Please be advised of two World Pool events this Saturday 7^th June 2025.

Hollywoodbets Greyville (SA)

1. World Pools will be offered on races 7-10 on the Win, Place, Swinger, Quinella and Exacta.

2.Betting will open on Friday 6^th June 2025

Epsom (UK)

1.World Pools will be offered on all races (races 1-8) on the Win, Place, Swinger, Quinella, Exacta and Trifecta

Please Note: South African Quartet Pools with fractional betting offered at Chelmsford City and Hamilton (UK) – 5 June 2025.

Race 1     

9 MASTER’S LADY 2 JET QUERARI 3 RINGHO 5 BUMPS LAST GRIND

Preview: 9 MASTER’S LADY made a fair debut and has a fair draw over a suitable 1000m trip. 2 JET QUERARI has not been disgraced in all four of his starts and he could earn here. 3 RINGHO is never far off them and could be in the shake-up. 5 BUMPS LAST GRIND has run two good races and this well-bred half-sister to Grade 1 heroine Via Africa can do well if able to overcome a high draw. (David Thiselton 9-2-3-5)

Race 2     

7 HAWKSDALE 1 SUMMER WINTER 4 BILINGUAL 6 FAR BEYOND

Preview: 7 HAWKSDALE made a fair debut and from a good draw with Lerena up could go close. 1 SUMMER WINTER has fair form and could earn again in this line up. 4 BILINGUAL has a shout but will have to overcome a tricky draw. 6 FAR BEYOND could be involved if able to reproduce her first run. (David Thiselton 7-1-4-6) 

Race 3     

10 WAITING ON CHARLIE 3 MISS TAKES 4 TRIP TO STATES 5 PARABELLUM

Preview: 10 WAITING ON CHARLIE has some fair form against useful sorts and should be involved. 3 MISS TAKES has run some fair races and with Lerena up could earn despite a wide draw. 4 TRIP TO STATES also has the ability to earn but also has a wide draw. 5 PARABELLUM has shown some ability and from a good draw could earn. (David Thiselton 10-3-4-5) 

Race 4     

2 DOUGLAS DRAGON 1 TO THE RESCUE 3 ROMEO’S MAGIC 6 MO MENT

Preview: 2 DOUGLAS DRAGON has a good record over staying trip and is well drawn. 1 TO THE RESCUE is a progressive stayer and is half-a-kilogram worse off with Douglas Dragon for a 0,30 length beating. 3 ROMEO’S MAGIC has a good draw ad has proved to be a fair stayer so interesting stepped up to 2600m. 6 MO MENT has always struck as a stayer and has done well since stepped to these sort of trips. (David Thiselton 2-1-3-6) 

Race 5     

3 LADY NOIR 4 LUNAR RAINBOW 2 PATCHES OF GREY 1 TEO TORRIATTE

Preview: 3 LADY NOIR won easily last time and from a good draw has a chance over what should be a suitable trip. 4 LUNAR RAINBOW is capable of better than last time and could earn. 2 PATCHES OF GREY should be a runner in this line up with a 2,5kg claimer up. 1 TEO TORRIATTE is course and distance suited and has a 4kg claimer up but has a tricky draw. (David Thiselton 3-4-2-1)

Race 6     

12 OBSIDIAN 9 SPRING TRADITION 2 ESPINOZA 5 BIRTHRIGHT

Preview: 12 OBSIDIAN is in good form and from a good draw with Khumalo up should go close. 9 SPRING TRADITION has the ability to be in the shake up from a good draw. 2 ESPINOZA has a chance of staying on pedigree but does have to overcome a tough draw. 5 BIRTHRIGHT is better than his recent form suggests and can do well if able to get handy or to the front. (David Thiselton 12-9-2-5) 

Race 7     

6 FLAG BEARER 4 UNSOLVED RIDDLE 7 LIBECCIO 1 LADY SABRINA

Preview: 6 FLAG BEARER gets on well with this 4kg claimer and has a chance from a good draw. 4 UNSOLVED RIDDLE won well last time and is only three points higher. 7 LIBECCIO is capable and has a plum draw with a 2,5kg claimer up. 1 LADY SABRINA has a form chance from pole position. (David Thiselton 6-4-7-1)

