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David Thiselton
Gareth van Zyl had high hopes for his two first-timers at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Monday and felt he had some other fair chances, but he never expected to have a six-timer.
There were only eight races at the meeting and Gareth revealed that he had a very strong chance with a scheduled race that was scrapped, so it could have been seven. His previous best on a day was four winners.
The six-timer has seen him pull six wins ahead of Garth Puller in the KZN Trainers Championship, so he should retain his title.He is now on 44 wins achieved at a strike rate of 13.84% with Pulller on 38 wins (10.95%), Alyson Wright on 35 (10.06%), Dean Kannemeyer on 34 wins (16.50%) and Peter Muscutt on 32 wins (21.62%.).
Gareth’s day started with an unusual first-timer, a horse bred by Sabine Plattner’s La Plaisance Stud but sold at the Sales.
Gavin van Zyl spotted this Vercingetorix colt, Wild Justice, who is a half-brother to the like of recent Gr 3 WSB 1900 winner Selukwe and to the decent 119-rated Supreme Warrior, and had to go to R900,000 to clinch him at last year’s BSA August two-yar-old Sale.
Nicholas Patel is very much part of the Van Zyl yard team and he was given the ride on the 4/1 shot Wild Justice, who showed great resolve to get the better of the 87/100 favourite Holy Star. Wild Justice is owned by Al Khayl Breeders (Pty) Ltd, Lucky Vest 12 CC (Nom: Mr Ravi Padayachee) & Miss Trinisha Pillay.
Gareth’s high hopes that the Laurence Wernars-owned Blue Sky Thoroughbreds-bred Legislate filly Serengetti Sun would make it two first-timers on the trot then came to fruition as the tall filly responded to strong urgings by S’Manga Khumalo to get up by a head and convert 83/100 odds. This half-sister to the ultra consistent Mogok 102-rated sprinter-to-1400m horse African Skyline went for R600,000 at the BSA August Two-year-old Sale after being chosen by Gavin van Zyl and Justin Vermaak. She looks like she might need a bit further.
In the third race Gareth said Futura filly Are You Sure, who is out of a Gimmethegreenlight filly, had shown herself to be a 1000m horse early on but having strengthened and matured she enjoyed the step up to 1200m and won by a cosy two length under Khumalo to convert 18/10 odds. She thus got rid of her maiden tag at the eighth time of asking but not before running three seconds, a third and three fifths for owners Mrs I Reddy,Messrs Kenny Naidoo,T Pillay,Theron Pillay,J A Vosloo,Lucky Vest12CC(Nom:Mr Ravi Padayachee) & SMB InsuranceBrokersCC(Nom:Mr M A Brackett). She was purchased for R160,000 at the BSA National Yearling Sale.
Gareth then made it a fourth win in the first four races when the consistent older filly Prankster (Canford Cliffs) won under Khumalo by three lengths over 1100m, despite 6/1 odds. Gareth had hopes for her as she had “seemed to be getting a little bit lazy” and the strong rider Khumalo was thus a “significant jockey strike.”
The yard’s only race contested that they did not win on the day was the fifth over 2400m and Gareth knew that the maiden King Celtillius would be up against it his first attempt at a staying trip running against winners in a C Stakes event under 4kg claimer Mxolisi Mbuto. So it proved as he could only manage a 4,25 length fourth.
In the seventh race Gareth felt Luhamba Phambili (Danon Platina) had credentials on form and the she duly delivered with a comfortable 2,50 length victory at odds of 5/2 to give Khumalo a five-timer on the day as he had also won the sixth race on the Wendy Whitehead-trained Giambattista.
Gareth said, “As the third, fourth and fifth winnners progressed I was just going through the day and enjoying it, but when I was hoping for the sixth that’s when the awareness and the tension set in.”
The punters also latched on to the trend for the day as they backed the Rafeef gelding Rafa’s Boy from 7/1 into 4/1 for the 1000m Bright Future Class 4 Handicap.
Gareth felt Rafa’s Boy might battle to overcome the seven point raise after his easy course and distance win in his previous start.
However, Anthony Delpech provided some excellent advice for Sean Veale.
Gareth said, “Anthony had noticed the ground had cut up and suggested Sean go to the front.”
It is harder for horses to fetch a leader when the ground is loose.
Veale rousted his mount out of the gates and took the lead towards the outside, having jumped from draw ten.
He drifted steadily inward to the inside rail and Rafa’s Boy held on from a fast-finishing Mar Del Plata to win by 0,60 lengths and clinch a quick double for Hollywood Racing.
Gareth said retaining the championship had been one his chief goals since closing his Cape Town operation and he will be hard to catch now.
This is actually the second time a trainer has won six races on a day this calendar year. Alan Greeff did it on 21 February on the Fairview polytrack, also at an eight race meeting. Greeff also scored a six-timer, at a ten race meeting at Fairview, on 14 April 2023.
Van Zyl and Khumalo had a fine long weekend together as they also won the Gr 3 Tote Derby on Saturday with Duke Of Marmalade gelding King Pelles. Gareth said he would find a race for this horse on Hollywoodbets Durban July day before thinking about running him in the Gold Cup.

