Please Note: South African Quartet Pools with fractional betting offered at Cheltenham and Southwell (UK) – 11 March 2026

• SPLITTHEEIGHTS: 109 to 116
• ONE EYE ON VEGAS: 106 to 115
• RADIO STAR: 95 to 107

• SCARLETT HEART (third): 91 to 108
• DAISY JONES (fourth): 106 to 108

RACE 1

2 BISON WARRIOR   1 KIKI U BEAUTY   13 ACTION THRILLER   4 MASTERCRAFTER

Summary: Mostly first timers. BISON WARRIOR (2) was not far behind the placed runners on debut with the winner Master Magician looking to be something special at this stage. KIKI U BEAUTY (1) found plenty of support on debut but was all at sea finishing a long way back. The outing should have brought him on. Mike Miller is having a stellar run with his two-year-olds and ACTION THRILLER (13) is the choice of stable rider Tristan Godden, Action Thriller well beaten by stable companion Steamy Windows on debut. A close eye on the betting may prove to be your best guide. (Andrew Harrison: 2-1-13-4).

RACE 2

7 FLAMETHOWER   9 QUEST OF VALOUR   5 RIFF RAFF BOY   3 ONE PEPPER

Summary: Many first timers. Of those that have run, FLAMETHROWER (7) was a promising fourth on debut in soft ground. He is sure to have come on from that run. QUEST OF VALOUR (9) was narrowly ahead of Flamethrower also on debut and there should not be much between the two again. RIFF RAFF BOY (5) looks to be the pick of the Miller runners although he was disappointing behind Steamy Windows last time out after a promising previous effort. Of the first timers. ONE PEPPER (3) has a blue-blood pedigree and may be worth watching. (Andrew Harrison: 7-9-5-3).

RACE 3

2 RANDOLPH HEARST   3 TALK TO THE MASTER   5 REGENERATION   6 TOWN CRIER

Summary: Justin Snaith can get his winter season ball rolling with RANDOLPH HEARST (2). He has been up against the cream of the Cape Town crop and not far behind. He looks the part in this field. Dominic Zaki had his first KZN winner in TALK TO THE MASTER (3) in the Fever Tree Stakes where he was weighted to win. He is more than useful but could find it difficult giving his younger rival 6kg. Zaki has declared two others to keep the race alive so the inference so obvious. These two look set to fight things out. (Andrew Harrison: 2-3-5-6).

RACE 4

1 HIGHVELD STORM   8 WAR EMPEROR   3 GOOD OMEN   7 FROSTBITE

Summary: HIGHVELD STORM (1) has his second run for his stable and make a promising local debut in first time blinkers. He has a useful apprentice up and should feature. WAR EMPEROR (8) has been improving with each outing and was a close-up second last run when returning from a break. He should give a good account. GOOD OMEN (3) has finished runner-up over course and distance at his last two. He gets a 4kg claimer aboard this time around. XIPHOS (9) has been a major disappointment although never far back and stable companion FROSTBITE (7) could prove pick of the Frikkie Greyling pair. Although well beaten on debut he is likely to come on from that effort. (Andrew Harrison: 1-8-3-7).

RACE 5

5 CAN WE START   2 STAMPEDE AHEAD   4 FIRE FORCE   1 OSMIUM

Summary: Puzzling handicap with many going the trip for the first time. CAN WE START (5) improved second start behind a short-priced favourite. She is bred to go this trip and any further improvement could see her home. STAMPEDE AHEAD (2) goes this trip for the first time and has been disappointing. The step up in trip with the blinkers off and a tongue-tie on could do the trip. FIRE FORCE (4) is the only one tested over the trip and ran on well for second last time out. He is a long-time battler but has come well at his last two over the trip. OSMIUM (1) is another stepping up in trip but has shown some ability over shorter and Craig Zackey stays with the ride. (Andrew Harrison: 5-2-4-1).

