Rugby 8 Win Margin on Saturday, 1 June 2024 C/Over R 72 876, Sport 65 Pool 1, Pool Closes at 13h45

Soccer ANY 13Xtra on Saturday, 1st June 2024 C/Over R 150 000, Pool Closes at 15h00, Sport 13 and Pool 1, Estimated Pool: R 400 000

David Thiselton

The Nathan Kotzen-trained KZN-based horse Royal Victory walked away with two awards at the Highveld Feature Season Awards held on Saturday night, the Champion Older Horse and the Champion Middle Distance Horse.
He was unlucky to have run there in the same season as the outstanding unbeaten Mike de Kock-trained Gimme A Nother, because in any other year he would have walked away with the Horse Of The Season award too.
He not only won the Highveld’s two biggest races by tradition, the Gr 1 Betway Summer Cup and the Gr 1 weight for age Premier’s Champions Challenge, both over 2000m on Turffontein Standside, but he made history in the process.
He became the first out of province horse to ever win the Premier’s.
He was only the second out of province horse to win the Summer Cup this millennium, the first being the Dylan Cunha-trained Strategic News in 2007.  
Going off the subject for a moment Cunha has built himsf up from scratch to prominence in no time in the tough racing climate of the UK and on Friday was part of a South African double. A Gaynor Rupert homebred three-year-old colt by Blue Point out of SA-bred Trippi mare Shingwedzi was the first leg of the double and Cunha then won with Dark Angel three-year-old gelding Mart, who joined his yard as a maiden last September and has won four races and got five places since. 
Going back to the Highveld awards another prominent Hollywoodbets Durban July entry beside Royal Victory who won an award was Main Defender, who was named Champion three-year-old male. 
Royal Victory will be carrying 56.5kg off his 125 merit rating in the July as things stand. 
The weight structure at present is very dependent on either See It Again or Main Defender being among the entries at time of the publication of the weights. 
They are merit rated 132 and 131 respectively and the next highest rated is Dave The King on 126.
To look at what a difference they will make it is worth looking at the weights of the prominent horses with See It Again as topweight and with Dave The King as topweight. 
With See It Again in the race Royal Victory carries 56.5kg, Royal Aussie 56kg, Winchester Mansion 56kg, Cousin Casey 55,5kg, Green With Envy carries 53,5kg as things stand and Lucky Lad carries 53kg, Purple Pitcher carries 53kg, Snow Pilot 53kg, Pure Predator 53kg, Frances Ethel 52kg, Oriental Charm 53kg, Hluhluwe 53kg, William Iron Arm 53kg, Hotarubi 53kg, Mid Winter Wind 53kg, Silver Sanctuary 52kg, My Soul Mate 52kg, while all of the other older males and females will carry their new minimum weight of 54kg and 53kg respectively. 

Without See It Again then Dave The King off 126 becomes the topweight and in that case Royal Victory will carry 59,5kg, Royal Aussie 59kg, Winchester Mansion 59kg, Cousin Casey 58,5kg, Without Question 57kg, Son Of Raj 56,5kg, Green With Envy will carry 56,5kg, Aragosta 56kg, Lucky Lad will carry 55,5kg, Future Pearl 55kg, Purple Pitcher 55kg, Snow Pilot 55kg, Master Redoute 54,5kg, Pure Predator 54,5kg, Frances Ethel 54kg, Oriental Charm 54kg, Hluhluwe 53,5kg, William Iron Arm 53,5kg, Hotarubi 53kg, Mid Winter Wind 53kg, Silver Sanctuary 53kg, My Soul Mate 52,5kg, while all of the other older males and females will carry their new minimum weight of 54kg and 53kg respectively. 

Main Defender is unlikely to run in the race as one with a stamina doubt.

However, in the case of See It Again being scratched before the publishing of the weights his mere presence at weight publication time will become vital to the weight structure. 
Last year there was a scenario where Zapatillas was the highest rated but was unlikely to run and he might well have been kept in the field until after the weights had it not been for the supplementary entry of the higher rated Trip Of Fortune. 
Both Royal Victory and Dave The King ran at Hollywoodbets Scottsville yesterday and the latter won the 1500m Pinnacle Stakes race in fine style with Royal Victory running on well for third. They both carried 62kg and Dave The King beat Royal Victory by 3,50 lengths, but it would be a surprise if the winner’s merit rating changes considering 1500m trip is short of Royal Victory’s optimum trip and it was also a comeback run. 

David Thiselton

Deryl Daniels is not getting many opportunities in South Africa but on Saturday once again displayed what he can do when given a chance by riding the Erupt gelding Buster Barnes to Zimbabwe Triple Crown glory at Borrowdale.

