David Thiselton

A Middle Stakes race over 1600m and a MR100 handicap for fillies and mares over 1160m are the two highlights of the Turffontein Standside meeting today.

In the Middle Stakes event Bacchus should appreciate the step back down in trip to 1600m having finished 2,5 lengths behind the useful Claw last time over this trip. He has subsequently come down to a merit rating of 98 and under the conditions of this race he is only half-a-kilogram under sufferance with the best weighted. S’Manga Khumalo is in good form and gets the ride. Command Pilot has come down to a reasonable merit rating of 93 and he was beaten 4.4 lengths by Claw when they last met, so there should not be much between him and Bacchus, considering he has a better draw than he had when facing Claw. Presley is a capable sort who is distance suited. He beat Command Pilot last time by 0.3 lengths, but is now half-a-kilogram worse off. He  has a wide draw to overcome. Willow Express can never be ignored over this trip and he is one of the many joint best weighted runners. He has a fair draw and a featherweight of 52kg. Jury’s Out is drawn in pole in his second run after a three-and-a-half month layoff and he will be a big runner with Gavin Lerena up if he is at his best.

In the MR100 Handicap over 1160m Miss Argonaut looks to be a promising sort and can make it three wins from five starts for an in form combination of Mike and Mathew de Kock and Callan Murray. Flight Of A Condor looks to be useful and is on the way up and she sneaks into the handicap with the minimum weight, although the low draw could be a slight concern. Blizzard Snow in fine form and has an effective 2kg claimer up as Savannah Valjalo  carries 2kg overweight. One Fell Swoop has been a touch disappointing, but has run some good races recently and with Lerena up can be in the shake up. Komati River has run behind some useful sorts recently and can’t be discounted. Famous Lady can also be in the shake up if finding her best form. Stars and Bra’s could be thereabouts if bouncing back.

In the first leg of the P6, Monkey Puzzle had some useful form in Cape Town and could be a contender if bouncing back from his poor last two runs.

Amandla Ngawethu has shown some signs of ability and could be a runner here. Best candidate is a half brother to three-time winner Symphony of Light. Echoes of War is by Rafeef out of an unraced Gimmethegreenlight mare who is a half-sister to a Gr 3-placed horse by Jet Master. Lannyboy made a fair debut and could earn here. 

In the fifth race Golden Aspen has a chance if able to repeat his last start. Blindfire won quite well in the maidens and in this line-up could do well off an 80 merit rating. Oriental Bouquet has come down to a competitive mark, but she has become unreliable. Global Thunder has the form to be a contender. Valieva will be a big runner if able to overcome a possibly unfavourable low draw.

In the sixth race Dual Prophecy is a half brother to See It Again and has always looked promising, so after a good last run he might now be ready to put his best foot forward. Molotov Cocktail won second time out and being by Danon Platina out of Nother Russia, who was top class from 1600m up to this 2000m trip, he is an interesting runner. Flag Bearer was caught wide last time out under an apprentice and can make amends from pole position under Calvin Habib. Volte Face could be in the shake up if reproducing his last start. Storm Ahead could also be a contender here if bouncing back to his best over a more suitable trip.

In the last race Prime Venture has some useful Cape Town form and should be effective over this trip off a probably supressed merit rating, considering the superior class of horse in Cape Town. Birthright has plenty of ability and should be right there from a plum draw. The Playboy Bomber is on the up and has the form to be a contender, but does have to overcome a tricky draw. King of Numbers has the form to be involved, but has to prove he stays this trip. Bloomington is drawn in pole and is always difficult to ignore.

In the first leg of the PA Heavenly Good is by Heavenly Blue and is a half-sister to the six-time winner Player. Comic Artist is by Master of My Fate and is a half-sister to four-time winner Tobacconist. Babette’s Feast is a half-sister to the Listed winner Secret Identity. Those three first-timers could be the ones to side with because there is not much form to go on here. Iconic Winter made a good debut, but was then off for a year and will need to improve on her comeback effort. Cyber Spirit has shown some signs of ability. 

In the first race and first leg of the Bipot Matcha Mint has been knocking on the door and from a good draw should be right there. Stampede Ahead made a fair debut and should appreciate the step up in trip, although she was due to run on Thursday. Daisy Jones ran well last time and should be in the shake up. Rejuvenate has some good form and should also be thereabouts. Scarlett Heart has some fair form and with Piere Strydom up should be a runner too.

