David Thiselton

 

Reigning KZN Champion Trainer Gareth van Zyl has closed within one win of Alyson Wright in this season’s race for the KZN Trainers Championship and his chances of retaining it were boosted when the useful former Highveld-based horse Barbaresco joined the yard.

 

The yard also has the campaigns of King Pelles, Imposing, Salani Kahle and thes like of Wild Justice to look forward too.

 

The Laurence Wernars and Rikesh Sewgoolam-owned grey gelding by Gimmethegreenlight, Barbaresco, is a versatile sort.

 

He has class, but also plenty of speed.

 

Van Zyl will have plenty of options with him.

 

Gareth said, “It is an exciting prospect to train him.”

 

Barbaresco is out of the useful Fort Wood mare Negroamaro, who won the Gr 3 Fillies Mile and she was second in both the Gr 1 SA Fillies Classic and Gr 1 Woolavington 2000, among other stakes places.

 

Barbaresco himself has followed in her footsteps to some extent under the guidance of the same trainer, Johan Janse van Vuuren. Like her he has earned many cheques in stakes races, although unlike her he is yet to win a black type race.

 

Interestingly, Gavin Lerena reckoned he would have gone close to winning his penultimate start over 1160m in the Gr 3 New Turf Carriers Merchants had he not been taken out just as he was beginning his run.

 

Lerena was not able to make amends over the same course and distance next time out, because Keagan de Melo has now become the retained rider for Laurence Wernars.

 

De Melo actually rode Barbaresco in his first two starts, both over the Turffontein 1160m course and distance, finishing second in both, and his last start was the first time he had ridden him since, a gap of two years and eight months.

 

Barbaresco was disappointing and unplaced last time, but Van Zyl and De Melo are likely to get the best out of him in his new KZN career.

 

Barbaresco’s best performances have been third in the Gr 1 Daily News 2000, tie second in the Gr 2 Betway Jo’Burg Spring Challenge over 1450m and third in the Gr 2 Allied-Steelrode Onamission Charity Mile.

 

Subsequent to his Daily News run he came in for a ton of support for the 2024 Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Durban July and actually started third favourite at 8/1. However, the distance seemed to stretch him and he finished a 3,50 length eighth. However, he was only a three-year-old at the time and now as a five-year-old he might get the 2200m distance. It will be interesting to see whether the lure of the R10 million stake, together with the longer handicap, will prompt Van Zyl, Wernars and Sewgoolam to have another tilt at the country’s biggest race.

 

Van Zyl does not know what Barbaresco’s program will be yet, but he did speak about the July and was in favour of the longer handicap, which will see topweight being upped to 62kg and bottom weight lowered to 52kg.

 

He said, “It opens it up as it will make it harder for the good horses and will give the less proven horses a chance, it will be an exciting race to be part of. The thing about the July has always been the speculation … in the build up every horse seems to start having a chance even though it’s not the best horse in the race and now it’s going to be even more like that.”

 

A new environment can sometimes bring out the best in a horse and this can not be better illustrated than by the six-year-old Visionaire gelding Imposing, who has won five out of his six starts since joining the Van Zyl yard.

 

He arrived there at the beginning of this season as an 82-rated horse and he is now rated 107 after four victories over 1400m and one over 1600m, with all of them being on the turf except for one on the poly.

 

Imposing shows no signs of stopping either as he won his last start on poly the going way by 3,20 lengths under Van Zyl’s stable jockey S’Manga Khumalo.

 

Gareth said, “We will start asking bigger questions of him and step him up in company and see how he does.”

 

Imposing was obviously well regarded from day one as he was aimed high from day one by his first trainer.

 

He has at last started coming into his own as a six-year-old and shown his true potential, so there is exciting times ahead with him too.

 

Meanwhile, the yard have drawn a line through the Betway Summer Cup run of the stable star, the Equus Champion Stayer King Pelles.

 

He is being targeted at the Hollywoodbets Durban July.

 

Gareth said, “He’s doing very well and we are excited to get him going again. We would like to go for the July, he will just need to do well over one of the shorter distance races to get his confidence back, but the July is the race we would like to go for.”

 

He added, “”The Hollywoodbets horse Salani Kahle looks to have a bright future too.”

 

The Master Of My Fate colt has three starts and won his last two, both over 1800m at Hollywoodbets Greyville, one on turf and one on the poly, by 6,30 and 4,20 lengths respectively.

 

Gareth also mentioned the Vercingetorix colt Wild Justice, whose four starts, all over 1200m, have yielded three wins.

