Please Note:

Soccer 4 : SPORT 19 POOL 2 – 25 JULY 2025
Match 2 (M2): HOUSTON DYNAMO FC vs LA GALAXY. Postponed until further notice.

Soccer 6 : SPORT 4 POOL 2 – 25 JULY 2025
Match 4 (M4): HOUSTON DYNAMO FC vs LA GALAXY. Postponed until further notice.

Soccer 10 : SPORT 12 POOL 1 – 25 JULY 2025
Match 10 (M10): HOUSTON DYNAMO FC vs LA GALAXY. Postponed until further notice.

All results (the field) will qualify for the above match.
In terms of TAB rules, all choices (the field) will apply in determining results and payouts.

Please Note: World Pool Event in Royal Ascot (UK) Races 1-8 and York (UK) Races 2-3. Saturday 26 July 2025

Please Note: South African Quartet Pools with fractional betting offered at Royal Ascot,Windsor and York (UK) – 26 July 2025

The Dean Kannemeyer-trained THE REAL PRINCE runs in Race 8 – the Grade 1 HKJC Champions Cup at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday.

Picture: Race Coast/Candiese Lenferna

 

Andrew Harrison

The racing season comes to an end next week when all thoroughbreds turn a year older but a fitting finale plays out at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday on World Pool Gold Cup day.

The meeting boasts four Gr1 features plus the Gr3 World Pool Gold Cup with the added bonus of the meeting being supported by the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s World Pools that allows tote punters to bet into hugely inflated pools with a Pick 6 pool estimated to reach R10 million.

The World Pool Gold Cup underpins the meeting but most interest will center on the Gr1 HKJC Champions Cup to be run over 1800m where Hollywoodbets Durban July winner The Real Prince will be out to confirm that his July win was no flash-in-the-pan.

Dean Kannemeyer’s charge stayed the 2200m of the July to get the better of star colt Eight On Eighteen with the balance of a useful field strung out behind. The big question before the race was would he stay and only having one preparation run.

Kannemeyer said that The Real Prince had taken his July run well and ‘cleaned his manger’ the next morning. The July is always a testing race but considering that it was only the gelding’s second start after a break he should still be relatively fresh and the step down in trip is a bonus.

 He takes on last year’s winner Dave The King with Mike and Mathew de Kock following  exactly the same route into the race. However, last year he had it all his own way in the Gr1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge but this year was hard-pressed to get the better of Oriental Charm. He has had nearly two months to recover so will strip fresh and ready. See It Again has a third go at winning; third last year and second before that. He was scratched after a setback before the July but Michael Roberts is quietly confident that he has his charge in peak condition.

Nathan Kotzen saddles Summer Cup and Champions Challenge  victor Royal Victory. He seems best on the Turffontein standside track with its long straight, however, he was finishing strongly in the July and Piere Strydom, who this week announced his retirement from riding after winning 5620 races, is a bonus.

Piet Botha made the trip up to KZN with this race specifically in mind for Montien but admitted that things had not worked out as planned. However, Montien finished second to One Stripe in the Gr1 King’s Plate and third behind Eight On Eighteen, beaten less than a length, in the Gr1 WSB Cape Met so if one takes those races into account, a win would not be out of turn.

Gareth van Zyl has all along prepared King Pelles for the Gr3 World Pool Gold Cup and it appears that the gelding is on track. He has done very little wrong in his last two, stays the trip well and has a smart turn of foot. However, he has jumped in the handicap that could be telling.

Frank Robinson is two-handed with Madison Valley, who ran an excellent race in the recent Hollywoodbets Durban July, running on stoutly in the finish, and Shoot The Rapids. Madison Valley won the 3000m Gold Vase beating Shoot The Rapids last season, the latter turning the tables in the Gold Cup, beaten a short head by Master Redoute. Both Robinson runners have more weight to carry this year. Alan Greeff sends out Bournemouth who boasts strong Fairview form over ground and has Richard Fourie up. Holding Thumbs is 1kg better off with King Pelles on their last meeting but that may not be enough while Weiho Marwing could saddle the joker in Navajo Nation who ran a cracker at long odds last time out and will be a threat if he stays the trip.

The Mercury Sprint is a highly competitive contest but Gr2 Golden Horse Sprint winner Tenango will have many supporters after a sparkling victory at Hollywoodbets Scottsville. Racing off the early pace, jockey Andrew Fortune let the gelding build up into his stride and finish with relentless speed to win rather comfortably. Fortune is suspended and currently holidaying in Australia and his place in the saddle has been taken by his son Aldo Domeyer who knows the gelding well from his Cape Town exploits. Tenango does have a wide draw to contend with but came from well back to win last time out and his Cape sprint form is top drawer.

There are a number of fillies in the race including Mia Moo and Asiye Phambili, first and second in the recent Gr1 SA Fillies Sprint. Sean Tarry’s filly was a game winner that afternoon, just holding off a late-charging Asiye Phambili. The Duncan Howells-trained filly was a touch unlucky that day and subsequently ran a fair race in the Gr1 Ridgemont Garden Province Stakes over 1600m. She is back over what looks to be her best trip although a wide draw is a concern.

