Andrew Harrison

Many top jockeys will attest that their mere presence in the saddle has bookmakers strangling prices; ask now retired multiple champion jockey Anton Marcus. Questioned about the market support for Sardinia Bay, current champion jockey Richard Fourie was blunt.  “Everything I ride and Mr Ennion trains will start short. It’s the norm.”

In truth, there were only six runners in the Middle Stakes that headed the card at Hollywoodbets Durbanville yesterday and Sardinia Bay was probably the only real option available to Fourie’s agent Ken Nichol, who incidentally guided the rider to his record breaking championship tally last season, and Fourie made the most of it, giving the gelding a top ride.

The pace was always going to be on from the jump and Fourie was content to ease off the gallop before making his move. Sardinia Bay hit the front some way out but he won under the hands from the game mare Candy Town. It was a top draw display from rider and horse.

Fancied North Point, jumped slowly and was never in the hunt, not making any impression on the leaders and finishing out of the money.

If Fourie gave Sardinia Bay a tremendous ride, he out-did himself on Moody Blue for Mike Stewart in the C Stakes for a quick double. When Fourie becomes animated and ‘bouncing’ in the saddle, you know that he is giving it absolutely all and it proved to be enough as he kept Moody Blue going just long enough to hold a late-charging Catch A Penny and Chad Little who came from last to failed by the shortest of short-heads.

Calvin Habib is not a regular visitor to Cape Town but he paid for his airfare winning a smart race for Adam Marcus on Fort Yukon in the first, the first of two for Marcus with Dream Searcher in the sixth adding to his afternoon’s tally.

Having ridden the gelding at his previous start, Habib was confident with what he had under him, taking the lead early and punching for home at the top of the straight. Love From Afar and Bourbon King tried hard to make a race of it but Fort Yukon kept finding and eventually drew off to win comfortably.

Ennion was in the winner’s enclosure for the second time as Miss World blew them all away in the Progress Plate. Ridden by former Durban View Room waiter, apprentice Sifiso Bungane who has 18 winners under his belt, the daughter of One World came from off the pace and finished with a wet sail putting plenty of daylight between herself and Tulip Fields and Wander Dune.

All the money was Fourie’s mount Goodnessgraciousme but the gamble went astray. After threatening briefly she faded out of contention.

David Thiselton

The Vaal Classic track stages a ten race meeting today and the third race could see Dyce’s full-brother Stoneywood progressing once again.

This three-year-old William Longsword gelding is improving as he strengthens and  is growing into a strongly built sprinter who could possibly follow in his brother’s footsteps, although Dyce actually had precocious talent too. In this MR 99 Handicap for three-year-olds over 1200m Stoneywood carries just 54,5kg and should rise above his 88 merit rating. He faces another progressive sort in Speedman, who has won three from four and his only loss was when tried over 1600m. Speedman has to give 3kg to Stoneywood, which will not be easy. However, he has drawn in pole compared to Stoneywood’s draw of two, so he will have the advantage of being able to claim the rail for free. Titan Of The Turf makes his fist appearance as a three-year-old having won on debut as a juvenile and then finishing a 0,40 length third in the Gr 2 Umkhomazi Stakes over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Greyville.

The sixth race is a Middle Stakes event over 1600m and The Playboy Bomber makes appeal, although he does have a tough draw of nine out of ten to overcome. He is only half-a-kilogram under sufferance with the best weighted Dark Silver. The latter beat him by half-a-length over this trip last November and  if apprentice claims are ignored Dark Silver is now 3kg better off, so should beat him again on paper. However, Dark Silver was beaten 11,25 lengths in his last start over 1800m three months ago and has not run since, so he could well need this. The Playboy Bomber has won over 1800m and then finished second over 200m in his last two respective starts. However, he is effective over this trip too. The Playboy Bomber was beaten 4,75 lengths by stablemate Birthright when they last met over this trip last July and The Playboy Bomber is only 3kg better off.  However, The Playboy Bomber does seem to be coming into his own. Birthright has also been in fine form and will try and make it two wins in a row, but he does have to overcome a five point raise. Topweight Bob’s Your Uncle sticks to shorter trips these days, but actually has a good record over 1600m, so he is a runner from a fair draw of five. Hotarubi is talented but quirky and inconsistent so can’t be relied on but can’t be ignored. Dark Silver must be considered at the weights, especially considering that if apprentice claims are included he is a whopping 9,5kg better off with The Playboy Bomber, despite having beaten him by half-a-length when they last met.

