RACE 1

Two well-bred sorts, RISING EAGLE and OCTOBER REEF, should fight out the first race on the day. Vercingetorix colt RISING EAGLE was unlucky not to win on debut as he lost ground and found only one better in a more experienced sort. Rafeef colt OCTOBER REEF was only a length behind when also in need of the experience and both look to have much more to come. There are first-timers in this one, follow the betting moves closely. BERRY LANCER and ELUSIVE DRAGON have run some decent races and must be considered for prize money.

RACE 2

RIVERA must rate the one to beat after a promising second place finish behind speedy colt Bisou Bisou. She finished clear second best and should make the required improvement. Watch out for ARABELLA FIGG who was not disgraced finishing a decent third behind winner Perfect Sky in her first outing. She can only improve and has a pedigree for more ground. LIGHTINTHEWOODS has shown useful ability. She could show more back from a break and the 1160m trip could suit.

RACE 3

UMZINGELI WENYATHI is in solid form at present. The son of Buffalo Bill Cody turned in a creditable effort in a strong race and could add another win to his tally. TWENTYTWENTYVISION looks a bit better than his last run when having things go wrong. It was not a bad run and he was beaten only 0.20 lengths by the former and is 3.5kg better off so must have a big say. But it doesn’t end there. If speedy PIVOTAL ROLE is ready after a rest he could be hard to catch. PLUS FOUR and STONEYWOOD aren’t ones to take lightly either.

RACE 4

The form of BEST CANDIDATE was franked when Sky Pilot came out to win recently. BEST CANDIDATE has shown versatility and even though his merit rating has been upped he still carries bottom weight and could go on to win again. BOUNDLESS LOVE was on a roll before coming up short over 2000m last time. Expect a better performance back over 1800m. THE PLAYBOY BOMBER’s last two wins have come on the inside track, but he has also won two on the Standside track. He has made good strides as a five-year-old but has a bit to find with top weight. JORDAN could be the dark horse.

RACE 5

DOCTOR STRANGELOVE took a big jump in distance in his stride, winning as he liked. He didn’t beat a strong bunch but the late maturing son of Master Of My Fate is only just getting the hang of things and could make a decent handicap debut. PAGE BOY will test him. He showed his wellbeing last time with a good win from a wide draw and goes well for rider Keagan de Melo. HEAL AND SOUL could also be dangerous. He has fair Western Cape form and wasn’t disgraced on local debut. THOONSIL was gutsy on the Poly and must also be respected.

RACE 6

The race has a wide-open look. NARETOI came in for support and had a ‘look in’ last time. Blinkers may do the trick this time. SPACE MISSION turned in a fluent performance on the Polytrack at Hollywoodbets Greyville. A wide draw is a worry. BRAVE WAAM suddenly got into the swing of things with a change of headgear. He can step up on his form at this venue. ITSNOWORNEVER wasn’t far off in stronger contests before striding short in his last start. He could prefer the drop in distance. GUERILLA WARFARE could suddenly pop up. More with upset claims.

RACE 7

VIBE SA won a cracker getting the better of DANTE’S BOND and the pair could fight it out again. MAX THE MAGICIAN was most unlucky in that race but will be drawn in gate No 1. ANTONIO GAUDI confirmed betting support with a good performance round the turn last time but has won down this straight too. He comes into it. ECHO CHECK tired late after showing good pace over 1000m. This is a better distance for him. It would be encouraging to see CHARMING CHEETAH come back to best. He had excuses in his last two and gets some reprieve at the weights with a 1.5kg claim.

RACE 8

WINTER IN AUCKLAND brings fair Western Cape form into the race and could be anything. She makes her debut for in form trainer Tony Peter. READY SET FIRE has figured it all out and won two in a row at the Vaal. He should have a big say even if switching to Turffontein this time. TIME WILL TELL has finished runner-up in his last three and could finally turn the form around with READY SET FIRE. He deserves a change of luck. Juvenile EVENING PARADE won in good style and is one to watch for more improvement. GEOSTORM, GUNBOAT and NKANDLA GOLD all can earn.

RACE 9

Two-year-old LIFE IN COLOUR lacked extra after setting the pace in the Highveld Winter Juvenile Stakes. It was, nevertheless, a fair run and he should improve on his handicap debut. He takes on many hard-knocking older rivals. But a big threat could be lightly raced WILD AS THE WIND who could be flying under the radar. He is worth another try over the extra. DRIVELIKEAMASTER can take advantage as he has all the experience needed to win a race like this and can finally reward his followers. SATYAGRAHA’s merit rating has dropped, and he can pop up one of these days.

David Thiselton

The Turffontein Standside meeting today is headlined by a MR 100 Handicap and Max The Magician could be the one to side with presuming his number one draw is not disadvantageous.