RACE 6

3 LADYOFDISTINCTION   6 ONE SMART COOKIE   4 MISS TWINKLE   7 ICE RAIN

Summary: LADYOFDISTINCTION (3) has a touch of class and has won her last two in good fashion since returning from a break. She goes well this trip and should make a bold bid. MISS TWINKLE (4) steps up in class and appears to be the pick of Andre Nel’s pair. ICE RAIN (7) is slightly better off with Ladyofdistinction on their most recent meeting but both of her recent wins have come on the poly. ONE SMART COOKIE (6) steps up in trip again. She has useful current sprint form and looks to have a strong winning chance. (Andrew Harrison: 3-6-4-7).

RACE 7

7 ACASIA’S BLOSSOM   2 HEARTS ON FIRE   3 GRUE OF ICE   8 AMAFORT

Summary: Louise Gooden’s mare ACACIA’S BLOSSOM (7) has been narrowly beaten at her last two on the poly. She now gets a 4kg claimer aboard who is riding with some confidence but the switch to turf is a cautionary note. Stable companion HEARTS ON FIRE (2) was a little unlucky last run on the poly. GRUE OF ICE (3) has her measure at the weights on their last meeting but the tables can be turned. AMAFORT (8) is long overdue but tends to lack extra under pressure. However, she can feature on her best showing. (Andrew Harrison: 7-2-3-8).

RACE 8

6 MAPHAKA   7 TAM’S KNIGHT   5 COWBOY COUNTRY   8 CHICARITO

Summary: MAPHAKA (6) was a little disappointing on the poly last time out. He has shown good form in stronger company than he meets here and should go very close. TAM’S KNIGHT (7) is lightly raced and showed some promise in his comeback run after a long lay-off. He has ability and one to watch in the betting. COWBOY COUNTRY (5) has been consistent since his maiden win and has a money chance while CHICARTIO (8) surprised on debut over course and distance and is likely to come on from that effort. (Andrew Harrison: 6-7-5-8).

RACE 9

12 SUN DAZED   6 INTREPID   4 DEFINITELY YES   1 TRIPPI SILK

Summary: Wide open handicap. Veteran galloper SUN DAZED (12) has steady form of late and the drop in trip with blinkers could finally see him home for his fifth success. INTREPID (6) got a three-point raise in the handicap for his recent win on this course under a big weight. The extra will suit. TRIPPI’S SILK (1) has been rested but comes off some promising recent Cape form. DEFINITELY YES (4) was narrowly beaten on this course last run. His last win was over course and distance. Andrew Harrison: 12-6-4-1).

Andrew Harrison

Punters are faced with a mixed bag at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Wednesday. The first two races on the card are laced with first timers and any serious punter will avoid the pitfalls. However, you ‘pays your money and you takes your chances’ as the saying goes.

A better option could be Randolph Hearst in the first leg of the PA on the card nine-race card. Justin Snaith nearly got the ball rolling when the grey Roland Garros  came up just short last Sunday but Randolph Hearst has been up against the cream of the Cape Town sophomore crop  this season and not far behind. He makes his local debut and looks the part in this field. But Dominic Zaki had his first KZN winner in Talk To The Master in the Fever Tree Stakes where he was weighted to win. He is more than useful but could find it difficult giving his younger rival 6kg. Zaki has declared two others to keep the race alive and ‘honest’ so the inference so obvious.

In the first leg of the Pick 6 Highveld Storm has his second run for his stable and made a promising local debut in first time blinkers. He has a useful apprentice up and should feature. War Emperor has been improving with each outing and was a close-up second last run when returning from a break. He should give a good account. Good Omen has finished runner-up over course and distance at his last two. He gets a 4kg claimer aboard this time around. Xiphos has been a major disappointment although never far back so stable companion Frostbite could prove pick of the Frikkie Greyling pair. Although well beaten on debut he is likely to come on from that effort.

