David Thiselton

Last week’s feature article was about the centenary July and how fitting it was that this season’s milestone R10 million Hollywoodbets Durban July falls on the 30th anniversary of that great victory by the Alec Laird-trained legend London News.

Just as fitting is that it will be the 50th anniversary of the July victory of one of South Africa’s most loved horses, the Ralph Rixon-trained Jamaican Music, a grey of astonishing intelligence.

Jamaican Music is also central to one of the July’s most controversial incidents as he had started second favourite as a three-year-old in 1974, but much to the bitter disappointment of the connections and punters jockey Tom Rattley fell off shortly after the start.

The incident was exacerbated by a shock result.

The 20/1 outsider Riboville romped to the easiest victory in July history, beating 33/1 outsider Sea Patrol, ridden by 15 year-old apprentice Dave Byrnes, by 4,50 lengths.

For Rixon the nightmare was erased when five-year-old Jamaican Music won the 1976 July at odds of 8-1.

“I was very confident that year,” recalled the late Rixon a few years ago.

“Jamaican Music always came from near the back and then flew up but he always got there in time. With Bert Abercrombie up, a jockey who also liked to ride that way, I knew he would win. The owner (Dr CC Crohin) decided to retire him to stud immediately but I think he still had a year’s racing in him and was a certainty for the Gold Cup as he stayed all day.”

The 1976 July was an immensely popular result as the athletic grey had won many new fans after the 1974 running due to his quite astonishing intelligence.

It had not escaped the notice of many, including the press, that after losing Rattley, Jamaican Music had run as if being guided by a top professional jockey.

“He worked his way through the field very cleverly without causing any interference,” confirms Rixon. “Whenever a gap appeared he surged through it and would then sit and wait. Even when they came into the straight he sat behind the leader for a while before  running away in the last furlong.

“He was a horse who knew what to do from the first day he raced. He had a wonderful temperament and never put a foot wrong. He was just a champion.”

However, punters did not take kindly to the 1974 result and it was not long before conspiracy theories surfaced with some claiming Rattley had deliberately jumped off.

These theories snowballed over the years, but have fortunately been thoroughly debunked by men who were close to the action, two of whom are still prominent in South African racing today.

Garth Puller, who was riding Bon Vista, said a few years ago that he would stake his life and reputation it was a genuine fall.

“Shortly after the jump Jamaican Music clipped the heels of a horse in front of him and pecked. This is like a catapult to the rider as the bit pulls the rein like an elastic.

“I was directly behind Jamaican Music and Tom went over the side of his neck. Normally in this circumstance you would just fall off and roll away but if you’re on the July favourite you try and cling on and from my angle he looked to be clinging on to the rein.

“However, it would be like hanging onto the side of a bus and he had no chance of getting back up. Luckily Jamaican Music had not reached the rail yet and Tom fell to the left so the horses behind him were able to avoid him.”

Michael Roberts was on the horse drawn next to Jamaican Music, Kings Palace, and was right alongside when Rattley fell.

He echoed Puller’s sentiments, although he remembered Rattley clinging onto the stirrup leather in his desperate effort to stay aboard.

The late Dave Cave was on Castaway and recalled speaking to Tom Rattley on the way to the start and warning him of the mad rush in the first 400m before the horses start coming across just before the Drill Hall turn.

“It was Tom’s first ride in the big race,” said Cave, “and I think he panicked when he saw the horses coming across as he thought he was going to lose his position and rushed Jamaican Music up onto the heels of the horses in front of him.”

Cave said Jamaican Music had actually pecked twice. Rattley had lost control after the first peck and Jamaican Music had then rushed forward and clipped heels again.

Over the years other mumblings surfaced around the George Azzie stable jockey, the late Martie Schoeman, riding second-string Riboville and winning whilst the late Roy Curling rode the favourite, Elevation, and finished fourth.

However, Curling’s son, Ray, quickly put that rumour to bed.

“Martie Schoeman had been fired by Azzie earlier in the season,” said Ray.

“However the two patched things up about ten days before the July. In the meantime my father had ridden Elevation to win the Gr 2 Johannesburg Champion Stakes and finish second in the Grade I Clairwood Champion Stakes so Martie was only given the spare ride on Riboville.

Ray added, “In the build up to the July Elevation went ‘over the top’ in his training whilst Riboville began working like a bomb and improved by lengths.”

