Please Note: South African Quartet Pools with fractional betting offered at Hamilton and Newmarket (UK) – 26 June 2025.

 Andrew Harrison

Yesterday was a day that apprentice Savanna Valjalo will have etched in her memory as she scored her first official win as an apprentice aboard the Gareth van Zyl-trained KMV Retrofit in the Open Maiden on the poly at Hollywoodbets Greyville.

Always in front, she had the measure of stable companion Di Rosa and S’Manga Khumalo a long way out and such was her confidence that she cruised the last 50m under the hands.

Apprentice races are not always the easiest and coupled with a modest field of horses doesn’t make it any easier.

Purple Flower was friendless in the market but she won like and odds-on shot under Mauritian apprentice Girish Dookhit. Having her first run for Gary Rich who bought the mare on an on-line sale on the advice of his daughter Tess, Dookhit tracked the pace set by Blush Of Dawn from mid-field. At the sharp end of the race, Purple Flower was always traveling smoothly as she tackled Blush Of Dawn and in spite of looking to shift in late, she won well.

Wing Walker was always going to be the best bet on the card and Lucinda Woodruff’s charge made short work of the modest opposition in the first. Chad Little punched him for home crossing the subway and the result was never in doubt as the gelding quickened away to win as he liked.

Garth Puller was a master in the saddle and has been a mentor to many a young rider. But he can also be blunt. He has given 4kg claimer Mxolisi Mbuto plenty of rides but was hoping for a double starting with Blush Of Dawn in the apprentice race. “If he had let her go at the top of the straight she should have won,” he said after leading in Mbuto on Canyoudothehula in the fourth. Much improved on the poly last time out, Mbuto gave her a polished ride to get first run on stable companion and race favourite Fine Wine.

Puller was back in the winner’s circle the very next race as apprentice Brevan Plaatjies rode a smart race on Shiny Bob. Judging that there was plenty of pace in the race and apprentices are generally a bunch of tear-aways, Puller’s instructions to Plaatjies were to sit off them and wait his chance. Plaatjies carried out instructions to perfection as Shiny Bob quickened up with the leaders treading water and went on to win comfortably. The win gave Plaatjies the 40^th of his career and he will claim 1.5kg next time he rides. The win also put him four clear of Trent Mayhew in the race for the Apprentice Championship.

You seldom see a horse trained by Dean Kannemeyer anywhere near the front in the early exchanges and Craig Zackey rode Gurkha to a Kannemeyer blue-print to win the sixth the son of Fire Away reveling over the ten furlongs. Trailing the field by close to ten lengths at one stage, Gurkha moved through the pack in the straight to hit the front and shake off the attentions of a game Papa C.

 Paul Lafferty was quietly confident of a big showing from Mister Nibbles and his assessment was on the mark as Muzi Yeni pounced from off the pace and get the better of Star Of The Future in a tight finish. Favourite Prince Florian was awkward out of the gate, pecking and Zackey appeared to lose an iron. After closing up to the field, he was never in contention in the straight and eased out of the race.

The revamped poly surface is being praised as being fair for all horses. Earlier Gurkha came from last to win his race and Rooster Bradshaw closed off the meeting in similar fashion for Duncan Howells. Towards the back turning for home, S’Manga Khumalo took the ‘golden highway’ home and mowed them all down.

David Thiselton

The highest rated races at the Turffontein Inside track today are a MR 92 1000m handicap for fillies an mares, which might be the time for Kia Kaha to shine, a Middle Stakes event over 1450, which could see the consistent Bob’s Your Uncle going close, and a Juvenile Plate over 1600m, which could see Zalatoris come to the fore.

In the Mr 92 fillies and mares handicap (6th race) the talented Var filly KIa Kaha has been a touch disappointing but should be coming into her win and has dropped to a competitive merit rating of 83. She is capable of a strong finish and has a plum draw so should be able to take a sit before running on. Cosmic Queen would likely be the one to side with based on her last run as she not only beat Kia Kaha comfortably but she beat the talented Whistle The Tune, who went on to finish fifth in the Gr 1 SA Fillies Sprint, beaten just 1,40 lengths. However, she has to overcome draw nine, although Gavin Lerena up will give her every chance. Artiste is also in fine form and might have an attractive merit rating being a former Cape Town horse, but she has a very wide draw to overcome under Craig Zackey, who will give her every assistance in doing so. Quasikat looks held by Kia Kaha and Cosmic Queen but can earn if repeating her last start. My One And Only is an up and coming sprinter who is suited to this trip and she is well drawn, but does have to overcome a four point merit rated raise.

