Andrew Harrison

Andrew Fortune is an absolute master in the saddle and his talent was on full display at Hollywoodbets Greyville yesterday. 

He warmed up with a masterful display on The Golden Goal for Doug Campbell but the cherry on the cake was Legal Counsel in the KZN Breeders Mile.

Justin Snaith is on record that his runners would come into their own as Champion Season progressed and Legal Counsel gave credence to his views but in truth, yesterday’s race was always on Snaith’s radar. 

After winning at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth, Snaith earmarked the KZN Breeders Mile and the plan worked out as Legal Council was given a superb ride by Fortune jumping from a wide draw with main rival Cherry Ano in a plum gate.

Drawn wide at his previous start, Legal Council did well to finish a close-up second to Thisiswhatitmeans and MJ Odendaal’s charge franked that form, winning his fourth race in succession last Wednesday.

Fortune had no hesitation in going forward from his wide gate as Go Grayson Go set a decent gallop. Crossing the subway, supporters will have been in two minds. Fortune had hardly moved so it was a case of; is he playing the opposition on the break or is the tank is empty? 

It proved to be the former as he gently coaxed Legal Counsel into the lead and was not for the catching with a well beaten Cherry Ano touching off a game Go Grayson Go for the minor money. 

How much did Legal Counsel have left, only Fortune, Snaith and the owners will know.

The scratching of Eastern Highlands from the first may well have opened the way for Blackjack Randall but that’s all speculation as Mike Miller’s charge made all for an easy victory. The first time blinkered son of Danon Platina made short work of the opposition as Tristan Gooden barreled him out of the gate and was not for the catching with Director making a vain attempt to close the gap and the balance stretched out like the washing.

After Donald T dropped the bombs yesterday, there were a few the fell out of love with the USA but not the punters who went in late to see Love The USA top of the boards for the second.

However, the filly missed the target and after making the pace, folded in the straight. If you want to know how fit you have to be to be a jockey, look-up the replay of the finish to this race on the GallopTV YouTube channel. Chad Little and Athandiwe Mgudlwa were neck and neck over the final furlong as Act Of Grace and Charge It battled it out with Charge It getting home by the narrowest of margins for Alyson Wright.

Fortune, deputizing for Denis Schwarz on The Golden Goal for Doug Campbell in the third, tracked the pace on the rail and got his mount to build up momentum in his hands getting to the line with a couple of backhand slaps. There is a lot of substance to the filly Queen Of The Air and she ran on smartly for second and should be worth following. Favourite Cassandra was unruly in the gate and underwent a vet check before being reloaded  but was never going well and beaten a long way out.

 Campbell was back in the winner’s circle with owner/breeder Sir George Albu 30minutes later as George’s Magic finished with a wet sail under Serino Moodley to open the Pick 6. Favourite Master Silvano was a little awkward out of the gate before Sean Veale set sail for the lead. He cut in, in front of Fortress Of Fire who was forced to ease for a few strides. These to led into the straight and looked set to fight it out but George’s Magic slid through smartly up their inside to win going away.

Window To My Soul and Tee Dog vied for favouritism in the fifth but they may as well have stayed in their boxes as Quinn’s Time made short work of his opposition. Stepped up in trip by Glen Kotzen, he sat in just off the pace but once asked to run by Cole Dicken, he had the entire field off the bit crossing the subway as he quickened up smartly, drawing off to win as he liked. Tee Dog held on for third behind Call Me Wild with Window To My Soul never in the hunt.

Hat’s Queen came into the KZN Breeders 1900 with useful Graded race form but never got in a blow. She drifted alarmingly in the betting, from deep in the red to around 13-10 before the off and the market was spot on.

Pedestrian early fractions raised a further red flag with Givers Grace out in front but ambling along with Hat’s Queen seemingly comfortable in midfield.

Turning for home Gavin Lerena stoked up Hat’s Queen in a matter of strides but she was out-sprinted by Robbie Hill’s filly Queen Amina and the rest of the lightly weighted opposition and the favourite failed to hit the boards. Tristan Godden got the best out Queen Amina and his filly had the race won a long way out. 

Darryl Moore does not have a big string but has a solid pedigree in racing and is having a good run of late. Richard Fourie, who has tapped off considering his charge for last season’s record-breaking championship, elected to stay with the ride on Tara Star for Moore in the KZN Breeders 1200 and like the professional that he is, he learned well from the filly’s last start and made all. There was a scramble for the minor placings but Fourie had the race won a long way out.

