Andrew Harrison

King Pelles flew the flag for Gareth van Zyl during his stint in the Western Cape winning three races including the Gr3 Chairmans Cup over 2500m. On Saturday at Hollywoodbets Scottsville he came in for a ton of market support in the Gr3 Tote Derby and landed the gamble in some style, beating home Holding Thumbs and Field Marshal with the odds-on favourite Future Swing ‘blowing up’ in the home straight.

King Pelles, a son of Duke Of Marmalade and a half-brother to the smart Legend Of Arthur, obviously stays well and Van Zyl intimated post-race that the gelding is being aimed at the Gr3 Gold Cup come the end of the season.

Future Swing was always at the top of the boards and a short-priced favourite but there were early warning signs as he carted Richard Fourie to the gate. Soon after the start he was out making the pace before folding tamely when challenged.

He is currently squeaking in at 18 on the latest Hollywoodbets July log but Saturday’s performance could see him watching the race from his stable.

King Pelles is not a July entry but Holding Thumbs is and his chances of making the gate for the big race must also be in the balance as he was receiving 1kg from King Pelles and was out-run inside the last furlong.

In contrast to last season where he hardly went a single meeting without a winner, Fourie was winless in three straight meetings until yesterday’s Turffontein meeting where he broke the ‘drought’ on Sean Tarry’s colt Shadowfax . 

However, Future Swing was a let-down and the closest he got to a winner on Saturday aboard Knockout in the Gr2 Tote Oaks. Indian Ocean, sporting first time blinkers, ran out of puff a long way out as Knockout, favourite My Should Mate and She’s A Bomber shook off the pack in a three-way battle for honours. Knockout was first to weaken, as She’s A Bomber refused to go away under Athandiwe Mgudlwa and eventually held off My Soul Mate to win by a neck with Knockout still in close attendance in third.

It was a timely win for Alyson Wright as she chases the KZN Champion Trainer title, still three wins adrift of Gareth van Zyl who currently leads on 39.      

Andrew Harrison

Two of the better bets on today’s eight-race Hollywoodbets Scottsville card could come in the last two races. Mike and Mathew de Kock saddle Cymric in the seventh and Snaith could round off the afternoon with Black Cheetah. 

Cymric has some smart form in useful company has a handy weight and could well be the horse to beat. Biggest threat could be Luhamba Phambili who has been in good form since returning from the Cape and was close-up in a strong field last time out. Snaith sends out Un Bel Di who may just have needed his last run when making his local debut and only has 48kg to shoulder. Lion Rampart makes his local debut and comes with some useful Cape form but does look held. 

Black Cheetah is a promising juvenile who could prove too classy for this field and his biggest danger could be Garth Puller’s runner Major Tommie. He  returns from a lengthy break but shed his maiden at second time of asking after making a smart debut. If not ring-rusty he looks capable of a forward showing. Trippi T took an age to shed his maiden but once the ice was broken he followed up nicely. He has been rested but is consistent. Louis Goosen’s gelding Ibhele is down in class but knocking at the door. He is one to watch. 

The card opener has many first timers but of those that have raced, Holy Star was a beaten favourite last time out and has two promising efforts behind his name. 

In the second, Belligerent has started at long odds in both of her starts but improved nicely second time out and should feature. Engelandpark comes from a very much in form stable and was not far back in her Hollywoodbets Kenilworth debut and sure to have come on from that. The Duncan Howells pair of fillies Olive Grove and Perfume Power have the benefit of experience and should come on from their recent efforts. 

Priority Terrace can get the Pick 6 off to a winning start although this is a competitive race. She was well fancied in the betting on debut and finished a close-up second. That run should have brought her on. Lucienne has yet to run a bad race and will be a big threat. She was touched off on this course last run in soft ground. Are You Sure has run her best race over course and distance. She has been consistent and should run another good race. 

Ultra Quick has a wide draw in a small field in the fourth. He gets 4kg off his back and should be competitive in this line-up. Arverni Princess takes on males but has been consistent and is down in class. Fate Of Fortune has useful recent form but mostly on the poly which is a concern. Stable companion 

Alyson Wright is making a concerted effort to land the KZN Champion Trainers title. She landed Saturday’s Gr3 Tote Oaks with She’s A Bomber and saddles Bad Medicine in the fifth. He run two smart races since shedding his maiden and if he can repeat his penultimate showing behind Hollywoodbets July candidate Okavango then he should be good enough in this line-up. Sean Tarry saddles the filly Arctic Silver who cruised home in her maiden win. She looks promising and does not meet a strong field over this trip. 