In the Middle Stakes event (8th race) Bob’s Your Uncle is in cracking form and could win again over a suitable trip despite being six points higher than his last win. Busstopinhounslow has some class and could go close here. Buster Barmes has excellent form in Zimbabwe and looks a classy sort, so he is interesting.  Guy Gibson has been in good form and can go close from a fair draw with Lerena up. Hierkommiediebokkie is capable of blitzing a field over this trip from a low draw and might have benefitted from a short layoff. 

In the Juvenile Plate (2nd race) Zalatoris was just 1,35 lengths back in the Gr 1 Gold Medallion over 1200m and might enjoy the step up in trip being by Erik The Red out of a Silvano mare. Read All About It has some good form behind good horses, but does have a tricky draw over what might be a suitable step up in trip. Golden Warrior is proven over the trip, winning by 6,75 lengths in the maidens, an Khumalo keeps the ride and he has a fair draw. 

The first leg of the Pick 6 over 1500m has a similar problem to race 6 in that Nkwenkwezi comes out ahead on formlines, but does not have as good a draw as Stay Tuned. The latter is also less exposed and could improve from his good debut effort over 1400m. Stay Tuned is out of a Var mare so that raises a question mark about the 100m further trip, but on the other had he is by stamina influence Futura. Brigham has the form to be a contender but has a tough draw. Lava County has run some good races over shorter and should relish the step up in trip on pedigree from a middle draw under Gavin Lerena. Afterburn improved last time and should enjoy the extra 100m.

In the fifth race over 1500m Hopscotch is knocking on the door and in this line-up can still win despite a wide draw. A Bit Of Class is a must include in the exotics because she made a fair debut and from a good draw over a suitable step up in trip could be right there. Bella Boop Boop could earn a cheque in this line-up. Asiah’s Tiara has run a couple of fair races and from a good draw could be in the shake-up. Golden Alexia could earn if bouncing back in her third run after a layoff over a suitable trip, although the wide draw makes it tough.

In the seventh race over 1000m Gimmeforsure won well on debut and could follow up here, although draw 8 of 13 does not make it easy for the two-year-old filly off a merit rating of 83. Faithful Neo has been thereabouts in her last two and could earn here from a good draw. Panthera Uncia won well last time in the maidens and from pole position might be able to threaten. Gaelic Dancer also has a chance but the wide draw makes it tough. Second Breath returns from a long layoff but has a fair draw and is hard to ignore on her best form.  

In the ninth over 1450m Zip Code ran well over 1600m last time and can do well from a good draw over the distance category of his only career win.  Sea Shanty goes for a hat trick but does have a tough draw to overcome, although he will be finishing strongly from off the pace. Sail The Sky is drawn in pole and if producing his best should be right there. Streisand is in fair form and should be in the shake up from a fair draw. Birthright has a tricky draw but has ability and has dropped to a competitive merit rating.

In the third race over 1600m Clarkson easily won his race on the far side of the track last time but due to the draw bias it was not good enough to earn a place. Gavin Lerena takes the ride and this could be his day from a plum draw off a competitive merit rating. Viva De Janeiro is never far off them and could earn here again, while Coppola has some fair form and should be in the shake-up. 

In the first race over 1600m the tiny Littlemissmillion impressed on debut with a fine turn of foot from off the pace and can beat Littlemisssplendid. 

RACE 1

2 LITTLEMISSMILLION 4 SCHIPOLE 1 LIMERICK LACE 6 SCARLETT HEART

Preview: 2 LITTLEMISSMILLION is a tiny filly but showed a fine turn of foot from off the pace on debut over this trip and could follow up. 3 LITTLEMISSSPLENDID is not too reliable but has a chance if producing her best. 4 SCHIPOLE won well second time out and could build on that performance. 1 LIMERICK LACE disappointed last time but is probably capable of better. 6 SCARLETT HEART has shown some fair form and could earn a cheque. (David Thiselton 2-3-4-1-6)

RACE 2     

6 ZALATORIS 3 READ ALL ABOUT IT 1 GOLDEN WARRIOR 2 IDEAL SUMMER

Preview: 6 ZALATORIS has some good form over Shorter and being out of a Silvano mare should enjoy the trip but does have a wide draw. 3 READ ALL ABOUT IT has some good form behind good horses but does have a tricky draw. GOLDEN WARRIOR won easily last time out and Khumalo keeps the ride and he has a fair draw over the same trip. IDEAL SUMMER is probably capable of better than last time and could earn here. (David Thiselton 6-3-1-2)