RACE 1     

2 MATCHA MINT 6 STAMPEDE AHEAD 1 DAISY JONES 3 REJUVENATE

Preview: 2 MATCHA MINT has been knocking on the door and from a good draw should be right there. 6 STAMPEDE AHEAD made a fair debut and should appreciate the step up in trip, although she was due to run on Thursday. 1 DAISY JONES ran well last time and should be in the shake-up. 3 REJUVENATE has some good form and should also be thereabouts. (David Thiselton 2-6-1-3)

RACE 2     

7 HEAVENLY GOOD 4 COMIC ARTIST 3 BABETTE’S FEAST 2 ICONIC WINTER

Preview: 7 HEAVENLY GOOD is by Heavenly Blue and is a half-sister to the six-time winner Player. 4 COMIC ARTIST is by Master Of My Fate and is a half-sister to four-time winner Tobacconist. 3 BABETTE’S FEAST is a half-sister to the listed winner Secret Identity. 2 ICONIC WINTER made a good debut but was then off for a year and will need to improve on her comeback effort. (David Thiselton 7-4-3-2)

RACE 3     

2 MONKEY PUZZLE 1 AMANDLA NGAWETHU 3 BEST CANDIDATE 5 ECHOES OF WAR

Preview: 2 MONKEY PUZZLE had some useful form in Cape Town and if able to put his last two runs behind him he is a candidate in this uninspiring field. 1 AMANDLA NGAWETHU has shown some signs of ability and could be a runner here. 3 BEST CANDIDATE is a half-brother to three-time winner Symphony of Light. 5 ECHOES OF WAR is by Rafeef out of an unraced Gimmethegreenlight mare who is a half-sister to a Gr 3-placed Jet Master mare. (David Thiselton 2-1-3-5)

RACE 4     

2 MISS ARGONAUT 7 FLIGHT OF A CONDOR 6 BLIZZARD SNOW 1 ONE FELL SWOOP

Preview: 2 MISS ARGONAUT looks to be useful and can make it three wins from five starts. 7 FLIGHT OF A CONDOR also looks to be a useful sort and can continue to progress. 6 BLIZZARD SNOW is in fine form and has an effective 2kg claimer up as Savanna Valjalo carries 2kg overweight.  1 ONE FELL SWOOP has been a touch disappointing but has run some good races recently and with Lerena up can be in the shake up. (David Thiselton 2-7-6-1) 

RACE 5     

7 GOLDEN ASPEN 8 BLINDFIRE 11 ORIENTAL BOUQUET 6 GLOBAL THUNDER

Preview: 7 GOLDEN ASPEN went close last time and can win with a repeat. 8 BLINDFIRE won quite well in the maidens and in this line up could do well off an 80 merit rating. 11 ORIENTAL BOUQUET has come down to a competitive mark. 6 GLOBAL THUNDER has the form to be a contender. (David Thiselton 7-8-11-6)

RACE 6     

3 DUAL PROPHECY 1 MOLOTOV COCKTAIL 5 FLAG BEARER 4 VOLTE FACE

Preview: 3 DUAL PROPHECY is a half-brother to See It Again and is coming to hand so should do well over a suitable trip. 1 MOLOTOV COCKTAIL won well second time out and being by Danon Platina out of Nother Russia, who won the Gr 1 Empress Club Stakes over 1600m twice and went close in the Gr 1 Champions Challenge over 2000m, he could stay this trip under Gavin Lerena. 5 FLAG BEARER was caught wide last time out with an apprentice up and can make amends from pole position under Calvin Habib. 4 VOLTE FACE could be in the shake up if reproducing his last start. (David Thiselton 3-1-5-4)

RACE 7     

2 BACCHUS 5 COMMAND PILOT 7 PRESLEY 10 WILLOW EXPRESS

Preview: 2 BACCHUS has some class and could bounce back over the trip of his last win off a reduced merit rating. 5 COMMAND PILOT has ability and has come down to a reasonable merit rating. 7 PRESLEY should be running on and has a chance. 10 WILLOW EXPRESS can never be ignored over this suitable trip. (David Thiselton 2-5-7-10)

RACE 8     

12 PRIME VENTURE 3 BIRTHRIGHT 7 THE PLAYBOY BOMBER 5 KING OF NUMBERS

Preview: 12 PRIME VENTURE has some useful Cape Town and should be effective over this trip off a probably compressed merit rating considering the superior class of horse in Cape Town. 3 BIRTHRIGHT has plenty of ability and should be right there from a plum draw. 7 THE PLAYBOY BOMBER is on the up and has the form to be a contender but does have to overcome a tricky draw. 5 KING OF NUMBERS has the form to be involved but has to prove he stays this trip. (David Thiselton 12-3-7-5)

Soccer6 Saturday 12 July 2025. ADD-IN R75 000. Pool Closes at 21h00.Sport 5 Pool 2. Estimated Pool: R400 000.

