Please Note: World Pool Event in Royal Ascot (UK) Races 1-8 and York (UK) Races 2-3. Saturday 26 July 2025

Please Note: South African Quartet Pools with fractional betting offered at Royal Ascot,Windsor and York (UK) – 26 July 2025

David Thiselton

Two MR 100 Handicaps headline the Turffontein Standside meeting today.

The first of them is over 1000m, race three, and Chieftain makes appeal as this three-year-old looks to be coming into his own. His first two runs off a 99 mark were not as good as his next two and he looks capable of managing a three point raise for his cosy win over course and distance last time. The draw down the Standside straight course has not had much of a bias lately, but high draws are probably still preferable and he has a nine out of nine draw now as opposed to  draw two last time. Gavin Lerena has stayed aboard which is a bonus. Halbardier beat Chieftain by 1,10 lengths over 1000m on the Vaal Classic track in May and is now 1,5kg better off. However, Chieftain should have made a 1kg improvement since then, according to the weight for age scale, so that brings them closer and there is also a reversal in draw fortunes. Halbardier could still make a bold bid though with a 4kg claimer aboard. Karate Kid’s recent form at first sight is not great but he has faced two top horses in Chocolate Soldier and Mount Pilatus and lost his jockey in the other start. He runs fresh after a four month layoff, but he could get away with it over this trip. Cosmic Star is 2,5kg better off with Chieftain for a 2,45 length beating, so should get closer. Warm Winter Nite split Halbardier and Chieftain when they last all met but he has to bounce back from a below par run last time, although he was only narrowly behind Halbardier in that race.

The second of the MR 100 Handicaps is over 1400m, race 7, and the one to beat could be Zanthar, although he will have to overcome a wide draw. The last time he went this course and distance he finished just 1,30 lengths behind Choisaanada and 0,30 lengths behind Immediate Edge, so that form looks very strong now and promising Kobeli Lihaba gets the ride as Zanthar only has to carry 53kg. Vulcanite disappointed in the Gr 2 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas and hasn’t run since, so this amounts to a six month layoff, but she is talented and she could have benefited from the layoff in terms of maturity, so she could be a player from draw six under Callan Murray. Argo Alley is course and distance suited and from a good draw could be involved as he has been given some relief lately from the handicapper. Grand Crescendo has plenty of ability and if bouncing back from a poor run at Hollywoodbets Greyville last time he could be a factor. Passage Of Power has won over 1400m before and is interesting stepped up to 1600m from a good draw in the fast winter conditions.

In the second leg of the Pick 6 over 1000m Rafa Bay won well last time and Lerena stays aboard. Dontshootthebarman enjoys this distance and if repeating his last start could be in the shake up. Espinoza has a nice high draw with a 4kg claimer up and he could be right there. Biofarmer ran a good race last time and could be involved if repeating. John Wick is 4kg better off with Rafa Bay for a 5,20 length beating and should get closer.

In the fifth race over 1800m Elembee is knocking on the door and with Piere Strydom up should make a bold bid. Art Nouveau goes for a hat-trick but does have a wide draw to overcome. Wagram was disappointing last time but with Gavin Lerena up he should be in the shake up from a good draw. Teo Torriate is in fine form although she might prefer a bit further. I Am Regal is in pole position and if repeating her last start should be in the shake up.

In the sixth race over 1800m Dimako’s Jet is ultra-consistent and from pole position should be right there over an ideal course and distance. Kisshoten is in fine form and should also be in the shake up as she should  stay the trip having won over 1700m before. Accept Cookies is in good form and should stay this trip. Last Car To Pass won well last time and could follow up off a merit rating which she could still rise above, although she still has to prove she stays the trip but has a chance of doing so being by Heavenly Blue. Free In Seattle is distance suited and ultra consistent but does have a tricky draw.

In the last race over 1400m Open Highway has bounced back to form in his last two starts and looks the one to beat under Gavin Lerena. Zip Code has a wide draw but if able to overcome it he should be right there. Willow Express has pole position and with Piere Strydom up he should be running on well. Pressonregardless can be a factor if bouncing back to his best over a more suitable trip. Nyaka Nyaka looks promising but does have a tough draw to overcome.

In the first race Queensland will be hard to beat after a fine debut as the form has worked out well and Gavin Lerena is aboard.