Race 8     

2 GREGARIOUS 6 WARNING SOUND 3 PLAY WITH FIRE 9 RATTLE BAG

Preview: 2 GREGARIOUS looks a fair sort and Lerena will help in overcoming a wide draw. 6 WARNING SOUND is in good form and has a plum draw. 3 PLAY WITH FIRE is in fine form and can earn again. 9 RATTLE BAG is a gallant mare who is capable of a strong finish. (David Thiselton 2-6-3-9)

Race 9     

8 CAPTAIN SELVIE 6 MICKE’S BOMB 1 THE NAVY LARK 5 LONELY AS A CLOUD

Preview: 8 CAPTAIN SELVIE is in fine form and is the one to beat from a good draw under Lerena. 6 MICKE’S BOMB is inconsistent but if reproducing her last start should be right there. 1 THE NAVY LARK can never be ignored over this distance. 5 LONELY AS A CLOUD has the form to earn here. (David Thiselton 8-6-1-5)

David Thiselton

There was a nine race meeting on the Hollywoodbets Greyville poly yesterday and it was mostly competitive, although there was an easy and impressive win by a first-timer in the first race and later on a consistent five-year-old won a 2000m race by 7,80 lengths off a 55 merit rating.

In the first race over 1200m first-timer Aristocratic represented the famous Dean Kannemeyer/Fieldspring Racing combination, who have twice won the Hollywoodbets Durban July together, first with the great Dynasty in 2003 and then with Eyeofthetiger in 2006. The Danon Platina colt out of stakes-placed Silvano mare Simply Royal was backed in to 18/10, but looked out of his ground turning for home. However, he then got going under Craig Zackey and stormed home to overtake second favourite Holy Star and win by an easy and impressive 3,30 lengths, so this two-year-old looks a horse to follow.

In the second race over 1400m the leading freshman sire Erik The Red had his 12^th winner of the season when the Wendy Whitehead-trained 7/1 shot Mrsglittersparkles opened up a lead from the off under Calvin Habib and held on by 0,40 lengths from a strong-finishing 2/1 favourite Opera Fan.

In the third over 1000m the Garth Puller-trained Axis Power had not placed in two starts at Fairview and one on the Hollywoodbets Greyville turf from 1200m to 1400m, but the minimum trip was what he had been looking for at this level, because he jumped well and led from start to finish, holding on from a fast-finishing but green odds-on favourite Pinetti to win by 0,60 lengths. Axis Power is by Flower Alley out of a Silvano mare, so should stay further in time, while two-year-old Pinetti should not be long in winning over this trip.

The next race was of interest because it involved perennial bridesmaid Cherry Oh Baby, who was given a ride by Andrew Fortune last time that came under scrutiny. She started odds on again but after dropping out from a wide draw and being caught behind a crawl she could not make much impression on the Puller-trained Futura filly Sanbeenee, who got first run on her from a handy position on the rail, or Takeyourbestshot, who sat second in the running. Sanbeenee won by 1,30 lengths under Siphesihle Hlengwa from Takeyourbestshot and Cherry Oh Baby was 0,30 lengths further back in third.

In the fifth over 2000m the Alyson Wright-trained Linngari, the five-year-old gelding sat behind the leading trio under 4kg claimer Jacey Botes and on the back of a fair pace swept through to win by 7,80 lengths at odds of 4/1.

In the sixth over 1400m the Justin Snaith-trained Lancaster Bomber filly Among The Clouds travelled well throughout on the quarters of the pacemaker West Side Story and sauntered to an easy 2,10 length victory under Andrew Fortune. The breeding paddocks beckon for the Nick Jonsson-owned four-year-old filly. The favourite One Path came from well back and had some traffic problems but ran on late for second.

In the seventh over 1400m the Dennis Bosch-trained Querari filly Copacabana was dropped out from a wide draw by Serino Moodley and turned for home near last. However, the 8/1 shot then produced a strong finish on the outside to beat the favourite Miss Paget by 1,70 lengths.

In the eighth over 1000m the Paul Gadsby-trained Pomodoro filly Princess Hannah was given the ride of the day as she was dropped out to last from draw six and put on the rail by Tristan Godden. The 6/1 shot then stormed through on the inside rail to catch Future Flo and win by 1,05 lengths. The 1000m specialist Donquerari was backed in from 16/1 to 4/1 favourite and ran on well to pip Future Flo for second.

The last race saw the Michael Roberts-trained Visionaire six-year-old gelding Chara Sands, who had not made the frame for nine starts in succession, going to the front under 4kg claimer Mxolisi Mbuto and taking advantage of his 68 merit rating, down from a high of 82, and winning cosily by 1,20 lengths from the fancied Masterbling and the outsider Wings Of Josephine. 

