David Thiselton

 

The highest rated race at the Turffontein Inside meeting today (Monday) is a Middle Stakes event over 1000m and the ultra quick Heath House might make it a fifth win in six starts.

 

He is favourably weighted here because his 114 merit rating means he has a nett merit rating of 97 and that puts him on top of the 94 to 97 merit-rating band carrying 58kg. He was raised eight points for winning a handicap over 1000m at the Vaal last time by 2,20 lengths, but being at the top of the band makes the raise less severe. He proved in that last race he is not just cheap speed, because when the challengers came he found extra. He jumps from draw six and that should not pose a problem for Kyle Strydom, because considering the Erupt gelding’s gatespeed and early pace he should be able to get to the front. Ponlano will be dangerous from draw two as he is perfectly suited to the 1000m trip and should kick on from a handy position. Umzngeli Wenyathi is a progressive sort who will also have a say from a good draw of four under Gavin Lerena.

 

In the first leg of the Pick 6 over 1600m Nicci’s Law brings some decent Cape Town form and has a strong finish, so can be dropped out from a wide draw and mow a small field down. Feast Of Berries is beautifully bred being by Vercingetorix out of the Gr 1 Garden Province Stakes winner Redberry Lane (Western Winter) and she can possibly make amends for a 36/1000 defeat last time when caught wide without cover from a wide draw and then having to try and catch a horse who stole a march. She was making some inroads whilst still looking immature. Her draw of five out of eight is tricky again, so Nicci’s Law is preferred.

 

In the fifth over 2000m Itsnowornever is knocking on the door and from a plum draw over a suitable trip can beat Instant Attraction and Apostrophe.

 

In the sixth over 2000m Robert Browning has a fine chance and can beat the progressive Boundless Love and the talented Kudzu, who will need some luck from a wide draw.

 

In the eighth over 1200m The Bronx Bull has some class and could show how good he is by winning off a 96 merit rating with a pole position draw aiding his cause. Antonio Gaudi should be right there from a plum draw and Turbo Power is an interesting runner as he has come down in the merit ratings and is now on the same mark as his last win and is drawn well.

 

In the ninth over 1450m Winding Power has a reasonable merit rating after an easy maiden win and from a nice draw can go close. Hats Mambo is in good form and should go close from a good draw over an ideal trip. Legendary is talented and can run on after being dropped out from a wide draw.

 

In the third race over 1600m the well bred Cover Charge (Erik The Red), a half-brother to dual Gr 1 winner Surcharge, is on the up and can win it from pole position.

 

In the second over 1600m Trojan Horse looks promising and has a weight and draw advantage over What A Warrior, who is well regarded and should be right there.

 

In the first race over 1600m Winter Voice won nicely last time out and she looks suited to this course and distance. Moana is promising and should be right there from a good draw, despite having to give Winter Voice 2kg.

Andrew Harrison

It is always satisfying for trainers and their staff when they get to the bottom of a difficult and hopefully talented individual so Dean Kannemeyer’s third winner on yesterday’s Hollywoodbets Scottsville racecard was the most significant for the yard as Hah Lah Lah showed his potential and a more mature racing attitude when winning the B Stakes over 1200m.

It was stable rider Craig Zackey’s fourth winner of the afternoon and he was full of praise for his mount who was recording his third win from just four starts.

Zackey said of Hah Lah Lah, “He shouldn’t be winning 12’s, he wants a mile, 1800m. He’s been a hard horse to deal with from a youngster with the gates and with his mouth. Last run back in a small field we tried to get him to switch off (he took a hold and never settled) but first thing when I got back here I asked Mr Kannemeyer what made the change and he said ‘I just found this bit’ and cantering down to the start I thought something’s working well.”

Zackey reiterated that Hah Lah Lah should not be winning 12’s as he is a Classic type of horse.

Smart Best Of All made a race of it as he was in contention all the way to the line but Hah Lah Lah was just warming up and he went past to win well.

Educator was Kannemery’s second winner and has always given the impression that she is better than her earlier form would suggest. Yesterday she scored a bloodless win in the Class 3, shouldering top weight in a field of useful fillies. Log-leading rider Zackey placed her in mid-field as Ovation Star set the fractions but the writing was on the wall a long way out. As Gavin Lerena’s arms starting to pump and wave and Zackey was sitting with a handful. The gap opened up like the Red Sea for Moses and Educator went through to win as she liked with Tomyris chasing hard to snatch second.

