David Thiselton

Viva’s Liberte won his first two career starts and has never been out of the frame in seven career starts (Picture: Wayne Marks)

Viva’s Liberte seemed to settle a touch better than usual in the Gr 3 Legal Eagle Stakes over 1800m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on May 3 and stayed on well for a 0,30 length second to La Pulga.

He was then brought to Summerveld and has just been kept ticking over in preparation for the Gr 1 Daily News 2000 on Saturday.

Trainer Candice Bass said about his apparent tendency to take a strong hold, “Craig (Zackey) seems to find that he gets a little bit strong. I don’t know because he’s never strong at home. I just think he’s got a very big action more than the fact that he’s strong.”

She said there were no specific tactics from draw five out of eleven and  added, “He will be placed where he is comfortable, where he is not pulling, and hopefully there’s a little bit of pace.”

She concluded, “He’s doing well and he will definitely get the trip, no doubt about that.”

The Lammerskraal Stud-bred and Khaya Stables-owned Vercingetorix gelding is out of Jet Master mare Viva Maria, who led from pillar to post when winning the Gr 1 Woolavington 2000 back in 2012.

Khaya Stables won the Daily News 2000 two years ago with the Dean Kannemeyer-trained Green With Envy.

Back in 2013 their Kannemeyer-trained charge Capetown Noir was beaten a long-head into third and ironically the winner of that race was Viva Liberte’s sire Vercingetorix.

So being by a Daily News winner out of a Woolavington winner, Viva’s Liberte has the perfect pedigree for Saturday’s race.

Khaya Stables are the Hollywoodbets Durban July trophy holders with  the Kannemeyer-trained The Real Prince having scored last year.

They will want to have a double hand this year and Viva’s Liberte will need a big run here to force his way into the final field.

The 114-rated horse is on the outside looking in horses on the first July log.

He will be going all out, whereas some of the runners will just be looking for nice preparation runs unto the July.

Viva’s Liberte has plenty of class and might well take to the Hollywoodbets Greyville circuit, like his mother and father did.

Bass has two runners in the Gr 2 Lucky Fish Woolavington 2000, Rainbow Lorikeet and Beach Verse.

The former will be going for the Gr 1 Ridgemont Garden Province Stakes on July day, so is not among those horses who will be wanting to protect their merit ratings.

She ran well below par in the Gr 1 Empress Club Stakes last time at Turffontein and Candice said, “That wasn’t her run. She’s doing well, I just hope she’s not short of a run having to go over 2000m.”

She said about Beach Verse, “She was very green at Greyville first time out, she was pulling at the back of the field and I think she will run a much better race this time around.”

Andrew Harrison

Bison Warrior lived up to his billing as a short priced favourite in the card opener as he made all under Calvin Habib. Wendy Whitehead’s charge bounced out of the gate and won easing up, never coming out of first gear according to race caller Sheldon Peters, and it was fitting that Bison Warrior was led in by Clodagh Shaw, a former champion trainer in her own right. The Swan Song ran on late for second and appears to be looking for further while Asheef was all at sea and should come on with the experience.

When she was racing  Diamondsandpearls was a strapping good looking mare and she has stamped Last Margarita, trained by Shane Humby’s good friend Garth Puller,  as she made most of the running in the second to give Calvin Habib an early double. Favourite Liz Hurley started well but was under pressure early as Last Margarita pulled clear and it was left to rank outsider Tears Of The Sun to come from last with a strong finish to easily take second.

Diamondsandpearls was one of the favourites at Ashburton for Humby as she loved to scratch her head against then assistant Colinda Austin’s back after work. Unfortunately Last Magarita was her first and only foal.

The first leg of the Pick 6 always looked to be a one-horse affair with Stuart Ferrie’s filly Menagerie deep in the red and the balance friendless in the market. Touching 3-10 in the market, it was a bloodless victory and in spite of racing green and shifting to the outside under pressure, the result was never in doubt. Come Together took the shortest way home for second. Boogy was all at sea from the jump and Craig Zackey was hard at work shortly after the start but to no avail. Turf may be a better option.

Quarter Master has always had a reputation but he disappointed more often than not. But Robbie Hill’s gelding came in for a ton of support in the fourth and although it was a close-run thing, he landed the odds and does appear to be lengths better on the poly.

He gave Mauritian apprentice Anaas Mosaheb his fourth winner but it was heart-stopping stuff for those that has put their money down. Quarter Master jumped smartly but ran into the back of a wall of runners and Mosaheb had to ease smartly and eventually track three wide as Andrew Fortune took up the running on favourite Barry’s Boy. Barry’s Boy was given a good warm-up prior to the start and Fortune sat for as long as he dared in the straight but Quarter Master finally got into stride along with Highveld Storm and the three crossed the line with heads separating them.

Calvin Habib, winner of the first two on the card, went on record that the track was not running any quicker than usual but front runners were good value on the day. Leading apprentice Blane Marx-Jacobson took a leaf out of the front-runner’s book and sent Grand Occasion to the front and there he stayed for Gareth van Zyl in the Class 4 over 1800m. Tracking over from the widest draw, Grand Occasion was never under any serious pressure for the lead and given a breather at the top of the straight, she found extra to hold off Fine Wine and Zena Rose, the first two home helped by their 2.5kg claim.

Habib tried the front running playbook in the Class 4 over 1400m but those following the market were well rewarded as Rachel Venniker threaded Happy Fortune through the traffic to land the gamble. Darryl Moore’s filly came in for a ton of support and although well back in the early exchanges she never looked to be in trouble as she quickened smartly off a good pace to win as she liked with Mystique Rouge trailing home in second.

