David Thiselton

The Festival Of Speed meeting at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Sunday lost none of it’s excitement and appeal despite one of the Graded jackpot races being downgraded to a Gr 2 and there were many talking points.

The King Of Scottsville, Sean Tarry, landed a Gr 1 at this meeting for the seventh successive year when winning the SA Fillies Sprint for the ninth time. Four-year-old Klawervlei Stud-bred filly Mia Moo, who is owned by Itssa It & Business Solutions (Pty) Ltd & World Sports Betting (Nom: Mr W Tannous), gave Tarry a 21st Gr 1 at the Festival Of Speed meeting and gave boom sire Vercingetorix his 12th individual Gr 1 winner, while it was a welcome return to the Gr 1 winner’s enclosure for jockey Callan Murray, whose sojourn in Australia did not scale these heights.

The East Cape had their first winner at this meeting since the Nic Claassen-trained Geepee S dead-heated for first place in the Allan Robertson Championship in 2008. The Alan Greeff-trained Ridgemont homebred filly Direct Hit won Saturday’s Allan Robertson and is now unbeaten in four starts. She gave sire Canford Cliffs a first Gr 1 winner and part-owner Devin Heffer a first Gr 1 winner under his own name. it was Direct Hit’s third stakes success and second Graded success in an out of province centre. She also won the Gr 3 Splashout Cape Of Good Hope Nursery at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth. Richard Fourie has been aboard for all of her starts. Direct Hit looks set to be named Equus Champion Two-year-old and if so will become the first East Cape horse to win an Equus Award since Cereus (Desert Team), also trained by Alan Greeff, won the Champion Stayer award in the 2001-2002 season.

The Glen Kotzen-trained gelding Good For You gave both sire Legislate and jockey Chad Little a first Gr 1 winner apiece when the Oldlands Stud-bred gelding won the Gold Medallion. He is owned by Messrs Deven Govender, R P Macnab, S Poriazis, Sivan Ramsamy & S L Russo.

The Gr 2 Golden Horse Sprint gave Canford Cliffs a Gr 2 winner on the heels of his first Gr 1 win and it was of a race that only lost its Gr 1 status this year. The Candice Bass-Robinson-trained Ian Longmore homebred gelding Tenango, who is part-owned by Mark Bass, gave Andrew Fortune a second stakes win since his comeback in March, the other one being in the Gr 3 Champagne Stakes on this same horse. 

Direct Hit and Tenango shared the prize for the most impressive winners of the day.

Direct Hit’s odds of 56/100 told the story. She was the meeting banker and it never looked in doubt despite her having to run in going with cut for the first time, as the penetrometer reading was 24, and she also had a high draw, which appeared to be the unfavourable side for most of the day. She threw her head up briefly after breaking well as Richard Fourie restrained her. However, she had soon settled and free-wheeled into the leading line just three wide of the inside rail. Going through the 300m mark she was the only one not off the bit and yet she had assumed the lead, marginally ahead of the Corne Spies-trained Elegantrix. When Fourie asked the question she maintained her narrow lead but did have to be given the renowned Fourie drive including about six slaps of the whip to keep the imposing and persistent Elegantrix at bay, but she passed the line 1,10 lengths clear with Fourie saluting. The fancied Tarry-trained One Fine Winter was third with two rank outsiders, Keukenhof and Limitless Sky, fourth and fifth respectively.

Good For You is a courageous horse who finds extra under pressure and he did so in the Gold Medallion. He led from the off but began hanging outward from the 200m despite Chad Little having the stick in the left hand. Little eventually put the stick away and managed to straighten him in the final few strides, a crucial move that saw him getting up by 0,30 lengths from Charming Cheetah. Outsider Intensity was next best and was followed home by the fancied pair Military Command and Zalatoris with the latter beaten just 1,35 lengths.

The SA Fillies Sprint was a thriller and ended in a three-way photo between Mia Moo, the Duncan Howells-trained favourite Asiye Phambili, and last year’s runner up, the Tarry-trained Mrs Browning. They were separated by short-heads and finished in that order, while Chasing Happiness was just a neck further back. Fifth-placed Whistle The Tune was beaten just 1,40 lengths. Asiye Phambili ran a tremendous race considering she was without cover throughout from a high draw. Mia Moo and Mrs Browning also faced the breeze throughout in the leading line but were in the favourable inside going.      