Back on the turf on a straight course, the first two races on the card for juveniles attracted maximum fields and form followers would do well to watch numerous replays as there was a lot to decipher and fill the black book.

The first was marred by a loose horse as replacement rider Athandiwe Mgudlwa came off Asgardian Queen at the jump and the filly was all over the place giving Callan Murray on the well fancied Dancing Party a nightmare ride as Asgardian Queen forced him to check badly on two occasion which may well have cost him the race. Mgudlwa was stood down for the rest of the meeting.

Zackey, riding a typical  race aboard the Kannemeyer trained Turn To The Law, waited his chance in the pack before setting sail to take the lead close home and win rather comfortably. The strapping filly Egolee made an eye-catching debut running into second with a few eye-catchers behind her.

Coast Of The Sun is a reserve runner in the Grade 2 Omoda Golden Horseshoe next Saturday but unfortunately third reserve so unlikely to get a run, but his form was franked as Peter Muscutt’s strongly fancied Benny And Paul put plenty of daylight between him, Prized Possession with the balance of the field out with the washing. Prized Possession tried to make a race of it but two backhands were enough to galvanise Benny And Paul to streak away and win as he liked.

Sean Veale deputizing for Mgudlwa, made all the running on Red Hot Miss in the first leg of the PA, taking Darryl Moore’s filly to the front from the jump. Bai Yulu loomed dangerous a furlong out but once Veale asked for maximum, Red Hot Miss responded with an extra effort to hold on to her lead from Bai Yulu and Indignation.

The first leg of the Pick 6 was not run at any great pace but favourite Day Two was always in contention as Cool Wind finally went around some reluctant early runners. Zackey was quick to challenge in the straight and Gareth van Zyl’s gelding kept finding under his top weight to hold off Shiny Bob. However, he failed to keep a straight course, Day Two shifting out inconveniencing a number of runners notably Global Movement with Mickaelle Michel having to snatch up.

All 15 runners were spread across the track in the Class 4 over 1500m and with 100 m left to run all of 10 of the runners were in with a chance. However, apprentice Mxolisi Mbuto, currently second on the national apprentice log, got Tony Rivalland’s mare to pick it up over the final 50m to pull clear for the 50^th win of his career and now joins the big time as he now loses his claim.

Splash Of Love stayed on for second from Hop Hop Spinnekop who came from way back to snatch the minor placing.

There was a desperately close finish to the eighth. Apprentice Qiniso Ngcobo, hunting his first winner, got the ride on Louis Goosen’s reserve runner Don Querari and looked to have pinched a winning lead entering the final furlong. However, Sean Veale, deputizing for Andrew Fortune, got Street Outlaw to respond to reel in his rival and get the gelding’s nose down on the line.

Race 1

MOANA improved significantly to run out a wide-margin winner stepped up to this trip last time and even under top weight will be hard to beat on the evidence of that performance. WINTER VOICE was a similarly impressive winner of her last start over track and trip and can trouble the selection from whom she receives 3.5kg. Newcomer SAVVY TRIUMPH is worth a market check on debut and has to be respected if attracting betting support. (Brendan Gaillard 1-2-7-9)

 

Race 2

WHAT A WARRIOR was a good 2nd in a minor feature over 1400m last time and sets the standard on his earlier form over this distance. TROJAN HORSE ran on well to finish an eye-catching 3rd on debut over 1400m and could, with the benefit of that experience, improve to pose a threat in receipt of 3kg. Newcomer RED SANGRIA is bred to be useful so betting support would speak volumes of his chances on debut. Experienced LONE HORIZON, as well as likely improvers DISDAIN and UNCLE BOB, complete the shortlist. (Brendan Gaillard 2-7-1-5)

 

Race 3

Consistent KNOWMORE was returning from a layoff when finishing 2nd over track and trip last time, so he should strip fitter and improve to play a leading role. Youngster DUKE OF LORRAINE caught the eye with a fast-finishing 4th on debut (1400m) and with natural improvement could have the edge from a favourable inside gate. HIGHWAY CODE, COVER CHARGE and STEEL PIER have the form and experience to also make their presence felt. Recently gelded MIDNIGHT SHOW is another to consider on his reappearance. (Brendan Gaillard 4-1-5-3)

