Andrew Harrison

The seven-year-old Good Traveller has been an ATM for owner Howard Schwegmann and he put in another five star performance when winning the Middle Stakes that headed the poly card at Hollywoodbets Greyville yesterday.

This was his third win on the bounce and he won with authority although there was a couple of hard luck stories behind him.

S’Manga Khumalo is unbeaten on the gelding and he had no hesitation in taking Gareth van Zyl’s charge to the front and setting his own fractions.

Agrado, one of the fancied runners, jumped awkwardly and was left many lengths and from there on never in the hunt. Thisiswhatitmeans gave the starters assistants a difficult time but eventually loaded with Sean Veale settling him in off the pace.

Good Traveller was always traveling sweetly but may have been hard-pressed if Thisiswhatitmeans had got a clear run at the line. Veale was forced to ease at a vital stage but once in the clear Thisiswhatitmeans was eating up the ground but eventually denied a fifth straight victory on the poly.

Veale had better luck aboard Isivivane for Peter Muscutt as he stuck to the inside rail to get the better of long-time leader Sun Dance Kid to win the B Stakes.

Talk of the day came in the Class 5 Handicap won by Peggy Sue Shake from My Gucci Girl and a desperately unlucky Saint Brigid who had an objection by Serino Moodley over ruled by the stipendiary board but his deposit refunded.

Moodley had successfully navigated a closing gap as Cole Dicken straightened out Angel Of My Heart  and Saint Brigid punched through the gap. However, he was met by Peggy Sue Shake drifting out onto My Gucci Girl who was making steady progress up the outside. Moodley was forced to snatch up off the heels of Peggy Sue Shake as the gap closed but held on for third.

A brief summary of the stipendiary report reads that both horses were inconvenienced and given the winning margin the objection was over ruled but apprentice Mxolisi Mbuto copped a suspension for his part.

The full report makes interesting reading.

Rachel Venniker has hit a purple patch of late and rode a confident race aboard the Michael Roberts-trained favourite Lou Lou to open proceedings. Off the pace in the early stages, Venniker aimed for a gap between Captain T and Task Force and the daughter of Declarationofpeace responded readily to draw off and win rather comfortably from Task Force who stayed on gamely and Roy’s Blossom who made up ground from the back of the small field.

Blue Steel started at prohibitive odds in the second and those that took the cramped odds were rewarded as the son of Eric The Red made all the running under Serino Moodley. According to assistant trainer Terry Fripp, Blue Steel is not the easiest customer to deal with at home, giving kudos to his regular work rider, and Serino Moodley took the easiest option, jumping to the front and was not for the catching, Blue Steel drawing away to win as he liked.

Praise De La Rey finally got it right to open the Place Accumulator.  MJ Odendaal’s filly showed a remarkable turn of form once Nicholas Patel was given the ride and although it took the pair five runs to escape the maidens the daughter of Act Of War paid her way. Confidently ridden, Praise De La Ray took it up crossing the subway and kept finding to the line. Favourite Lilting Song was a little slow to begin but did not go on with her effort as she threatened briefly to edge out Vaans Spirit.

Keagan de Melo showed all of his experience in the first leg of the Pick 6 as he rode an excellent race on Alyson Wright’s gelding World of Our Own. A horse that tends to hang in under pressure, De Melo was content to drop out from the jump and avoid the scrum for the lead. He then went wide enough in the straight to avoid causing interference on his inside but the gelding was always travelling sweetly and was a commanding winner. Unlucky not to finish closer was Record High who was the ham in the sandwich some 300m out but once clear, he ran on strongly and one for the notebook.

 Wengi Masawi may have got lucky with Peggy Sue Shake but there were no mistakes for the second winner for the Ashburton trainer as Veale got the best out of Tladi Mothwana to land the Class 4 ahead of Highveld visitor Hathighwaytothesky for Hollywood Racing’s third success of the afternoon.

Veale pressed for home at the top of the straight and kept his mount hard to his task while Calvin Habib hunted daylight with gaps closing and his mount hanging in. He made up plenty of ground but too late and Tequila Sky finished off her race smartly, coming from well back to snatch third.

MJ Odendaal landed a mighty gamble in the last. Dressed to the nine’s in what he always tells me are his father’s old ‘threads’, Mystique Rouge was backed from an opening call of 20-1 to start around 4-1, vying with Queen Fenn and Acacia’s Blossom for top of the boards.

Those that put their money down will have been more than a little concerned in the early exchanges as Mystique Rouge was caught at the back of the big field. However, Nicholas Patel managed to thread his way through the pack up the straight and get to the line hard-pressed by Acacia’s Blossom, giving him and Odendaal a double on the day.

David Thiselton

The racing highlights around the globe last week were two instances where the sport and the love of the horse ruled over all else and were a reflection on one of Winston Churchill’ most famous quotes. “There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man“.