The straight course used to favour high draws but seems to have ironed out lately and the five-year-old What A Winter gelding was unlucky in his last start when full of running and having nowhere to go. He eventually switched in for a run and was beaten 0,90 lengths into fourth. Gavin Lerena keeps the ride and the horse is 1,5kg better off with the winner of that race Vibe SA for the 0,90 length beating.

 Vibe SA was held up that day and ran on very well and Kyle Strydom is back aboard. He should make a bold bid although considering Max The Magician was unlucky and has a weight turnaround the latter is preferred.

Antonio Gaudi is tipped to finish second ahead of Vibe SA, because he looks to be coming into his own, although he does have a five point raise to overcome and he also won’t have the 1,5kg allowance of Mickaelle Michel that he had last time. Echo Check looked promising at one stage before going off the boil, but headgear has helped and a drop in merit rating should help him too, so he will be a threat.

Pumpkin Pie has some class and ran a good second on debut over this trip, so returning from a seven month layoff he could be effective running fresh over this trip. Dante’s Bond ran on well over course and distance last time and meets Vibe SA on the same terms for a neck beating but he is officially 1,5kg under sufferance, although Mickaelle Michel ‘s 1.5kg claim will help.

In the first leg of the Pick 6, Boundless Love has a better draw than last time when caught wide early and maybe wasting some energy. He will also prefer this slight step down in trip. The Playboy Bomber is in  fine form and has a chance off a three point higher mark for a good win last time, although he has a tricky draw. Best Candidate was game in victory last time and the form has been franked, although the concern is he did make a respiratory noise and he was also raised seven points. He sneaks into the handicap with the minimum weight and has a plum draw of two.

In the fifth race over 1800m, Heal And Soul had some decent middle distance form in Cape Town and should have come on from his Highveld debut when running on well for third over a too sharp 1450m. In December he finished just a neck behind Note To Self over this distance and he has got pole position. Dr Strangelove won well when stepped up to 2000m third time out and he starts off on a reasonable 78 merit rating, so will be a threat from a fair draw. Page Boy has always looked to be a promising sort, so now that he won nicely last time, his second career win, he could have a chance of following up. However, he does have a tough draw.

In the sixth over 1600m, Brave Waam looks to be a progressive sort and can do well from a good draw off an opening handicap mark of 79 in his fifth career start.  Knowmore stayed on resolutely to win his maiden over this trip and he should be staying on from a wide draw off an opening mark of 74, because the form has worked out well. Redlightgreenlight is a nice sort who is beginning to mature and his last run looks worse on paper because he ended up right at the back from a wide draw. If he breaks better than in his penultimate start, when third over this course and distance, then he could go close from a plum draw of two under Rachel Venniker, whose 1,5kg claim will be handy.

In the eighth over 1160m, Gunboat has a fine chance as he beat Ready Set Fire in his penultimate start giving the latter 4,5kg and now gets half-a-kilogram from him. He didn’t have much room last time when fifth and is better than that form appears and the winner was the decent Catfish, so he has a good chance in this field. Geostorm is a full-brother to champion sprinter Buffalo Storm Cody and has his third run after a layoff here so should go close off an 80 rating as he has scope for improvement. Evening Parade came through to win comfortably second time out and this two-year-old can do well under Gavin Lerena off an 84 merit rating.

In the ninth over 1400m, Winston’s Wonder ran on well from the back in first-time blinkers last time after being dropped out from a wide draw and he is now well drawn. Life In Colour is 1kg under sufferance but this well related two-year-old, who is by Malmoos and is a half-sister to the high class Duke Of Marmalade sprinter True To Life, can do well here over a suitable trip from a fair draw. Drivelikeamaster hit the front too soon down the Vaal straight last time and can do better.

In the third race over 1000m Umizngeli Wenyathi is in fine form and with Rachel Venniker’s 1,5kg claim can go close. In the second over 1160m Rivera made a good debut and will be hard to beat. In the first over 1160m, Rising Eagle is the one to beat after making a good debut from this same number one draw over course and distance.

Please Note: South African Quartet Pools with fractional betting offered at Chester and Newmarket (UK) – 10 July 2026

David Thiselton

 

The Dean Kannemeyer-trained Vercingetorix filly Palace Of Arvernia produced a fine performance on Hollywoodbets Durban July day to win the Gr 2 Amusnet Golden Slipper over 1400m from a tough draw of 13 under Craig Zackey.

 

Kannemeyer had spoken about the toughness of the draw in the build up saying going up there is not wise because the others in front have got there for free, while dropping out left one with too much ground to make up.

 

He said the only way was to attempt to slot in and hope one got lucky, but admitted there would be no luck “nine out of ten times.”

 

However he is fortunate to have the national champion jockey elect riding for him and it was a combination of skill and luck that did the trick.

 

Palace Of Arvernia jumped well and Zackey eased her as she reached midfield and shifted inward.

 

Fortunately, Too Fast To Fiesta just ahead of her was forced to shift outward at the same time and provided Palace Of Arvernia with cover, albeit in a three wide position.