 

Race 4

KORCULA ran on from a hopeless position to finish a close-up 3rd over 1400m in her first outing for the Fanie Bronkhorst stable and on the evidence of that performance this extended trip should be more to her liking. FLYING WORLD, runner-up in consecutive (both) starts over 1600m, would not be winning out of turn. Highveld newcomer NICCI’S LAW, LIFE AND LETTERS and BE ALL YOU CAN BE can also get into the picture. However, a bigger threat is likely to come from well-bred 2yo FEAST OF BERRIES who was 2nd over course and distance last time out. POLLY PLUMMER is another with earning potential. (Brendan Gaillard 1-6-2-5)

 

Race 5

INSTANT ATTRACTION beat male opposition over 2000m at a higher level before finishing 3rd under a penalty last time over track and trip from the widest draw, so a repeat of that performance dropped into this grade off an unchanged mark could suffice. APOSTROPHE, KISS OF FIRE and PARTY PUNCH are held on that form but weighted to pose more of a threat on these terms. HOPSCOTCH caught the eye last time when tried in this headgear configuration and could get into the mix if building on that improvement. ITSNOWORNEVER and BOLD ACTION are others capable of getting involved. (Brendan Gaillard 3-1-11-2)

 

Race 6

ROBERT BROWNING has maintained form and consistency at a higher level off his current mark, and a repeat of his latest (3rd) course-and-distance performance could see him return to winning ways. APACHE SON, KUDZU, EIGER SANCTION and IDEAL SUMMER are held on that form but have the means to trouble the selection. PRINCE OF KILDARE, PAGE BOY and hattrick-seeking BOUNDLESS LOVE have better form over shorter distances but warrant respect stretching out to this trip. (Brendan Gaillard 3-9-5-6)

 

Race 7

HEATH HOUSE faced older rivals for the first time in his last start and passed that test with flying colours. This step up in class demands more of him but with less weight to shoulder he will be hard to peg back. Consistent KARATE KID, rejuvenated LEAD THE CHARGE and best-weighted POBLANO have the form and experience to trouble the youngster, while ESPINOZA and UMZINGELI WENYATHI also have the means to get involved in receipt of weight from the selection. (Brendan Gaillard 4-1-3-2)

 

Race 8

THE BRONX BULL takes on older rivals for the first time but is ideallly drawn and sets the standard on the strength of his 2yo form, which includes a last-start 4th at Grade 1 level. ANTONIO GAUDI and TURBO POWER are hard-knockers with solid form credentials at this level so won’t go down without a fight. WILD AS THE WIND and TRIP OF FAITH are unexposed 3YOs who could improve to also have a say in the outcome. HEMISPHERE and ONE TIGER complete the shortlist. (Brendan Gaillard 5-2-6-4)

 

Race 9

FOSTINOVO blotted his copybook last time in KZN but a subsequent break and return to the Highveld would have served him well. He is course-and-distance suited so is taken atone on his reappearance, even under top weight. SATYAGRAHA and recent course-and-distance winner LEGENDARY could make their presence felt but have wide draws to negotiate, so a bigger threat will likely come from consistent hard-knocker UNSOLVED RIDDLE. The latter’s form, draw and rider allowance should see him play a leading role. HAT’S MAMBO and HEAVENLY GOOD also have earning potential. (Brendan Gaillard 1-5-4-8)

David Thiselton

 

The Gr 3 Post Merchants will be one of the most interesting races on Hollywoodbets Durban July day, but the conditions of the race mean the highest rated horses are ostensibly slung in.

 

The highest rated horse in the land, the 132-rated twice Gr 1-winning sprinter Buffalo Storm Cody, is thus very well in at the weights, and second best in is Dave The King, who is the most interesting runner, followed by Tenango and Princess Of Gaul, who are joint third best in.

 

The race has merit-rated band conditions with one key difference.

 

Usually the horses that are higher rated than the highest band are allotted half-a-kilogram for every point they are above that highest band.

 

However, the highest band in this case reads “122 or more … 62kg”.

 

That band would normally read 122 to 126 and under the normal rules for merit-rated band events Buffalo Storm Cody would be carrying 65kg as he is six points higher than the top rating of the highest band. So, he is ostensibly 3kg well in carrying 62kg.

 

Dave The King would normally be carrying 63kg, but carries 62kg, so is 1kg better off than normal, but is 2kg under sufferance with Buffalo Storm Cody.