David Thiselton

The Pick 6 will be a big attraction for the Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge meeting on Saturday at Hollywoodbets Greyville.

In the first leg over 1200m Vibe SA makes appeal as a perennial bridesmaid who found his feet with two wins and a narrow second. He could still be ahead of the handicapper off an 84 and his last run can be ignored as he was all over them but could not find a way through in an 1100m event at Turffontein Standside. He has gone close around the turn over this trip before at Turffontein Inside and he is now drawn in pole with Gavin Lerena up, so should be right there. Who Blinked flew home over course and distance last time despite being caught wide early from a wide draw and overracing.  If able to find a better position from a tricky draw of eight he will be a big runner. Position Of Power produced a late surge to win on debut over 1000m and will appreciate the step up in trip and off  reasonable opening handicap mark of 79 he can be included. Those three can be the sole selections for the risk takers. However, for the risk averse more can be included. African Prince was backed on his KZN debut over 1200 on the poly and is better than that unplaced run based on his Cape Town form so should be in the shake up back on the turf with the man who knows him best, JP van der Merwe, now aboard. Northern Warrior has a lot of ability and can never be ignored. Isikwishikwishi went close over course and distance last time and looks to be improving, but has a tricky draw.

In the second leg over 1400m Educator won well on debut over this trip and is drawn in pole. Vanakkam has done well against useful opposition and gets a handy 2kg from the winners. Quickstepgal and Captain’s Envy fought out a finish over 1100m last time and should both enjoy the step up in trip. Littlemisssplendid has useful form and also has to be considered.

In the third leg over 1400m Tenjiku looks useful and is on the up, so should make a bold bid from pole position over an ideal trip. Malmesbury Missile brings strong Cape form and the form of his KZN debut is ultra strong, so he can go close over what should be an ideal step up in trip. Whispering Death was beaten by Tenjiku on debut but has improved since and looks full of class, although he does have a tricky draw. 

The next leg is the Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge and last year’s winner and Equus Horse Of The Year Dave The King bounced back to his best last time out and will be  hard to catch if his massive stride takes him to the front at around the 800m mark. See It Again is also back to his best and should be running on strongly from a good draw. Gladatorian beat See It Again narrowly in the Gr 2 IOS Drill Hall Stakes over 1400m last time and they face each other on the same terms. The race might set up well for him as there looks to be a lot of pace and he has a fine turn of foot.  

The fifth leg is the The Gr 2 HKJC World Pool Stakes over 1400m. Lucrative was on the up when winning over this trip in fluent style in January. She returns from a five month layoff, but trainer Dean Kannemeyer gets them fit and she is in pole over an ideal trip. The Gr 2 WSB Fillies Guineas did not pan out well for Oxalis Gold but she will appreciate the step down in trip. Bevie’s Delight has won the last three times she has run over this course and distance and beat Sohot Sowhat by a head last time and is now 3kg better off. Sohot Sowhat is officially way out at the weights, but her last start win showed her to be potentially top class. Green Sapphire was caught hopelessly wide in the Gr 2 WSB Fillies Guineas and can bounce back over this more suitable trip from a good draw. Sovereign Grant should be running on. Minogue has class so can’t be ignored from a wide draw with champion jockey Fourie up. 

The last leg is the Gr 2 Hollywoodbets Dolphins Cup Trial over 1800m. Pomodoro’s Jet is well regarded and has proved why this season with three comfortable wins in succession from 1400m to 1600m. He can prove he stays this trip here from pole position. Pacaya is well weighted on his excellent WSB Cape Town Met performance and has a plum draw. Madison Valley has had excuses for his last three runs and is capable of a strong finish from off the pace.

Wild Intent ran a cracking second in the Gr 1 SA Derby and can confirm his high position of 15 on the July log. Zeitz had a cracking win over this trip in a Gr 3 three-year-old event in Cape Town, but has the widest draw of all. Regeneration is 4,5kg under sufferance, but is on the up and has a good draw. Underworld ran a cracking third in the WSB 1900 and if it pans out as well this time he could be in the shake up, but he has a tougher draw. Hotarubi is a frustrating sort but very capable on his day and is well drawn. On My Honour has not been disgraced against top drawer competition after three wins in succession. He should stay the trip on pedigree. Those are the ones that make most appeal.

This is just a guide, because taking all of the horses mentioned will culminate in a huge permutation.