin Snaith’s Bangkok Magic is a two-year-old taking on older horses. However, he won well second time out and although he does face stronger he shed his maiden with authority and can follow up. None of Ricky Maingard’s visiting string have finished out of the money and Seven No Trump can keep up the form. The gelding makes his local debut on the poly but boasts some useful Cape form over the trip and is one to watch in the market. Darryl Moore has done wonders with poly specialist United Nation but does appear to be tested over this trip so preferred is Red Bomber who has started favourite at his last two but has been close-up in both. He should be right there again.

Punters face a tricky opener with a couple of Cape raiders relatively unexposed and it could pay to follow the betting. However, Stuart Ferrie’s filly Predator’s Crown, although having the widest draw, has put up two smart efforts to date and has run on the poly. Blazing Belle may just have needed her last run after a lengthy break but both her starts have been in the soft so the poly should suit. Yeah Baby was at long odds when make her debut on the poly but was not far back and should come on lengths from that run. Interstellar makes her debut for Adam Azzie and is one to watch in the market.

The first leg of the PA is wide open but Dancing In Demark has good poly form and has a light weight and should feature prominently. Peace Rose enjoyed the poly and the step up in trip when shedding her maiden and meets slightly stronger here but can follow up. Treasure Island is never far back and the drop in trip on the poly could see her home. Gold Gold Baby was close-up in her poly debut and now gets first time blinkers while Blue Poppy was narrowly beaten first up on the poly and has been consistent since. She is another in with a strong winning chance.

If there is a standout on the card it could come in the first leg of the Pick 6 with Princess Trippi. Wendy Whitehead’s filly has been knocking on the door for some time now and goes well this course and distance and is the one to beat. Of the balance, Chooks Kiss is seldom far off the winner and goes well on the poly and has a good draw to help her cause while Chihiro may just have needed her last run when making her poly debut and must have a strong chance if improving on that effort.

In the fourth, Ebisu was an easy winner first up on the poly for Lucinda Woodruff and the form has held up. The extra furlong should not trouble her but she did get a seven-pound raise in the handicap which is a concern. However, she is progressive and can deny the handicap. The year older Golden Angel was a beaten favourite last run but has been in good form on the poly. She gets 4.5kg from Ebisu so there is a lot on her favour while Sesame was well beaten by Ebisu last time out but now gets a 4kg claimer aboard and is 7kg better off for a seven-length beating.

Dennis Bosch could hold the key to the fifth where Pembury is likely to start at long odds. He has not been far back in recent starts but has dropped markedly in the ratings. The blinkers are back on and he gets a 4kg claimer aboard. Run To Rio was a beaten favourite last run but finished close-up in third while Pleasedtoseeyou  is relatively lightly raced and was a beaten favourite over course and distance last time out. Navajo Dancer is up in class but goes well on the poly and has a light weight.

The sixth is another wide open handicap but Meerkat Moon has the best of the draw and has improved in blinkers. He was narrowly beaten over course and distance last time out Sail To The Moon goes well on the poly and has been knocking at the door while William Of Orange as shown up well in two post-maiden efforts on the poly. He has drawn well and the stable is in form. Music Of Life has the widest draw but ran a cracker under an inexperience apprentice last start and is seldom far back.

Yadav Singh can round off the day when he saddles Victor Rail who goes well over course and distance and was less than two lengths back to Bless Me Fred when last they met. He is now 7kg better off taking the apprentice claim into account. Cappellino has good form over course and distance and was a close-up second to Bless Me Fred last time out and is now 1.5kg better off so the tables should be turned. One can never write of veteran galloper Trafalgar Square who has been consistent under big weights and should be competitive again.

RACE 1

9 PREDATOR’S CROWN   1 BLAZING BELLE   8 YEAH BABY   6 INTERSTELLAR

Preview: Tricky with a couple of Cape raiders relatively unexposed. PREDATOR’S CROWN (9) has the widest draw but has put up two smart efforts to date and has run on the poly. BLAZING BELLE (1) may just have needed her last run after a lengthy break. Both her starts have been in the soft so the poly should suit. YEAH BABY (8) was at long odds when make her debut on the poly but was not far back. She should come on lengths from that first run. INTERSTELLAR (6) makes her debut and is one to watch in the market. (Andrew Harrison: 9-1-8-6).

