Please Note: South African Quartet Pools with fractional betting offered at Ayr and Kempton (UK) – 20 May 2026

    David Thiselton

The Pick 6 at the Festival Of Speed meeting on Saturday at Hollywoodbets Scottsville is usually worth catching and the jackpot of Graded races over 1200m that form the middle legs is always well supported and pays a worthwhile dividend.

Starting off with the first leg of the Jackpot, the Gr 2 Allan Robertson Championship, Querari Dancer would be fancied more if she had a better draw than one, which will be especially problematic for her style of running in which she comes from off the pace. The outside horses tend to drift inward and cause traffic problems for the lower drawn horses who are being held up. The wily Fortune might concoct a plan though and this horse looks to have the class to win. Get Up showed a fine kick from a handy position over 1100m to win the Gr 3 Pretty Polly Stakes and has a form chance. If she can be in the leading line the draw of four should not be problematic and she has the Tarry factor. Secretary Bird is well regarded and Griselda beat Get Up in the SA Fillies Nursery, but the latter slammed the SA Nursery winner Good Day Sunshine in the Pretty Polly, so Get Up was probably below par in the Nursery. Griselda has a scurrying sort of action so is not as impressive as Get Up but they win in all shapes and sizes and she has a nice draw of seven out of 16. Flower Island won well in both starts, although her time was not noteworthy last time.  Ventura Boulevard won by ten lengths on debut in the East Cape and can’t be ignored.

In the Gr 1 Gold Medallion Rich Man’s World looks to be a superstar and can be bankered. For the risk averse Haute Couture can be included as he was very impressive on debut. Egremont caught the eye with his debut win and can also be considered.

In the Gr 2 Golden Horse Sprint Cosmic Speed bounced back when put over a sprint down the straight last time and, as he is a former Gr 1 Gold Medallion runner up, he will enjoy this course and distance. He has a nice draw of seven. One Eye On Vegas has speed and class and if able to overcome the troublesome number one draw he could be in the shake up. Taxi To The Moon is in devastating form and from draw five should make a bold bid. Texas Red is a 1400m specialist with consistent form and he should enjoy the tough Hollywoodbets Scottsville course and distance. Jerusalema Rain is in fine form and could still have more to come as he has found his feet in the Tarry yard and he should be in the shake up. Cafe Culture has speed and class and should be right there. Fox On The Run has some class and is tough to ignore. Last year’s winner Tenango comes in fresh and could have benefited from the layoff.

In the Gr 1 SA Fillies Sprint one would have to go thin, considering how many horses have to be put in legs one and three. Asiye Phambili is fancied to take it, but she will have a tough task keeping Double Grand Slam at bay and last year’s winner Mia Moo must also be considered.

In the first leg of the Pick 6 over 1600m, Uzwano has a nice middle draw and with Gavin Lerena up he should be finishing strongly and will go close. Talk To The Master has hard-knocking form and should be finishing strongly. Those two are taken a chance with and are relied on. If they fail some money can be put into the Jackpot.

In the last leg of the Pick 6 Chapbook is only the reserve runner but if getting in he will go close as he caught the eye finishing strongly over 1100m at this course last time. Disting has some good form in Cape Town and has a good record over this course and distance. Vibe SA is an enigmatic sort but is good on his day and has a shout is he is in good form. Magic Surprise was not disgraced last time in the In Full Flight Stakes over 1100m and he has come into his own so should make a bold bid. City Of Love finished a good fifth in the In Full Flight Stakes and should also make a bold bid.

David Thiselton

The Hollywoodbets Greyville poly meeting today is competitive throughout, but there should be some fair opportunities for punters.

In the fifth race over 1600m Chasing Gold will be improving all the time being by Ideal World out of a Silvano mare. His dam Silver Class was a sprint-miler so Chasing Gold has interestingly dropped in trip after a good win over 1900m last time. She had to handle a four point raise for that win, but she is a galloping type who is drawn three and she should make a bold bid from a likely handy to front-running position. Mississippi Spice is also in fine form and going the right way, so should be right there too.

In the first leg of the Pick 6 Gimme The Power did well in some open maiden plates in Cape Town carrying low weights, but she also did well in a Class 5 event. She made a good debut in KZN in a maiden and should be in the shake up here in this maiden jumping from draw three under Andrew Fortune. Chooks Kiss and Peace Rose also have to be considered.

In the next leg of the Pick 6 Gold Gold Baby impressed in her KZN debut in a maiden over 1900m and can follow up off a reasonable 75 rating.  She has a nice draw on her poly debut. Princess Palace will go close if repeating her last start and if she has a chance then La Maddalena must also be considered as she beat Princess Palace narrowly last time, although she does now have a wide draw to overcome.