Daniels rode the Debra Swanson-trained gelding in all three legs, which are all Gr 3s, winning the Zimbabwe Guineas by five lengths, the  Island Farewell Zimbabwe 2000 by two lengths and Saturday’s Coca Cola Zimbabwe Derby by ten lengths.

Deryl said, “Buster Barnes was my first winner after I had started riding again. I was aboard for his debut which he won by ten lengths. He was bought over here at the BSA August two-year-old sale for R200,000 with the idea of winning the Triple Crown and it has worked out nicely. He is a decent little horse. He is still very immature, still very soft and will be an even better horse next year.” 

Buster Barnes was an astute purchase.

He has a speedy female line with his Caesour dam Swervilia winning five times from 1000m to 1200m, including a Listed win and a Gr 2 second, while his second dam Lady Celeste (Amour Da Fleuve (USA)) won five times from 1000m to 1400m, including the Gr 2 Sceptre Stakes.

However, the Dubawi stallion Erupt won two Gr 1s over the Derby distance of a mile-and-a-half, so was going to impart the stamina.

Daniels was content to sit last early, about six lengths off the lead.

He moved into fifth place about a quarter of the way through the contest and into fourth place by the 1000m mark, still traveling sweetly.

Pair Of Aces had opened up a big lead, but when they turned for home Buster Barnes made up the ground effortlessly and was being eased up when winning by ten lengths from stablemate Follow The Band.

Deryl has now been left with a dilemma.

He rode the Swanson-trained Master Of My Fate gelding Majestic Warrior in the following race, Zimbabwe’s biggest horse race, the R900,000 Gr 1 Castle Tankard over 2000m, and finished a three length second to the Bridget Stidolph-trained Raffles, who was ridden by Gavin Lerena. 

He now has to choose between Buster Barnes and Majestic Warrior for the Gr 1 OK Grand Challenge over 1800m on June 8, which carries a purse of R1.8 million.

He said, “It’s a nice predicament to be in. I will probably end up on  Buster Barnes. Jackie and Duncan Cocksedge are like my adopted grandparents over there, I stay with them and ride their horses, and they own Majestic Warrior and have shares in Buster Barnes so won’t mind either way.”

Buster Barnes is owned by the Centaur Syndicate, whose chairman is C John Smith.

Smith said, “The Triple Crown has only been won about seven times in the history of the Zim. I and some good pals were very pleased and proud to win the big handicap, the 2023 Castle Tankard with Ideal View, but elusive Triple Crowns still remain our chief goal. And the current season has filled Centaur with much pleasure – no more so than when Buster Barnes cruised through to win the Zimbabwe Derby. To buy a yearling or two-year-old, bring it through the months soundly to the three different races of the Triple Crown is not easy. Not only does the horse have to be exceptional, but so too does the trainer. As for the jockey, he needs to ride his races in three different ways and be able to go to plan B with ease. What does surprise me a quite a lot is that the jockey we chose to ride Buster Barnes is not better supported in South Africa. I know there was a period when Deryl Daniels was not riding and for a variety of reasons but he is back now – in full command of himself and I am impressed. His style, his balance, his calmness and his overall riding skills are there in abundance – and he can ride at 53kg. Here is a jockey SA trainers should be using a lot more – but not until Buster Barnes retires!”   

Deryl shares the Swanson stable rides with Jeffery Syster, with himself tending to get the heavyweight rides and Jeffery the lightweights.

Well known jockeys agent George “Titch” Croucher approached Deryl when a jockey was needed for the Republic Cup in July last year. He accepted and on that day ran second on 2023 Castle Tankard winner Ideal View and also rode Buster Barnes to victory on debut.

He said, “From there it took off. It has been a wonderful blessing and I really enjoy going there.”

Deryl is not only full of praise for the “nice people” of Zimbabwean racing, but also regards Borrowdale as probably the best racetrack he has ridden on in Southern Africa.

He said, “It is probably the fairest and nicest track I have ridden on. Most giving, most fair, it has everything … beautiful track.”   

Just watching racing on TV at Borrowdale it is easy to see what a great racecourse it is and hopefully the glory days can return.

There is actually zero income from betting for Zimbabwean racing and most of the races are run simply for “bragging rights” by the passionate industrymen. 

Yet the club is now in decent health financial health through the development of a retail park as well as infield farming activities. There are also a number of other typically creative Zimbabwean initiatives about to bear fruit in the near future. It is also understood that discussions are underway to rectify the betting shortcoming too.

Things are looking up for Zimbabwean racing and next season races like the OK Grand Challenge will likely attract a few South African runners.

Recent Gr2 WSB Guineas winner and ruling ante-post favourite for the R5million Gr1 Hollywoodbets Durban July, Green With Envy heads the list of a dozen high class nominations for the Gr1 Daily News 2000.