The result came as no surprise to the yard and gave Dennis and Peggy Mosenthal, who also owned Elevation, a much deserved July victory 22 years after the heartbreak of their horse Radlington’s narrow and controversial loss to Mowgli in 1952, a result the judges took ten minutes to decide.

There is actually a permament reminder of the 1974 July result in Gauteng. Riboville’s unexpected victory provided a significant financial windfall for the Sinovich family, who later established the Riboville Boutique Hotel and Restaurant, a five-star attraction which is still thriving in Midrand.

But to underline the popularity of Jamaican Music, the recently retired four-time July-winning jockey legend Piere Strydom had this to say about his earliest July memory,  “I heard about the July as a little kid, because my dad was a jockey and I used to look at the race card and was getting involved without really knowing it. I remember the first horse that caught my attention was Jamaican Music, this lovely grey horse, and when he won it in 1976 that was my first fond memory of the July.”

RACE 1

8 TURN IT UP 2 CATFISH 1 BUFFALO KING 3 CODY DAD’S DREAM

Preview: 8 TURN IT UP by Querari is a half-brother to Gr 1 Gold Medallion winner Proceed and his career began in almost identical fashion with a strong-finishing second behind a firecracker over 800m, so he should go one better over this suitable step up in trip. 2 CATFISH is by Danon Platina out of a Var mare and Gavin Lerena is an eye-catching booking. 1 BUFFALO KING CODY made a good debut behind a firecracker and should be a big runner. 3 DAD’S DREAM ran a good race on debut in a good field and should be in the shake up. (David Thiselton 8-2-1-3)

RACE 2

4 DUCHESS ZAHRA 1 PRINCESS OF ALL 5 ELEGANT EDGE 6 FOXY AFTER DARK

Preview: 4 DUCHESS ZAHRA made a good debut and should go close with expected improvement. 1 PRINCESS OF ALL only has a length to make up on Taking A Risk. 5 ELEGANT EDGE made a good debut and should be in the shake up. 6 FOXY AFTER DARK is by Captain Of All out of a Jet Master mare and is a half-sister to twice winner Plus Four (Vercingetorix). (David Thiselton 4-1-5-6)

RACE 3

8 TAKING A RISK 7 STONEYWOOD 6 SABRAGE

Preview: 8 TAKING A RISK has been knocking on the door and gets a good opportunity here. 7 STONEYWOOD is a full brother to Dyce and can put his moderate debut run behind him. 6 SABRAGE is a full brother to Old Fashioned who has reeled off two wins in succession recently after battling until blinkers were applied, so this one could also improve. (David Thiselton 8-7-6)

RACE 4

3 DELAWARE RIVER 9 THE REASON 7 ASMINDEROD

Preview: 3 DELAWARE RIVER is knocking hard and gets a fine opportunity over a suitable trip from pole position. 9 THE REASON improved second time out and Yeni stays aboard over a step up in trip she should relish. 7 ASMINDEROD is by Erik The Red and is a half-sister to Atticus Finch. (David Thiselton 3-9-7)

RACE 5

10 REECE’S WISH 8 TROMBOLINES 4 RED SUNRISE

Preview: 10 REECE’S WISH has run two fine seconds and should go one better with Lerena staying aboard. 8 TROMBOLINES made a fine debut and is a big runner here from pole position over a suitable step up in trip. 4 RED SUNRISE has been close up in his last two starts and is a contender. (David Thiselton 10-8-4)

RACE 6

Preview: 4 SPEEDMAN looks to be going places and can make it three from three despite a wide draw. 1 PARISIAN WALKWAY has been disappointing in features but will appreciate the step down in trip and can bounce back in this lesser company. 3 SOLAR SAIL has the class to be a contender here too. 2 DECEPTION PASS is capable of earning here. (David Thiselton 4-1-3-2)

RACE 7

5 UNITED COUNCIL 4 NEBRAAS 3 NAVAJO NATION

Preview: 5 UNITED COUNCIL is an up and coming stayer who could be a strong contender here. 4 NEBRAAS has been in good form lately and can earn again. 3 NAVAJO NATION disappointed in the Summer Cup but could earn in this easier field over a trip he should get as he was not disgraced in the Gold Cup over 3200m last season. (David Thiselton 5-4-3)

RACE 8

Preview: 9 MILITARY MOVES ran well first time out the maidens and from pole position over a suitable trip should go close. 6 REPETITION ran a fine race last time out in Cape Town over 1800m and is the one to beat if able to repeat, but he does have a tough draw. 5 REAL STUNNER won his maiden easily and starts handicapping here off a reasonable mark, but does have a wide draw. 2 ZIP CODE flew up late over 1475m at the Vaal on Saturday for a close fourth and on pedigree should enjoy this trip. (David Thiselton 9-6-5-2)

