RACE 1

6 TIMELINE      7 SOMBREUIL      1 ALESIAN BEAU     2 JET QUERARI

Preview: TIMELINE (6) is well tried but holding form and should win soon – strong each way chance. SOMBREUIL (7) Nearly won last time and can go one more this time. Big danger here. ALESIAN BEAU (1) is never too far off the action and can place. JET QUERARI (2) has a quartet shout based on the penultimate run. (Warren Lenferna 6-7-1-2)

RACE 2

1 CADENZA      4 BOMBER BAY      2 PRICELESS PEARL      3 RED LHASA

Preview: CADENZA (1) ran a fair race on debut and with natural improvement and the stable jockey abord should be able to beat this opposition. Bright win chance. BOMBER BAY (4) is trying for the 19^th time to get it all right – strong place chance. Should win soon. PRICELESS PEARL (2) is a tad erratic but can earn and RED LHASA (3) can finish in the first four based on best KZN form. (Warren Lenferna 1-4-2-3)

RACE 3

1 ROYAL KINGDOM      6 EAST COAST GIRL      2 ABOVE THE HORIZON      3 SUPREME JUDGE

Preview: ROYAL KINGDOM (1) has good winning form, should win and can be a banker. EAST COAST GIRL (6) ran an absolute cracker last time and should be right there at the finish – exacta choice. ABOVE THE HORIZON (2) and SUPREME JUDGE (3) have serious place claims and must be included in the quartet. (Warren Lenferna 1-6-2-3)

RACE 4

6 BLACKBERRY BREEZE      3 PALANCAR     5 GLOBETONIC      4 PEDRO

Preview: BLACKBERRY BREEZE (6) has improved recently and looks ready for his second career victory. PALANCAR (3) ran well first time out the maidens which bodes well for another win or two – big chance. GLOBETONIC (5) is ultra-consistent and should be in the first three and PEDRO (4) can be forgiven for the last run and has obvious claims. (Warren Lenferna 6-3-5-4)

RACE 5

6 ROMAN AGENT      7 GOLDEN PAVILION      3 SWEETIE DARLING      2 PARIS LASS

Preview: ROMAN AGENT (6) has posted two terrific runs at this course recently, has ability and can be given a bright winning chance. GOLDEN PAVILION (7) is winning and winning well – he can provide plenty of cheek to the first choice and can win. Bid danger. SWEETIE DARLING (3) can do way better than the last run shows and goes well for Chad Little. A definite swinger horse. PARIS LASS (2) has each way claims. (Warren Lenferna 6-7-3-2)

RACE 6

1 FRENCH FLAME      4 GALILEO STAR       8 TRIPPING THUNDER       3 HALCYON

Preview: FRENCH FLAME (1) is making huge threats of recording his second career win and looks ready now and is therefore the firm first choice. GALILEO STAR (4) is clearly talented and could end up being anything. Interesting to note that the Dean Smith stable rider Craig Zackey has opted with French Flame over number 4. Maybe some boxed exactas could be the way to go here? TRIPPING THUNDER (8) and HALCYON (3) could add value to the quartet perms. (Warren Lenferna 1-4-8-3)

RACE 7

4 SMASHING      6 ALEX MILLER      3 HAPPY WIVES      5 MARSHMALLOW

Preview: SMASHING (4) is holding form and rates the one to beat. ALEX MILLER (6) is holding post maiden form, nearly won last time and will be a serious contender for top honors. HAPPY WIVES (3) won impressively last time and if she were to follow up, it would be no shock at all. MARSHMALLOW (5) is the lurker and place value suggestion. Can pop up. (Warren Lenfenra 4-6-3-5)

RACE 8

10 MANEKI NEKO      4 RAVILIOUS      2 SILVONIAN      8 NOTORIX

Preview: MANEKI NEKO (10) gets weight off his back again and has run some fair races recently and is never far off the action. He could represent some attractive odds and is the first choice. RAVILIOUS (4) is in hot form, and is one for the shortlist and a must for all bets – likely the horse to beat. SILVONIAN (2) has a strong place chance and NOTORIX (8) is a must for the quartet. (Warren Lenferna 10-4-2-8)

Please note: Vaal Race 10 has been abandoned.

South African Quartet Pools with fractional betting offered at Lingfield and Newcastle(UK) – 20 November 2025

Warren Lenferna

It was a training feat of absolute note by Eric Sands, who had the exceptionally bred son of Fire Away, Foudre, ready to make a winning comeback to what he was born and bred to do. He had not raced since 31 January 2024, yet he was presented today looking as if he had run only a few weeks ago. He is out of the champion mare Halfway To Heaven, making him a sibling to Golden Ducat, Hawwaam, and Rainbow Bridge. Sands trained all the siblings except for Hawwaam (he was the underbidder), who was trained by Mike de Kock.

It is no surprise that Foudre was sent to Sands, given his remarkable track record with the family—he even trained Halfway To Heaven herself. Retained rider for Khaya Stables, Craig Zackey, gave this handsome thoroughbred a perfectly judged ride, steering him past the line to score a convincing comeback victory. Zackey is in such good form that, if you look closely, there is smoke coming off his silks.