The two horse involved were Constitution Hill and Ka Ying Rising, both champions of their respective racing disciplines over hurdles and the flat respectively.

The first of the two highlights was actually the most spine-tingling as it came so unexpectedly, at least to a South African racing fan.

Constitution Hill was turning out in a mile-and-half race on the All Weather track at Southwell just 18 days ahead of the Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

The nine-year-old was unbeaten in his first ten hurdles races and they included eight Gr 1 races with two Cheltenham Festival Gr 1 championship races, the 2022 Supreme Novices Hurdle and the 2023  Champion Hurdle, among them.

However, his whole career was under a cloud as he had fallen in three of his last four hurdles starts and in the other one had finished fifth out of six in the Gr 1 Boodles Champion Hurdle at Punchestown.

He was 1/2 favourite in last year’s Champion Hurdle, having missed the 2024 Champion Hurdle and also having had wind surgery, when having the first of his falls.

The unthinkable then happened on two further occasions as he was evens favourite when falling in the Gr 1 at Aintree and 6/4 favourite when falling as early as the second flight in the Gr 1 at Newcastle.

There has obviously been a lot of thought put into running him in the Champion Hurdle and whether it is worth the risk and an inkling of how much the great trainer Nicky Henderson cares for him was seen in his decision to give him a fitness preparation outing on the flat, where there was no risk of falling over obstacles.

South Africans who tuned in expected to just witness a normal all weather race with some added interest.

So it was astounding when Constitution Hill used his long stride to surge to the front from a handy position to hear a massive roar coming from the crowd.

It was one of those rare moments, like when Desert Orchid won the Gold Cup or when winning his fourth King George, or like when Zenyatta won the Breeders Cup Classic, where the entire crowd was united behind just one horse.

As Constitution Hill neared the line the roar got louder and the TV footage captured images of the crowd jumping up and down with hands in the air.

It then came to light that Constitution Hill’s presence had seen the crowd expand by 800% from the previous meeting at the track.

The crowd were lined deep around the winner’s enclosure to give Constitution Hill a hero’s reception as he returned, a sight more familiar with the Cheltenham Festival than a Southwell All  Weather meeting.

Henderson and owner Michael Buckley face the tough decision on whether to go for the Champion Hurdle, but in the meantime a whole new option has opened for them such was the impression the nine-year-old had created when converting 6/4 in his first ever flat start on Friday in that Novice Stakes event.

Buckley is now dreaming of a tilt at the Melbourne Cup.

There was more excitement for the racing purist on Sunday as the David Hayes-trained Ka Ying Rising was attempting to break Hong Kong’s 17 successive wins record set by the legendary Silent Witness.

The crowd came armed with flags and 18-in-a-row souvenirs and the brilliant horse did not disappoint.

He was out in a flash as usual and was able to settle in second place behind Copartner Prance.

Zac Purton made sure there was no opportunity for anybody to box him in by moving off the rail when Patch Of Theta made a move to come alongside him.

Ka Ying Rising was thus on the leader’s quarters rounding the turn and he was still hard on the bit when passing the Silent Witness statue that is positioned on the public forecourt adjacent to the top of the straight.

There was then the familiar site of the equine hero powering to the front still under the hands with the rest of the field chasing shadows.

The race was the Gr 1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup over 1400m and despite cruising in Ka Ying smashed the course record by 0,56 seconds, to add to his 1200m course record.

He has broken the successive wins record 7,629 days after Silent Witness had recorded his 17th successive triumph and the crowd gave him a massive reception, including a gigantic banner with 18 on it being moved by the crowd above their heads.

Please Note: South African Quartet Pools with fractional betting offered at Newcastle and Southwell (UK) – 24 February 2026.

Soccer13 Tuesday 24 February 2026. Carryover R3 306 022. R6.5 Million (All-13-Correct Pool). Pool Closes at 21h15. Sport 10 Pool 1.

David Thiselton

 

The Hollywoodbets Durban July conditions have been finalised and the final field panellists might be in for an interesting evening before the Final Field And Barrier Draw Ceremony, whilst the three-year-olds look to be on the back foot at present.

 

There will be a longer handicap this year with a 10kg spread in the weights from a topweight of 62kg down to a bottom weight of 52kg.

 

Furthermore, it will just be a straight handicap, unlike recent July conditions in which there was a maximum and minimum weight for certain age groups and genders.

 

If the final field happens to have a spread that is less than 10kg, the topweight will still be 62kg. If, for example, there is a weight spread of 7kg among the entries, then the bottom weight will be 55kg.

 

If the topweights are scratched after the setting of the weights, then the new topweight will be dragged up to 62kg. For example if the topweight after scratchings is 60,5kg, it will be dragged up to 62kg and after the rest of the field have been dragged up the bottom weight will become 53,5kg.

