Alistair Cohen

Flying Finley is in the form of his life. He has sailed through the divisions and showed himself to be capable every time he takes another step into good company. He does not look out of place against a good field in race 8 over 1000m at Hollywoodbets Durbanville on Saturday.

Unseen in two months should not be a concern. He has been shrewdly placed by trainer Paul Reeves. He seems to have no issue stepping out fresh. The engagement of Keagan de Melo is also a huge benefit. Not only is de Melo trading at a great percentage on his return but he gets the best tune out of this son of Oratorio.

His last three runs have come under de Melo and his tale of the tape reads two wins and an admirable second, all at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth over 1000m. Three runs back he beat Lyrical Gangster. It was tough to predict his rise on the evidence of that performance but that gave him so much confidence. Plus, his versatility is another tool at his disposal. He can race with the speed and he is just as effective coming from off them.

His second run under de Melo was a good runner-up finish behind Magical Place. He followed up with a commanding win over Gold Giboski. That win is made more appealing because Gold Giboski beat a good field at Hollywoodbets Durbanville nearly two weeks ago. He was given a five-point penalty for that win but if he is to keep feature race company this summer, he ought to handle the handicapper’s new rating.

Sardinia Bay suggests that he has lost some of his sparkle but he grows an extra leg at this course as opposed to down the straight at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth. The revision to this trip should give him further potency and the booking of Richard Fourie catches the eye. For that reason, he must be respected. He is three runs unbeaten at this course. Last time he was here was on a lightning fast running track and he beat the well performed Candy Town and had her beaten for speed. That is what he is capable of.

Elusive Winter is also a 1000m specialist and is not to be taken lightly. The lack of a deluge of rain in Cape Town this winter will help his cause because he battles to see it out when the going becomes soft. There is rain forecast from next week so this race looks to be coming in time. Sifiso Bungane takes 2,5kg off his back and that weight swing puts him into the picture. He does need things to go his way but he is capable. Michelle Rix has her runners in top shape which is another plus.

Un Bel Di was a fluent winner last time but he will need to confirm. He is the opposite to the runners mentioned. The likely steaming hot speed could play into his favour. He does have a good turn of foot.

Senorita Lolita made a pleasing debut when she finished second behind Dream Trip over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth. From gate No 2 in race 1 over 1250m, she must have every chance to step forward and go one place better. She hails from the yard of Lucinda Woodruff.

Woodruff has a top chance in race 2 over the same trip. Winterworldoflove hails from a family that comes into their own with a few runs under the belt and time does them no harm either. She is related to Bunker Hunt, Salvator Mundi, My Soul Mate and Gimme What I Want who are all feature race performers. Winterworldoflove ran third on debut behind Supreme World in bottomless going. Callan Murray takes over. She could be the best bet on the card.

Ready For The Road and Masteronthemoon look set to fight out race 3 over 1600m. Ready For The Road has 0,5 lengths in hand over his main rival so it is hard to suggest that form will turnaround if all things are equal. They easily have the best form on offer and a Boxed Exacta is suggested for punters.

Mighty Mary gave a huge effort in her last run when she finished second behind Cutie Patootie over 1500m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth. She should kick on and go close in race 4 over the same trip under Richard Fourie. That was in April so fitness is to be taken on trust but Vaughan Marshall knows how to keep them fit. Expect a good challenge from Vroom Vroom who has been coming to hand and has form that puts her a shade behind Mighty Mary.

The next two races are not easy. Race 5 over 1500m a slight persuasion is for Mon Papillon who stepped up in trip last time and she acquitted herself well to finish second at this course over 1600m behind Before Sunrise. She had the worst of the draws and that was a good step in the right direction. She does need to confirm the run but she could be up to the task. Fourie rides for Paul Reeves.

Race 6 over 1250m is a stronger event but with no less knots to untie. Lyrical Gangster has been runner-up in his last two efforts and looks set to be on the premises again. Runs to All About Al and the hugely progressive Witch Hazel should set him up with a good winning chance. Two-year-old Another Hero has no weight to shoulder and he is an interesting runner.

Heritage Ridge was one of the wins of the winter when she was shoved out deep and forced to cover extra ground when successful over 1000m at this course last month. She is back over the same track and trip in race 7 under Gareth Wright for Michelle Rix. She had no right to win but she overcame all angles for a gallant victory. The confidence boost should make her the horse to beat.

RACE 1

3 JULIET OF VERONA must have a big winning chance in this field, she stayed on really well for second behind Peace Garland on the 16th of June, she will be given every chance from a good draw. 2 SENORITA LOLITA ran second on debut behind Dream Trip on the 23rd of June, she can only improve, include her into all bets. 1 RED FLAG finished fourth in the same race as Senorita Lolita last time, in hope that she handles the track, she will be amongst the places from a neat draw. 13 MARY CASSATT has run two lovely races in succession, if she gets some luck in running from a bad draw, she will trouble them in the finish.

RACE 2

1 WINTERWORLDOFLOVE ran a great race on debut, she stayed on beautifully for third behind Supreme World on the 23rd of June, she will love the step up in trip here, in hope that she has made further improvement at home, she will be hard to beat from a good draw. 10 PEACH COBBLER finished second in the same race as Winterworldoflove last time, she has solid form, the only negative is the bad draw, with some luck in running, she will go close to winning. 5 SPURIOUS just needed her run back after a break on the 16th of June, she will be much fitter going into this race on Saturday, watch her closely. 2 LANA’S GAL showed good improvement from her first run into her second run, she will love the step up in trip, include her into all bets from a neat draw.