In the sixth race over 1600m, a Middle Stakes event, Tomyris on a 93 is one off the top of her merit rated band and this merit rating has seen her go close in both of her previous two starts, including in a Middle Stakes race last time. She is clearly well weighted under these conditions and should go close from a good draw.  Spirit Of Shimla and Ice Rain make most appeal of the rest.

In the seventh over 1200m Poetic Princess won well last time and has a chance off a four point higher mark from pole position. Littleblackgem and Clickbait look well treated at present and can earn.

In the last race over 1400m Mask On ran a cracker last time and can go close with a repeat and Heaven’s Will will be right there too if repeating her last start, which was over this course and distance.

The meeting could start with a win for the well drawn Queraristinyferari in the 1000m contest, although on form there is not much between her and the widely drawn Royal Crest.

In the second over 1600m the Highveld raider Royal Jacket makes appeal as a consistent sort who does not face an inspiring field.

RACE 1

4 QUERARISTINYFERARI 11 ROYAL CREST 5 MEEKSHA 8 MISS CHARISMA

Preview: 4 QUERARISTINYFERARI is knocking on the door and should go close from a good draw over a trip which should suit. 11 ROYAL CREST was only a length behind Queraristinyferraris last time out. 5 MEEKSHA made a good debut behind a fair sort and should be thereabouts. 8 MISS CHARISMA made a fair debut and can improve.

RACE 2

1 ROYALE JACKET 3 PRINCESS TRIPPI 8 PLACE OF PRACTICE 7  PUTTHELIGHTSOUT

Preview: 1 ROYALE JACKET is a long time maiden but should enjoy this course and distance and can go close. 3 PRINCESS TRIPPI has the form to be a contender in this line up. 8 PLACE OF PRACTICE has run some cracking races and should take to the poly. 7  PUTTHELIGHTSOUT has run to good races and has a chance.

RACE 3

3 GIMME THE POWER 8 CHOOKS KISS 7 PEACE ROSE 5 BLENHEIM PALACE

Preview: 3 GIMME THE POWER had some fair Cape Town form and should improve on her decent KZN debut. 8 CHOOKS KISS has a fair form chance in this race and Lerena is up albeit from a wide draw. 7 PEACE ROSE is knocking on the door and should be right there.  5 BLENHEIM PALACE was not disgraced on debut and could improve.

RACE 4

4 GOLD GOLD BABY 1 PRINCESS PALACE 7 LA MADDALENA 8 PRAISE DE LA REY

Preview: 4 GOLD GOLD BABY impressed with her win on her KZN debut and she can follow up. 1 PRINCESS PALACE ran a cracker last time over 1600m and should appreciate this step up in trip and she has pole position. 7 LA MADDALENA is half-a-kilogram worse off with Princess Palace after beating her last time by 1,20 lengths and she will also enjoy this trip but she has a wide draw to overcome. 8 PRAISE DE LA REY is a maiden and ran well in a D Stakes race last time and could earn here.

RACE 5

8 MISSISSIPPI SPICE 2 CLOUDS CLEARING 9 ROY’S GRACE 3 CHASING GOLD

Preview: 3 CHASING GOLD is continually improving and can defy the handicapper again from a good draw. 8 MISSISSIPPI SPICE is in fine form and a wide draw did not bother her last time. 2 CLOUDS CLEARING has a good draw and a good form chance. 9 ROY’S GRACE is always thereabouts and with a 4kg claimer up has a chance although she has a wide draw.

RACE 6

3 TOMYRIS 5 SPIRIT OF SHIMLA 6 ICE RAIN 7 EDUCATOR

Preview: 3 TOMYRIS is not the most reliable but has class and is capable of delivering a top performance on her day. 5 SPIRIT OF SHIMLA is consistent and should be in the shake up. 6 ICE RAIN beat Tomyris narrowly last time on the same terms as here and now has a 2,5kg claimer up so has a big chance, although there is a reversal in draw fortunes. 7 EDUCATOR has some class but is none too reliable and she has a tough draw.

RACE 7

1 POETIC PRINCESS 6  LITTLEBLACKGEM 4 CLICKBAIT 5 QUENTASIA

Preview: 1 POETIC PRINCESS won well last time and has a chance off a four point higher mark from pole position. 6  LITTLEBLACKGEM is consistent and is currently off an attractive merit rating. 4 CLICKBAIT has good pace and off an attractive merit rating from a good draw should make a bold bid. 5 QUENTASIA has come down to a nice merit rating and could make her presence felt with a low weight and a 1,5kg claimer up.

