Please note: South African Quartet Pools with fractional betting offered at Chelmsford City and Lingfield (UK) – 29 January 2026.

Andrew Harrison

Keagan de Melo may not have cracked the big time in Hong Kong but back home his services will always be in demand. He got the ball rolling in the first at Hollywoodbets Greyville yesterday as the Candice Bass-trained Nebulous (read KZN-based assistant Terry Fripp) made short work of the opposition.

Given her high head carriage she was not the easiest of rides but once De Melo eased her out from behind the pack and wide into the straight, the result was never in doubt as she came home under the hands.

Wengi Masawi has graduated from Mike de Kock’s tutelage into a smart trainer in his own right and has taken the opportunity given to him by Hollywood Racing with both hands. Peggy Sue Shake has come on nicely in the quiet climbs of the Ashburton Training Centre and the filly made all the running under replacement rider apprentice Mxolisi Mbuto.

The fancied Harpa kept station with Peggy Sue Shake in the early exchanges but she was a spent force shortly after the subway and Calvin Habib did not persevere with the ride.

The mare Ms Goldfinger has been a treasure at stud for Pietermaritzburg-based lawyer Barry Reardon and she produced the goods once again as Ms Galore finally had a change of luck when a comfortable maiden winner in the first leg of the Pick 6.

Unlucky on more than one occasion, De Melo took no prisoners as he kicked for home early putting plenty of daylight between him and the chasing pack. A late maturing filly and her first run on the poly, we may see more of the daughter of Bezrin.

De Melo was three-up after having to work for his riding fee to get the grey Professor Lupin home ahead of apprentice Dezahn Louw and The Mask in a tight finish to the fourth. Louw is an apprentice with a bright future and full value for his 4kg claim that sort of levelled the playing fields with The Mask carrying 58.5 kg instead of 62.5kg opposed to Professor Lupin’s 56kg.

Louw went wide into the straight to take the lead with De Melo taking the shorter way home. The final 200m was a heads-up heads-down affair with Professor Lupin home narrowly for Alyson Wright.

It is the so-called off-season with trainers stepping out their seasoned campaigners and taking advantage before the big guns warm up for South Africa’s Champions Season that officially starts in May but fit and well, age is no hinderance as Joshua Hotsnake broke a lengthy drought when winning race five for Wendy Whitehead. Always travelling well, he kicked on nicely under Calvin Habib to hold off Fine Dining and Rafiki. Owner and breeder Geoff  Perkins always has some interesting names for his horses, include The Queen Bee, and has had good success with partner Murray Collins.

It was third time lucky for Louw getting out of the second box as he rode a canny race aboard another equine veteran, the Bo Ngcobo-trained Eventidor. The seven-year-old has come good under Ngcobo’s care and posted his third win from his last four starts to make it ten from 51 outings.

Drawn widest of all, Louw settled Eventidor off a brisk early pace and then gave the gelding a clear run at the line on what multiple champion jockey Anton Marcus called ‘the golden highway’ up the wide outside of the field.

Unlucky was Dapper with Callan Murray patiently waiting for an opening and when it did open, Rachel Venniker on King’s Island slammed the door in his face.

Thoroughbred racing has a history that goes back centuries but there are a myriad of stories that happen every day that are worth recounting.

Anne Upton was the second woman in South Africa to be granted her trainer’s license back in the day when regulations were a lot more stringent but her all scarlet colours were carried by some exceptional home-breds including the smart filly Boutique so it was fitting that Magic Surprise with Boutique in his pedigree won well for Doug Campell in the seventh.

Starting favourite, Rachel Venniker was never in any hurry as the Willow Magic gelding jumped on terms and once let loose in the straight, the result was never in doubt.

Wendy Whitehead’s gelding Cappellino got up in the last stride to edge out another veteran Trafalgar Square in a tight finish to the last. The win was not put of turn and it was a double for Whitehead.

David Thiselton

The highest rated race at the Vaal Classic track meeting today is the fifth race, a MR 104 Handicap over 1000m, and the one to beat could be Rafa Bay.

