Andrew Harrison

Gotta Go Eddie is fast earning the dreaded label of being a ‘brass’ as he was run out of it once again in the first at Hollywoodbets Greyville yesterday, but at least he is consistent. Beaten favourite in all three of his previous starts, he went down again as Blast From The Past finished strongly to hold off a late challenge from Gotta Go Eddie. Glen Kotzen was never fully confident on how Blast From The Past would perform given that he had developed a breathing problem in training but he did enough to start his career on a winning note. There is still hope for Gotta Go Eddie and blinkers may be what he requires.

Gripen has not been far back when taking on winners and finally put it all together for Lucinda Woodruff, the first of her two winners. Calvin Habib rode a forward race from a wide draw and making a winning run early. Favourite Act Of Grace was intimidated most of the way up the straight by Fine Dining and when finally extricating herself, had nothing to come as Green Mile and Trick Or Tequila slipped through on the rail.

Quinn’s Time was marginal favourite for the third but after a slow start he never got going leaving Eventidor to hold off Papa C in a tight finish. It was Eventidor’s third win on the bounce for Bo Ngcobo and gave Hollywood Racing their 122 winner of the season.

Young apprentice Jacey Botes looked to have ridden the perfect front-running race on Afropolitan in the Class 4 over 1800m but come the final 100m the gelding was treading water with challenges from all sides. Callan Murray, who has hooked up with the Mike and Mathew de Kock yard, got Corrupt to finish off his race smartly to collar the opposition close home. It was the gelding’s second run for the stable and indications are that he will come into his own over more ground.  

Wendy Whiteheads gelding Cappellino found hot market support in the fifth and landed the gamble comfortably. The start was delayed given the antics of a few runners but Habib was not fazed as he sent Cappellino to the front and was never in danger of being caught.

When Papa C was denied by a nostril by Eventidor, Duncan Howells was probably thinking that his second-box curse had not lifted but three races later the hard-knocking Twenty One May found his way into the winner’s circle under a superb ride by Kabelo Matsunyane. With the pace on, Matsunyane dropped his mount in off the pace and then delivered a telling run up the straight to get the better of the ever game Future Flo.

Woodruff made it a double on the day as Chad Little slipped Wing Walker up the inside rail to hold off a charging Masterbling. It was a race run at a muddling pace as Gavin Lerena, aboard the grey Intrepid, stacked the field up forcing most behind to swing on to avoid clipping heels.

Not to be denied on the day, title-chasing Lerena added a timely winner to his tally as he had a comfortable ride on the Tony Peter-trained favourite Gimmethegoodlife. Tracking the early pace, Lerena took the shortest way home to easily catch and pass Super Fast.

Andrew Harrison

With under two weeks of the current season left to run, Gavin Lerena can all but sew up the Jockey Championship at Turffontein today where he has nine fancied rides on the 10-race card. Going into yesterday’s Hollywoodbets Greyville meeting where he had five rides, he was eight winners clear of reigning champion Richard Fourie.

Fourie has opted to stay home in a wet Cape Town for these two meetings which could indicate that he has resigned himself to second place on the log.

However, there is still the small matter of a 12-race card on World Pool Gold Cup day at Hollywoodbets Greyville next Sunday where Fourie is sure to have some plum rides. Deadline for final declarations for the meeting are at 11am this morning.

Lerena could get his afternoon off to a winning start when he partners Pretty Persuasive in the card opener. Johan Janse van Vuuren’s filly hacked up in her Highveld debut after a four-month break, her first outing resulting in a smart effort against males and finishing just 3.5 lengths back to the more than useful Military Command.

She does however, have to give 3kg  to Candice Dawson’s filly Anchorage who has finished runner-up in all three of her starts with Serino Moodley making the trip to the Highveld.

Lerena is aboard another Van Vuuren charge in the second. Top Division cruised to an easy victory on debut and although drawn widest of all he is likely to start deep in the red.