There were concerns beforehand about Tenango’s high draw of 16 in the Golden Horse Sprint. On the other hand the inside going was a touch cut up. As it happened the strong horse O’Tenikwa broke well from draw 15 and travelled well throughout, so Andrew Fortune was able to get a nice tow from him. Tenango showed a tremendous turn of foot to hit the front. It was vintage Fortune in the closing stages as he came home pointing at the crowd and licking his lips. The four-year-old gelding cruised in by 1,20 lengths from O’Tenikwa with pacemaker King Of The Gauls beaten 2,70 lengths in third and Truth and Cruise Control next best.     

Graeme Hawkins

Absolutely Yes dug down deep to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat in yesterday’s R250 000 Somerset 1200 (Listed) for two-year-olds at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth. Absolutely Yes was probably an unwilling early leader in a race devoid of initial pace as the 5-horse party ambled though the opening 600m, and the son of Danon Platina looked certain to be swallowed up by Churchillian and Three Tigers inside the last 100 metres. But Absolutely Yes refused to lie down under a powerful ride by JP van der Merwe and he kept on resolutely to ward off Churchillian and Three Tigers in a hard fought three-way-go to give Justin Snaith his fourth winner of the afternoon.

Absolutely Yes (9/4) was bred by Wilgerbosdrift & Mauritzfontein out of the Tiger Ridge mare Maybe Yes, whose five wins included the KRA Fillies Guineas (Gr2). She’s My World (13/10) was smashed in the market prior to race time and supplanted Absolutely Yes at the top of the betting boards. The daughter of One World met with some late interference, but she appeared well held at that stage.

The opening race, a Juvenile Plate over 1500m, yielded a thrilling finish between Roland Garros, Randolph Hearst and All The Rage, all of whom are being teed up for a crack at the R500 000 Langerman (Gr3) over the same course and distance in three weeks’ time. Roland Garros (9/2) made the early running under Richard Fourie and rallied strongly in the closing stages when challenged on either side by Randolph Hearst (28/10) and All The Rage (9/10) to gain the verdict by the narrowest of margins. All three appear well above the average and we look forward to a possible re-match in the Langerman.

Apprentice Brevan Plaatjies has been making the most of the limited opportunities thrown his way and he was seen to good advantage on the Eric Sands-trained Russian Royal (5/1) in the second race, a Middle Stakes (F&M) over 1400m. Making full use of a very light weight, Plaatjies assumed control of the race from the jump and although Kamchatka (7/2) applied some pressure in the home straight, Russian Royal found another gear and stretched away to score comfortably.

The third race, a B Stakes over 1950m, produced a blanket finish with Ahead Of The Facts (8/1) getting up in the very last stride under JP van der Merwe to snatch victory from Pinot Grigio. The heavily supported Dubbelosix (11/10) went forward halfway through the race but found no extra when challenged by Ahead Of The Facts and Pinot Grigio and was beaten less than a length into third spot.

Fourie is now starting to forge ahead in the Jockeys’ Championship and he struck for a second time when steering Ariovistus (6/1) to a facile victory in the opening leg of the Pick 6, an Open Maiden over 1950m. The favourite Past And Present (17/10) ran a shocker, finishing well down the field, but the Piet Botha-trained Ariovistus quickened up smartly from a few lengths off a decent gallop and raced away to score by more than three lengths. Real Stunner (9/2) and Beautiful Side (9/2) completed the Trifecta ahead of Moment Of Truth who made some progress from the rear of the field.

For the third consecutive race meeting Fourie completed a hat-trick with a smooth and uncomplicated victory aboard the Justin Snaith-trained Swiatek in the fifth race, a Class 4 Handicap (F&M) over 1400m. La Divina was a late scratching at the starting gates, but fortunately for her supporters Swiatek was sent off as the tote favourite. Swiatek (2/1) turned for home in a midfield position but made good headway down the inside running rail and collared the pace-setting Rahhabba (25/1) inside the final 100m to win going away by more than a length. Oni San (28/10) stayed on for third with Supreme Fate (17/2) rounding out the Quartet.