RACE 3     

7 CLARKSON 11 VIVA DE JANEIRO 5 COPPOLA 

Preview: 7 CLARKSON  was undone by the draw last time but Gavin Lerena takes the ride and this could be his day. 11 VIVA DE JANEIRO is never far off them and could earn here again.5 COPPOLA has some fair form and should be in the shake-up. (David Thiselton 7-11-5)

RACE 4     

8 NKWENKWEZI 7 STAY TUNED 1 BRIGHAM 9 LAVA COUNTY

Preview: 8 NKWENKWEZI is knocking on the door and comes out well on formlines. 7 STAY TUNED made a fine debut and should go close from a plum draw. . 1 BRIGHAM has the firm to be a contender but has a tough draw. 9 LAVA COUNTY has run some good races over Shorter and should relish the step up in trip on Pedigree. (David Thiselton 7-8-1-9)

RACE 5     

9 HOPSCOTCH 7 A BIT OF CLASS 3 BELLA BOOP BOOP 2 ASIAH’S TIARA

Preview: 9 HOPSCOTCH is knocking on the door and in this line-up can still win despite a wide draw. 7 A BIT OF CLASS made a fair debut and from a good draw over a suitable step up and trip could be right there. 3 BELLA BOOP BOOP could earn a cheque in this line-up. 2 ASIAH’S TIARA  has run a couple of fair races and from a good draw could be in the shake-up. (David Thiselton 9-7-3-2)

RACE 6     

9 KIA KAHA 3 COSMIC QUEEN 2 ARTISTE 10 QUASIKAT

Preview: 9 KIA KAHA  has a good draw and should be finishing strongly. 3 COSMIC QUEEN has a tricky draw but a repeat of her last start should see her right there.  2 ARTISTE  is in fine form but does have a tough draw to overcome. 10 QUASIKAT could also be in the shake-up here. (David Thiselton 9-3-2-10) 

RACE 7     

11 GIMMEFORSURE 6 FAITHFUL NEO 9 PANTHERA UNCIA 10 GAELIC DANCER

Preview: 11 GIMMEFORSURE went well on debut and could follow up here although a wide draw makes it tough. 6 FAITHFUL NEO has been there abouts in her last two and could earn here from a good draw. 9 PANTHERA UNCIA won well last time in the maidens and from pole position might be able to threaten. 10 GAELIC DANCER  also has a chance but the wide draw makes it tough. (David Thiselton 11-6-9-10)

RACE 8     

5 BOB’S YOUR UNCLE 1 BUSSTOPINHOUNSLOW 3 BUSTER BARNES 2 GUY GIBSON

Preview: 5 BOB’S YOUR UNCLE is in cracking form and could win again. 1 BUSSTOPINHOUNSLOW has some class and could go close here. 3 BUSTER BARNES has excellent form in Zimbabwe and looks a classy sort so he is interesting.  2 GUY GIBSON has been in good form and can go close from a fair draw with Lerena up. (David Thiselton 5-1-3-2) 

RACE 9     

2 ZIP CODE 13 SEA SHANTY 14 SAIL THE SKY 6 STREISAND 5 BIRTHRIGHT

Preview: 2 ZIP CODE ran well over 1600m last time and can do well from a good draw over this course and distance.13 SEA SHANTY goes for a hat trick but does have a tough draw to overcome. 14 SAIL THE SKY is drawn in pole and if producing his best should be right there. 6 STREISAND is in fair form and should be in the shake up from a fair draw. 5 BIRTHRIGHT has a tricky draw but has ability and has dropped to a competitive merit rating. (David Thiselton 2-13-14-6-5)

Soccer 10 on Friday, 27th June 2025, ADD-IN R 150 000, Pool Closes at 20h45, Sport 8 and Pool 1, Estimated Pool: R 1.8 Million

RUGBY 8 WIN MARGIN on Saturday, 28th June 2025, C/Over R 63 972, Pool Closes at 12h00

Soccer6 on Saturday, 28th June 2025, ADD-IN R 75 000, Pool Closes at 18h00, Sport 2 and Pool 2, Estimated Pool: R 400 000

Soccer ANY13X on Saturday, 28th June 2025, ADD-IN R 50 000, Pool Closes at 15h00, Sport 13 and Pool 1,Estimated Pool: 200 000

Soccer 13 on Saturday, 28th June 2025, Pool Closes at 15h30, Sport 10 and Pool 1, GUARANTEED POOL:18 Million (If only One 13 of 13 Winner)

Soccer4 on Sunday, 29th June 2025, ADD-IN R 25 000, Pool Closes at 18h00, Sport 17 and Pool 2, Estimated Pool: R 100 000