Lerena could have opposition from S’Manga Khumalo in the first leg of the PA where Lerena partners Frere Jacques for Lucky Houdalakis. The gelding was a well-beaten second on debut but the step up in trip should suit. Khumalo partners Safe Travel who has placed in both starts but now steps up in trip.

Lerena will need to overcome a tricky draw on another Houdalakis filly in the first leg of the Pick 6. Wise Counsel has shown up well in two sprints and the step up in trip should suit. Rendezvous In Rio looks a lively threat as she has her third run after a break and Joe Soma steps her up in trip. However, she has drawn one outside of Wise Counsel in gate 11. Khumalo will be aboard Winds Of Grace who is tested over the trip and has a good draw however, she has not been out since April.

In the fifth, Hopscotch is another Lerena ride that is likely to start top of the boards. The filly has been knocking on the door for Fanie Bronkhorst and although drawn wide she stays the trip well. Possible danger  could be Flightlight, Sean Tarry’s only runner with Piere Strydom aboard.

Lerena will have his work cut out on Sergeant Soqrat in the sixth. The gelding disappointed last Thursday but a Corne Spies runner can never be ignored. A better bet could be Mizzen Sword. He found all sorts of trouble when tried over ground for the first time and can build on that effort for Mark Khan. Heroic Act improved in first time blinkers for Tyrone Zackey and this shorter trip with a 4kg claimer aboard will find many supporters.

Lerena takes a breather without a ride in the seventh where Captain Efficient and Lonely As A Cloud look to be the principal contenders.

The eighth is the main event on the card and it looks wide open. Lerena stays with Francine who he has partnered in her last five starts so knows her well. She also has the best of the draw. However, she gives away 7.5kg to her younger rival, It’s Her Way who was a comfortable winner last run and can follow up.

Fanie Bronkhorst has two strong contender in the final leg of the Pick 6. Lerena rides Azaleas For All who could be the pick as she has won her last two races with Lerena aboard while Khumalo is aboard stable companion Play With Fire who was a touch disappointing last run but had solid previous form and should be right up there.

RACE 1     

3 PRETTY PERSUASIVE 1 ALPINE JET 6 ANCHORAGE 5 VICTORY IN ORLEANS

Preview: 3 PRETTY PERSUASIVE made a good Highveld debut and should be a big runner. 1 ALPINE JET made a good debut and has a chance of following up. 6 ANCHORAGE is knocking hard and with a 3kg weight advantage could be in the shake-up. 5 VICTORY IN ORLEANS  has some nice form and could be in the shake-up. (David Thiselton 3-1-6-5)

RACE 2     

3 TOP DIVISION 1 GOT THE FEELING 7 SECOND TO NUNN 4 ALPHA WORLD

Preview: 3 TOP DIVISION won well first time out and can follow up here despite having a tricky draw. 1 GOT THE FEELING won a nice race last time at long odds and from pole position should be in the shake-up. 7 SECOND TO NUNN made a fair debut and could earn here. 4 ALPHA WORLD looks capable of improvement after a fair effort against a useful sort. (David Thiselton 3-1-7-4)

RACE 3     

4 FRERE JACQUES 8 SAFE TRAVEL 2 JOHNNY DRAMA 1 SEVENTH FLEET

Preview: 4 FRERE JACQUES made a good debut and Lerena now rides, although he hasn’t run for four months and has a tricky draw. 8 SAFE TRAVEL has run two good races and should be right there.2 JOHNNY DRAMA has shown some ability and from pole position could earn. 1 SEVENTH FLEET has the ability to earn a cheque too. (David Thiselton 4-8-2-1) 