Boogified, a good-looking 4yo gelded son of Justify (USA), attracted solid on-course support ahead of the running of the sixth race, a Class 4 Handicap over 1400m, and he rewarded his fans with a storming start-to-finish victory under Corne Orffer. Scottish Kiss (15/2) was gaining rapidly over the final 200m but the post came in time for Boogified (7/2) to hold on by a diminishing half-a-length with Trippi’s Silk a well-beaten third.

Greg Ennion finally ended a long and frustrating absence from the winner’s enclosure when Surge Of Power (12/1) got the better of a protracted duel with Circumbendibus (2/1) to land the eighth race, a Class 4 Handicap over 1200m. The pair joined issue a long way out with Surge Of Power finding that little bit extra under a good ride by Brevan Plaatjies to edge out the favourite by a neck. The 2yo Electromagnetism (5/1) took out the ninth race, a Class 5 Handicap (F&M) over 1200m, while the tenth race, a competitive Class 4 Handicap over 1700m, was won by the 8/1 chance Chasingtherainbow for James Crawford and Louis Mxothwa.

Andrew Harrison

Andrew Fortune has had more ups and downs in his life than a showground rollercoaster but when it comes to talent in the saddle there are few better. Aboard Tenango, hunting his fourth win from his last five starts, the 57-year-old Fortune produced the Candice-Bass Robinson-trained gelding with a telling late effort to run out a convincing winner of the Gr2 Golden Horse Sprint at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Saturday. Showing no signs of an earlier wind operation, Tenango was chased home by O’Tenikwa and King Of The Gauls.

S’Manga Kumalo was out to take no prisoners on King Of The Gauls as he catapulted out of the gate and had a couple of lengths on his rivals a few jumps out of the barrier.

Tony Rivalland’s charge tried gamely to hang onto his lead inside the final furlong but O’Tenikwa was hot on his heels and Fortune had Tenango flying  from well off the pace. Responding to a typical  Fortune hands-and-heels ride, Tenago responded willingly to collar the leaders and win going away.

It was the second feature race winner on the day for the Ridgemont Highlands stallion Canford Cliffs.

Earlier in the day, the Alan Greeff-trained Direct Hit kept her unbeaten record with an emphatic victory in the Gr1 Allan Robertson Championship. 

Richard Fourie always had the leaders in his sights and when asking the question, the daughter of Canford Cliffs quickened smartly to put the race to bed with the Corne Spies-trained Elegantrix game but a well beaten second.

Forty-year-old Chad Little is another rider that has had to overcome a few roadblocks in his life but has quickly made his mark back in the saddle and is well supported by Glen Kotzen.

That loyalty was repaid in spades as Little recorded the first Gr1 victory of his career in keeping Good For You going under a driving ride to narrowly hold off Charming Cheetah and Intensity in a tight finish to the Gr1 Gold Medallion with Military Command staying on for the shallow end of the purse. 

Third-placed Intensity finished with a wet sail and was a winner two jumps after the line and is one for the notebook.

Most of the drama came in the Gr1 South African Fillies Sprint brought to you by The Witness. With two short-heads separating the first three across the line, it was left to the judges to decide.

Sean Tarry was not to be denied on a day that he has dominated on many occasion and Mia Moo gave him the 21^stGr1 winner at Hollywoodbets Scottsville, a remarkable record by any standards.

But it was a close run thing as Callan Murry, fresh from a sojourn in Australia, kept his mount going just long enough to hold off the attentions of a fast-finishing Asiye Phambili with Mrs Browing staying on for third.

The much decorated Double Grand Slam was sent out favourite but as race caller Sheldon Peters commented early in the race, she was ridden for luck up the inside rail from her pole-position draw.

Well the luck was not with her as the large field shifted towards the inside rail as Fourie and Double Grand Slam were up the proverbial creek without a paddle. Arch rival Rascova found herself in a similar predicament but both will live to fight another day.

Please Note: South African Quartet Pools with fractional betting offered at Chelmsford City and Nottingham (UK) – 1 June 2025

Durban, South Africa: A bright and exciting future for horse racing in South Africa is on the horizon! That was the underlying message to emerge as the birth of South Africa’s new age coastal racing operator was celebrated at the official launch of the Race Coast brand, which was attended by a wide spectrum of local government leaders, racing personalities, and the media, in Durban today. 