David Thiselton

There were 27 horses still standing their ground for South Africa’s premier horse race, the Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Durban July, on Sunday and the final field panelists will have the thankless task of selecting the top 18 plus two reserves today before their final field is announced on Tuesday in a live broadcast from the Hollywoodbets Greyville parade ring at the Hollywoodbets Durban July Final Field and Draw Ceremony.

It seems the connections of the ruling favourite Eight On Eighteen will leave the public on tenterhooks until the aforementioned ceremony as his chances of running have been labelled as 50/50, but by the close of play on Sunday there was still no announcement one way or the other. 

If he is not a scratching this morning, it will certainly add tension to Tuesday morning’s ceremony.

There is likely to be cheer of approval from around the country if his name is announced in the top 18.

The horses will be announced in weight order, from top to bottom, so if Eight On Eighteen’s name does not appear in the first seven announced horses there is likely to be murmurs from the live audience and groans of disappointment among the country’s television audience around the country.

The tension always mounts as the final field announcement progresses, because cases can be made for most of the borderline horses, but in this case seven will not be among the announced horses and a further two horses will be in the unwanted reserve positions.

A top 18 incumbent has to be scratched before 8:15 a.m. on Friday morning, July 4, for a reserve to get in and although such a scratching has happened in recent years  it is not a normal occurrence.

The horses who will certainly be in the top 18 are: Eight On Eighteen, Oriental Charm, See It Again, Royal Victory, Confederate, Gladatorian and Atticus Finch.

The horse who will also likely be in the top 18 are: Purple Pitcher, Selukwe, The Real Prince, Okavango, Native Ruler, Immediate Edge, Madison Valley, 

On My Honour, Underworld and My Best Shot.

That leaves eleven horses to fight out the last place in the top 18 plus the two reserve positions and they are Future Swing, Pomodoro’s Jet, Beating Wings, Holding Thumbs, Litigation, Magic Verse, Rainbow Lorikeet, Son Of Raj, The Equator and Thunee Playa.

In my opinion the last place in the top 18 should go the only filly still standing her ground, Rainbow Lorikeet.

She has won two Gr 3s over 1800m and 2000m respectively this season and finished a far from disgraced 4,25 length fourth in the Gr 1 Cartier Paddock Stakes behind the top class trio of Double Grand Slam, Red Palace and Rascova and she was also a most unlucky 1,70 length fourth in the Gr 2 Woolavington 2000.

She would have to leapfrog Pomodoro’s Jet and Future Swing on the July log and it is debateable whether she is justified in doing, because whilst  Pomodoro’s Jet has not run for a while and is unproven at the top level over ground he has won his last two starts in convincing fashion, while Future Swing might have blotted his copybook by being unplaced in both the Gr 2 WSB 1900 and Gr 3 Tote Derby, but he finished close up in the Gr 1 WSB Met and was second in the Listed Lonsdale Stirrup Cup.

Who would want to be a final field panelist?!

Graeme Hawkins

Absolutely Yes had to survive an objection lodged by Corne Orffer, the rider of runner-up Pay The Palace, before ultimately being declared the winner of the Grade 3 R500 000 Langerman over 1500m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday. Ridden by Muzi Yeni, Absolutely Yes, the least fancied of Justin Snaith’s four runners in the seven horse party, led from the jump with Pay The Palace (50/1) in close attendance and the pair locked horns inside the final 200m with Absolutely Yes (13/2) getting home by under half-a-length.

The head-on replay showed that there was a slight “coming-together” in the closing stages but Absolutely Yes was full value for his courageous win and the gelded son of Danon Platina has now won three races from only five starts and banked in excess of R600 000. Only time will tell whether Absolutely Yes, whose dam Maybe Yes won the KRA Fillies Guineas (Gr2), is set to follow in the footsteps of many previous high class Langerman winners, but for now owners Greg Bortz, Gina Goldsmith and Leon Ellman can celebrate having won a Feature with a very proud heritage.

Pay The Palace emerged with a great deal of credit and is clearly useful while One Stripe’s half-brother, Vapour Trail, ran above expectations to complete the Trifecta. There were disappointments aplenty but perhaps the very soft underfoot conditions did not ideally suit those who failed to fire.