Blinkers are most often an aid to get a horse to concentrate but sometimes those that have had their view restricted for a length of time, revel in a free vision. It was a master stroke from Dom Zaki as Lunch Club enjoyed an unrestricted view of his rivals to hold off Sugar Bush and Axis Power in a tight finish to the seventh.

Mojo Man found strong initial market support in the betting for the last before blowing out and the writing appeared to be on the wall for those that had made the initial plunge with Military Command the ‘money horse’.

The money went astray as Mojo Man took the shortest way home with Military Command chasing hard but a fraction too late.

Favourite Catch A Penny had to take her medicine at the jump as Jet Legacy came out of the gate sideways with Smorgasbord and Catch Penny immediately in the back foot. With 61kg on her back, Chad Little tried his best to make up the ground in the chase for home but although finishing strongly her chances were compromised at the start.

RACE 1

Competitive opener from which THE BACHELORETTE could emerge victorious. She was a fast-finishing second on debut over 1000m and is open to any amount of improvement with that experience under the belt and the extra 200m likely to suit. VOLCANIC HEAT, NO DRAMA and QUEEN LEILA concede weight to the selection but have feature-race form to their names, so they are expected to pose a threat. IRISH WILMA could have a say if building on recent improvement, while ARROGANCE is a well-bred newcomer to note on debut, especially if the market speaks in her favour. Watch the betting.

RACE 2

ONWARD was a game-in-defeat second over this trip against older rivals last time so could go one better. LOLLY WILLOWES concedes 4kg to that rival but has the form and experience to expose any chinks in the selection’s armour. ANAHITA fits a similar profile but returns from a rest. SECRET LIFE, EMPRESS OF PEACE and TAKEACHANCEONME have shown enough to be competitive too. Well-bred newcomer BE ALL YOU CAN BE is worth a market check and also warrants respect before any betting clues.

RACE 3

WINDING POWER was outrun late by the winner over 1700m last time with this headgear fitted and a repeat of that effort over this shorter trip with 2.5kg off his back could suffice. He is closely matched with NEBRASKA on earlier form but better off at the weights. DOCTOR STRANGELOVE was backed on debut and with natural improvement should pose a bigger threat. SENDAI, BEACH WALKER, ONE STATE and COVER CHARGE have shown enough to make their presence felt too. Newcomer WINTER WHISPER is worth a market check.

RACE 4

WAR REPORTER confirmed the promise of his encouraging comeback by running out an authoritative winner of a similar contest last time and, with further progress likely in his peak outing, the resultant 6-point penalty may not be enough to prevent him from following up. REDLIGHTGREENLIGHT will pose more of a threat on 3kg better terms but is drawn wide. MOUNT DARWIN, REPETITION and unexposed 3yo TRACKSUIT DAVE are competitive off their current marks and could get into the picture. GUERILLA WARFARE and OKLAHOMA TWISTER also have earning potential.

RACE 5

ANGEL’S OASIS returned from a break to win going away over 1000m at this level last month and she should remain competitive under a 4-point penalty with improved fitness on her side. Top-weight MYSTICAL MISS, while probably most effective over a shorter trip, could fight out the finish dropping in class off a career-low mark. MAVERICK QUEEN and QUIET WINTER also warrant respect off slightly reduced ratings. SHE’S ALL MINE shouldn’t be overlooked back against same-sex opposition.

RACE 6

Speedy RABBLE ROUSER lost little in defeat when collared late over 1400m last time after a winning sprint debut. She will improve with experience and this shorter trip should play to her strengths. FAIR PROPOSAL, OPERA FAN and last-start winner SIGRID SWING have the form and experience at this level to trouble the selection. ADA LOVELACE and MISTY METAL appeal most of the remainder.

RACE 7

KOMATI RIVER led her rivals a merry dance in a stronger contest over track and trip last time and she will be hard to beat at this level if repeating that performance under an 8-point penalty (career-high mark). Younger 3yo rivals CAPTAIN SELVIE, SEASON’S GREETINGS and RUSSIAN NOBILITY are useful sprinters with solid form and scope to improve, and they have the means to play leading roles in receipt of weight from the selection. MAMLAMBO, UNITED OFFER and LOST FOR WORDS aren’t taken lightly returning from respective absences.

RACE 8

AFRICAN PRINCE deserves to get his head in front after several near misses, including 3 consecutive seconds recently over 1160m. The drop in class coupled with his rider’s 2.5kg claim could bring about a return to winning ways. However, last-start winners ROMILLY and TRAIL RUNNER are competitive off their current marks, as is class-dropper ANTONIO GAUDI who will make his presence felt. Well-related GEOSTORM is unexposed and open to any amount of improvement on his handicap debut so must be respected, along with ONE TIGER and DANTE’S BOND.

Please Note: Hollywoodbets Greyville Net Pick6 Carryover: R 500 000. Estimated Pool: R 3 Million. Saturday, 30 May 2026 Race 4 off at 14h55.

Soccer10 Friday 29 May 2026. ADD-IN R250 000. Estimated Pool: R2 Million. Pool Closes at 19h00. Sport 17 and Pool 1.

Soccer10 Saturday 30 May 2026. ADD-IN R250 000. Estimated Pool: R2 Million. Pool Closes at 18h00. Sport 7 and Pool 1.

Soccer13 GUARANTEED JACKPOT Saturday 30 May 2026. R17.5 Million (If only One 13 of 13 Winner). Pool Closes at 15h30. Sport 10 Pool 1.

Soccer Any 13Xtra Saturday 30 May 2026. Carryover R100 000. Estimated Pool: R250 000. Pool Closes at 15h00. Sport 13 and Pool 1.