The fifth is a puzzling handicap with many going the 2400m trip for the first time. Can We Start improved second start behind a short-priced favourite. She is bred to go this trip and any further improvement could see her home. Stampede Ahead goes this trip for the first time but has been disappointing. The step up in trip with the blinkers off and a tongue-tie on could do the trick. Fire Force is the only one tested over the trip and ran on well for second last time out. He is a long-time battler but has come well at his last two over the trip. Osmium is another stepping up in trip but has shown some ability over shorter and Craig Zackey stays with the ride.

In the sixth, Ladyofdistinction has a touch of class and has won her last two in good fashion since returning from a break. She goes well this trip and should make a bold bid. Miss Twinkle steps up in class and appears to be the pick of Andre Nel’s pair judging on jockey bookings. As Ice Rain is slightly better off with Ladyofdistinction on their most recent meeting but both of her recent wins have come on the poly. One Smart Cookie steps up in trip again and has useful current sprint form. She looks to have a strong winning chance.

Lous Goosen Could hold the key here.  Acasia’s Blossom has been narrowly beaten at her last two on the poly and now gets a 4kg claimer aboard who is riding with some confidence but the switch to turf is a cautionary note. Stable companion Hearts On Fire was a little unlucky last run on the poly. Grue Of Ice has her measure at the weights on their last meeting but the tables can be turned. Amafort is long overdue but tends to lack extra under pressure. However, she can feature on her best showing.

Maphaka was a little disappointing on the poly last time out but has shown good form in stronger company than he meets here and should go very close. Tam’s Knight is lightly raced and showed some promise in his comeback run after a long lay-off. He has ability and one to watch in the betting. Of the others, Cowboy Country has been consistent since his maiden win and has a money chance while Chicarito surprised on debut over course and distance and is likely to come on from that effort.

Punters are faced with a wide open handicap in the last but veteran  galloper Sun Dazed has steady form of late and the drop in trip with blinkers could finally see him home for his fifth success. Intrepid got a three-point raise in the handicap for his recent win on this course under a big weight but the extra furlong will suit. Trippi’s Silk has been rested but comes off some promising recent Cape form while Definitely Yes was narrowly beaten on this course last run. His last win was over course and distance.

The first two races have a number of debutants so caution is the best advice.

Of those that have run in the first Bison Warrior was not far behind the placed runners on debut with the winner Master Magician looking to be something special at this stage.

In the second, Flamethrower was a promising fourth on debut in soft ground. He is sure to have come on from that run. Quest Of Valor was narrowly ahead of Flamethrower also on debut and there should not be much between the two again. Of the first-timers, One Pepper has a blue-blood pedigree and may be worth watching.

David Thiselton

The Corne Spies-trained filly Hazy Dazy is on the cusp of a repeat fairy tale story with just the Gr 2 Wilgerbosdrift SA Oaks standing between her and Wilgerbosdrift Triple Tiara glory.

She will become the second daughter of Act Of War to do the Triple Tiara following the success five years ago in 2021 of the Paul Matchett-trained War Of Athena.

The other similarity in the stories of the two fillies is that War Of Athena was purchased for just R30,000 while Hazy Dazy was bought for just R37,000.

Act Of War is by Dynasty, who was a stamina influence, and Hazy Dazy’s damsire Eightfold Path is by stamina influence Giant’s Causeway.

Xander Spies has no doubt Hazy Dazy will see out the Oaks trip, despite her first and second dams, Rabbedoe and Brataloochee, being speedsters.

Hazy Dazy has in fact won over 2000m before and on Saturday her win over the tough Turffontein Standside 1800m course and distance was in sticky going.

Xander Spies said, “There are no indications in my mind that she will not stay the Oaks trip. In fact what is interesting is that all of the horses who had been labelled as ones that would stay actually finished further back in the Classic than they had done in the Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas.”

Hazy Dazy’s supporters had a scary moment in the race, because after leading it appeared she had been swamped at the 400m mark.

