Andrew Harrison

With the Hollywoodbets Durban July done and dusted it’s back to bread and butter racing at Hollywoodbets Scottsville today where the card is headed by the Tote For The Win B Stakes over 2000m.

Gareth van Zyl thought enough of Salani Kahle to run him in the Gr2 SA Derby but he came up short against the filly Curious Girl who was a runner in the Hollywoodbets Durban July.

Given the weights in the July, Curious Girl was an unlikely winner being 6kg out on the official handicap but that said, Salani Kahla takes on a lot weaker and although he has a big weight he shows lots of potential. This will be an acid test.

Dean Kannemeyer has stepped Uzwano up in trip but the gelding is in good form over shorter. He will see this out and should go close. Stuart Ferrie saddles the smart filly Hodgepodge who stays well and has a handy galloping weight. She should be competitive.

 Of the others, Queue Wing seldom runs a bad race. He is up in class and also in distance but has a light weight. One to watch.

Mike and Mathew de Kock can open the afternoon with Putthelightsout  who was a beaten favourite on the ploy last run but faces modest company here and should go close back on turf.

In the first leg of the Bi-Pot Christmas Rose was touched off second time out and has made steady improvement and should go close. She is the pick of the Glen Kotzen stable trio. Danger is Blenheim Palace who is making steady improvement and has found market support in the past. This trip should suit. America First took on older runners in an Open Maiden last start and can do better.

The opening leg of the PA has some well-bred first timers so keep an eye on the betting but Lenoxx  found all sorts of traffic last time out and shows some promise. He should put in a big effort. Tiger Cody has improved in blinkers and is back to shorter and looks the biggest threat.  First timers Hot Blooded and Bullet Catch are ones to watch in the market.

Charlie Bucket can kick off the Pick 6. Paddy Kruyer’s gelding has consistent Cape form over the distance and was a beaten favourite at his last two. He gets a 1.5kg allowance from the saddle and can make amends. Deonarie has shown up well in both starts and steps up in trip but has the best of the draw while Redoubt Express found market support when making a smart debut on the poly. The turf should not be an issue and he rates a strong winning chance.

In the fifth, Peeping Tom has been knocking on the door for some time for Doug Campbell. He stays the trip and should be one of the better bets on the card. Bourbon’s Beast tends to lack finish but is never too far back and should go well in this company. Augrabies was a beaten favourite last run. His best recent form has been on the poly but he is in modest company.

Ricky Maingard’s runners have won four of the six races that they have contested in Champions Season and Tunguska comes off some smart recent Western Cape form in the seventh. The stable has hardly missed since arriving in KZN. Blizzard Boy has shown up well in two starts on the poly since arriving in KZN. He shed his maiden on the turf and should run well in this field. Red Cardinal is down in class and handicap. If he stays the trip he will be a contender.

The eighth is wide open. Red Coral is a filly taking on males but was a beaten favourite last run on the poly and can make amends. Let It Roll was a recent maiden winner and takes on older runners. However, he has improved with each outing and has a handy galloping weight. Dancing On A Cloud was much improved last run after switching yards and has always shown promise while Radu has been consistent of late and now gets a 2.5kg claimer aboard.

In the last, Preacher Man is a two-year-old filly taking on males but was a beaten favourite last run. She is down in class with first time blinkers and looks the part. Diamond Maker won at long odds last start in first time blinkers and is back over a sprint. He could follow up. Yannakis has won his last two over course and distance and his 4kg claimer retains the ride. Princess Goldie is back on turf. Her poly form is consistent but she can do better here.

RACE 1

2 PUTTHELIGHTSOUT   4 ANATOLY   7 PEACE SIGN   6 AFTER THE FIRE

Preview: PUTTHELIGHTSOUT (2) was a beaten favourite on the ploy last run. In modest company here and should go close back on turf. ANATOLY (4) has made steady improvement. Close-up second last run. AFTER THE FIRE (6) takes on males but made some improvement in blinkers last run. PEACE SIGN (7) makes his debut. Stable jockey rides and one to watch in the betting. (Andrew Harrison: 2-4-6-7).