RACE 9

Preview: 2 MICHAEL FARADAY produced a strong finish from off the pace on Saturday over 1400m and only just failed and Gavin Lerena stays aboard over a trip he stays. 3 APOSTROPHE won well in the maidens and over a suitable trip can make a good handicap bow over a reasonable 78 merit rating. 7 COMMANDER OF ALL should be competitive in this field over a suitable trip. 1 THE MIGHTIEST is in good form and could earn against the boys here. (David Thiselton 2-3-7-1)

RACE 10

9 TOMMY ADKINS 2 WAR OF KINGDOMS 4 GUERILLA WARFARE 6 CLEVER TREVOR

Preview:  9 TOMMY ADKINS won his maiden well and the form has been franked so he can do well off a reasonable 83 merit rating. 2 WAR OF KINGDOMS will be a threat if reproducing his last start from this good draw. 4 GUERILLA WARFARE ran well on Grand Heritage day and should be in the shake up. 6 CLEVER TREVOR tries further again and off a four point lower mark could be a contender from a fair draw.  (David Thiselton 9-2-4-6)

Please note: South African Quartet Pools with fractional betting offered at Newbury and Newcastle (UK) – 29 December 2025.

Andrew Harrison

There is never a dull day in horse racing. Hollywoodbets Scottsville suffered a midweek deluge forcing a switch to Hollywoodbets Greyville yesterday.

Main race of the day, a B Stakes, was delayed as Henry Harvey bolted in the canter down and deposited Nicholas Patel on to the turf delaying the start for the waiting for the ambulance. Starting, Magic Surprise jumped awkwardly leaving Kabelo Matsunyane surveying his departing colleagues from the turf. Magic Surprise then surprised Callan Murray on Major Tommie who was making his challenge up the inside rail the loose horse cutting across his bows forcing him to snatch up.

S’Manga Khumalo made the most of his good fortune on Gareth van Zyl’s charge, leading all the way on the favourite Wild Justice and winning as he liked.

Son Of Rafeef appears to be more than just useful as he won a smart race to kick off the card. Yogas Govender’s colt caught the eye in his first two starts and was a tad unlucky last time out. However, he showed that there was plenty to build on as he whistled past race favourite Place Of Practice to win convincingly.

Lilac In Winter again proved that Cape Town form is generally stronger at this level than local as the filly won the second well from a wide draw. Terry Fripp does duty for the Candice Bass yard in KZN and he admitted that he was a little surprised at the win as she had not shown much although Summerveld is struggling with inclement weather.

In the third, Christmas Cactus gave notice that he is on the right track when shedding his maiden in smart form for Nathan Kotzen impressing title chasing Craig Zackey enough, declaring that he would like to stay with the ride in future.

Siphesihle Hlengwa is an under rated rider in anyone’s books and he rode a confident race on Garth Puller’s charge Agrado in the fourth. Well back in the early exchanges, Hlengwa picked is way through the light traffic and the gelding responded with a fine turn of foot to relegate the game seven-year-old Fate Of Fortune to the runner’s up box.

Mike Miller’s filly Warrior Royale has had her issues with the starting gates but all was forgiven as she behaved impeccably putting a useful fifth race field to bed in a matter of strides. Third behind the Gr1 winning filly Quickstepgal last time out and at the same time just behind Friday’s Flamboyant Stakes winner Ladyofdistinction, she started at rather generous odds, paying R7.70 on the nanny goat (tote).

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David Thiselton

The Alyson Wright yard are in flying form at present and not only lead the KZN Trainers Championship but also landed a Listed race at Turffontein Standside on Saturday with the well-related Gimmethegreenlight filly Charge It.

Meanwhile, the Listed Flamboyant Stakes at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Friday was also won by a well related filly, the Michael Roberts-trained Ladyofdistinction, while the gelding Imposing continued his transformation under Gareth van Zyl by winning the Listed Christmas Handicap, and in America on Friday the SA-bred champion One Stripe not only got back to winning ways at Gulfstream Park but also got close to a course record which has stood for twenty years.

