David Thiselton

It was a halcyon day for KZN racing on Saturday at Hollywoodbets Greyville as Hollywoodbets officially took over the province’s racing and it was thus fitting that the province’s trainers, owners and jockeys had fine days respectively, while Hollywood Racing fittingly had a winner as did their brands and communications manager Devin Heffer.

Summerveld trainers Stuart Ferrie and Michael Roberts ran one-two in one of the Gr 2 features, while Peter Muscutt won a Listed feature and both Nathan Kotzen and MJ Odendaal had doubles, while hometown jockeys Muzi Yeni and Sean Veale also had doubles and hometown owners Devin Heffer, Michel Nairac and Ravi Naidoo all had Gr 2 winners.

The Ferrie-trained five-year-old Vercingetorix gelding Gladatorian was offered at 20/1 by Hollywoodbets in the opening ante-post market for the Gr 2 IOS Drill Hall Stakes over 1400m, but by race time in a field that had cut down to 12 the classy Vercingetorix gelding was the Tote favourite and was a bookmakers starting price of 9/2. Sean Veale did well to hold his position from draw five early on as Gladatorian was being pushed sideways on the hindquarters by the slower starting Great Plains, who was heading for the same gap. Veale settled Gladatorian in midfield with cover, while meanwhile the Roberts-trained second favourite See It Again had probably the best start of his career and was one of first away from draw two under his new rider Raymond Danielson, who then settled him in the running three back on the rail. Three-year-old Great Plains, who won the Listed Gatecrasher over this course and distance as a juvenile, was on the rail two positions behind See It Again right near the back. The leader Texas Red switched outward off the false rail while See It Again went inward and a dream gap opened for Gladatorian, who showed his usual fine turn of foot and had hit the front by about the 150m mark with See It Again a strong contender on the inside and Great Plains right on the rail next to See It Again also right in it. Gladatorian held on to beat See It Again by a short-head with Great Plains only 0,25 lengths further back. The Real Prince ran on exceptionally well from last to be beaten just 1,35 lengths. Questioning, Cafe Culture and Montien were next best.

Gladatorian had thus landed a second Gr 2 at Hollywoodbets Greyville. Having won the Post Merchants a couple of years back. He is owned by Messrs Late Agasthamuni Gujadhur, E G Hart de Keating, M L Jean Hardy and Gold Circle’s CEO Michel Nairac.

Veale, who praised Ferrie and his team for a fine training feat, said they had not been able to really gallop Gladatorian with the all the rain there had been at Summerveld, so said there was still plenty in the tank for him. His next mission will likely be the Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge and thereafter it will either be the Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Durban July or the Gr 1 Champions Cup or both. Gladatorian has never raced beyond 1750m before, but won when sent for over the latter trio for the first time and his pedigree, with Vercingetorix having won the Gr 1 Daily News 2000 and his dam, who won over 2000m, being by stamina influence Dynasty, suggests he could get the 2200m of the July, despite the speed he possesses.

See It Again can also look forward to a fine Champions Season after an excellent pipe opener.

In the next race, the Gr 2 WSB Fillies Guineas, the Brett Crawford-trained Rafeef filly Mom Petit Cherie, bred by Ridgemont Highlands and owned by Ridgemont in partnership with Devin Heffer ran on strongly down the inside under Richard Fourie to beat the favourite Spumante Dolce with Be Merry next best. 

Earlier, Nathan Kotzen and his loyal owner Peter Victor started the day well when Warrior Of Royalty, whom they both have a share in, won the WSB Dash over 400m. Nathan told Jacey Botes to hold his mount together after the jump and get him balanced before riding him. This proved astute advice as he charged home to catch the Mike Miller pair Million Voices and Holds The Key and win by a shorthead, having been backed in from 20/1 to 25/2.

In the next race Kotzen and Victor combined to finish third on debut with the promising World Of Royalty, who is by One World. The winner of this race, The United States colt Intensity, gave both MJ Odendaal and Richard Fourie the first legs of individual doubles.   

Kotzen and Victor then combined to win over 1200m with Querari filly Royal Kailani, who was having her second start and Muzi Yeni extracted more from her in  a tight finish. It was a rewarding win as this filly is a half-sister to the yard stalwart, whom Peter also has a share in, Royal Victory. He revealed his recently late wife Belinda had signed for Royal Kailani after she had not reached her reserve of R500,000 and that persuaded him to splash out for her.

Peter said, “My wife would have been very, very proud.”

Royal Kailani’s immediate future will be played by ear.

