Race 1

9 ROYAL CLINTON ran a much-improved race at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on the 24th of May, if he brings that run to the track again on Sunday, he will go very close to winning. 1 LE TISSIER ran a great race for third behind Diamond Baron last time, he should love the step up in trip to 1200m, with further improvement expected from this gelding, he will be right there in the finish late. 7 UNITED WE STAND stayed on well to finish just over one length behind Autumn Rush on the 31st of May, that was her first run back after a long break, she will be much fitter going into this race, include her into all bets at a decent price. 4 WINSTON’S GUARD ran a fair race on debut, he can only improve going into his second start, watch him closely. (Brandon Bailey 9-1-7-4)

Race 2

7 MARGATE ran a fair race last time, she was beaten six lengths by Tag And Release in the Grade 3 Winter Nursery, she looks to have lots of ability, even though she takes on older horses here, she will be competitive on her best form. 6 HERITAGE RIDGE has run three excellent races in succession, she has a big winning chance on her current form. 3 TAKE IT AS RED was a touch unlucky in her last start behind Blue Lagoon on the 31st of May, with no weight on her back here, she will run a massive race, include her into all bets. 5 HAMPSTEAD HEATH has dropped even further in the ratings, she is honest and she tries hard, if the gaps open at the right time, she will be right there in the finish. (Brandon Bailey 7-6-3-5)

Race 3

4 BLIND DATE quickened up smartly to win a good race on the 2nd of June, he was given four points for that impressive win last time, he is a beautiful gelding with a lovely action, he will be very hard to beat again. 1 IN A TIMELY MANNER stayed on nicely to finish just under four lengths behind Chasingtherainbow on the 19th of May, the yard thinks highly of this gelding, he will run a big race from a neat draw, watch him closely. 6 CUTIE PATOOTIE was given a great ride to win well on the 31st of May, even though she has gone up in the ratings, she can be tough in her races, she will be competitive. 2 IT IS MY TIME never runs a bad race, he will be given every chance from a good draw. (Brandon Bailey 4-1-6-2)

Race 4

6 BOURBON KING powered away from the field impressively on the 16th of May, he has improved nicely with the blinkers fitted, he will love the step up in trip, he has a big winning chance again on his current form. 2 APRIL FOOLS’ DAY didn’t have much luck in running last time, she stayed on well to finish just under two lengths behind Cutie Patootie, the step up in trip here, and the good draw will give her a massive winning chance. 4 WHO IS SHE ran second in the same race as April Fools’ Day last time, she has improved with every start, in hope that she stays the 1950m trip, she will be competitive. 5 CAPTAINS ALLIANCE ran a fair race behind Blind Date on the 2nd of June, he races off a winnable rating at the moment, with some luck in running, he will go close to winning. (Brandon Bailey 6-2-4-5)

Race 5

1 BENEATH THE CLOUDS will be cherry ripe for this race on Sunday, she ran a great race for second behind Lark’s Song on the 3rd of May, the drop in trip will be no problem for this filly, she has a big winning chance from a good draw. 7 APRICITY continues to race in good form, she will be just off the speed early, and she will be storming home late, include her into all bets. 3 MY ONLY WEAKNESS must have a good each-way chance in this field, she stayed on nicely to finish just over one length behind Cutie Patootie last time, at this level, she always has a winning chance. 10 SOUTH OF FRANCE has been rested for 67 days, she won well on the 15th of April, with some luck in running from a tricky draw, she will be amongst the places. (Brandon Bailey 1-7-3-10)

Race 6

1 CHASINGTHERAINBOW quickened up smartly to win a good race on the 19th of May, he was given six points for that impressive win last time, he will love the step up in trip to 1600m, on his current form, he has a big winning chance again from a neat draw. 3 GALLIC DREAM stayed on well to finish just over three lengths behind Cafe Culture in the Grade 3 Champagne Stakes on the 27th of April, he needs a particular ride, if they go a decent pace in front, he will be storming home late. 7 BEWARE THE BOMB needed her last run, she is a decent filly with lots of ability, on her best form, she has a big winning chance. 4 PLEASE BE TRUE has run two excellent races in succession, with no weight on his back, he has a place chance from a good draw. (Brandon Bailey 1-3-7-4)

Race 7

8 ALL THE RAGE has been rested for 113 days, he stayed on well to finish just under five lengths behind Questioning in the Grade 2 Khaya Stables Diadem Stakes on the 28th of February, the form of that race has worked out well, if he doesn’t need this run back after a long break, he will be very hard to beat. 1 THE US OF A ran a terrific race in the Grade 3 Champagne Stakes last time, he finished strongly for second behind Cafe Culture, the yard thinks highly of this gelding, top jockey Richard Fourie sticks with this individual, he has a big winning chance. 2 KING REGENT might be the value play for the places in this race, he is slowly starting to work back to his best form, if the gaps open at the right time, he will be thundering home late at a decent price. 3 DEMANDING DAVE is much better than his last run, ignore that poor performance, in hope that he bounces back to his best form, he will be competitive. (Brandon Bailey 8-1-2-3)