RACE 4     

12 WISE COUNSEL 3 ASIAH’S TIARA 1 WINDS OF GRACE 11 WINTER WEDDING

Preview: 12 WISE COUNSEL has a wide draw to overcome but has some useful form in two starts and could be the one to beat. 3 ASIAH’S TIARA ran a good race last time behind a fair sort and has a chance here, although she has a tricky draw. 1 WINDS OF GRACE has a good draw over what should be a suitable trip and she has the form to go close. 11 WINTER WEDDING made a fair debut and with improvement could be in the shake-up. (David Thiselton 12-3-1-11)

RACE 5     

10 HOPSCOTCH 3 BELLA BOOP BOOP 2 MATTIAZO 8 FUTURE SUCCESS

Preview: 10 HOPSCOTCH has run three good races and if able to overcome a wide draw should be right there. 3 BELLA BOOP BOOP is knocking on the door, but also has a wide draw. 2 MATTIAZO has pole position and that should give her a chance of earning as she should be improving being by Silvano. 8 FUTURE SUCCESS should relish the step up in trip and has a chance. (David Thiselton 10-3-2-8) 

RACE 6     

1 MIZZEN SWORD 3 HEROIC ACT 10 SERGEANT SOQRAT 4 GIFT OF ROYAL

Preview: 1 MIZZEN SWORD has been knocking on the door and has a good opportunity here over a suitable trip. 3 HEROIC ACT has a 4kg claimer up and should be right there. 10 SERGEANT SOQRAT is interesting stepped up in trip having run an improved race over 1400m last time and now having Lerena up. 4 GIFT OF ROYAL is capable of earning if producing his best. (David Thiselton 1-3-10-4)

RACE 7     

2 CAPTAIN EFFICIENT 1 MISTY METAL 3 PRINCESS LOLA 7 TOGETHER AGAIN

Preview: 2 CAPTAIN EFFICIENT is a hard knocker and should be in the shake-up here. 1 MISTY METAL won well in the maidens and from a good draw has a chance of following up with a 70 merit rating. 3 PRINCESS LOLA can be involved if producing her best. 7 TOGETHER AGAIN runs the odd good race and can earn a cheque if at her best. (David Thiselton 2-1-3-7)

RACE 8     

6 IT’S HER WAY 5 FATAL GEM 2 MISS HANNIGAN 4 IN THE BEGINNING

Preview: 6 IT’S HER WAY is in fine form and over a suitable distance and can win again. 5 FATAL GEM could appreciate the step down to this trip, but does have a wide draw to overcome. 2 MISS HANNIGAN is in good form, but does also have a wide draw to overcome. 4 IN THE BEGINNING has plenty of ability and from a fair draw could be in the shake-up. (David Thiselton 6-5-2-4)

RACE 9     

6 PRETTY ANALIA 1 AZALEAS FOR ALL 2 STREISAND 3 PLAY WITH FIRE

Preview: 6 PRETTY ANALIA is better than her last start and can bounce back here from a plum draw. 1 AZALEAS FOR ALL is in fine form and should make her presence felt. 2 STREISAND should be in the shake up if able to overcome a tricky draw. 3 PLAY WITH FIRE has become fairly consistent and could earn here. (David Thiselton 6-1-2-3)

RACE 10    

2 APACHE CHIEF 1 PHIL THE FLUTER 4 LAST GINGER 11 CAN’T CATCH ME

Preview: 2 APACHE CHIEF  is better than his last start and if bouncing back could be in the shake-up here. 1 PHIL THE FLUTER is drawn in pole and off a reasonable 78 merit rating should be right there. 4 LAST GINGER can earn here from a good draw. 11 CAN’T CATCH ME ran a cracker last time, but does have a tough straw to overcome. (David Thiselton 2-1-4-11)

Soccer13 Thursday 17 July 2025. Carryover R2 592 148.
(All-13-Correct Pool) likely Jackpot R4 Million. Sport 20 Pool 1. Pool Closes at 18h30.

Please note: South African Quartet Pools with fractional betting offered at Catterick and Ffos Las (UK) and Killarney (Ireland) – 16 July 2025.