Stalwart Durban owner Ravi Naidoo came to the course chiefly to watch Cousin Casey’s comeback run in the Drill Hall, but had a bonus when his part-owned Vercingetorix colt downed Gr 1 WSB Met winner and Gr 1 Wilgerbosdrift HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes winner Cosmic Speed to win the Gr 2 WSB Guineas under a fine ride by Yeni.

In the last race of the day over 1400m, the MJ Odendaal-trained Flower Alley gelding Tobacconist justified being backed i  from 20/1 to 11/2 by winning cosily under Sean Veale. He carried the colours of Hollywood Racing to conclude the fitting set of results on a momentous day in the province’s racing history. 

Graeme Hawkins

Let It Be Said shapes up as the best bet on a trappy card when he lines up against eight rivals in the R165 000 Perfectly Placed A Stakes over 1400m, billed as the penultimate event on the 9-race programme at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth this afternoon. Let It Be Said represents the in-form combination of Justin Snaith and Richard Fourie and the 3yo son of Vercingetorix brings solid form into the race.

Last time out Let It Be Said was runner-up in the Variety Club Mile behind Garrix over 1600m, but he is equally adept over this course and distance as evidenced by his facile victory over The Grey King on World Sports Betting Cape Town Met race day. Since an inauspicious debut over 1000m back in June last year, Let It Be Said has hardly put a foot wrong and has finished in the money in his nine subsequent starts, including three wins and five seconds. He has really come into his own since being stepped up in trip and he should give us a huge run for our money today.

Gallic Dream, jumping out of pole position, ran third in the Variety Club Mile and rates an obvious threat as the Eric Sands 4yo son of Vercingetorix is 1kg better off with Let It Be Said for a 1,25 length deficit. Gallic Dream is ideally distance suited this afternoon, having raced six times over 1400m for three wins and three placings. Championship seeking Craig Zackey takes the ride and Gallic Dream will be there to pick up the pieces if Let It Be Said fluffs his lines.

Either of Vaughan Marshall’s two runners could surprise. Seeking The Stars is unbeaten over track and trip but does have top weight of 61,5kgs to contend with although a good draw enhances his winning claims. Stable companion San Pedro has been a little inconsistent of late, but he has the ability get involved off a light mass. Sugar Mountain has been a little below par recently, but he is a six-time winner over the trip and could suddenly bounce back to best form. Silver Falcon, stable companion to Let It Be Said, has not won for 630 days but his last run when fourth behind Tenango was encouraging.

In summary, Let It Be Said is the clear first choice but if you are looking for cover then include Gallic Dream.

Churchillian could get punters off to a flying start in the opening event, a Maiden Juvenile Plate over 1000m, which is due off at 12:25. Churchillian, the own brother to Grade 1 winner Master Archie, has useful form behind Sunday’s Nursery winner Dreamworld and he could prove too strong for Gold Giboski and Three Tigers. The fast-improving Gold Dust will be a popular choice in the fifth race, a Class 3 Handicap over 1600m. This good-looking son of Rafeef recently shed his maiden ticket at only the third time of asking and with only 52kgs to shoulder and Muzi Yeni aboard he could easily record back-to-back victories. His principal danger looks to be Major Master but all of Pinot Grigio, Future Turn and Tenpenny warrant a measure of respect in a good race.

Beer With The Boys has to lump 64kgs in the sixth race, a low-grade D Stakes over 1600m, but he jumps from pole position and the 4yo son of Silvano is holding form well. He is weighted to turn the tables on Wehaveasituation but a bigger danger could be Golden Angel who has been threatening to record her second career victory. Midway had a wide draw to contend with when finishing a neck behind Beer With The Boys last time and from a much better gate here, the 4yo son of Pomodoro could turn the tables.

The seventh race, a Class 5 Handicap (F&M) over 1400m, is a typically trappy affair but the impeccably bred Beach Queen appears to be getting the hang of things and could confirm the form with many re-opposing rivals here, despite being drawn widest of all. Dream Searcher, from the prime gate, goes well for Craig Bantam and the three-time winning daughter of Erupt will give a good account of herself and poses the biggest threat to Beach Queen.

The race meeting closes out with a very competitive Class 4 Handicap over 1200m in which Crowned Hornbill, Jet Force and King’s Quest, blinkered for the first time, make most appeal. Circumbendibus has the form to be considered for larger permutations, but he should be held by the lightly raced and improving Jet Force.

Andrew Harrison

Muzi Yeni produced a vintage ride aboard Sail The Seas as he led home a Justin Snaith one-two in the Gr2 WSB Guineas in front of a festive crowd at a revamped Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday. Riding the Snaith ‘second’ string Yeni pounced at just the right time to edge out stable companion and short-priced favourite Eight On Eighteen and Cosmic Speed in a blanket finish.