Race 8

6 PALACE GIFT won well on the 18th of April, he was given five points for that victory last time, apprentice Damyan Pillay gets a good tune out of this gelding, he will be just off the speed early, and he will be finishing fast, include him into all bets. 4 TROIS SEPT HUIT has been rested for 64 days, he ran second behind Palace Gift on the 18th of April, on his current form, he has a big winning chance. 5 WORLDLY might be the value play in this tricky race, he ran a great race for third behind Cork Bay on the 3rd of May, this trip of 1000m will be on the short side for him, but he will be lashing home late, watch him closely at a decent price. 2 ALL ABOUT AL won a good race on the 19th of May, he was given three points for that win, his chances must be respected. (Brandon Bailey 6-4-5-2)

ALISTAIR COHEN

The abandonment of racing in Cape Town last Tuesday due to a waterlogged track has necessitated the feature races to move to what would be an ordinary day at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth today. The card suddenly has a classy look and racing fans could have some fun with some individuals who decided to stay at home this winter rather than head to Durban where they would be capable of competing with the best.

The Winter Mile, race 6 over 1600m could be best suited to Please Be True with only 51kg on his back. Please Be True is rated 30 points lower than the highest mark of Sugar Mountain off 122. He should carry 15kg less than the well-proven Sugar Mountain according to strict handicapping. He carries 10,5kg less but his runs since a break have been revealing that he must be close to breaking into the winners’ box. Plus, Sugar Mountain has not been at the peak of his powers of late.

Please Be True returned from a three-month rest in late April. He was run in a sprint and gave a pleasing reintroduction over a trip short of his best. He stayed on beautifully behind Give It Laldy beaten by only two lengths. His next start was the adequate step forward when he finished second behind Chasingtherainbow over 1400m at this course. He is 2kg better off with Chasingtherainbow who was so ready. That should give Please Be True enough hope to potentially turn the deficit. Mickaelle Michel takes the ride.

Beware The Bomb has been whispered about lately. She could be a filly to follow in the coming months. She is stable companion to Please Be True out of Justin Snaith’s barn. She was rested for nearly a year between May 2025 and April 2026 so to suggest that she would have needed her last run would be an understatement. It was a neat effort when she ended up 4,5 lengths behind Café Culture in the Champagne Stakes over 1200m. Café Culture nearly won a Grade 2 at Hollywoodbets Scottsville a few weeks later while Beware The Bomb would have found that 1200m distance too short. She will come on further with this run under her belt but one can expect a good showing under Andrew Fortune.

Chasingtherainbow wrote his trainer and owner one of the stories of the year when he won last time. He recently transferred to the yard of Rob Barrett who took out his license a few months ago. He was Barrett’s first runner and he won with ease, possibly delivering his career best in the process. He is owned by Barrett’s grandfather. There was not a dry eye in the house. Richard Fourie retains the ride. Life is a little harder at the weights but there is no reason to suggest that he cannot win.

The Us Of A could be in the right place at the right time in the supporting feature, the Winter Sprint, race 7 over 1200m. Being a feature, this will be down the straight. He has a blistering turn of foot. He has showed his effectiveness at this level and Richard Fourie gets the most out of him. His main rivals have their claims but valid reasons why they might be vulnerable for now.

His last run was a superb effort finishing second behind Café Culture over this course and distance in the same Listed Champagne Stakes highlighted by Beware The Bomb. The Us Of A must be in good heart because there was a desperate plea from his connections to reschedule this race which was never up for debate.

All The Rage could ultimately end up being the best horse in the field. The three-year-old had little chance at the weights in the Khaya Stables Diadem Stakes last time but he was not disgraced finishing sixth behind Questioning who has had an unreal 2026. He is back from a break and not being seen in nearly four months suggests he will step forward with the run. This is not his “cup final” and his bigger picture could be revealing.

There are two apprentice races on the card which are always worth a watch. Race 1 over 1200m could point to Royal Clinton under Eduan Muller who is based in Cape Town. Muller rode him to nearly his career best last time over this course and distance when he finished 1,45 lengths behind Lava Strike. He finished nearly three lengths ahead of the lightly raced Coffee Crunch on that occasion who has a 4,5kg beneficial swing of the weights. Coffee Crunch will surely be most effective over further so despite his best run to date being on the cards, he might come into his own with another run under his belt.

The final apprentice event is race 8 over 1000m. Worldly is such a tricky horse to follow. He does his worst out of the stalls but his best work at the finish. If Dezahn Louw can get him somewhere close to the pace and in the mood for his late flourish at the end of the race, he must be considered. He is 5kg better off with Palace Gift for five lengths. Worldly was typically his own worst enemy on that occasion over this course and distance.

Heritage Ridge has run her socks off since moving to Michelle Rix. She is due her next career win and it could materialize in race 2 over 1200m. Her penultimate start came over this course and distance and it was her best run for a while when she was beaten by less than a length by Easy Money. Hampstead Heath must be regarded as her main danger.