 

The final field will not necessarily be chosen by merit rating order.

 

Justin Vermaak, Executive Racing and Bloodstock of Race Coast, said, “There will be a final field selection panel like before and merit rating will be a leading aspect, but the panel will also take current form and distance suitability into account etc.”

 

In recent years the final field panellists have not had it too tough as the field was cut up before the final field announcement, with a lot of horses being scratched due to the recognition by the connections they do not have much chance, either due to the weights not favouring them or due to them being off form – the final declaration fee could have, in those cases, been considered a waste of money.

 

However, with the longer handicap, there are going to be more horses who still have form chances on paper.

 

Looking at last year’s July for example, third-placed Selukwe was rated 111 and had to carry 54kg due to the condition that the minimum weight for an older male was 54kg. He was thus 2kg under sufferance with the 127-rated topweights, both older horses, and he was 4kg under sufferance with the officially best weighted horse, the 129 rated (nett 125-rated) Eight On Eighteen, who was set to carry 57kg despite being the highest merit rated horse in the race due to a condition that three-year-old males could not carry more than 57kg.

 

In last year’s race Oriental Charm carried 60kg, Eight On Eighteen carried 57kg and Selukwe carried 54kg.

 

Under this year’s conditions the weights for those three horses would have been: Oriental Charm 62kg, Eight On Eighteen 61kg and Selukwe 54kg. Selukwe would have been 2kg and 4kg better off with Oriental Charm and Eight On Eighteen respectively under today’s conditions.

 

He would have been 2kg better off with the winner The Real Prince too and, on paper, would have been beaten 0,30 lengths instead of by 2,65 lengths.

 

There could theoretically have been a horse who would have been even more favoured by today’s conditions than the 111-rated Selukwe example.

 

Using last year’s race under today’s conditions, an older horse who had been rated 107 would sneak into the handicap under today’s conditions.

 

A 107-rated older horse last year would have had to carry 54kg, 6kg less than the topweight, but under today’s conditions it would have only had to carry 52kg, which would be 10kg less than the 62kg topweight.

 

Therefore, there are theoretically going be a lot more horses standing their ground at the time of the final field selection process this year, because a lot more of them will have chances of winning on paper than would have been the case under the old conditions.

 

Furthermore, with stakes of R10 million up for grabs there will be less cases of horses being scratched due to the  connections deeming them to be off form. They might still want to take their chances.

 

The difficulty for the panel will come in deciding whether a lower rated horse is deemed to have better recent form or better distance suitability than a higher rated horse.

 

For argument sakes let’s assume that we go back to last year and there are still many horses standing their ground until the bitter end. After the top 17 are selected, according to the last log and current form, let’s assume the next two horses are the 115-rated Madison Valley and the 120-rated The Real Prince.

 

The Real Prince is rated five points higher than Madison Valley, but he has never run a race beyond 1600m before.

 

Madison Valley on the other hand finished a close fourth in the Betway Summer Cup over 2000m and in his final run before the July he won the traditional July pointer, the Hollywoodbets Dolphins Cup Trial over 1800m.

 

Which one are they going to put in the all important 18th slot?

 

Such a scenario is going to have much more chance of happening this year.

 

Although it has been said that weight avoidance tactics are going to be used this year, those who do take that route are probably going to run a bigger risk of not qualifying than ever before.

 

Now on to the three-year-olds.

 

Eight On Eighteen was held in high regard last year and came into the race 2kg well-in, according to official merit ratings, and yet he was not able to win the race.

 

Under today’s conditions he would have had to carry 61kg, effectively 2kg more.

 

So it was tough last year for a top, top three-year-old who was favoured by the old conditions.

 

How tough will it be for good-but-not-great three-year-olds under the new conditions, considering there is no maximum weight for them and no minimum weight for older horses?

 

Likewise it will be tough for females.

 

Furthermore, this year’s three-year-old crop are arguably overrated off their current merit ratings.

 

For example, Gauteng Guineas runner up Grand Empire could not win the Wolf Power 1600 against older horses when 2kg under sufferance off a 102 merit rating (effectively a 106 merit rating), yet he is now rated 120. There will be cries of “but the handicapper is clueless” when looking at that, but those who do say that are clueless themselves, because the handicapper rates a race on that race, not on past races, and Tin Pan Alley had earned his 117 rating by beating older horses and Grand Empire had then beaten him. Furthermore, Grand Empire was likely not at his peak for the Wolf Power with the Triple crown series looming.

 

Nevertheless, the overall impression is the current three-year-old male crop is not shining and it is questionable whether any of them have properly earned a rating of 120 or above.

 

It could well be an older horse July, but on the other hand there is an impressive unexposed horse like Note To Self among the three-year-olds and more such types might emerge.

 

The build up to this year’s Hollywoodbets Durban July is going to be more intriguing than ever!