The R250 000 Irridescence Stakes (Listed) for 2yo fillies over 1500m produced a thrilling finish with Ukuduma (5/1) just holding off a powerful late charge from the favourite Electromagnetism (15/10) by a rapidly diminishing short-head. Gavin Lerena wasted no time in taking the beautifully bred daughter of Vercingetorix to the head of affairs and Ukuduma showed plenty of resolve over the final 30 metres to ward off Electromagnetism with She’s My World (5/2) comfortably beaten into third spot.

Trained by Vaughan Marshall, Ukuduma is out of the Jet Master mare, Thunder Dance, herself a multiple Grade 1 winner. Ukuduma has now won twice from as many starts, and with the Black-type earned on Saturday, she has gone some way towards repaying her R2,6-million price tag at the 2024 National Yearling Sales.

Star Major (1/1) was all the rage in the opening event, a Maiden Juvenile Plate over 1400m, but he kept his supporters on the edge of their seats as he only mastered the newcomer, United Front, in the final few strides to score by a neck. United Front showed little sign of being inexperienced and this was a very a smart debut by the son of One World who looks to be a winner in waiting. The pair finished comfortably clear of Gold Giboski and Diamond Days, both of which appeared to find the trip a little beyond them.

Oncidium proved friendless in the market for the second race, a Maiden Juvenile Plate (Fillies) over 1400m, easing from 4/1 to 8/1, but the 2yo daughter of Danon Platina came home in the manner of an odds-on favourite. Richard Fourie went forward shortly after the start and Oncidium maintained a solid gallop all the way to the line, winning for the Justin Snaith team by more than two lengths. The time recorded was more than a second slower than the opening event, but Oncidium could do no more than win and she may have further improvement to come.

The regally bred debutante October Storm was quoted in the red for most of the week heading into race day, but eased on-course to 18/10 before the off of the third race, a Maiden Plate over 1000m. Ridden by Gavin Lerena for the Vaughan Marshall stable, the R2,8-million half-brother to Tempting Fate and October Morn, was always travelling well and he quickly put the race to bed when called for his effort. Another newcomer, Magical Place, filled the Exacta position with Thunder Downunder and Iko Iko making up the Quartet.

The fourth race and opening leg of the Pick 6, an Open Maiden (F&M) over 1400m, was won in comprehensive fashion by the well-supported Adam Marcus-trained Meg’s Legacy (28/10). Meg’s Legacy is by the 2014 “July” winner Legislate and is a half-sister to last year’s Hollywoodbets July hero, Oriental Charm. Recent maiden winner, Ariovistus, was the subject of inspired betting support in the fifth race, a C Stakes over 1950m, and the market move proved spot on. Well handled by Richard Fourie, the Piet Botha-trained Ariovistus (33/10), quickened smartly in the stretch to beat Ahead Of The Facts (13/2) by the best part of a length, with the pace-setting Wood World staying on for third.

Leading apprentice Brevan Plaatijies has been riding up a storm of late and was seen to good advantage when piloting Kamchatka (5/1) to an easy victory for trainer Andre Nel in the eighth race, a Class 4 Handicap (F&M) over 1600m. Plaatijies was happy to allow Kamchatka to settle a few lengths off the early speed, but the 3yo daughter of Erupt quickened well over the final 300m and drew clear to beat the James Crawford stable companions Lady Look Alike and Miraculous in stylish fashion.

Maritzburg Memory (7/2) came from well off the pace to take out the ninth race and final leg of the Pick 6, a Class 4 Handicap (F&M) over 1200m, denying the free-running Girl Like Us (33/1) in the final few strides. Maritzburg Memory, with Sean Veale in the saddle, was a third winner on the day for the Vaughan Marshall stable. Music Of The Night (7/1) took out the tenth race over 1200m narrowly ahead of I’m The Buzz (11/2) and Dean Street (12/1) bounced back to his best form for trainer Lucinda Woodruff to beat the useful Nordic Quest in the eleventh race, a Middle Stakes over 1000m.