In the sixth, Plaza Accord has come well of late and goes well this course and distance. He should put in another honest effort. Glen Kotzen’s filly Lock And Key takes on males but has improved with each outings since arriving in KZN and looks primed for this. There should be very little between Tirpitz and Imposing given their last meeting while Mojo Man steps up in trip and the extra can suit. 

RACE 1

8 HOLY STAR  1 RAGING MOON   7 RATTLE THE PEACE   6 CARDINAL CHIEF

Summary: Many first timers but of those that have raced, HOLY STAR (8) was a beaten favourite last time out and has two promising efforts behind his name. RAGING MOON (1) raced green on debut at long odds and was not far back while RATTLE THE PEACE (7 and CARDINAL CHIEF (6) may be worth following in the betting. (Andrew Harrison: 8-1-7-6).

RACE 2

1 BELLIGERENT   3 ENGELANDPARK   10 OLIVE GROVE   7 PERFUME POWER

Summary: BELLIGERENT (1) has started at long odds in both of her starts but improved nicely second time out. ENGELANDPARK (3) cokes from a very much in form stable and was not far back in her Hollywoodbets Kenilworth debut and sure to have come on from that. The Duncan Howells pair of fillies OLIVE GROVE (10) and PERFUME POWER (7) have the benefit of experience and should come on from the last efforts. (Andrew Harrison: 1-3-10-7).

RACE 3

2 PRIORY TERRACE   5 LUCIENNE   4 ARE YOU SURE   7 CAPRICIOUS MISS

Summary: PRIORY TERRACE (2) was well fancied in the betting on debut and finished a close-up second. That run should have brought her on. LUCIENNE (5) has yet to run a bad race and will be a big threat. She was touched off on this course last run in soft ground. ARE YOU SURE (4) has run her best race over course and distance. She has been consistent and should run another good race. CAPRICIOUS MISS (7) is sure to have come on from her debut effort and Gavin Lerena stays with the ride. (Andrew Harrison: 2-5-4-7).

RACE 4

8 ULTRA QUICK   3 ARVERNI PRINCESS  2 FATE OF FORTUNE   4 WHEREEVERILAYMYHAT

Summary: ULTRA QUICK (8) has a wide draw in a small field. He gets 4kg off his back and should be competitive in this line-up. ARVERNI PRINCESS (3) takes on males but has been consistent and is down in class. FATE OF FORTUNE (2) has useful recent form but mostly on the poly which is a concern. Stable companion WHEREVERILAYMYHAT (4) has been close-up at recent starts and has a strong money chance. (Andrew Harrison: 8-3-2-4).

RACE 5

6 BAD MEDICINE   7 ARCTIC SILVER   2 ESCAPOLOGIST   1 KING BAVARIAN   

Summary: BAD MEDICINE (6) has run two smart races since shedding his maiden. If he can repeat his penultimate start behind Hollywoodbets July runner Okavango then he should be good enough in this line-up. The filly ARCTIC SILVER (7) cruised home in her maiden win. She looks promising and does not meet a strong field over this trip. ESCAPOLOGIST (2) is not the easiest and gives weight to all but is down in class and goes well for Cole Dicken. KING BAVARIAN (1) was a runaway winner on the poly last outing but got a six-point rise in the handicap. He does have a light weight. KING CELTILLUS (4) is still a maiden but has not been far back at recent outings and will only have 49kg on his back. (Andrew Harrison: 6-7-2-1).

RACE 6

8 PLAZA ACCORD   7 LOCK AND KEY   6 MOJO MAN   4 TIRPITZ

Summary: PLAZA ACCORD (8) has come well of late and goes well this course and distance. He should put in another honest effort. LOCK AND KEY (7) takes on males but has improved with each outings since arriving in KZN and looks primed for this. There should be very little between TIRPITZ (4) and IMPOSING (5) given their last meeting while MOJO MAN (6) steps up in trip and the extra can suit. (Andrew Harrison: 8-7-6-4).

RACE 7

10 CYMRIC   4 LUHAMBA PHAMBILI   7 UN BEL DI   6 LION RAMPART

Summary: CYMRIC (10) has some smart form in useful company. He has a handy weight and could well be the horse to beat. LUHAMBA PHAMBILI (4) has been in good form since returning from the Cape. He was close-up in a strong field last time out. UN BEL DI (7) just needed his last run when making his local debut. He only has 48kg to shoulder. LION RAMPART (6) makes his local debut and comes with some useful Cape form. HITHEMHARDSUNSHINE (3) ran well above his current form when ahead of Luhamba Phambili last time out and will need a repeat showing considering his previous form. (Andrew Harrison: 10-4-6-3).