A vibrant new force in South African horse racing, Race Coast was spawned from the merger of Gold Circle’s operations in KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape-based Cape Racing, united under the Hollywoodbets banner.

Committed to modernising all aspects of the industry with integrity, while rebuilding the foundation of a legacy that will last beyond our lifetimes, through ensuring the preservation of the rich tradition of a sport that dates back over a century in South Africa, Race Coast has endorsed a philosophy to reignite a passion for the sport, while attracting a new and diverse audience. 

It’s a socio-economic reality that, against the international background of the thrills and glitz and glamour of high-octane entertainment, horse racing creates employment, with commercial spin-offs, that includes the fuelling of tourism.

With a focus on innovation and community engagement, Race Coast is unequivocally dedicated to ensuring a bright and exciting future for horse racing in South Africa. 

Speaking on behalf of the Hollywood Group, Brand & Communications Manager, Devin Heffer said that the excitement and anticipation of a brighter future was palpable amongst industry stakeholders present at the launch function.

“What a vibe! It is so encouraging to feel that this is the gamechanger that everybody has been crying out for. We are thus determined to raise the bar with world-class professionalism, performance, and prestige. That doesn’t happen overnight, but starts with the basics of safety, fairness, and quality,” enthused Heffer, who added that operations are already underway and policies have been introduced that will ensure modernisation with integrity, and the construction of a legacy that lasts.

“We have the structure, foundation and human capital in place and we are committed to introducing a new era where racing has a place and appeal for everyone. Simply put, it’s a bolder, fresher, and more inclusive approach than ever, and we’re determined and equipped to focus on rebuilding the trust, excitement, and excellence from the ground up.” 

South African champion trainer Justin Snaith is extraordinarily celebrating a half century of KZN winter season assaults for the famous family operation. His Dad Chris, still a key member of their team, first raided with a string from the Cape in 1975.

Snaith reflected on the initial success in his home province of RaceCape, initiated by Cape Racing and Hollywoodbets. 

“That structure has proven a tremendous success! It has not only boosted ownership and field sizes in the Western Cape, but has also provided trainers with additional funding to enhance their operations. And today we mark the historic beginnings of Race Coast, which is another generous initiative by Hollywoodbets, aimed at promoting ownership in KwaZulu-Natal and the Cape, while boosting the horse population.” 

Snaith reminded us of the very recent past, recalling that after the COVID-19 pandemic, many feared that horse racing in South Africa might not survive. 

“However, the dedicated efforts of a few individuals have not only saved the sport, but have also paved the way for an exciting future. This is a future that we can shape and reinvent, making it better for all stakeholders involved. Race Coast marks the beginning of something special for the province and the future of horse racing in South Africa. On behalf of all our owners, staff, and horses, we want to express our sincere gratitude,” he concluded.

South African horse racing’s pre-eminent 21st century global ambassador Mike de Kock, who recently joined forces with his son Mathew in a powerful training partnership, said: “De Kock Racing has been around for a long time, but as a new training partnership, Mathew and I are excited to be involved with the innovators behind Race Coast. We have already seen the evidence of their vision and commitment, and we have positioned ourselves to grow with them. We look forward to what the future holds.”

Three-times Hollywoodbets Durban July winning veteran trainer Dean Kannemeyer said that a refreshing wave of enthusiasm and hope had already been tangibly felt in the Cape.

“The improvement and upliftment have been felt in bricks and mortar, communication, and incentives and stakes across the spectrum in the Cape, and looking today at the rejuvenated Hollywoodbets Greyville landscape, it’s a revelation and a passion driven work-in-progress, in simple terms. The Hollywood Team have made a difference in short time, and one gets a very warm feeling that the sport is in exceptionally good hands. We are all united under the flag of future prosperity, and, on behalf of our owners and the DKR team, I extend sincere onwards and upwards best wishes to Owen Heffer and his Team,” said Kannemeyer. 

In a fitting climax to a month that will go down as a turning point in our modern horse racing history, the cream of South Africa’s equine speed stars will line up in the Golden Horse Festival Of Speed at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Saturday 31 May.