In a change of tactics to his come-from-behind second in the Gr2 Hawaii Stakes behind Main Defender, Craig Zackey had no hesitation in taking Sean Tarry’s charge to the front in a field reduced to seven runners with the late scratching of Legal Counsel.

Cosmic Speed set sedate early fractions with Sail The Seas in close attendance and Eight On Eighteen off the pace but still in touch some six lengths off the leader.

Zackey sat for as long as he could once off the false rail but with Sail The Seas breathing down his neck he was finally forced to go for broke. But Yeni always had him in his sights and in a bit of tactical riding he moved up along side Cosmic Speed and steadily pressed him off a straight line without causing interference.

It was a move that probably won him the race as Cosmic Speed, game as he tried, was not able to hold off his rival and looked destined for second before Eight On Eighteen flashed up on his inside to snatch second.

It was a tremendous effort from all three and as Snaith commented post-race, this this year’s three-year-old male crop is out of the top drawer, siting the results of the Gr1 L’Ormarins King’s Plate and the Gr1 WSB Cape Met as examples.

Eight On Eighteen is destine for the Gr1 Daily News 2000 and a crack at the Gr1 Hollywoodbets Durban July while his rivals will in all likelihood have the Gr1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge over a mile as their target given their apparent stamina limitations.

Snaith also pointed out that the recent wet weather at Summerveld had hampered preparations and he felt that both his charges have more to come.

James Crawford expressed similar reservations as Mon Petit Cherie came with a storming late effort under Richard Fourie to collar Spumante Dolce with an ever game Be Merry hanging on for third.

James is one of the brightest young lights in the training ranks, having learnt well from his father Brett who has left the stable in his son’s hands as he tries his hand in the highly competitive ranks of Hong Kong.

Mon Petit Cherie was not without her supporters as she vied for favoritism with Spumante Dolce and there was little more than a neck between her and Mike and Mathew de Kock’s filly with Be Merry hanging on for third after being up with the pace and tracking Spumante Dolce all race.

Give Me Everything had her winning streak snapped but Dean Kannemeyer will have been well pleased with his filly as she came from last in the straight to finish a length off the leading trio. Given that she was drawn widest of all in the 14-runer field, it was possibly the best showing of all and the Gr2 Woolavington 2000 looks to be an obvious target.

Stuart Ferrie is one of the more reserved men in the training ranks be he has had a grounding second to none having been around the world before signing up for an extended stint with highly respected trainer Dennis Drier.

On Drier’s retirement he took over Drier’s yard and among the stable ranks was Gladatorian. Ferrie has handled the five-year-old with precision and was a deserved winner of the Gr2 Independent On Saturday Drill Hall Stakes, albeit narrowly ahead of a seemingly rejuvenated See It Again and Great Plains who could be counted a little unlucky as he found traffic in the straight. Fourth was another Kannemeyer runner, The Real Prince, who was doing his best work from the back of the field and a wide draw.

Sean Veale got a dream split up the center of the field and Gladatorian responded with a fine turn of foot to hit the front when it mattered. See It Again ran on strongly up the inside fence to hold off Great Plains in a blanket finish.

Ferrie and Veale are convinced that Gladatorian has the stamina to see out the 2200m of the Gr1 Hollywoodbets Durban July and is going about it in the right way.

Given the quality of horses and the major Gr1’s still on the horizon, local patrons are in for a treat this Champions Season.

Durban – On the eve of the launch of the 2025 Champions Season this coming Saturday, South African horse racing awoke to a brand new chapter in its history on the Workers’ Day public holiday today with the good news that the acquisition of Gold Circle by the Hollywood Sportsbook Holdings group (Hollywood/Hollywoodbets) has received the final stamp of approval of the KwaZulu-Natal Economic Regulatory Authority (KZNERA).

In a transaction that dates back to the commencement of negotiations in 2023, and culminating in a Special General Meeting of Members in September of that year, KZN racing is set to benefit from a R500 million (and rapidly escalating) rescue injection by Hollywood in a seriously ambitious and committed plan to resurrect the failing industry in the richly culturally diverse province that has enjoyed a passionate following of the sport for well over a century. 

It is a reality that, given the combination of the prevailing economic climate and dramatic changes in the betting landscape, horse racing countrywide has languished in the doldrums for a large part of the 21st century. 

The move by Hollywoodbets is thus seen as the dawn of a new era of management and capitalisation, that will introduce a focus on the best utilisation of resources, while embracing a wider universal appeal that will keep pace with ever evolving modern entertainment trends, directed at a wider customer market.

The investment by Hollywoodbets is set to ensure job security for the estimated 6,000 people employed directly and indirectly by the industry and peripheral services in the province, and foster broader stakeholder interest and incentive for investment through the modernisation of facilities in venues and training centres, while also upgrading prize money, which has lagged over the past 30 years.