However, she had soon fought back and established a clear lead before holding on by a length.

Xander said, “I was slightly concerned but Trent (Mayhew) gave a very good explanation. He said the same happens every race, but this was one of the few times she had been in front. So he hadn’t pulled the stick, because she was just cruising and he just waited another 50m, as he would normally do, knowing she had a lot left.”

Corne Spies deserves the success, because ostensibly he actually bred Hazy Dazy.

She is out of the Eightfold Path mare Rabbedoe, whom Corne trained.

After training her he bred with her and was responsible for putting her in foal to Act Of War.

However, COVID-19 then hit and he gave her away to David Makins prior to Hazy Dazy being born.

Makins had an association with the Spies yard because Corne’s father Tobie used to train for him.

Hazy Dazy was officially bred by Breedon Stud, owned by David Makins and his wife Martha.

Xander believes Hazy Dazy would always have ended up in the Spies yard anyway but Corne made sure of it by purchasing her at the David Makins dispersal Sale upon the latter’s passing.

Eightfold Path has a magnificent pedigree, being by “the iron horse” Giant’s Causeway out of the superstar five-times Gr 1-winning European champion racehorse Divine Proportions (Kingmambo), but Xander said, “It’s not a pairing (Act Of War-Rabbedoe) most would have thought would produce something this good, but I guess you can find them anywhere.”

Xander pointed out that although Rabbedoe’s mother Brataloochee was a “proper” racehorse, Rabbedoe’s pedigree page had “nothing” of note to the extent that on the Sales page it went all the way down to the sixth dam.

The yard received Hazy Dazy in the December of her yearling year and he remembered her being quite a runt and looking more like a weanling.

The yard often buys on spec and then puts a syndicate of owners together.

The owners of Hazy Dazy are Mr D Dasrath & Mrs C Dasrath, Messrs R P Macnab, S Poriazis, Vikash Sobaren, X Spies & D Vayapuri

Hazy Dazy has grown into a noticeably tall filly and has a fine action, which has carried her to six wins in eight starts, including a Gr 1, a Gr 2 and a Gr3.

Her first feature success was in the Gr 3 Fillies Mile at Turffontein Standside on Betway Summer Cup day.

Despite starting at odds of 17/2 she won that by an authoritative one lengths from the Alyson Wright-trained Charge It, who is a Varsfontein Stud-hombred Gimmethegreenlight filly who is a full sister to Sucharge, who won a Gr 1 in both SA and in Australia.

Hazy Dazy was supposed to run in the race Charge It won next time out, the Listed War Of Athena Handicap, but she sustained a slight injury and it was decided not to risk it.

She then started at the amazing odds of 25/1 for the Gauteng Fillies Guineas, despite having beaten most of the field in the Fillies Mile.

She won the Guineas in effortless fashion in the end, despite actually looking a bit green.

The bookmakers were way more cautious on Saturday and she was sent off as even money favourite.

Her aims after the Triple Tiara races are over look to be the Woolavington 2000, but Xander emphasised she would not be going for the Hollywoodbets Durban July.

He said that history had shown that making a full bid for the Triple Tiara took a bit out of a horse and the July would be a bridge too far this year, although it was definitely on the cards for next year.

It was a fine day for the Spies yard on Saturday as they also won the Gr 3 TAB J J The Jet Plane Stakes over 1000m with their sprinting stalwart William Robertson (Rafeef), who is now a 17 time winner and he will be going for the Computaform Sprint next, a Gr 1 wfa event he has won before.

The Spies yard only have 14 horses of three years old or older and yet have won five black type races this season.

Rob Macnab also has a share in William Robertson and both he and Hazy Dazy run in his blue, white crossed sashes, red sleeves and cap colours.

Meanwhile, Rabbedoe was purchased on the same Sale as Hazy Dazy by a bloodstock agent who seeks second careers for horses and it is believed she was subsequently sold to a riding school somewhere in the Limpopo.