There is a lengthy list of chances in race 3 over 1600m. Blind Date appears to be on the up after his last win when he turned over Chance Encounter over this course and distance. It was a simple restart after summer with a sprint in his penultimate run where he was not disgraced. He followed up naturally and logically as far as procedure after a rest is concerned. Andrew Fortune takes the ride.

Baton Rouge has the widest gate of No 8 to overcome in race 4 over 1950m but his biggest threat is gatespeed which he could use to his advantage. He has been banging at the door of late and he would be deserving of his next career win. He is proven over this trip while some of his rivals need to answer any stamina doubts.

Speaking of overdue horses. My Only Weakness must count as a horse who must get the job done now. She runs in race 5 over 1500m under Mickaelle Michel. She has been very close to the winners of late. Potentially, all she needs is some confidence to finish the task. Her dangers include Vroom Vroom who needed her last run badly and she should come on and Apricity who loves this middle distance range on a soft track.

Please note: South African Quartet Pools with fractional betting offered at Ascot (World Pool) and Doncaster (UK) – 20 June 2026.

David Thiselton

Wendy Whitehead has three runners at the KwaZulu-Natal Breeders meeting on Saturday and she is also looking forward to the run of one of her stable stars, Buttercup Baby, on Hollywoodbets Durban July day.

Wendy has the best weighted runner in the eighth race on Saturday, the Captain Of Al Kwazulu-Natal Breeders 1600 on the poly. Her three-year-old filly Limitless Sky is 4kg better off than any other horse. She ran a shocker last time over 1400m on the poly in a Class 3 event over 1400m. However, the on course veterinarian could not find anything amiss. Before that she had run a 4,10 length fourth to Keukenhof in the Gr 3 uMzimkhulu Stakes over 1400m and followed that by not being disgraced when beaten 9.05 lengths by the dual Gr 1 winner Wish List in the Gr 2 WSB Fillies Guineas. She has drawn barrier ten out of ten on Saturday and regular rider Calvin Habib rides.

Wendy said, “Limitless Sky is very, very well. My only concerns are she doesn’t really like the poly track and she is drawn deep, but I am going to try and change her tactics and try and get her to race a bit more handy and maybe that will pay off because I think that is the right race, it is just a pity we are drawn so deep.”

The bookmakers have taken that last run into consideration and Hollywoodbets have her at 5/1, which could be good value if she does manage to produce her best.

First up for Wendy on Saturday is Tee Dog (Act Of War), who runs in the Blue Sky Thoroughbreds KZN Breeders 1900 on the poly. The small size of the field with just eight runners will suit this big gelding as he relishes being in front and will have the opportunity to dictate in a field where there are no other front-running sorts. He is a whopping 9,5kg under sufferance with the best weighted Hat’s Queen. However, the latter has not run since flopping in this race last year when well treated at the weights, only managing a 1,45 length fourth of six. Hat’s Queen will likely need the run after a year’s layoff. The second best weighted runner in the race is Fine Wine (Futura) who is in good form and she has a further advantage of being ridden by the very much in form Mickaelle Michel, whose 1,5kg gender claim is a bonus. However Tee Dog could get the run of the race and will offer good eachway value at 14/1.

Wendy said, “Tee Dog is very well. He just needed that last run of his and has come on from it.”

She runs Dog Soldier (Declarationofpeace) in the Double Superlative Maiden Plate over 1400m on the turf. Wendy reckoned the rider backed off him last time when hampered halfway down the straight, so that run can probably be ignored, Before that he ran a cracking 3,40 length fifth in a Maiden Juvenile Plate over 1200m on the Hollywoodbets Greyville turf, despite jumping from a wide draw. Richard Fourie is an eyecatching booking and he jumps from draw six over a trip he should get being out of a Captain Al dam who won three times from 1000m to 1600m. This race will not take a lot of winning. Furthermore, the likely favourite Owner Of Creation is drawn wide. The 7/1 shot Dog Soldier has a chance.

Wendy has entered the 102-rated What A Winter filly Buttercup Baby in the Middle Stakes race over 1200m for fillies and mares on the poly on Hollywoodbets Durban July day and she has everything in her favour. Firstly, she is at the top of the highest merit-rated band, the 99 to 102 band, which makes her the best weighted runner among the entries together with the 106-rated Precocious and the 104-rated Scarlet Macaw, who will get half-a-kilogram for each point they are above the benchmark rating of 102. Secondly she has landed a plum draw of five out of the 46 entries. She was tried over 1400m in the Tibouchina last time but it didn’t pan out at all well as she was caught wide without cover from a wide draw and duly faded after being squeezed out in the straight. Before that she ran a cracking four length third in the Gr 3 Poinsettia over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville and followed that with a fine run in the Gr 1 SA Fillies Sprint in which she was beaten just 5,40 lengths. She was raised five points to 103 for that Gr 1 effort, but came down a point after the Tibouchina. She should be a big runner in the Middle Stakes race over 1200m on Hollywoodbets July day.