The operational aspect of the introduction of a new-look racing programme, coupled with incentives to promote racehorse ownership and boost field sizes, an important component of the key driver of improved betting turnovers, is already well advanced.

Whilst ownership transfers on 1 May, the investment began months ago. A huge leap of faith was required. Even before this final approval by the KZNERA, Hollywoodbets had confidently commenced its considerable investment. To date there has been extensive capital investment in facilities, which includes wide-scale renovation of buildings and equipment upgrades, as well as a revamp of the Hollywoodbets Greyville Polytrack. Day-night racing has proved immensely popular in KwaZulu-Natal and a multi-million-Rand upgrade of the lighting facilities at the home of the historic Hollywoodbets Durban July, brings the Durban City racetrack on a par with leading night-racing venues internationally. To have delayed these essential projects until formal approval had been given would have resulted in none of the work commencing until after the Champions Season.

The Summerveld Training Centre is also set for major improvements. Plans are well advanced for an extensive capital injection that will result in material upgrade of stabling, Grooms accommodation, roofing, roads and other infrastructure. 

Hollywood CEO, Suren Rampersadh, welcomed the announcement and confirmed that it was now all systems go for the company’s game changing plans to revitalise a sport that enjoys a unique place in the hearts and minds of passionate locals and the whole Purple Team.

“We wish to reaffirm that we are fully committed to securing the future of the horse racing industry in KwaZulu-Natal and are privileged to be in a custodial position to carry the baton into what we firmly believe will be a bright and prosperous future for the sport and all stakeholders in the region and beyond. The investment that commenced some time ago will continue, with plans to change the face and broad appeal of the business that operates in one of the most exciting sports internationally, with a global reach of over 584 million households,” added Rampersadh. “This has been a long journey, and we are super-proud that our team has got it over the line. I am sure that our pride is more than matched by the relief and renewed enthusiasm of all stakeholders”.

The encouraging news comes in excellent time for the much-anticipated launch of the 2025 Champions Season at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday.

Three months of action-packed top-level horseracing will be headlined by the 129th renewal of the historic Hollywoodbets Durban July, which will be run over 2200m on Saturday 5 July 2025.

Durban, South Africa – The countdown has begun! The 129th edition of Africa’s premier horse racing and social spectacular, the Hollywoodbets Durban July (HDJ), is set to take place on Saturday, 5th July 2025, at the iconic Hollywoodbets Greyville Racecourse. As the most anticipated fixture on South Africa’s racing calendar, the event seamlessly blends world-class horse racing with high fashion, entertainment, and a memorable social experience.

Staying true to the theme of “Marvels of Mzansi,” this year’s racing extravaganza promises an iconic line-up of South African talent, featuring a diverse array of artists set to captivate all attendees throughout the day. The national anthem will be beautifully performed by one of the country’s leading songstresses – look out for the reveal in May. With these performances, the thousands of attendees expected at Hollywoodbets Greyville will have a memorable experience. Stay tuned for the full artist line-up. All ticket holders can look forward to a day filled with live entertainment that will be talked about for years to come, as this year’s HDJ celebrates Mzansi’s vibrant spirit. 

Tickets for this outstanding event are now officially on sale via Ticketpro (www.ticketpro.co.za). Priced at R230 for general admission, your ticket grants access to a day of thrilling racing action, live entertainment, fashion showcases, gourmet food experiences, and an array of engaging activations from event partners. For added convenience, onsite parking is available for R170 per vehicle.

For those seeking an elevated experience, the VIP hospitality packages provide exclusive access to luxurious enclosures, premium viewing areas, and top-tier catering. These options can be explored on the official event website (www.hollywoodbetsdurbanjuly.co.za). Please note that VIP hospitality packages do not include general admission tickets, which must be purchased separately via Ticketpro.

This year’s theme, “Marvels Of Mzansi”, was unveiled in late February, marking the official commencement of the Hollywoodbets Durban July Fashion Experience, presented by Durban Fashion Fair. The fashion programme includes the much-anticipated HDJ Young Designer Award, showcasing the best up-and-coming talents from KwaZulu-Natal. The winners will share the spotlight with the HDJ Invited Designers and DFF Rising Stars at the HDJ Fashion Preview Gala, set to take place at Gateway Theatre of Shopping in late June.

Racing enthusiasts can also look forward to the announcement of the first official entrants on Wednesday, 23 April 2025. With last year’s champion, Oriental Charm, emerging as the early ante-post favourite, excitement is already building. 

Secure your tickets today and experience Africa’s greatest horse racing and social event, the Hollywoodbets Durban July!