RACE 2

3 CHRISTMAS ROSE   8 BLENHEIM PALACE   2 AMERICA FIRST   6 SO INDI

Preview: CHRISTMAS ROSE (3) was touched off second time out. She has made steady improvement and should go close. She is the pick of the stable trio. BLENHEIM PALACE (8) is making steady improvement and has found market support in the past. This trip should suit. AMERICA FIRST (2) took on older runners in an Open Maiden last start. She can do better here. SO INDI (6) has found market support in the past. Up in trip and one to watch. (Andrew Harrison: 3-8-2-6).

RACE 3

4 LENNOX   3 TIGER CODY   14 BULLET CATCH   13 HOT BLOODED

Preview: Some well-bred first timers so keep an eye on the betting. LENNOX (4) found all sorts of traffic last time out and shows some promise. He should put in a big effort. TIGER CODY (3) has improved in blinkers. He is back to shorter and looks the biggest threat.  ARKADIN (7) has made steady improvement. Back to a sprint with a four-claimer up. AFRICAN RUBY (1) has not been far back starting at long odds. He can do better here. First timers HOT BLOODED (13) and BULLET CATCH (14) are ones to watch in the market. (Andrew Harrison: 4-3-14-13).

RACE 4

10 CHARLIE BUCKET   1 DEONARIE   5 REDOUBT EXPRESS   11 IMPERIAL VALOR

Preview: CHARLIE BUCKET (10) has consistent Cape form over course and distance. Beaten favourite last two over the distance and with a 1.5kg allowance from the saddle he could make amends. DEONARIE (1) has shown up well in both starts. Steps up in trip but has the best of the draw. REDOUBT EXPRESS (5) found market support when making a smart debut on the poly. The turf should not be an issue and he rates a strong winning chance. IMPERIAL VALOR (11) has the widest draw to contend with but improved with a tongue-tie and has a claiming apprentice up. (Andrew Harrison: 10-1-5-11).

RACE 5

6 PEEPING TOM   8 BOURBON’S BEAST   7 AUGRABIES   5 CAPTIVE PRINCE

Preview: PEEPING TOM (6) has been knocking on the door for some time now. He stays the trip and is the one to beat. BOURBON’S BEAST (8) tends to lack finish but is never too far back. He should go well in this company. AUGRABIES (7) was a beaten favourite last run. His best recent form has been on the poly but he is in modest company. CAPTIVE PRINCE (5) is lightly raced but has shown some promise. The step up in trip should suit (Andrew Harrison: 6-8-7-5).

RACE 6

8 SALANI KAHLE    7 UZWANO   9 QUEUE WING   1 HODGEPODGE

Preview: SALANI KAHLE (8) has a big weight but shows lots of potential. This will be the acid test. UZWANO (7) steps up in trip but is in good for over shorter. He will see it out and should go close. HODGEPODGE (1) is a smart filly who stays well. She has a handy galloping weight and should be competitive. QUEUE WING (9) seldom runs a bad race. Up in class but also in distance and has a light weight. One to watch. (Andrew Harrison: 8-7-9-1).

RACE 7

4 TUNGUSKA    2 BLIZZARD BOY   10 RED CARDINAL   6 HIGH QUEUE

Preview: TUNGUSKA (4) comes off some smart recent Western Cape form. The stable has hardly missed since arriving in KZN. BLIZZARD BOY (2) has shown up well in two starts on the poly since arriving in KZN. He shed his maiden on the turf and should run well in this field. RED CARDINAL (10) is down in class and handicap. If he stays the trip he will be a big contender. HIGH QUEUE (6) is always consistent and with some luck in running he is in with a chance. (Andrew Harrison: 4-2-10-6).

RACE 8

4 RED CORAL   3 LET IT ROLL   5 RADU   10 DANCING ON A CLOUD

Preview: RED CORAL (4) is a filly taking on males but was a beaten favourite last run on the poly and can make amends. LET IT ROLL (3) was a recent maiden winner and takes on older runners. However, he has improved with each outing and has a handy galloping weight. DANCING ON A CLOUD (10) was much improved last run after switching yards.  He has always shown promise and can follow up. RADU (5) has been consistent of late and now gets a 2.5kg claimer aboard. (Andrew Harrison: 4-3-5-10).