RACE 3

5 MASTERONTHEMOON ran a great race for third behind Master Coiner on the 16th of June, he finds himself in the right race here, top jockey Richard Fourie sticks with this gelding, he will be hard to beat. 6 READY FOR THE ROAD finished second in the same race as Masteronthemoon last time, on his current form, he has a big winning chance. 8 BIG DEAL ran a fair race behind Navasnine on the 2nd of June, he could sneak into the places on his best form, watch him closely. 2 FATE OF PACE ran a shocker behind Mutiny In Heaven on the 24th of May, she is much better than that, if she bounces back to her best form, she could make the Quartet pay from a nice draw.

RACE 4

6 MIGHTY MARY has been rested for 91 days, she was very unlucky in her last start behind Cutie Patootie on the 18th of April, in hope that she doesn’t need this run back after a small break, she will go close to winning from a good draw. 8 EISTEDDFOD ran a great race for second behind Beneath The Clouds on the 21st of June, her form is solid, and she gets 2.5kgs off her back, she will run a big race here, include her into all bets. 7 VROOM VROOM moved up to a point when finishing fifth in her last start, she will be cherry ripe for this race on Saturday, watch her closely at a decent price. 9 UNA THE UNICORN has been rested for 110 days, she is much better than her last run, ignore that performance on the 30th of March, she has dropped further in the ratings, on her best form, she will be competitive.

RACE 5

2 MON PAPILLON finished like a train for second behind Before Sunrise on the 27th of June, the blinkers stay on, and she has a good draw, she will be very hard to beat in this field. 11 GIVEN TO FLY finished third in the same race as Mon Papillon last time, her form with the blinkers fitted is very good, unfortunately she has a big weight to shoulder, and she is badly drawn, with some luck in running, she will be amongst the places. 4 ELUSIVE GIFT has dropped even further in the ratings, she will be competitive from a good draw, watch her closely at a decent price. 9 MEG’S LEGACY finished just over two lengths behind Raffish Trend on the 27th of June, she will be just off the speed early, and she will be flying at them late.

RACE 6

1 SOOTY has been rested for 76 days, he was beaten just over three lengths by Cork Bay on the 3rd of May, he absolutely loves this track and distance, he will go close to winning from a good draw. 2 CORK BAY was heavily supported in the market when finishing third behind Witch Hazel on the 27th of June, the yard thinks highly of this gelding, he has a big winning chance from a neat draw. 7 LYRICAL GANGSTER has run two nice races in succession, he will be right there in the finish, include him into all bets. 9 ANOTHER HERO won a good race on the 23rd of June, he will need lots of luck in running from a bad draw, watch him closely.

RACE 7

6 HERITAGE RIDGE won a good race on the 27th of June, she was given two points for that win last time, at this level, she will always be competitive, include her into all bets, she can win again. 11 HIAWATHA GOLDBERG finished second behind Heritage Ridge last time, with some luck in running from a bad draw, he will trouble them in the finish. 8 SHIFTING PATH might be the value play in this tricky race, he finished just over five lengths behind Gold Dust on the 16th of June, he has dropped even further in the ratings, and he gets 2.5kgs off his back, watch him closely at a decent price. 4 PEACE OF MIND changed stables on the 22nd of June, she is very fast, on her best form, she can win a race like this.

RACE 8

7 SARDINIA BAY is much better than his last run, he was well beaten by Un Bel Di on the 21st of June, now that he is back at Hollywoodbets Durbanville, he will be very hard to beat. 10 FLYING FINLEY is in great form at the moment, he won a super race on the 19th of May, the form of that race has worked out well, with some luck in running from a bad draw, he will go close to winning again. 9 UN BEL DI quickened up smartly to win impressively last time, he was given four points for that win, if he brings that run to the track again on Saturday, he will trouble them in the finish. 8 ELUSIVE WINTER is very fast, he has dropped a point in the ratings from his last run, and he gets 2,5kgs off his back, he could sneak into the places from a tricky draw.

Please note: today’s meeting at Woodbine has been abandoned due to poor air quality.

Please Note: South African Quartet Pools with fractional betting offered at Newmarket and Wolverhampton (UK) – 17 July 2026

Soccer10 Friday 17 July 2026. ADD-IN R125 000. Estimated Pool: R1.5 Million. Pool Closes at 20h00.Sport 17 and Pool 1.

Soccer10 Saturday 18 July 2026. ADD-IN R125 000. Estimated Pool: R1.5 Million. Pool Closes at 18h00.Sport 19 and Pool 1.

Soccer Any 13Xtra Saturday 18 July 2026. Carryover R75 000. Estimated Pool: R200 000. Pool Closes at 16h00. Sport 13 and Pool 1.

Soccer13 Saturday 18 July 2026. Carryover R3 202 288. R8.5 Million (If only One 13 of 13 Winner). Pool Closes at 15h30. Sport 10 Pool 1.

Soccer4 Sunday 19 July 2026.  Carryover R25 000. Estimated Pool: R 75 000. Pool Closes at 18h00. Sport 23 Pool 2.