RACE 1     

2 MISS MUNROE 3 CYBER SPIRIT 1 DESERT CLOUD

Preview: 2 MISS MUNROE is knocking on the door and has a good chance. 3 CYBER SPIRIT has been there abouts on occasion and could earn again. 1 DESERT CLOUD has disappointed since her first good two starts but could bounce back over the minimum trip. (David Thiselton 2-3-1)

RACE 2     

7 TRAJANUS 9 ALPINE JET 1 BINGO 8 UMZINGELI WENYATHI

Preview: 7 TRAJANUS went close on debut and could go one better here. 9 ALPINE JET  is by Vercingetorix and is a half brother to the three-time winner Sonic Jet.1 BINGO went close last time over this trip and should be right there. 8 UMZINGELI WENYATHI made a fair debut and should improve. (David Thiselton 7-9-1-8)

RACE 3     

10 SNOW QUEEN 1 BLUSHING BLOOM 4 JAZZ PIANIST 3 EMILY’S PEACE

Preview: 10 SNOW QUEEN went close second time out and with Khumalo up has a chance. 1 BLUSHING BLOOM had a tough task on debut but the form of that race is strong and in this company she could be right there. 4 JAZZ PIANIST has run two good races and with Gavin Lerena aboard could go close. 3 EMILY’S PEACE is by Declarationofpeace out of a Jay Peg mare. (David Thiselton 10-1-4-3)

RACE 4     

3 GOLDEN OPERATOR 2 COPPER EAGLE 7 TOMMY SHELBY 10 SALT LAKE CITY

Preview: 3 GOLDEN OPERATOR just failed on debut and has a big chance here. 2 COPPER EAGLE is by New Predator out of a Dynasty mare. 7 TOMMY SHELBY has not been disgraced in both starts and could improve. 10 SALT LAKE CITY is by Potala Palace out of a Dynasty Mare and is a half sister to a horse who went close on debut. (David Thiselton 3-2-7-10)

RACE 5     

4 MAMLAMBO 8 STAMPEDE AHEAD 2 JAPANESE GARDEN 6 ONE SUMMER 1 CONCORDIA

Preview: 4 MAMLAMBO went close on debut after being backed and has a fine chance here. 8 STAMPEDE AHEAD is by Futura and a half-sister to 110-rated Ready To Charge. 2 JAPANESE GARDEN disappointed last time but is capable of better. 6 ONE SUMMER has not been disgraced in either start and could earn. (David Thiselton 4-8-2-6)

RACE 6     

8 PLAYER 7 HAWKBILL 11 JORDAN 12 STAR COIN

Preview: 8 PLAYER gets a good draw here over a suitable trip and should go close. 7 HAWKBILL is not reliable but if reproducing his last start he should be right there. 11 JORDAN  is also not too reliable but on his day he has some class. 12 STAR COIN also possesses class and can bounce back to form off a reduced merit rating, although he does have a wide draw. (David Thiselton 8-7-11-12)

RACE 7     

3 ALADDIN’S LAMP 9 TRIDENT KING 1 SALUTE THE FLAG 11 DUAL PROPHECY

Preview: 3 ALADDIN’S LAMP has done well in two starts since arriving from Cape Town and could follow up on his last win. 9 TRIDENT KING did better last time after a layoff and should have come on a bit from the run, but does have a wide draw. 1 SALUTE THE FLAG has the form to be a contender here under Piere Strydom.11 DUAL PROPHECY is a well-bred sort who has dropped to an attractive merit rating and he should have come on from his last start. (David Thiselton 3-9-1-11) 

RACE 8     

5 IT’S HER WAY 3 MOUNT ETNA 4 FREE IN SEATTLE 2 DIMAKO’S JET

Preview: 5 IT’S HER WAY is drawn in pole and tries a step-up in trip which she is not certain to get being out of a Var mare. 3 MOUNT ETNA went close last time over 1600m and will appreciate the step-up in trip. 4 FREE IN SEATTLE is an ultra-consistent sort and is distance suited but does have a tricky draw. 2 DIMAKO’S JET is well drawn and has the form to be right there. (David Thiselton 5-3-4-2)

RACE 9     

8 ICONIC WINTER 10 SAFE TRAVEL 3 INSPECTOR JAMES 2 BUMPS LAST GRIND

Preview: 8 ICONIC WINTER went close on debut and is the one to beat. 10 SAFE TRAVEL  also made a good debut and should be right there. 3 INSPECTOR JAMES  is consistently placed and has a chance here. 2 BUMPS LAST GRIND is a well-bred sort who made a good debut on the Highveld after a very long layoff. (David Thiselton 8-10-3-2)

Andrew Harrison

Thoroughbred breeders in Kwa-Zulu Natal are a resilient band. In spite of trying markets and

dwindling numbers, the diehards have ridden the hard times. Hopefully vastly increased stakes and

the possibility of overseas export for top performers has buoyed their sales market.