In the second race Sistership by Rafeef is a half-sister to the top sprinter Rulership and will also be hard to beat after a fine debut.

Graeme Hawkins

A very competitive R135 000 Equi Feeds Class 3 Handicap over 1400m is the main attraction on an 8-race programme on the Winter course at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth today. Billed as the sixth race on the programme, the 10-strong field includes the progressive Landoftherisingsun from pole position, the equally promising Air Raid and the capable but sometimes erratic Please Be True, all three-year-olds who are likely to make their mark during the forthcoming season.

Landoftherisingsun has won his last two starts in very easy fashion, but the son of Danon Platina takes a steep rise in class. He has not been seen since early May and could well find 1400m a little on the sharp side. On the plus side Richard Fourie, who booted home four winners at the course during the week, takes the ride. Air Raid must shoulder top weight of 61kgs, conceding 4kgs to Landoftherisingsun, but the son of Lancaster Bomber is arguably at his best over this trip, and he could go back-to-back, having beaten Dawn Till Dusk by a whisker towards the end of May.

Please Be True, stable companion to Landoftherisingsun, scrambled home to a narrow victory over Prometerre over the course and distance a month ago. He meets Landoftherisingsun on even terms and there should not be much to choose between the pair. It would appear that Fourie has elected to ride Landoftherisingsun in preference to Please Be True, who will partnered by JP van der Merwe. Rule Of Thumb is the third string to the Snaith bow and the 5yo son of Royal Mo can never be safely ignored, although he does seem to prefer a touch further these days.

The list of potential winners does not end there. Captain West is handicapped with a fair chance of toppling Air Raid and is holding form well. San Pedro was heavily supported at long odds when third behind Sugar Mountain ten days ago and has racing fitness on his side. He drops in class here and could be rewarded with front-running tactics. Oliver has very decent form over the course and distance but faces a tough task at the weights. He last won in October last year and has not had much relief from the handicapper in the interim. Voorlopertjie and Sir Korski both return from spells on the sidelines while Gold Dust is very much unexposed and could find the company a little too strong.

From an exotic bets perspective, punters are advised to cast their nets as wide as possible but my each-way value play in the race would be San Pedro who sports blinkers for the first time in his career.

Candice Bass-Robinson holds a strong hand with Beach Verse and Chickasaw in the opening leg of the Pick 6, a Maiden Juvenile Plate (Fillies) over 1200m, and speculators should have to look no further for the winner. Race 4, and second leg of the Pick 6, is a trappy 1400m Middle Stakes (F&M), in which Fun Zone could prove good value, while the fifth race is a modest Class 5 Handicap over 1400m, but it may pay to follow the promising 2yo Oncidium from a neat draw. The seventh and eighth races are very competitive but She’s My World is a highly regarded 2yo daughter of One World and she may prove good enough against more seasoned opponents in the final event. Stable companion and fellow juvenile Music Of The Night warrants a mention as does the lightly weighted 2yo Between The Lines. Lhasa could prove best of the older brigade.

The Dean Kannemeyer-trained THE REAL PRINCE runs in Race 8 – the Grade 1 HKJC Champions Cup at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday.

Picture: Race Coast/Candiese Lenferna

 

Andrew Harrison

The racing season comes to an end next week when all thoroughbreds turn a year older but a fitting finale plays out at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday on World Pool Gold Cup day.

The meeting boasts four Gr1 features plus the Gr3 World Pool Gold Cup with the added bonus of the meeting being supported by the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s World Pools that allows tote punters to bet into hugely inflated pools with a Pick 6 pool estimated to reach R10 million.

The World Pool Gold Cup underpins the meeting but most interest will center on the Gr1 HKJC Champions Cup to be run over 1800m where Hollywoodbets Durban July winner The Real Prince will be out to confirm that his July win was no flash-in-the-pan.

Dean Kannemeyer’s charge stayed the 2200m of the July to get the better of star colt Eight On Eighteen with the balance of a useful field strung out behind. The big question before the race was would he stay and only having one preparation run.

Kannemeyer said that The Real Prince had taken his July run well and ‘cleaned his manger’ the next morning. The July is always a testing race but considering that it was only the gelding’s second start after a break he should still be relatively fresh and the step down in trip is a bonus.