RACE 9

1 PREACHER MAN   4 DIAMOND MAKER   7 YANNAKIS   8 PRINCESS GOLDIE

Preview: PREACHER MAN (1) is a two-year-old filly taking on males but was a beaten favourite last run. Down in class firs first time blinkers she looks the part. DIAMOND MAKER (4) won at long odds last start but in first time blinkers back over a sprint. He could follow up. YANNAKIS (7) has won his last two over course and distance and his 4kg claimer retains the ride. PRINCESS GOLDIE (8) is back on turf. Her poly form is consistent but she can do better here. (Andrew Harrison: 1-4-7-8).

Please Note: South African Quartet Pools with fractional betting offered at Pontefract and Wolverhampton (UK) – 7 July 2026

David Thiselton

 

Cape trainer Des McLachlan scored the first KZN Graded race win of his career on Saturday when landing the Gr 3 Post Merchants with Jet Force and it was his best KZN result since his Gr 1 Cape Guineas winner Ethno Centric placed in the Gr 1 SA Guineas in 2001.

 

McLachlan had formed a prolific partnership with Grant van Niekerk before the latter left to ride in Maurtitius and Van Niekerk flew over to ride Jet Force on Saturday.

 

It was Grant’s only ride on the day and he rode a pearler.

 

Jet Force was backed in from 20/1 to 5/1, which was not surprising as he came in with a record of two wins in three starts over the 1200m trip and his recent form over further was either wins or performances where not disgraced against the best of the best.

 

Jumping from a good draw of four Jet Force did not get the best of breaks but Van Niekerk managed too get him forward enough to find a position just backward of midfield.

 

After lifting his head momentarily he did settle well once he had cover.

 

At the top of the straight he still had plenty to do and had about five lengths to make up.

 

However, a nice gap opened for him and he ran on well through it to hit the front 100m out before fending off Buffalo Storm Cody and Tenango, beating them by half-a-length and 0,55 lengths respectively.

 

He had earlier overtaken the 7/2 favourite Buffalo Storm Cody as the latter was battling to get going on the outside. However, when Buffalo did find his big stride he was eating up the ground and, like last year, he put in a good preparation for the Gr 1 wfa Mercury Sprint over the same course and distance.

 

Des said he would also consider running him in the Mercury Sprint, which takes place three weeks after the Post Merchants on the 25^th of July.

 

He will only be 2kg worse off than Buffalo Storm Cody in the Mercury, so on paper will have a chance.

 

He has duly been nominated and is sitting with a fair draw at the time of writing of nine out of 26 horses still standing their ground, although there is a draw reversal against him with Buffalo Storm Cody as the latter was drawn nine on Saturday and is now drawn eight in the Mercury.

 

Jet Force will also be 2kg worse off with Tenango, who ran on superbly on Saturday from the back after jumping from draw five.

 

Tenango has landed a plum draw of two in the Mercury.

 

The Beaumont Stud-bred four-year-old Master Of My Fate gelding Jet Force was the last lot on the November Two Year Old Sale of 2023 and Des landed him for R350,000.

 

Des always goes to the stud farms before the Sales to look at horses and revealed, “I liked him all along and he just grew on you and grew on you, there was improvement all the time.”

 

He added, “Horses find you.”

 

He said, “He took a while to get going as he was very difficult, so we decided to cut him. We just gave him time to mature, we weren’t in a rush and he has done us proud up till now.”

 

Jet Force started his career in the February of his three-year-old year with a win over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth and has won seven out of his 13 starts to date, including the Listed Jet Master Stakes over 1600m and the Gr 3 Variety Club Mile.

 

Van Niekerk has ridden him to five of his victories.

 

Des’s long term aim for Jet Force is to go give him a break in Cape Town and then go for the Green Point and the L’Ormarins King’s Plate.