 

Zackey had her nice and relaxed in the running and switched her to the outside in the straight. She accelerated smartly, although she did shift inward slightly.

 

This might have contributed to the unlucky horse of the race, Alice B Toklas, being squeezed out as she was moving through threateningly inward of Palace Of Arvernia.

 

The stipendiary steward report on the incident said:

 

“ At the 350m TOO FAST TO FIESTA, which commenced to hang in, brushed ALICE B TOKLAS inwards, onto LADY HARLEQUIN, which had to be steadied when awkwardly placed on the heels of FERRARI FLAIR, which was directed outwards when insufficiently clear. As a consequence VIKING LASS was directed inwards away from LADY HARLEQUIN, which was thereafter not persevered with. Jockey S Moodley was charged with a contravention of Rule 62.2.7, in that as the rider of FERRARI FLAIR, he failed to ensure that he did not cause interference to LADY HARLEQUIN (Z Lloyd) at the 300m. Jockey S Moodley signed an Admission of Guilt and is suspended for 7 days (Dates to be advised) “

 

The stipes have a better view than the public video footage but from the angle provided with the latter it looked as if Palace Of Arvernia inward shift had caused Too Fast To Fiesta to hang inward.

 

Alice B. Toklas was completely squeezed out and had to re-gather, so did extremely well to eventually run a 1,10 length second.

 

Meanwhile, Palace Of Arvernia, who continued to shift in until Zackey changed whiphands to his right hand, had swept to the front and won comfortably.

 

The rematch between her and Alice B Toklas in the Gr 2 Thekwini Stakes will be interesting, although Palace Of Arvernia has unfortunately draw wide again at 20 out of 20, while Alice B. Toklas has drawn three.

 

Dean Kannemeyer revealed after the race he and Jehan Malherbe of Form Bloodstock had spotted this filly at the National Yearling Sale and said, “We thought she was a well balanced rangy filly and was going for the right price. Sandy Irvine was on the phone and we were very fortunate to get her at the right price … well when they win they are always the right price! We are very excited about her.”

 

The Al Adiyaat-bred filly is out of the Gr 3 Pretty Polly Stakes winner (1100m) Palace Of Dreams and is from the family of the like of champion filly Kiss Of Peace (Fordham) and the Gr 1 Cape Guineas winner Kilindini (Silvano).

 

She was bought for R575,000 and has earned R415,625 for owners Sandy Irvine and Peter Moor courtesy of two wins and a fourth place finish in the Gr 2 Allan Robertson Championship over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville.

David Thiselton

 

The Vaughan Marshall-trained Vibe Check was one of the meeting bankers on Hollywoodbets Durban July day and he not only duly delivered, but likely won many new fans in the process as this strongly built, imposing colt has a rare presence about him.

 

Marshall has said the Maine Chance Farms-bred Querari colt would be even better suited to 1600m, so fans can possibly look forward to him running again on World Pool Gold Cup day, although he has unfortunately drawn very wide.

 

In the Gr 2 Omoda Golden Horseshoe over 1400m on Saturday the big horse jumped well from pole position under Sean Veale and was soon using his massive stride out in front with the rest of the field looking like whippets behind him.

 

Veale revealed later that Vibe Check had been very green and he had battled to get him to corner.

 

The big bay kept going well in the straight  and fended off late challenges from Green Energy, Secretary Bird and Red Spice to win by 0,40 lengths.

 

Veale pointed out Vibe Check was still growing and had put on 7kg since his last start.

 

He said, “There is a lot of improvement to come.”

 

What makes the Vibe Check story even more compelling is that he races in a famous set of silks that have resurfaced.

 

The colours white with red stars and a green cap used to be owned by two former Chairmen  of the Durban Turf Club Douglas Saunders and his son Chris, who won two Julys together with these colours, Jollify winning it for them in 1967 in the big race’s most famous finish, the dead-heat with the immortal Sea Cottage, and then ironically winning it with Sea Cottage’s half-brother Naval Escort in 1969.

 

The colours have been taken over by Irishman Seamus Burns, whose family own Lodge Park Stud,  a highly esteemed thoroughbred breeding farm and racehorse nursery situated in Freshford, County Kilkenny, Ireland.

 

Seamus apparently has an annual holiday to Cape Town, or at least used to, that coincides with the like of the Race Coast Sales Premier Yearling Sale and he is no stranger to big race success in South Africa, winning the Gr 1 Gold Medallion with the Vaugan Marshall-trained Ambiorix (Vercingetorix) in 2021.

 

In the Gr 1 Premiers Champion Stakes on World Pool Gold Cup day Vibe Check has drawn 34 out of the 36 entries.

 

Marshall did say on Saturday after the win that Vibe Check would take his place in the latter race, but he might think twice from a draw that is going to end up very wide. On the other hand the big horse’s front-running style might make it well worth having a go as his early pace could see him finding the rail in front without expending too much energy.

 

Vibe Check cost R650,000 at the Race Coast Summer Sale last year.