Dean Kannemeyer’s colt has impressed with every race as he has matured winning the Gr1 Splashout Cape Derby and showing a tremendous turn of foot to collar star performer Sandringham Summit in the Gr2 WSB Guineas, a distance many thought was now on the sharp side for the Derby winner.

Nine of the 12 nominations are rated 109 and better, an indication of the class of opposition Green With Envy will face should they all stand their ground at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday, May 25. Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas winner Snow Pilot may lead the charge ahead of Pure Predator and recent WSB 1900 runner-up, Oriental Charm.

The Gr1 Woolavington 2000 is open to older fillies and mares and the Andre Nel-trained Saartjie staked her claim with an emphatic victory in the Listed KRA East Coast Cup, coming from almost last to run down Brett Crawford’s filly Future Girl in the last few strides. Nel’s filly is among the 12 nominations and also holds an entry in the Gr1 Hollywoodbets Durban July.

Leading the three-year-old entry is recent Gr2 SA Oaks winner Frances Ethel. Second over 1400m on debut, she has racked up four straight wins including The Oaks Trial and The Oaks for Brett Crawford. Barry Irwin, Astute principal of Team Valor, has bought into the filly and his judgement is rarely off the mark.

Race-6(Turf)  R 1,500,000  2000m     0

TABGOLD WOOLAVINGTON 2000 (Grade 1)

For Fillies & Mares at Weight-For-Age

WFA: 2yrs-12.5kgs 3yrs-2.5kgs 

No Apprentice / Female Sex Allowance

11   BELLEVARDE         (5M) 60.0 110  AT  Joe Soma                     

 7   NONE OTHER         (4F) 60.0 110  A   Lucky Houdalakis             

 5   SAARTJIE           (4F) 60.0 110  A   Andre Nel                    

 6   GILDED BUTTERFLY   (5M) 60.0 108 CA   Stuart Pettigrew             

10   HOLD MY HAND       (4F) 60.0 108  A   Glen Kotzen                  

 3   PERFECT WITNESS    (5M) 60.0 105  A   Candice Dawson               

 4   FUTURE GIRL        (4F) 60.0  97  A e Brett Crawford               

 2   FRANCES ETHEL      (3F) 57.5 118  A   Brett Crawford               

 1   SILVER SANCTUARY   (3F) 57.5 116  A   Mike de Kock                 

 8   MY SOUL MATE       (3F) 57.5 115 CA   Candice Dawson               

 9   BEATING WINGS      (3F) 57.5 114  A   Stuart Pettigrew             

12   MINOGUE            (3F) 57.5 102  A   Wendy Whitehead  

   (12)

Race-7(Turf)  R 2,000,000  2000m     0

DAILY NEWS 2000 (Grade 1)

For 3 year-olds

No Apprentice / Female Sex Allowance

 7   GREEN WITH ENVY    (3C) 60.0 123  A   Dean Kannemeyer              

12   SNOW PILOT         (3C) 60.0 120  A   Justin Snaith                

 4   PURE PREDATOR      (3G) 60.0 119  A   Fanie Bronkhorst             

 5   ORIENTAL CHARM     (3C) 60.0 118  A   Brett Crawford               

 8   HLUHLUWE           (3G) 60.0 117  A   Justin Snaith                

 1   WILLIAM IRON ARM   (3C) 60.0 117  A   Tony Peter                   

11   HOTARUBI           (3G) 60.0 116 CAT  Sean Tarry                   

 6   MID WINTER WIND    (3G) 60.0 116  A   Sean Tarry                   

 9   BARBARESCO         (3G) 60.0 109  A   J A Janse van Vuur           

 3   JORDAN             (3G) 60.0  97  AT  Sean Tarry                   

10   THE GREY KING      (3G) 60.0  96 HA e Justin Snaith                

 2   FLAG MAN           (3G) 60.0  92  A   Gareth van Zyl               

   (12)

Here’s good news for TabGold customers who take Trifecta bets on races in Australia, the UK, Ireland and France. 

Commingled Trifecta pools with Tote Ireland will be offered on all Irish races for the first time from this Friday and simultaneously the unit cost of commingled Trifecta bets on Australian, UK and French races will be reduced from R2 to R1. The unit cost of the Trio on French races also drops to R1. 

Commingled Trifecta bets on racing in Australia, France and the UK were introduced last month.
The benefits of commingling Trifecta pools with host totes (Tabcorp in Australia excluding thoroughbred venues in Victoria and South Australia; PMU in France, the UK Tote and Tote Ireland), as opposed to local pools, are many more Trifecta betting opportunities on races in those countries and bigger pools, which in turn afford TAB customers the chance to win bigger payouts.