 

He concluded, “He was still a little bit immature in this year’s Green Point and King’s Plate, he was very, very green, he didn’t know what it was all about as the Green Point was only his third run around the turn. It was quite difficult for him, a lot for him to take on and he didn’t disgrace himself. I think he has got the ability to be competitive in features.”

 

Jet Force is owned by Messrs Denis Le Breton & A L Taylor, Mr K & Miss K Geemooi & Mrs G C Hutchinson.

 

David Thiselton

 

The Vercingetorix filly Quickstepgal has been superbly handled by former Kimberley trainer and now Summerveld trainer Tienie Prinsloo and she landed the second Gr 1 of her career at the Hollywoodbets Durban July meeting at Holywoodbets Greyville on Saturday when winning the prestigious Gr 1 wfa Ridgemont Garden Province Stakes over 1600m.

 

She came out of the race very well, but the Greenacres Trust (Marsh Shirtliff)-bred filly, who is owned by the Laurence Wernars family and Harry Willson is now going to be given a deserved holiday.

 

The big question is what she will do in her four-year-old season?

 

That is presuming she will stay in training, although there is not much left for her to prove, considering she has won seven of her 13 starts, including two Gr 1s, a Gr 2, a Gr 3 and a Listed race, and she has also had five Graded places for total earnings of R2,642,187.

 

The best option looks to be to stick to the three Gr 1 wfa miles around the country, the Maine Chance Farms Majorca at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth, the TAB Empress Club Stakes at Turffontein and the Garden Province at Hollywoodbets Greyville.

 

Tiene said she would not stay the 1800m of the Gr 1 Cartier Paddock Stakes.

 

He also revealed that sprints were likely out of the question as she liked to use her natural speed to run in a relaxed manner before quickening over 1400m to 1600m trips, while the flat out nature of a sprint fired her up a bit too much and did not do her any good in the preparation for her main game.

 

Prinsloo had been very confident in the buildup to Saturday and viewed her as a banker.

 

He became even more confident as the race panned out.

 

She can always be relied on to break well and she duly did.

 

Jockey Keagan de Melo then sat in a one out and one back position on the 7/2 shot and had her nice and relaxed with the fancied 5/2 chance Mon Petit Cherie

behind her and the 11/10 favourite Double Grand Slam behind that one.

 

De Melo did not chase the pacemaker Whistle The Tune when the latter went two or three lengths clear.

 

She was in the exact position Prinsloo liked to see her and he said, “When she quickens nobody is going to catch her.”

 

He added, “She doesn’t need to lead.”

 

She won the Gr 1 WSB Cape Fillies Guineas from the front, but Tienie said her burst was even more effective if held up just off the pace.

 

De Melo could afford to just sit on her until the 300m mark before getting to work and it was soon clear that the running on Mon Petite Cherie and Double Grand Slam were not going to catch her.

 

She crossed the line 1,30 lengths clear of Mon Petite Cherie with Double Grand Slam a head further back in third.

 

“That was the Quickstepgal I know,” said Tienie.

 

Tiene was glad for De Melo, who had got to know the filly well through three placed runs, before winning on her in the Gr 2 HKJC World Pool Tibouchina Stakes over 1400m last time out.

 

Tienie should get a lot of the accolades as he knows all the ins and outs of this filly and how exactly to prepare her.

 

In a fun moment on the course owner Laurence Wernars spoke in the winning interview, something he never does, but he had promised his daughters that the day they were present on course for a Gr 1 win he would do the interview.

 

Quickstepgal gave the champion sire Vercingetorix his 31^st stakes win of the season achieved with 21 horses.

 

He is in a race against time to break his own SA record of 23 stakes winners (of 33 races) he set last season.

 

Tienie signed for the Fire Away half-sister to Quickstepgal, Victory Blaze, at last week’s KZN Yearling Sale after securing her for R600,000, which was as opposed to the R450,000 Quickstepgal went for and the R1,3 million her full-sister went for, both at the same Sale in 2024 and 2025 respectively.