Soccer13 Saturday 12 July 2025. Pool Closes at 15h30. Sport 10 Pool 1. R18 Million (If only One 13 of 13 Winner).

Soccer Any13X on Saturday 12 July 2025. ADD-IN R100 000. Pool Closes at 15h00. Sport 13 and Pool 1. Estimated Pool: R 250 000.

Soccer4 Sunday 13 July 2025. ADD-IN R25 000. Pool Closes at 21h00. Sport 19 and Pool 2. Estimated Pool: R100 000.

Soccer13 Sunday 13 July 2025. Carryover R1 609 224. Pool Closes at 14h30. Sport 11 Pool 1. R4 Million (All-13-Correct Pool).

Andrew Harrison

Legendary jockey and trainer Garth Puller is not easily pleased when it comes to the riders that he puts on his horses but he has stayed loyal and mentored former SAJA Head Boy Siphesihle Hlengwa, known affectionally to all at Summerveld as ‘Spare’.

Unassuming and polite, Hlengwa got two home for Puller at Hollywoodbets Scottsville yesterday.

Kanaal Skater looked to be home and dry in the third to add to Dean Kannemeyer’s Hollywoodbets Durban July victory last Saturday but was treading water late as Cardinal Chief pedaled past under Hlengwa to run him out of it with early leader Xenophon staying on for third.

Celestial Diamond found plenty of support in the market for the Gallop Form Maiden Plate, next up on the card, but Hlengwa went one better after being run out of it late last time out, to keep the favourite at bay.

Paul Matchett was not on course to lead in the well fancied Opera Fan in the card opener but may well have suffered a few heart palpitations as Calvin Habib managed to keep his charge going just long enough to hod off a rather unlucky Cassandra who came from well off the pace to be denied on the line.

It was a fine ride from Habib who had a difficult time getting his charge to the post as she stuck up at the entrance to the parade ring and had to be led past the entrance before deciding to head on to the start.

In the first leg of the PA, former Mike de Kock right-hand man Wengesai Masawi sent out his first runner from his Ashburton base and Pied Piper was far from disgraced after showing pace before tiring late. The well-backed Bruh came from off the pace, having Paul Lafferty muttering under his breath in the running, but Muzi Yeni got the well-fancied runner home ahead of Sean Tarry’s runner Master Spy, both horses held in high regard.

Royal Victory was not disgraced in defeat in last Saturday’s Hollywoodbets Durban July, coming from off the pace to finish a creditable fourth behind The Real Prince, and still the best horse in the country, Eight On Eighteen.

World Of Royalty racing in the same Pieter Victor colours yesterday and stepped up to a mile by Nathan Kotzen, the One World gelding, starting tote favourite, produced the required result under July winning rider Craig Zackey to get past 40-1 chance Carnival Park and stave off a Pick 6 ‘bomb’.

Lucinda Woodruff has paid her way with her small Champions Season raiding party and Another Dream paid her ticket when running on stoutly to hold off all challengers in the sixth. A big-striding filly, Chad Little made a winning move two furlongs out and the daughter of Futura kept rolling to hold of the late challenges from Ideal Gift and Elembee.

Well-backed Lock And Key took on male rivals in the Gallop TV B Stakes and turned in a courageous performance to hold all at bay. Under pressure from a long way out, Chad Little kept Glen Kotzen’s filly hard to her task and she responded gallantly to hold off Trois Quatre and French Trip to give Kotzen’s the 2000^th winner of his training career.

Lady Of Vix, having her second run after a four-month break, took no prisoners in rounding off the meeting. Sean Veale bounced her out of the gate and Tony Rivalland’s charge was not for the catching and never seriously in danger with Rafa’s Boy, hunting a third straight victory, never got close.