RACE 2

4 DANCING IN DEMARK   7 BLUE POPPY   3 TREASURE ISLAND   5 GOLD GOLD BABY

Preview: Wide open. DANCING IN DEMARK (4) has good poly form and has a light weight. She should feature prominently. PEACE ROSE (2) enjoyed the poly and the step up in trip when shedding her maiden. She meets slightly stronger here but can follow up. TREASUE ISLAND (3) is never far back and the drop in trip on the poly could see her home. GOLD GOLD BABY (5) was close-up in her poly debut and now gets first time blinkers. BLUE POPPY (7) was narrowly beaten first up on the poly and has been consistent since. Another in with a strong winning chance. (Andrew Harrison: 4-7-3-5-2).

RACE 3

5 PRINCESS TRIPPI   3 CHIHIRO   2 CHOOKS KISS   7 LADY REGAL

Preview: PRINCESS TRIPPI (5) has been knocking on the door for some time now. She goes well this course and distance and is the one to beat. CHOOKS KISS (2) is seldom far off the winner and goes well on the poly. She has a good draw to help her cause. CHIHIRO (3) may just have needed her last run when making her poly debut. She must have a strong chance if improving on that effort. LADY REGAL (7) was much improved last run when starting at long odds. She may be coming to hand. (Andrew Harrison: 5-3-2-7).

RACE 4

3 EBISU    1 GOLDEN ANGEL   6 SESAME   8 ANOTHER DREAM

Preview: EBISU (3) was an easy winner first up on the poly and the form has held up. The extra furlong should not trouble her but she did get a seven-pound raise in the handicap. She is progressive and can deny the handicap. The year older GOLDEN ANGEL (1) was a beaten favourite last run but has been in good form on the poly. She gets 4.5kg from Ebisu so there is a lot on her favour. SESAME (6) was well beaten by Ebisu last time out but now gets a 4kg claimer aboard and is now 7kg better off for a seven-length beating. ANOTHER DREAM (8) has been up against stronger of late and showed signs of a return to form last run. (Andrew Harrison: 3-1-6-8).

RACE 5

3 PEMBURY   5 NAVAJO DANCER   6 PLEASEDTOSEEYOU   2 RUN TO RIO

Preview: Tricky. PEMBURY (3) has not been far back in recent starts but has dropped markedly in the ratings. The blinkers are back on and he gets a 4kg claimer aboard. RUN TO RIO (2) was a beaten favourite last run but finished close-up in third. PLEASEDTOSEEYOU (6) is relatively lightly raced and was a beaten favourite over course and distance last time out. NAVAJO DANCER (5) is up in class but goes well on the poly and has a light weight. (Andrew Harrison: 3-5-6-2).

RACE 6

1 MEERKAT MOON   4 SAIL TO THE MOON   3 WILLIAM OF ORANGE   9 MUSIC IS LIFE

Preview: Wide open. MEERKAT MOON (1) has the best of the draw and has improved in blinkers. He was narrowly beaten over course and distance last time out. SAIL TO THE MOON (4) goes well on the poly and has been knocking at the door. WILLIAM OF ORANGE (3) has shown up well in two post maiden efforts on the poly. He has drawn well and the stable is in form. MUSIC IS LIFE (9) has the widest draw but ran a cracker under an inexperience apprentice last start. He is seldom far back. (Andrew Harrison: 1-4-3-9).

RACE 7

2 BANGKOK MAGIC   5 SEVEN NO TRUMP   3 RED BOMBER   6 UNITED NATION

Preview: BANGKOK MAGIC (2) is a two-year-old taking on older horses but won well second time out. He does face stronger but shed his maiden with authority. SEVEN NO TRUMP (5) makes his local debut on the poly but boasts some useful Cape form over the trip and is one to watch in the betting. UNITED NATION (6) is a poly specialist but does appear to be tested over this trip. RED BOMBER (3) has started favourite at his last two but has been close-up in both. He should be right there again. (Andrew Harrison: 2-5-3-6).

RACE 8

6 VICTOR RAIL   8 CAPPELLINO   10 BLESS ME FRED   3 TRAFALGAR SQUARE

Summary: VICTOR RAIL (6) goes well over course and distance and was less than two lengths back to BLESS ME FRED (10) when last they met. He is now 7kg better off taking the apprentice claim into account. CAPPELLINO (8) has good form over course and distance and was a close-up second to Bless Me Fred last time out and is now 1.5kg better off so the tables should be turned. One can never write of TRAFALGAR SQUARE (3) who has been consistent under big weights and should be competitive again. (Andrew Harrison: 6-8-10-3).

Please Note: South African Quartet Pools with fractional betting offered at Leicester and Wolverhampton (UK) – 14 July 2026