Andrew Harrison

A competitive nine-race card on the poly faces punters at Hollywoodbets Greyville today. There are no absolute standouts as far as the exotics go but most of the races can be boiled down to two or three obvious contenders.

One of the better bets could come in the second where Dean Kannemeyer saddles the regally bred Ms Sakura out of the seven-time winner Cherry On The Cake. She showed up well on debut and should much prefer this trip. She also has the best of the draw. Mike Miller sends out Nautical Landing who has the widest draw but has been frustrating to follow as she has only finished out of the money once in a dozen starts for one win but goes well this trip. Echo made sudden improvement last run at long odds but seemed to enjoy the extra. She has a chance on a repeat showing. Late Bloomer makes her debut for Justin Snaith and is one to watch in the betting. 

The consistent Silver Platter can get the PA off to a good start and is overdue a win. He has run two good races in blinkers on the poly but is a big striding, one-pace gelding who may need to be given his head early. Limelight Legend has shown up well in his last two in fairly strong maiden company and has to give weight to most of his rivals. Apache AG is lightly raced but nearly upset last run with first time blinkers. A repeat effort should see him close again. 

The opening leg of the Pick 6 is a competitive handicap with many in with chances. Frank Robinson’s filly One Path has improved with a tongue-tie and goes well on the poly. This trip from a good draw gives a lot in her favour. Prom Queen got a five-point shunt up the handicap for her last win and now meets Fireburst on 1.5kg worse terms but she does have the better draw. Plum Pudding looks the pick of the Andre Nel pair given jockey bookings. She won well on her local debut and can improve further. Greenhouse is possibly held by Prom Queen on their last meeting while lightly raced Meritorious could surprise in spite of her modest comeback run from a lengthy break.

In the fifth, Sequoia has his first run for a new stable but comes with strong Fairview form and looks well in at these weights. Imperial Power was narrowly beaten over course and distance last run and that form has since been franked so the inference is obvious. Sundance Kid did not put in his best last run and was also friendless in the market. He meets Few Dollars More on the same weight terms as when last they met and Glen Kotzen’s runner could turn the tables. Icy Blast has shown up well in two outings on the poly and can feature again. 

Magical View could land the sixth for Miller as she hardly ever runs a bad race and is over her optimum trip. She has finished close-up in two features behind the useful Green Sapphire at recent outings and should go close in this contest. There was a head separating Magical View and School Policy when last they met, the latter making her local debut. She boasts consistent Cape form  and can turn the tables. Goodnessgraciousme improved nicely at her second KZN start. She is down in trip but from a plum draw she must be an inclusion in all exotic bets. Two G’s shows a lot of promise and was a beaten favourite behind the useful Bevie’s Delight last time out. She faces a fair field here but is still improving

In the seventh, Cape form has generally proven superior to local and although Bank Street has a modest Cape Town record he has never been far back. He gets his first run for Stuart Ferrie and Sean Veale, who was aboard most of his starts in Cape Town, stays aboard. Mac Hardy is over his best course and distance and is seldom out of the money. An interesting runner is Gimme The Flame. Heather Adamson  is seldom seen in KZN but the mare is possibly down for a crack on the poly and is one to watch. 

Mr Master Starter and Thisiswhatitmeans look to be the principals in the eighth. Dean Kannemeyer’s charge beat MJ Odendaal’s runner by a length when last they met back in February. Since then Thisiswhatitmeans has twice won on the refurbished poly. The pair meet at level weights and there should be little between them. Both could be upstaged by Twenty One May. Duncan Howells has confined his charge to 1000m at recent outings but he shows good pace. He makes his poly debut and the quicker surface could see him home over the extra furlong. Cold Shine has his first run for a new stable but has not been out since December last year and may need the outing.

The last is another tricky handicap but although Lady Bug has a tricky draw to contend with she made a smart return from a break when going down narrowly over her favourite course and distance. If beating the draw she will go close. Ethereal View was back to her best last time out when a close-up second at long odds. She jumps from a favourable gate and will go close on a repeat showing. Avernian Princess has been a frustrating filly to follow but she got it all right last run over course and distance and can beat the five-point rise in the handicap.  Buttercup Baby has patchy form but is smart on her day and not out of it.

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Soccer10 On Friday, 20 June 2025 ADD-IN: R 200 000 Pool Closes at 20h00
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Please note: South African Quartet Pools with fractional betting offered at Royal Ascot (World Pool) and Ripon – 18 June 2025.