RACE 8

4 MASK ON 8 HEAVEN’S WILL 2 PLEASEDTOSEEYOU 3 THE GLIDING FISH

Preview: 4 MASK ON ran a cracker last time and can go close with a repeat. 8 HEAVEN’S WILL will be right there if repeating her last start which was over this course and distance. 2 PLEASEDTOSEEYOU has the form to be a contender. 3 THE GLIDING FISH is capable of popping up.

 David Thiselton

The Hollywoodbets Scottsville Festival Of Speed meeting has a new anchor leg for the Jackpot, the Gr 1 SA Fillies Sprint.

The Golden Horse Sprint has always previously been the last leg of the Jackpot, but with that race now being a Gr 2 for the second year running it seems that the SA Fillies Sprint has now replaced it as the most important of the two open events as it is forms the last leg of the always much looked forward to Jackpot of Graded races for the first time this year.

It has the same stake as the Golden Horse, R1 million, and is hence not the most expensive race of the day with the stake for the Gr 1 Gold Medallion now upped from R1.5 million last year to 1.75 million this year.

The Gr 1 SA Fillies Sprint is certainly going to be a humdinger this year, although many Jackpot and Pick 6 players will likely be going thin in this leg.

Double Grand Slam and Asiye Phambili are the form horses of the race and reigning champion Mia Moo can be considered too as she did beat both of those horses last year and she also has another important fact on her side i.e. she is trained by Sean Tarry, otherwise known as The King of Pietermaritzburg, having plundered a record 21 Gr 1 victories at Hollywoodbets Scottsville.

Double Grand Slam’s defeat in last year’s SA Fillies Sprint is one of the reasons trainer Justin Snaith has entered her this year, because she was enormously unlucky in that race and Snaith would like to set the record straight.

Double Grand Slam had the number one draw, which was problematic on the day, if not always at this meeting, because the horses tend to drift over from the outside towards the perceived better going towards the inside.

Richard Fourie decided to stick to his stations and it almost worked out because a gap opened just after the 400m mark and she still looked to have plenty in  hand. Unfortunately, it closed as quickly as it opened and after being switched outward the crack filly had nowhere to go and she could only coast home behind a forest of horses to take sixth place, beaten 1,45 lengths.

So it is good news she is drawn ten out of 15 this year, not to mention being in the form of her life.

Her new regular partner Andrew Fortune is back aboard with her rider from her 5,40 length Gr 1 Empress Club Stakes victory, Craig Zackey, now aboard the contender from his guv’nor Dean Kannemeyer’s yard.

Asiye Phambili has also been plagued by bad luck in this race. Trainer Duncan Howells was ultra confident a couple of years ago only to see Rachel Venniker dislodged at the start after the filly pecked badly. Then last year her run came just a fraction too late and she went down a shorthead. If she had stayed straight instead of drifting inward she might have won too.

Asiye Phambili has drawn eight and regular rider Sean Veale is aboard.

Mia Moo came into the race last year on the back of a 2,10 length victory in the Gr 2 Camellia Stakes, whereas this year she comes in off a 2,90 length third in the Gr 1 Computaform Sprint.

Interestingly Mia Moo beat Almond Sea by 4,80 lengths in the Camellia Stakes race and beat her by 3,35 lengths in the Computaform, so her form coming in is not actually much worse than it was last year.

However,  it is her who has to contend with draw one this year and ironically Richard Fourie is up.

In an another coincidental twist Mia Moo was drawn 8 last year, which is Asiye Phambili’s draw this year, and Asiye Phambili was drawn ten last year, Double Grand Slam’s draw this year.

Princess Of All should be considered by the risk averse as she has a Gr 2 win over this trip as well as a Gr 2 and a Gr 3 over 1400m.

Perfect Miracle is an interesting runner too as she is by Hawwaam, whose progeny seem to improve continuously, just like his father Silvano’s progeny.

Perfect Miracle is proof of that. She has won a Gr 3 and a Gr 2 in her last two starts and the latter was the Camellia Stakes, which produced last year’s SA Fillies Sprint winner.

In this year’s Camellia Perfect Miracle faced Rodeo Drive on terms 1kg better than weight for age and beat her by 0,75 lengths, so on paper there should not be much between them now on wfa terms.

She was on wfa terms with all of Rachel Wall, Whistle The Tune, One Fine Winter and Almond Sea, whom she beat by 1,15 lengths, 2.05 lengths, 2,30 lengths and 3,80 lengths respectively, so has their beating on paper.

Symphony In White is a previous Gr 1 Allan Robertson third-placed achiever, but was beaten 4,55 lengths in this race last year and is well held by Asiye Phambili this year from their previous meeting.

Elegantrix was second in last year’s Allan Robertson, but ran a shocker last time out although she did win a Listed race well two runs before that over 1200m, so she could be a dark horse.

None of the others make much appeal.