RACE 8

12 BLACK CHEETAH   6 MAJOR TOMMIE   1 TRIPPI T   9 IBHELELE

Summary: BLACK CHEETAH (12) looks to be a promising juvenile who could prove too classy for this field. MAJOR TOMMIE (6) returns from a lengthy break but shed his maiden at second time of asking after making a smart debut. If not ring-rusty he looks capable of a forward showing. TRIPPI T (1) took an age to shed his maiden but once the ice was broken he followed up nicely. He has been rested but is consistent. IBHELE (9) is down in class but knocking at the door. One to watch. (Andrew Harrison: 12-6-1-9).

PLEASE NOTE!

Soccer 4 : SFF Sport 19 Pool 1 – 14 JUNE 2025

Match 1 (M1): CAPE TOWN CITY vs CASRIC STARS. Postponed, New date 30 June 2025

Soccer 6 : SCC Sport 2 Pool 1 – 14 JUNE 2025

Match 1 (M1): CAPE TOWN CITY vs CASRIC STARS. Postponed, New date 30 June 2025

Soccer 10 : 1SS Sport 7 Pool 1 – 14 JUNE 2025

Match 1 (M1): CAPE TOWN CITY vs CASRIC STARS. Postponed, New date 30 June 2025

Soccer Any 13Xtra : Z13 Sport 13 Pool 1 – 14 JUNE 2025

Match 1 (M1): CAPE TOWN CITY vs CASRIC STARS. Postponed, New date 30 June 2025

Soccer Scores : 6SS Sport 73 Pool 1 – 14 JUNE 2025

Match 1 (M1): CAPE TOWN CITY vs CASRIC STARS. Postponed, New date 30 June 2025

All results (the field) will qualify for the above match.

In terms of TAB rules, all choices (the field) will apply in determining results and payouts.

David Thiselton

Twice South African champion jockey and New Zealand reigning champion jockey Warren Kennedy is arriving in South Africa this weekend three weeks before the Hollywoodbets Durban July and is seeking a ride in the big race.

He has apparently received offers already and will be choosing his best option.

Kennedy has never won the July before but regards his third place finish on the notoriously difficult Mike de Kock-trained 100/1 shot Forest Path in the 2009 July as one of his career best rides.

His first ride in the July was in 2004 on the unplaced 100/1 shot Cousin John.

His best finish other than his third place in 2009 was fourth on the Glen Kotzen-trained Eyes Wide Open in 2019.

Kennedy was SA champion jockey in the 2019/2020 season and the 2021/2022 season with 209 and 263 wins respectively.

Winning a championship in your home country is one thing, but to do it in a foreign country in your first full season there is an extraordinary feat and that is what Warren managed in New Zealand in a gruelling but memorable 2023/2024 season, in which he had 140 wins in 849 rides for a strike rate of one every 6.06 rides or in South Africa terminology 16.9%.

His season included a memorable seven-timer, which is a New Zealand record. 

Kennedy relocated to New Zealand in October 2022 and his seven-timer happened in a major ten-race meeting at Pukekohe on New Year’s Day 2024. It beat the previous single day record of six by Lance O’Sullivan, who was the co-trainer of three of Kennedy’s winning rides. Kennedy, who was booked on nine horses, partnered four of the first five winners of the day, which included two Gr 2 successes and he completed a hat-trick in races six, seven and eight, including the first Gr 1 race of 2024, the Railway Stakes aboard Waitak.

Kennedy was involved in an intense tussle for the title last season with the reigning champion Michael McNab. An untimely injury to the latter saw Warren ultimately pulling clear to win by 16.

The New Zealand press were high in their praise.

“To move to New Zealand as a total unknown here and win the premiership inside two years defies belief and McNab can take comfort he has conceded his title to a horseman of rare talent and drive,” wrote journalist Michael Guerin in the New Zealand Herald. “He (Kennedy) has been equal parts magnificent in the saddle, professional out of it and robotic in his determination to add the New Zealand jockey’s title to the two premierships he won in his native South Africa.”

Other records Warren set besides the seven in a day was becoming the first jockey to ever surpass NZ$5 million in stakes earnings in one New Zealand season and he might well have been the first foreign rider to win the title.

He said chasing the premiership had actually required more travel and had been just as taxing on him as it had been in South Africa.

He said towards the end of last season, “In SA you just fly into the major centres and you’re just about on course. But In New Zealand to get to some courses requires a two hour flight and a three hour drive. There are some pretty remote race courses and it’s quite a mission to get there, so it’s been very, very busy, really a lot of travelling.

Warren’s focus changed this season as his wife Barbara, former Summerveld assistant trainer to Dean Kannemeyer, took out her training license last season and he helps out as much as he can at the yard in addition to his other riding commitments.

This season Barbara has had ten wins in just 71 outings, a fine strike rate of 14.08%. She looks set to win more support at that rate.

Warren is likely to ride in meetings out here before the July, although he did not speak of that chance.