The Tony Peter-trained Rafeef gelding has been ultra consistent lately with two wins, three seconds and two thirds in his last eight starts. He was 1,25 lengths back in second last time over 1000m on the Vaal straight course and has the highest draw of all in this race. High draws are favourable over this course and distance, which is down the straight, and Rafa Bay has proved up to his current merit rating of 89 and should go close under 4kg claimer Blaine Marx-Jacobson, even if he does have to carry 1,5kg overweight. That will mean he will only have to carry 50kg. He has run once over this course and distance before and he finished a close third. African Pride has a lot of pace too and should go close from a nice draw of eight. Karate Kid will enjoy the likely strong pace of this race and should be finishing strongly as usual. Night Bomber might prefer 1200m but has consistent form and could earn. Cosmic Star went close in a Gr 3 over 1160m in his penultimate start and was not disgraced last time in a Gr 3 over 1000m, so he is also a contender.

In the first leg of the Pick 6 over 1800m Catfish has finished second in both starts and on both occasions it was to a well-bred promising sort, so he looks the one to beat, although he does have an unfavourable low draw of two. Buffalo King Cody has just a longhead to find on Catfish and looks to have plenty of scope for improvement so will be a big threat, although he is also drawn on the wrong side in barrier position three. Time Is Precious made a good debut and has a chance too, but is also drawn on the wrong side in one. First-timer Perfect Sky is beautifully bred being by Vercingetorix out of a Captain Al half-sister to the champion sprint-miler Princess Victoria and with Craig Zackey up he is an interesting runner from a nice draw of six. Two Tigers is by Flower Alley out of a once-winning Captain Al mare and Calvin Habib is up.

In the second leg of the Pick 6 over 1000m Rock Music is improving and over an ideal trip, is drawn nice and high and has a 4kg claimer up, so looks the one to beat. Treasure State made a good debut and can be involved if able to overcome the low draw of one. King Redoute is well-bred being by Rafeef out of Var mare She’s A Pippa, who won four times including a Listed race over 2000m, so the betting on him must be watched.

In the fifth sixth over 2000m Repetition has gone close in his last two over this trip and should be right there again from a middle draw of six under Ryan Munger. Jordan will relish the course and distance and off a three point higher merit rating than his last winning mark he could go close from a plum draw of three. Gimmeachoice went close last time and can reverse form with The Playboy Bomber, especially considering he will enjoy the 200m step up in trip. The Playboy Bomber is in good form and having enjoyed the step up to 1800m he should relish the step up to 2000m and he should be right there, despite a five point higher mark for that last win. Storm Ahead is always capable of popping up.

In the seventh over 1600m Agoge caught the eye with his maiden win over this trip and his subsequent run in a Gr 3 at least showed how well he is regarded, although he did finish a 12,25 length last. He was slowly away in that race and he can bounce back in this race, despite a tricky draw of seven, as this is a much easier task. Peace Treaty is in good form and should be in the shake up from a fair draw of five. Carnelo is four points higher for his last win but has a plum draw here and should be right there. Express Yourself was well beaten by Carnelo last time, but now has a much better draw, draw four compared to draw eight last time and he can bounce back.  Unsolved Riddle is drawn in pole and has the form to earn with a 2,5kg claimer up.

In the last race over 1200m African Prince had some decent Cape Town form and after a good Highveld debut should take a power of beating from draw two under Muzi Yeni. Kwagga Blitz has the form to be in the shake up. Drivelikeamaster is knocking on the door and still has scope for improvement and he is well drawn, but the drop in trip might not suit. Antonio Gaudi  has a fair draw and was not disgraced off this mark last time after being raised three points for a win. Vibe Sa has ability and could bounce back from a pole position draw.

In the first race over 1000m El Zani is a first-timer by Hawwaam out of a four-time winning Captain Al mare and she would not have to be a superstar to beat the raced runners. Power Of Tiger is knocking  on the door and should be right there. Varachino’s Champ could be a contender in this line up.

In the second race over 1000m Secretary Bird is by Rafeef and is a full-sister to the promising Tintin, so is the one to beat although she is drawn on the low side. No Drama has shown ability and should be in the shake up. Versatility will be a threat from a nice high draw.

Hollywoodbets Kenilworth Saturday 31 January 2026. Net Pick6 Carryover R1 Million. Estimated Pool: R7 Million. Race 4 off at 13h35.

Hollywoodbets Kenilworth Saturday 31 January 2026. Net Quartet Carryover R500 000. Estimated Pool: R2 Million. Race 8 off at 16h05.

Hollywoodbets Kenilworth Saturday 31 January 2026. Net Jackpot 3 Carryover R500 000. Estimated Pool: R2 Million. Race 9 off at 16h45.