Hollywood Racing’s retained rider Sean Veale has chosen recent Gr2 Post Merchants winner I Am Giant ahead of Asiye Phambili. Stuart Ferrie’s runner found market support at long odds when surprising in the Merchants but that was his second run for the stable and he could possibly make further improvement.

William Robertson is way better than his last effort from a wide gate in the Merchants. Corne Spies’s gelding is a tough customer who seldom gives less than his best although his last two runs are a concern. He has won 15 races from 44 starts.

Chronicle King caused a major upset when winning the Gr2 Golden Horseshoe at long odds where he finished with a flourish and a win in the Gr1 World Pool Moment of the Day Champion Stakes will cement an Equus Award. Tin Pan Alley was staying on resolutely behind Chronicle King and has yet to run a poor race while Malmesbury Missile  was also finishing well in that race and this trip will suit.

Golden Palm looks to be one of the better bets on the card when she lines up in the Gr1 Douglas Whyte Stakes. She boasts cracking Fairview form and cruised to a 10-length win  when tried over 1400m. The extra furlong will hold no fears and she has the best of the draw. One Fine Winter could pose her biggest danger as she steps up to this trip for the first time. She has smart sprint form in strong company but finished second to Golden Palm in the Gr2 Fillies Nursery.

1

11 MAGICAL PALACE      5 SARDINIA BAY      9 WAROFDYNAMITE      8 WORLD CHAMPION

Preview: MAGICAL PALACE (11) ran a cracker on debut and with natural improvement, should be hard to beat. SARDINIA BAY (5) improved at the second run and has to be respected for all bets – strong each way chance. WAROFDYNAMITE (9) with weight off can earn and WORLD CHAMPION (8) can improve to get closer. (Warren Lenferna 11-5-9-8)

2

2 MEGHAN’S DIAMOND      3 NEBULOUS      6 HAZEL GREEN      7 WAIT FOR ME

Preview: MEGHAN’S DIAMOND (2) is showing some ability and can improve further and could be tough to get past. NEBULOUS (3) has not been far away in both her runs thus far and will be a huge chance. HAZEL GREEN (6) improved lengths wise last time and could be the place value. WAIT FOR ME (7) can build on the debut performance. (Warren Lenferna 2-3-6-7)

3

7 BEACH VERSE      8 CHICKASAW      1 PITERAQ      5 UP IN FLAMES

Preview: BEACH VERSE (7) improved at long odds last time and with further progression expected, can go very close to winning. CHICKASAW (8) caught the eye last time and can go one more. PITERAQ (1) was far from disgraced first up and can improve to earn her first cheque. UP IN FLAMES (5) is a must for trifectas and quartets. (Warren Lenferna 7-8-1-5)

4

3 RIKKITIKKITAVI      7 GOODNESSGRACIOUSME      4 MIRACULOUS      2 FUN ZONE

Preview: RIKKITIKKITAVI (3) never justified favoritism last time but was far from disgraced and can bounce right back to winning ways. The weight off will help. GOODNESSGRACIOUSME (7) can run fresh back in Cape Town from KZN and is a massive runner. MIRACULOUS (4) has a huge place chance and FUN ZONE (2) is ultra-consistent and can win – big chance as always. (Warren Lenferna 3-7-4-2)

5

3 ONCIDIUM      1 MISS NEW YORK      5 IM THE BUZZ      9 ANGEL’S OASIS

Preview: ONCIDIUM (3) caught the eye when trotting up in the maidens and could be anything – follow. MISS NEW YORK (1) is never far off the action and has each way claims. IM THE BUZZ (5) is taking time to win again but is running well and can place as always. ANGEL’S OASIS (9) has a quartet chance. Form is solid. (Warren Lenferna 3-1-5-9)

6

1 LANDOFTHERISINGSUN      3 CAPTAIN WEST      7 AIR RAID      5 SAN PEDRO

Preview: LANDOFTHERISINGSUN (1) has won his last two well and is confidently selected to reel off the hat trick. CAPTAIN WEST (3) is holding form and should be in the first four with a winning shout. AIR RAID (7) has won two out of his last three and can continue on these ways – serious chance. SAN PEDRO (5) could be the place value – respect and include. (Warren Lenferna 1-3-7-5)

7

4 WEHAVEASITUATION      11 BENEATH THE CLOUDS      6 TAKE IT AS RED      3 GOLDEN ANGEL

Preview: WEHAVEASITUATION (4) from gate 1 will have every opportunity to reel off the hat trick and is selected to do so. BENEATH THE CLOUDS (11) is another searching for the hat trick and will be very competitive for it – big danger to the first choice. TAKE IT AS RED (6) was far from disgraced last time and can get much closer – bright chance. GOLDEN ANGEL (3) must make the quartet shortlist. (Warren Lenferna 4-11-6-3)

8

2 LHASA      10 WILD APPLAUSE      8 SHE’S MY WORLD      7 MUSIC OF THE NIGHT

Preview: LHASA (2) ran a good race last time and has each way claims in a tough race. WILD APPLAUSE (10) ran an absolute cracker first time out the maidens and can go one more. SHE’S MY WORLD (8) has huge each way claims and MUSIC OF THE NIGHT (7) has a first four chance. (Warren Lenferna 2-10-8-7)

Ends