The seventh is a MR 92 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1800m and the scopey sort Duchess Of Paloma can defy the handicapper again. Cocomelon has been off form but has come down to an attractive merit rating and should go close. Azaleas For All has been in good form and should be in the shake up. Art Nouveau has the form to earn here. Teo Torriate can never be ignored.

In the eighth, a MR 82 over 2000m, World Order could bounce back after a bit of a disappointing run last time in a small field. He has a good draw and should enjoy the step up in trip. Naretoi has plenty of talent and can go close again, but does have a wide draw to overcome. Councillor has been knocking hard in KZN and has a chance over an ideal trip, although he returns from a two-and-half month layoff. Mocha Frappe has always caught the eye and might start delivering. Gimmeachoice is consistent but does have a wide draw.

In the ninth over 1000m Tiger Storm has a nice middle draw and should be right there in this line up. Inafix is drawn on the right side and is always capable of popping up. Blindfire enjoys this course and distance but is drawn on the wrong side. Pivotal Role has good form but also has a tricky low draw. Palace Revolt can be involved if repeating his last start.

In the first leg of the Pick 6 over 1600m Top Floor is going the right way and should get it right third time out over a suitable trip. Pompeii Shield should finish on top of Top Floor on the form of their clash last time. Rock My Boat has shown enough to be able to earn here.

In the second leg over 1600m Future Gamble only just failed last time and should have come on from the run, which was her first on the Highveld. Miraculous Moment made a good debut over 1160m and should relish the step up in trip but does have a tricky draw. Blood Of Eden will enjoy the step back down n trip and should be in the shake up. Lanteri has faced good sorts and never been disgraced so has a shout here. Keep Warm ran a decent race first up on the Highveld and should be in the shake up.

In the tenth over 1450m the progressive Trail Runner is well drawn and off a four point higher mark can score the hattrick.

In the first race over 1200m Proud Mary could be the one to beat as this first-timer is by Vercingetorix and is a half-sister to dual Gr 1-winning sprinter and now sire Thunderstruck.

In the second over 1200m first-timer Sheriff Bill Brown is by Buffalo Bill Cody out of a Black Minnaloushe mare who has produced a dual winner from just two runners. First-timer Gone Cold is by Gimmethegreenlight out of a Captain Al mare and he’s a half-brother to a horse who won first time out over 900m.  The Bronx Bull made a fair debut and should improve.

RACE 1

6 PROUD MARY 1 DRACHENFUTTER 8 SITVA QUEEN 2 GRANDE HAWAII

Preview: 6 PROUD MARY is by Vecingetorix out of a Var mare and is a half-sister to dual Gr 1-winning sprinter and now sire Thunderstruck. 1 DRACHENFUTTER is by Hawwaam out of a Danehill Dancer mare. 8 SITVA QUEEN is by Vercingetorix out of a Western Winter mare 2 GRANDE HAWAII made a fair debut and should improve. (David Thiselton 6-1-8-2)

RACE 2

3 SHERIFF BILL BROWN 1 GONE COLD 6 THE BRONX BULL 2 GUS ON THE BUS

Preview: 3 SHERIFF BILL BROWN is by Buffalo Bill Cody out of a Black Minnaloushe mare who has produced a dual winner from just two runners. 1 GONE COLD is by Gimmethegreenlight out of a Captain Al mare and he’s a half-brother to a horse who won First timeout over 900m.  6 THE BRONX BULL made a fair debut and should improve. 2 GUS ON THE BUS also made a fair debut and should improve. (David Thiselton 3-1-6-2)