The Wright-trained Varsfontein homebred Charge It is a full-sister to Surcharge, a Gr 1 winner in both South Africa and Australia, and after being backed in from 6/1 to 9/4 for the War Of Athena Handicap over 1800m at Turffontein on Saturday she produced a fie turn of foot under Muzi Yeni to win the R225,000 event by 1,25 lengths from Soldier’s Eye and Gerbera. It was the Gimmethegreenlight filly’s fifth career start and her second win, but more importantly her first black type success. She had finished second in the Gr 3 Ducat Africa Fillies Mile at Turffontein Standside on Betway Summer Cup day at odds of 100/1 in her previous start and in the War Of Athena, as the only three-year-old in the contest, she carried 52,5kg off a 93 merit rating.

The main feature on the day at Turffontein was the Gr 3 Lebelo Handicap over 1000m, a race the Tony Peter yard were out to land for the third time in succession. They had the two favourites Taxi To The Moon and Pistol Pete and it was the former, an Oldlands Stud-bred four-year-old who gave the phenomenal Champion Sire Vercingetorix his second stakes winner of the weekend. Four-year-old gelding Taxi To The Moon was carrying 57kg off a 110 merit rating and saw off Truth (61.5kg) in a stirring battle for the line to win by 0,50 lengths and Pistol Pete (61,5kg) was a further 0,30 lengths back in third.

Earlier, the Non-Black Type Sophomore 1000 was won by the Mike and Mathew de Kock-trained Avontuur Thoroughbred Farm-bred What A Winter colt Constellation, who has now won four of eight starts. The filly Anchorage challenged late and looked likely to come second before trying to take a bite out of the winner, forcing Muzi Yeni to snatch her up and this handed second place to Charming Cheetah.

The meeting was cut short due to lightning with only seven of the ten races completed and the day’s winners included the Sean Tarry-trained 110-rated Vercingetorix filly Callmegetrix, who easily accounted for The Equator in a Pinnacle Stakes event over 1600m, winning by 3,20 lengths under Mickaelle Michel, who has now had four wins since arriving in SA at the beginning of December.

In the Flamboyant Stakes over 1600m at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Friday the lightly-raced four-year-old Michael Roberts-trained Vercingetorix filly Ladyofdistinction, who is a full-sister to KZN Horse Of The Year Gladatorian, produced a storming finish under Rachel Venniker to win by 0,25 lengths from Amelia’s Legacy with Forward Motion only beaten 0,35 lengths into third. Ladyofdistinction has now won four of seven starts and it was the first black type race she had contested.

In the Christmas Handicap over the same trip Imposing sat in a handy position under S’Manga Khumalo and shot clear early in the straight and never looked like stopping. The Lammerskraal Stud-bred six-year-old Visionaire gelding carried 54kg off a 96 rating and beat Isivivane by two lengths with Capsaicin beaten 2,80 lengths into third. Imposing has now had five starts for Gareth van Zyl for four wins.

In the KZN Championship Wright is on 23 wins in KZN  this season at a strike rate of 13,29% after yesterday’s meeting at Hollywoodbets Greyville, although she has had 24 wins overall in the season.

Reigning KZN Champion trainer Gareth van Zyl is on 21 wins for the season in KZN and also in contention are Andre Nel and Dean Kannemeyer on 16 wins while Mike and Mathew de Kock and Stuart Ferrie have 15 wins apiece.

Over at Gulfstream Park in America on Friday the Drakenstein Stud-bred One World colt One Stripe represented Hollywood Racing and Rikesh Sewgoolam in an Optional Claiming Race over a mile on the turf. The four-year-old was going to be hard to beat as the winner of two of South Africa’s most prestigious miles, the Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas and the Gr 1 L’Ormarins King’s Plate and with the weights looking to be set such that the four-year-olds received two pounds from the older horses. However, One Stripe had not had any luck in his first two runs in America, both in Gr 1s, while both rides were criticised, so he was a bit under a cloud and hadn’t convinced the locals of his quality. He was thus allowed to start at 5/2 while Judge Davis, who had won four ordinary races in 26 starts, was the 8/5 favourite. However, One Stripe was at last given a good ride and was able to show them what he was made of. Jumping from draw seven of seven Hall Of Fame jockey John Velazquez found a beautiful position in midfield in a one out position with cover.  One Stripe swept around them on the final turn, keeping Judge Davis in a pocket momentarily, and he then romped to a 5,25 length victory. The track record set by Mr Light on January 3, 2005, more than 20 years ago is 1 minute 31,41 seconds and One Stripe stopped the clock in 1 minute 31,81 seconds, just 0,4 seconds shy of the record under a hands and heels ride. He will be treated with a lot more respect next time out!