Warren Lenferna

The vibe, mood, and atmosphere at Hollywoodbets Durbanville were good yesterday for their eight-race programme, with all looking forward to the approaching World Sports Betting Met race day. There were some tight finishes and great rides on display at the country course on a brilliant summer Cape Town day.

Raffish Trend won the first race under Craig Zackey for trainer Adam Marcus, and this filly clearly relished the reduction in racing distance. She won a tad cozily, but still showed signs of immaturity and greenness. Her trainer mentioned in the post-race interview that there could certainly be a few more wins in the tank for this daughter of Rafeef.

Race two saw the well-backed son of The United States, Prairie Dawn, win well under a typical Andrew Fortune ride. They looked cozy from the 400m marker, and this flamboyant rider had time to pat his mount and pose for the photographers close to home. He won from the deepest draw, giving owner Nic Jonsson his first winner of the day.

The regally bred Amayah was allowed to drift slightly in the market but still asserted her authority when winning the third race for Candice Bass and Aldo Domeyer. She is by champion Vercingetorix out of the very good mare River Jetez. She was also drawn wide, but that clearly had zero effect on her. It was a good race for trainer Candice Bass, as her other horse, Beautiful One, filled the exacta position.

The fourth race was where owner Nic Jonsson recorded his second winner of the afternoon with Waloyo Yamoni, who was also a drifter in the marketplace. This handsome son of Trippi got into an argument with the well-backed Phantom Man in a very tight finish, but the visiting German rider denied the extremely in-form Fortune another victory. Justin Snaith was the trainer responsible for the winner’s well-being and was hugely complimentary of both the ride and the rider.

Race five was won by Midway from the barn of James Crawford, with stable jockey Luyolo Mxothwa doing the steering. This gelding showed guts and determination up the inside to post a solid win.

There was a nail-biting finish to the sixth race between Lovers Lane (Craig Zackey for Paul Reeves) and Act Of Grace (Chad Little for Glen Kotzen). It was an outstanding call from race caller Alistair Cohen, as it was extremely tight. He committed with confidence and went the way of Lovers Lane, who denied Act Of Grace victory. This was the first of the Social Squad-owned winners.

These colourful silks recorded a race-to-race winning double as Gravity, under a great strong ride from Richard Fourie, won the seventh for trainer Piet Botha, who had been experiencing a drought in the winners’ department. Now that he has broken the ice, the winners should flow. The Social Squad syndicate is a remarkable and cost-effective way of experiencing racehorse ownership.

The last race saw yet another tight finish, but the eventual winner was Wyze Declaration from Eisteddfod. Wyze Declaration was the second winner for the “Candyman” on the afternoon, giving Candice Bass another success on the day.

Race 1

 

3 BLOOD OF EDEN 2 REECE’S WISH 1 KORTVANDRAAD 5 MASTER’S ROSE

 

Preview: 3 BLOOD OF EDEN is knocking hard and can get it right here over an ideal trip. 2 REECE’S WISH has been second in all three starts and is a big runner again. 1 KORTVANDRAAD has been thereabouts in last three and is capable of earning. 5 MASTER’S ROSE can earn if repeating last start. (David Thiselton 3-2-1-5)

 

Race 2

 

9 GIMMETHESPOTLIGHT 11 KNOWMORE 3 UNDERDOG 1 PALACE GUARD

 

Preview: 9 GIMMETHESPOTLIGHT made a good debut and will go close with expected improvement. 11 KNOWMORE improved second time out and can progress again. 3 UNDERDOG went close last Thursday and is getting the hang of it. 1 PALACE GUARD has shown some signs of ability and can earn here (David Thiselton 9-11-3-1)

 

Race 3

 

12 ASIAH’S TIARA 5 KAVOMOLKA 7 EMERALD CITY 11 VIXENINTHEVINEYARD

 

Preview: 12 ASIAH’S TIARA has been knocking on the door and gets a fine chance from a good draw here. 5 KAVOMOLKA has been right there in his last two starts and should enjoy the slight step up in trip. 7 EMERALD CITY will enjoy the step back up in trip and can earn here. 11 VIXENINTHEVINEYARD improved when stepped up to 1600m and is interesting stepped up in trip again. (12-5-7-11)

 

Race 4

 