Later in the afternoon, while checking on his string at his Milnerton-based yard, Sands reflected on the journey with the son of Fire Away. He described it as a tough road, as Foudre was returning from a tendon issue. Sands paid huge compliments to physio Sue Franklin, who helped nurture the horse back to his best with constant, careful maintenance.

“1200m was always going to be too short for him, and he impressed me today,” said Sands. He added that he was extremely thankful to Mrs Mary Slack and Lady Christine Laidlaw for their support, patience, and willingness to allow him to do whatever was required for this gelding.

Race 3 saw Rose Woott catch the eye in a Maiden Plate over 1600m for fillies. She is a magnificent daughter of Wootton Bassett, ridden by the in-form Serino Moodley and trained on the West Coast by Andre Nel. She showed a promising debut over 1400m, finishing only 3.35 lengths off Red Beryl, and followed up with a fourth-place effort over the same trip, 2.30 lengths behind Boozy Susie.

Today, stepped up to 1600m from an acceptable draw, she showed her true potential, winning well and beating La Patrona. There was no sign of Ms Sakura, who caught the eye on debut when finishing second to Dark Matter in KZN. She most likely needed the run today, having last been seen in KZN 26 weeks ago. A beautiful filly with a stunning pedigree, there is little doubt she will build on this effort.

The last race of the day went the way of Tulip Fields from the Dean Kannemeyer yard in a tight finish. Stable rider Craig Zackey gave her everything and got her up in the shadow of the post. Speaking of shadows, the runner-up La Landonne jumped a shadow from the grandstand yet still never went down without a fight. She, too, is a striking filly from the Snaith yard who should go on to win races.

We now look forward to three features this coming weekend, with the headliner being the Grade 2 Race Cape Punters Cup.

David Thiselton

 

The Vaal straight course will have the standside rail brought in by ten metres, so the low number draws should have at least as much chance as the high numbers in the races down the straight and might be advantageous.

 

The headliner of the meeting is a Conditions Plate over 1400m and the Gr 1 winner Cosmic Speed is the one to beat. This will be his seasonal reappearance after a layoff of over five months, but the trip should be ideal for this miler who has also won a Gr 2 over 1400m and he is well treated at the weights. His Sean Tarry-trained stablemate Shadowfax is officially way out at the weights but is a promising sort who can bounce back from his disappointing run last time. Texas Red is ideally distance suited and if producing his best could earn, although he is 9,5kg under sufferance with Cosmic Speed. Those three should get punters through.

 

In the first leg of the Pick 6 Babette’s Feast has run two good races and over an ideal distance, she looks the horse to beat. Delaware River went close last time over 1450m and should also be right there. Nothing Compares could earn here if able to reproduce her best run. Lady Limoncello ran a good race last time over 1400m and also has a chance. Savara’s Princess has some good form and has to be respected too.

 

In the fifth race over 2000m Douglas Dragon is a consistent sort who is distance suited and carrying 52kg he is only 1kg under sufferance with the best weighted runner. However, he does have a wide draw of eight to overcome. Hotarubi has plenty of ability, but his attitude is in question and he cannot be relied on. However, if he is going to have an on day he does have a good opportunity here from a good draw over a suitable distance. Imperial Master should relish the step up in trip. He has a fair draw and should go close with a 1,5kg claimer aboard. Royal Edition is a bit in and out, but he can’t be ignored over an ideal trip from a plum draw. Flashy Apache is the joint best-weighted and from pole position should be in the shake up.

 

In the sixth race over 2000m Hazy Dazy looks full of promise and has scope for plenty of improvement. This tall filly is ideally distance suited and has a good draw. She looks to be the best bet on the card. Nkwenkwezi, Kissing Machine, and Cartagena all have the ability to challenge her. Arctic Silver in fine form too, but does have a four point merit-rated raise and a wide draw to overcome.

 

In the seventh race over 2000m Matcha Mint disappointed last time but is interesting tried over a step up in trip from pole position. Ethical is proven over this trip and should be right there from a good draw. Rejuvenated had some hard-knocking maiden form before getting off the mark when stepped up to 1800m on the poly at Hollywoodbets Greyville. She is interesting over a trip she should relish on pedigree. Pomozelous is not very consistent, but is distance suited and can’t be ignored. Hopscotch can do better than her last two starts and could earn.

 

In the eighth over 1700m Michael Faraday has the ability to beat this field over an ideal trip from a good draw. Scarlett Heart won easily in the maidens and starts off handicapping off a reasonable mark. Gamer is capable of earning from a fair draw. The Mightiest can earn if producing her best. Bob Lee Swagger has his third run after a layoff and can do better than last time.

 

In the tenth over 1200m She’s All Mine is in fine form and will go close. Peregrine Falcon won well last time and off a three point higher mark can earn again. Captain Efficient can be in the shake up if repeating his last start. Captain Selvie has the form to be a contender. Quiet Winter starts handicapping off a reasonable merit rating after an easy win in the maidens over 1160m and has to be considered.

 

In the first leg of the PA over 1400m Winds Of Grace is knocking on the door and has a good opportunity here. Al Greenga made a good debut and will go close with expected improvement. Onceinabluemoon has shown some ability and can earn here.

 

In the first race over 1400m Amandla Ngawethu and World Order should fight it out.

 

In the second race over 1400m Lance Alot and Tommy Atkins are the pair to beat and should get punters through the Bipot.