 He takes on last year’s winner Dave The King with Mike and Mathew de Kock following  exactly the same route into the race. However, last year he had it all his own way in the Gr1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge but this year was hard-pressed to get the better of Oriental Charm. He has had nearly two months to recover so will strip fresh and ready. See It Again has a third go at winning; third last year and second before that. He was scratched after a setback before the July but Michael Roberts is quietly confident that he has his charge in peak condition.

Nathan Kotzen saddles Summer Cup and Champions Challenge  victor Royal Victory. He seems best on the Turffontein standside track with its long straight, however, he was finishing strongly in the July and Piere Strydom, who this week announced his retirement from riding after winning 5620 races, is a bonus.

Piet Botha made the trip up to KZN with this race specifically in mind for Montien but admitted that things had not worked out as planned. However, Montien finished second to One Stripe in the Gr1 King’s Plate and third behind Eight On Eighteen, beaten less than a length, in the Gr1 WSB Cape Met so if one takes those races into account, a win would not be out of turn.

Gareth van Zyl has all along prepared King Pelles for the Gr3 World Pool Gold Cup and it appears that the gelding is on track. He has done very little wrong in his last two, stays the trip well and has a smart turn of foot. However, he has jumped in the handicap that could be telling.

Frank Robinson is two-handed with Madison Valley, who ran an excellent race in the recent Hollywoodbets Durban July, running on stoutly in the finish, and Shoot The Rapids. Madison Valley won the 3000m Gold Vase beating Shoot The Rapids last season, the latter turning the tables in the Gold Cup, beaten a short head by Master Redoute. Both Robinson runners have more weight to carry this year. Alan Greeff sends out Bournemouth who boasts strong Fairview form over ground and has Richard Fourie up. Holding Thumbs is 1kg better off with King Pelles on their last meeting but that may not be enough while Weiho Marwing could saddle the joker in Navajo Nation who ran a cracker at long odds last time out and will be a threat if he stays the trip.

The Mercury Sprint is a highly competitive contest but Gr2 Golden Horse Sprint winner Tenango will have many supporters after a sparkling victory at Hollywoodbets Scottsville. Racing off the early pace, jockey Andrew Fortune let the gelding build up into his stride and finish with relentless speed to win rather comfortably. Fortune is suspended and currently holidaying in Australia and his place in the saddle has been taken by his son Aldo Domeyer who knows the gelding well from his Cape Town exploits. Tenango does have a wide draw to contend with but came from well back to win last time out and his Cape sprint form is top drawer.

There are a number of fillies in the race including Mia Moo and Asiye Phambili, first and second in the recent Gr1 SA Fillies Sprint. Sean Tarry’s filly was a game winner that afternoon, just holding off a late-charging Asiye Phambili. The Duncan Howells-trained filly was a touch unlucky that day and subsequently ran a fair race in the Gr1 Ridgemont Garden Province Stakes over 1600m. She is back over what looks to be her best trip although a wide draw is a concern.

Hollywood Racing’s retained rider Sean Veale has chosen recent Gr2 Post Merchants winner I Am Giant ahead of Asiye Phambili. Stuart Ferrie’s runner found market support at long odds when surprising in the Merchants but that was his second run for the stable and he could possibly make further improvement.

William Robertson is way better than his last effort from a wide gate in the Merchants. Corne Spies’s gelding is a tough customer who seldom gives less than his best although his last two runs are a concern. He has won 15 races from 44 starts.

Chronicle King caused a major upset when winning the Gr2 Golden Horseshoe at long odds where he finished with a flourish and a win in the Gr1 World Pool Moment of the Day Champion Stakes will cement an Equus Award. Tin Pan Alley was staying on resolutely behind Chronicle King and has yet to run a poor race while Malmesbury Missile  was also finishing well in that race and this trip will suit.

Golden Palm looks to be one of the better bets on the card when she lines up in the Gr1 Douglas Whyte Stakes. She boasts cracking Fairview form and cruised to a 10-length win  when tried over 1400m. The extra furlong will hold no fears and she has the best of the draw. One Fine Winter could pose her biggest danger as she steps up to this trip for the first time. She has smart sprint form in strong company but finished second to Golden Palm in the Gr2 Fillies Nursery.