3 FUTURE DATE 7 BOOM BOOM 9 BACK FROM WAR 8 AZALEAS FOR ALL

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Preview: 3 FUTURE DATE has to handle a two point raise for a second last time but is progressive and will enjoy this trip from a fair draw. 7 BOOM BOOM has been coming into her own and will enjoy this trip. 9 BACK FROM WAR has a better draw than last time and can reverse for with Azaleas For All. 8 AZALEAS FOR ALL beat Back From War by 1,3 lengths over 1800m last time but now has a wider draw. (David Thiselton 3-7-9-8)

 

Race 5

 

7 HUBERTUS HUNT 4 GRACE’S KISS 1 LADY BLUNT 5 LITTLEMISSSPLENDID

 

Preview: 7 HUBERTUS HUNT won well last time out over 1800m and this progressive sort should enjoy the step up trip and is off a reasonable mark. 4 GRACE’S KISS has had two good runs outside the maidens and has a chance here. 1 LADY BLUNT has a chance of staying this trip on pedigree and should be in the shake up from pole position. 5 LITTLEMISSSPLENDID went close over this trip last week but does have a tough draw. (David Thiselton 7-4-1-5)

 

Race 6

 

2 MAX THE MAGICIAN 4 SECRET CHORD 5 ESQUEVELLE

 

Preview: 2 MAX THE MAGICIAN has been in fine form over further but should take well to a sprint trip from a good draw. 4 SECRET CHORD is talented and deserves to be a 95 merit rating but does have a tricky draw and his highest mark for a win has been 86. 5 ESQUEVELLE has been in good form and can earn again with a 4kg claimer up. (David Thiselton 2-4-5)

 

Race 7

 

3 PRESSONREGARDLESS 2 TIN PAN ALLEY 1 GREATERIX 7 BOB’S YOUR UNCLE

 

Preview: 3 PRESSONREGARDLESS is a classy sort who won a Listed feature over 1600m in fine style last time and his big action could help him follow up. 2 TIN PAN ALLEY has proven class and should go close over an ideal trip, although the wide draw is a concern. 1 GREATERIX looks ideally distance suited but he needs to bounce back to his classy self and a wide draw does not help. 7 BOB’S YOUR UNCLE could earn from a good draw over a suitable trip. (David Thiselton 3-2-1-7)

 

Race 8

 

7 LAST CAR TO PASS 11 ARASHI 3 CEUTA

 

Preview: 7 LAST CAR TO PASS has been reliable lately and can earn again over an ideal trip from a good draw. 11 ARASHI is distance suited and well drawn and could be in the shake up. 3 CEUTA bounced back with a fine run to a good sort last time and Craig Zackey is an eye-catching booking. (David Thiselton 7-11-3)

 

Race 9

 

2 PLAY WITH THE WIND 7 FAIR PROPOSAL 1 BRIGHT AND BRAZEN

 

Preview: 2 PLAY WITH THE WIND looks to have plenty of scope and should start progressing. 7 FAIR PROPOSAL ran a cracker last time over course and distance and Zackey should help overcome the tricky draw. 1 BRIGHT AND BRAZEN disappointed last time but on some of her earlier form she could earn, although she has a tough draw. (David Thiselton 2-7-1)

 

The countdown is on

ONE STRIPE lines up on the world stage in the Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1) at Gulfstream Park, South Florida🌍✨

Catch him on 24 January as we back our South African racing champion and fly the Hollywood Racing flag high🇿🇦🔥

 

📺 Watch on GallopTV

🗓️ Saturday, 24 January 2026

📌 Race 12 | 00:00

Soccer10 Friday 23 January 2026. Carryover R150 000. Estimated Pool: R1.7 Million. Pool Closes at 19h30. Sport 8 and Pool 1.

Soccer10 Saturday 24 January 2026. Carryover R150 000. Estimated Pool: R1.7 Million. Pool Closes at 15h30. Sport 14 and Pool 1.

Soccer Any 13Xtra Saturday 24 January 2026. Carryover R150 000. Estimated Pool: R500 000. Pool Closes at 14h30. Sport 13 and Pool 1.

Soccer13 Saturday 24 January 2026. Carry Over R 11 846  828. All 13 CORRECT JACKPOT POOL: R 25 Million (If only One 13 of 13 Winner). Pool Closes at 16h30. Sport 10 Pool 1.

Soccer CORNERS Carryover R 3 035. Saturday 24 January 2026. Pool Closes at 17h00. Sport 74

Soccer10 Sunday 25 January 2026. Carryover R150 000. Estimated Pool: R1.7 Million. Pool Closes at 18h30. Sport 20 and Pool 1.