 

Tenango is merit rated 126, so he is top of what the band would normally be, but is officially 3kg under sufferance with Buffalo Storm Cody.

 

Equally well treated with the latter is the crack filly Princess Of Gaul, who is 114-rated but gets a 2,5kg gender allowance.

 

The worry about Buffalo Storm Cody is that he might be using it as a preparation for the Gr 1 Mercury Sprint, which he appeared to do last year because last year he only ran a 1,65 length fourth in this race carrying 56kg, meaning he was 5,5kg better off than weight for age with the highest rated runner, and he then came out and won the weight for age Mercury Sprint over the same course and distance by 1,60 lengths. Interestingly he jumped from draw 9 in the Mercury, the same draw he has in this year’s Post Merchants. This horse does appear at his best around the turn. Richard Fourie up is a bonus.

 

Dave The King is interesting, because although his best form is over a mile and middle distances he went at a blistering gallop in the L’Ormarins King’s Plate. It was a ridiculous pace, but he displayed his speed around the turn in that race as he went through the first 400m in a time just 1,7 seconds slower than the pacemaker and the winner of the Gr 1 World Pool Cape Flying Championship over 1000m. He has had four starts over 1200m in his career and won three of them easily and his only loss was when returning from a layoff and having a seasonal reappearance preparation run and running just 2,65 lengths behind former Post Merchants winner, the now 127-rated Gladatorian. Dave The King has drawn seven which should give him room to go to the front if quick enough and the latter is actually a concern, because of course leading over 1200m is a different ball game to leading over 1600m.

 

Tenango ran a good 1,95 length seventh in the Gr 2 Golden Horse Sprint, where he carried topweight. That should have brought him on for this race and he has a plum draw of five. Keagan de Melo is contracted to part-owner Laurence Wernars and takes the ride here having not ridden him in the Golden Horse. He will likely be all out to win this race as the Mercury will be a lot tougher, although he did show his class and course and distance suitability by finishing a fine second in the latter race last year, despite jumping from draw 13. Tenango looks to be a massive runner.

 

Princess Of Gaul is also a big runner carrying just 55,5kg and jumping from draw three under Craig Zackey. She won the Gr 2 World Pool With Race Coast Debutante over course and distance last year in just her second career start. Last time out she showed he class over this trip by finishing just 2,60 lengths behind Asiye Phambili and Double Grand Slam in the Gr 1 SA Fillies Sprint. If the latter pair were in the Merchants they would likely be the two favourites so with Princess Of Gaul beaten by that margin under weight for age conditions and now being 4kg better off than weight for age conditions with the first three mentioned she should also be a massive runner.

 

Cafe Culture is a former winner of this race, but is officially 4kg under sufferance with Buffalo Storm Cody and has a tough draw of 13, but he should be kicking on if managing to find cover in a handy position.

 

One of the joint topweights is the 122-rated Outlaw King, who is thus officially 5kg under sufferance with Buffalo Storm Cody. However, he is ultra courageous and often defies the official weights, as he did when a 1.05 length third in the Cape Flying. His last run in the Golden Horse is best ignored as he stumbled at the start.

 

Cats Pajamas is also rated 122 and has a fine course and distance record and was just a 1,75 length fourth in the Mercury last year. However, he has the widest draw of all.

 

Speedman is rated only 105 and carrying 54kg is officially 6kg under sufferance with Buffalo Storm Cody, but he is an up and coming sort who could prove better than rated, so he is the dark horse.

 

One Eye On Vegas was third in the Golden Horse and finds himself officially 4,5kg under sufferance with Buffalo Storm Cody, but he is a progressive sort with speed and class so should be running on from draw 11.

 

Jet Force is also a classy sort who could surprise dropped down in trip. He is 4,5kg under sufferance with Buffalo, but is well drawn.

 

Jerusalema Rain beat Buffalo Storm Cody by a neck in the Gr 2 Senor Santa over 1160m, but is now 4kg worse off.

 

The ones mentioned are the ones who make the most appeal and the selection is Buffalo Storm Cody to beat Tenango with Princess Of Gaul, Speedman and Jet Force next best.

Please Note: South African Quartet Pools with fractional betting offered at Wolverhamptom (UK) and Curragh (World Pool) (IRE) – 28 June 2026