Horse Racing News | Gold Circle Horse Racing And Betting

Turffontein Standside Saturday 21 February – Comments by David Thiselton

PUBLISHED: February 20, 2026

Race 1 1 WINGS OF KILDRA 2 ONCEINABLUEMOON 6 SAND SCRIPT 3 GATHERING WINTER Preview: 1 WINGS OF KILDRA is knocking on the door and on the up. 2 ONCEINABLUEMOON was not far off a good sort last time. 6 SAND SCRIPT will need further being by Futura but is half-sister to […]

Van Zyl brings ‘Justice’ to the highveld

PUBLISHED: February 20, 2026

David Thiselton The main race at the Turffontein Standside meeting today is the Gr 3 TAB National Currency Sprint over 1100m and the Gareth van Zyl-trained KZN raider Wild Justice looks the one to beat. The strongly built Vercingetorix colt is out of a Captain Al mare and has won four out of […]

David Thiselton

The main race at the Turffontein Standside meeting today is the Gr 3 TAB National Currency Sprint over 1100m and the Gareth van Zyl-trained KZN raider Wild Justice looks the one to beat.

The strongly built Vercingetorix colt is out of a Captain Al mare and has won four out of five to date with his only defeat being around the turn. He is getting better and better and looks capable of going to the top, so he should have a bit of leeway off a 104 merit rating in this merit-rated band event. He is 1,5kg under sufferance with the best weighted runner, Elegantrix, but is in fact the best weighted male in the race so should take a power of beating presuming he travels well. Chapbook was at his best with Gavin Lerena up last time he can be again as Lerena stays aboard. The Last Duke has class and has a nice middle to high draw, so could be a form threat. One Fine Winter can go close if a line is drawn through her last start, which was too bad to be true as she is usually an admirably consistent type. Elegantrix has speed and class and can’t be ignored, especially if Rifle Queen wins the Bauhinia as she is the only horse to have defeated Rifle Queen to date. Charming Cheetah is also hard to ignore over an ideal course and distance.

Rifle Queen looks the one to beat in the Non-Black Type Bidvest Bauhinia Stakes over 1000m for fillies and mares, a handicap. The Tony Peter-trained three-year-old Buffalo Bill Cody filly returned from five month layoff to finish a 1,50 length second to the smart Elegantrix on January 17 in the Listed Swallow Stakes over 1200m at the Vaal and she was raised three points for that effort. She then won her next start over 1160m at Turffontein Standside, a Graduation Plate, by an easy 2,30 lengths which saw her raised six points to 105. However, she looks capable of rising above that rating and having to carry only 54kg in this race from a high draw under Kabelo Matsunyane gives her a big shout. Little Ballerina showed a lot of talent as a youngster and proved she retains it last time in her second run after a long rest when second to the 113-rated Taxi To The Moon in a Pinnacle event over the Bauhinia course and distance when receiving 5,5kg. She carries 56kg off her 104 rating and Serino Moodley is up, albeit from a potentially tricky draw of two, although the bias down the Turffontein Standside straight lately has often been insignificant. Only the day will tell whether there is a bias favouring the high draws. Poblano is ideally course and distance suited and should make a bold bid, although she does have the number one draw. Chasing Happiness is topweight and if able to put her last two runs behind her she will be a contender from draw seven. Green Diamond might be able to put her two disappointing runs in Cape Town behind her in the same way Fire Attack did and if she bounces back to her best she will be a contender off the same merit rating and weight that Rifle Queen has. The rest of the field are under sufferance and difficult to fancy.

In the third race over 1160m, a classy Pinnacle Stakes event, Buffalo Storm Cody can bounce back after his Gr 1 World Pool Cape Flying Championship disappointment. He can beat Almond Sea and William Robertson. Main Defender makes a comeback, but might need it after a long layoff. Chrome Tourmaline could earn a cheque at best.

In the first leg of the Pick 6 over 2400m the weight structure is unusual with Poets Warrior carrying 60kg and the rest of the field carrying 52kg. Poets Warrior is a dangerous front runner and is still taken to win it as he was back to his devastating best last time, powering in over 2400m by 3,25 lengths and Gavin Lerena stays aboard. Breeze Over tends to start slowly and prefers to front run, so things need to go his way but if they do he will be a contender. Enflame won easily last time and would not be a surprise winner as he should be coming into his own now. However, he is officially 8kg under sufferance with the best weighted horse, United Council. The latter was beaten ten lengths by Poets Warrior last time and is only 2kg better off, so will need to bounce back. Arumugam is way under sufferance but could earn if producing his best.

In the fifth race over 1160m Stoneywood is a full brother to top class sprinter Dyce and is an eye-catching sort, so should start showing some real sprinting class. Believe In Fate is going the right way too and should be in the shake up. African Prince had decent Cape Town form and has had two good runs on the Highveld. French Flame brings good East Cape form, but this is tougher. Xenophon has always struck as being talented and represents the in-form Sean Tarry, so could be in the shake up.

In the eighth over 1600m Reece’s Wish is on the up and is the one to beat. Aquarius strikes as one with plenty of upside. Babette’s Feast won with authority last time and can earn. Scarlett Heart won well last time and can earn here. Into Dancing could earn from pole position.

In the ninth over 1600m Paris Fun is the form choice here. Pearl In Her Crown ran on well to win last time and can go close again. The Mightiest has the form to be a contender. Sikeloi has proved suited to this trip and can earn if able to overcome a wide draw. Rosy Lemon has the ability to earn here.

In the second over 1160m Willow Charm has a good opportunity in an uninspiring race and the danger could be Highwayman Harry.

In the first race Wings Of Kildra should take a power of beating.

South African Quartet Pools with fractional betting offered at Ffos Las ,Southwell (UK) and Dundalk (IRE) –20 February 2026

PUBLISHED: February 20, 2026

Please Note: South African Quartet Pools with fractional betting offered at Ffos Las ,Southwell (UK) and Dundalk (IRE) –20 February 2026

Soccer Updates and Carryovers – Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 February 2026

PUBLISHED: February 18, 2026

Soccer 6 : SCC V3 P1 – 19 February 2026 Match 1 (M1): DEFENSIA Y JUSTICIA vs CA BELGRANO. Kick Off Change to 20-Feb-26 . Match 3 (M3): INDEP RIVADAVIA vs CA INDEPENDIENTE. Kick Off Change to 21-Feb-26. Pool will be resulted on 22 February 2026 Soccer 10 : SKK V2 – 25 OCTOBER 2025 Match 9 […]

Exciting new July Handicap conditions

PUBLISHED: February 11, 2026

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 […]

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!