The Kwa-Zulu Natal Breeders day at Hollywoodbets Greyville today has ten races restricted to

KZN-bred runners headed by the R650 000 KZN Breeders Mile.

Justin Snaith has warned that his Champions Season raiding party will improve as the season

progresses and he saddles the three-year-old Legal Council. The promising gelding has a wide draw

to contend with but is nicely in at these weights. His form was boosted on Wednesday with the much

improved and year older Thisiswhatitmeans narrowly ahead of him last time out.

Wendy Whitehead sends out the former Fairview galloper Cherry Ano who has been racing in top

company since his arrival in KZN. He was just over three lengths back to recent Gr1 Hollywoodbets

Gold Challenge winner Dave The King at Hollywoodbets Scottsville and has good form in blinkers. He

is the best rated and should fight out the finish.

Sean Tarry is a stalwart supporter of KZN-bred horses and sends out Dantonfromsandton who won at

this meeting last year and was subsequently narrowly beaten by Cats Pajamas in a sprint feature on

July day. He was friendless in the market last Ame out but at best will have a strong chance in this

line-up although he has yet to prove that he stays the trip. African Skyline is up-and-down in trip but

was not far off Dave The King last Ame out and must have a shout.

In the first leg of the PA Cassandra started at long odds on debut but showed up well, finishing close

up behind Dark MaTer. She takes on males and makes her poly debut but looks the part with Glen

Kotzen’s runners in good heart. Queen Of The Air was a beaten short-priced favourite at just her

second start but comes off a lengthy break. That run was possibly too far but she does appear to

have some ability.

The fourth is a tricky Pick 6 opener. Fortress Of Fire was a smart winner on debut but has

disappointed since in two feature races much to Michael Roberts’s chagrin. He is now down in class,

and if he can reproduce his debut effort he could prove difficult to beat. Master Silvano has a wide

draw but was close-up in his debut. This trip will suit. As menAoned, Tarry has an enviable record at

this meeAng and War Talk should come on from her promising debut effort.

Window To My Soul could prove to be one of the beTer bets. Alyson Wrights gelding was touched off

when going ground for the first Ame and on his poly debut. He is lightly raced and looks the part. Tee

Dog has shown some promise of late and stays the trip. The switch to poly could be in his favour and

looks the most likely threat. Possible Bomber has not shown much in two sprints but jumps in trip

and is one to watch in the market.

Hat’s Queen is visiting Tony Peter’s only runner on the day and is possibly the best bet on the card.

She is very well in at these weights and from the best of the draw she should take a lot of beaAng.

Queen Amina could be a threat as she has shown consistent form since shedding her maiden. She

goes well on the poly and stays the trip.The seventh is not so straight forward with a number in with chances. Garth Puller’s runner Agrado

shows promise and is hardly ever out of the money. He should go well this course and distance and

can get the beTer of DisAng who that has some fair form in useful feature company. She has the

best of the draw and should go close. Silver Tudor is way beTer than his last effort although not

beaten far. He boasts some useful Highveld form and cannot be ignored. Veteran galloper Proud

Master is way beTer than his last two runs would suggest. He looks well weighted here in spite of

62kg and the poly will suit.

In the last leg of the Pick 6 Tarry sends out Willow Express. The seven-year-old has had four aTempts

at the KZN Breeders Mile without success and Tarry has him taking on a lesser field in the KZN

Breeders 1600 where he should be competitive. He is way beTer than his last run and can finally add

an eighth win to his CV . Puller sends out the lightly raced Actor who was returning from a lengthy

break when badly in need of the ouAng last Ame out. He has the best of the draw and should be

competitive. The mare Radu looks to be the pick of Wendy Whiteheads coupling however, all of her

recent form has been at Hollywoodbets ScoTsville where she has been close-up in recent exchanges.

Stable companion Joshua Hotsnake is always dangerous and has a money chance.

Snaith could round off the day with Among The Clouds. The grey has a wide draw but has come on

nicely since arriving in KZN. She won with authority last time out over course and distance and can

follow up. Miss Paget has the best of the draw and has been close-up in her last two over course and

distance. She looks well in and will be a big threat from her pole position draw.