RACE 3

5 STONEYWOOD 4 SPEEDMAN 2 TITAN OF THE TURF 1 PALACE PRINCE

Preview: 5 STONEYWOOD looks to be developing into a worthy full-brother to the top class sprinter Dyce and can follow up on his last impressive win. 4 SPEEDMAN is on the up and should also go close. 2 TITAN OF THE TURF has talent and should be in the shake up. 1 PALACE PRINCE looks capable of earning here. (David Thiselton 5-4-2-1)

RACE 4

9 TOP FLOOR 3 POMPEII SHIELD 2 INDIAN SPICE 5 SMUGGLER

Preview: 9 TOP FLOOR is going the right way and should get it right third time out over a suitable trip. 3 POMPEII SHIELD should finish on top of Top Floor on their clash last time. 2 INDIAN SPICE has run some fair races and could earn here.  5 SMUGGLER has shown ability and looks to be improving. (David Thiselton 9-3-2-5)

RACE 5

1 FUTURE GAMBLE 11 MIRACULOUS MOMENT 2 BLOOD OF EDEN 3 LANTERI

Preview: 1 FUTURE GAMBLE only just failed last time and should have come on from the run, which was her first on the Highveld. 11 MIRACULOUS MOMENT made a good debut over 1160m and should relish the step up in trip but does have a tricky draw. 2 BLOOD OF EDEN will enjoy the step back down n trip and should be in the shake up. 3 LANTERI has faced good sorts and never been disgraced so has a shout here. (David Thiselton 1-11-2-3)

RACE 6

9 THE PLAYBOY BOMBER 5 BIRTHRIGHT 1 BOB’S YOUR UNCLE 2 HOTARUBI

Preview: 9 THE PLAYBOY BOMBER is knocking on the door and has a fine chance here. 5 BIRTHRIGHT has come into his own and could go close again. 1 BOB’S YOUR UNCLE is an honest and quite versatile sort who can never be ignored. 2 HOTARUBI is talented but quirky and unreliable and is hard to ignore here. (David Thiselton 9-5-1-2)

RACE 7

3 DUCHESS OF PALOMA 6 COCOMELON 7 AZALEAS FOR ALL 5 ART NOUVEAU

Preview: 3 DUCHESS OF PALOMA scopey sort who keeps on defying the handicapper and can do so again. 6 COCOMELON has been off form but has come down to an attractive merit rating and should go close. 7 AZALEAS FOR ALL has been in good form and should be in the shake up. 5 ART NOUVEAU has the form to earn here. (David Thiselton 3-6-7-5)

RACE 8

7 WORLD ORDER 10 NARETOI 13 COUNCILLOR 11 MOCHA FRAPPE

Preview: 7 WORLD ORDER could bounce back after a bit of a disappointing run last time. 10 NARETOI has plenty of talent and can go close again. 13 COUNCILLOR has been knocking hard in KZN and has a chance. 11 MOCHA FRAPPE has always caught the eye and might start delivering. (David Thiselton 7-10-13-11)

RACE 9

4 TIGER STORM 3 INAFIX 2 BLINDFIRE 1 PIVOTAL ROLE

Preview: 4 TIGER STORM has a nice middle draw and should be right there. 3 INAFIX drawn on the right side and always capable of popping up. 2 BLINDFIRE enjoys this course and distance but is drawn on the wrong side. 1 PIVOTAL ROLE has good form but also has a tricky low draw. (David Thiselton 4-3-2-1)

RACE 10

1 TRAIL RUNNER 7 MICHAEL FARADAY 10 VAVA VEGAS

Preview: 1 TRAIL RUNNER on the up and can claim the hattrick. 7 MICHAEL FARADAY has plenty of  ability and is capable of winning here. 10 VAVA VEGAS is consistent and always a threat. (David Thiselton 1-7-10)

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Soccer6 Saturday 7 March 2026. ADD-IN R75 000. Estimated Pool: R 400 000. Pool Closes at 17h00. Sport 4 Pool 2.

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Soccer4 Sunday 8 March 2026. ADD-IN R25 000. Estimated Pool: R 100 000. Pool Closes at 18h00. Sport 19 Pool 2.

Please note: South African Quartet Pools with fractional betting offered at Kempton and Southwell (UK) – 4 March 2026.