Please Note: The Turffontein race meeting scheduled for today, Thursday 4 December, has been moved to the Vaal Classic Track.

Turffontein has received significant rainfall over the past few days, resulting in an inconsistent track surface in several areas.

The Vaal Classic Track is in excellent condition following the recent scarification.

The pen reading was 25 yesterday afternoon and, there was overnight rainfall, so is expected to remain similar.

Race times remain unchanged.

Races 2 and 3 are now over  1450m

Races 7 anf 8 are now over 1200m

Please Note: South African Quartet Pools with fractional betting offered at Chelmsford City and Wincanton (UK) – 4 December 2025

Warren Lenferna

Proud owner Francis Carruthers was on course at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth yesterday to lead in both his winners. His first victory came early in the first race with Digby from the Shane Humby yard, who won well despite drifting across the track in the closing stages. Digby was excellently handled by Richard Fourie and is part-owned by Carruthers with Kim Bosman, Janet Hunter, Edward Hector and Ian Robinson. Second-placed Trailfinder can be followed with confidence, as he caught the eye when gaining momentum close to home and should not remain a maiden for much longer.

Ignite The Fire was superbly ridden by apprentice Damyan Pillay for Paddy Kruyer to win the second, the first of the two apprentice races on the card. Kruyer was complimentary of Pillay’s ride, mentioning that he has a racing brain and what appears to be a bright future.

Sommerstern, from the Woodruff yard, landed the spoils in the third. He seems decent and should go on to win more. Prairie Dawn got going when the race was over and should win next time out, which will more than likely be over even further.

It was in the sixth race where Carruthers notched up his second win of the day. This time he took the entire first cheque as the sole owner of the Pomodoro gelding Kebonalesedi, who was given an clever ride by Callan Murray. Eric Sands had Kebonalesedi spot-on in terms of fitness, and it was a ding-dong tussle to the line. Murray got his mount’s nose down at exactly the right moment.

The second and last of the apprentice races was won by Fort Red, who was comprehensively backed and nicely handled by Port Elizabeth–based rider Bavish Soodoo. Mike Stewart has his horses in a good space and, for all the tea in China, it was clear that the support for the evergreen eight-year-old was going to prove correct. The rest of the field chased, but chased in absolute vain.

Speaking of good efforts from the saddle, Grant van Niekerk got the handsome son of Master Of My Fate, Major Master, to lift and grab first prize in the forth race, a B Stakes over 1500m. Major Master was having his third run since a layoff and proved to be a on song for the race. He is trained by Candice Bass.

David Thiselton

A Progress Plate and two fillies and mares high level handicaps are the highlights of the Turffontein Standside’s eight race meeting today.

In the Progress Plate over 2000m Read All About is the joint best in at the weights and and his 0,25 length second to The Ultimate King looks good now as the latter finished third in the Summer Cup. He and Don’t Cry For Me are officially 5kg better off with any of the other runners. Read All About it has a fair draw of three out of six. Don’t Cry For Me  ran on Saturday over this same course and distance and was beaten 13,10 lengths, although the time of the race was a second quicker than the Betway Summer Cup, so he was not disgraced. He now has pole position as opposed to eight on Saturday. He has tended to take a bit of a hold and it was thus the great Piere Strydom who got the best out of him with his sublime hands. Craig Zackey, who is also known for his soft hands, is the perfect choice of rider for him. He should be right there. The one who makes most appeal for third place is Royal Edition.

In the seventh race, a MR 97 handicap for fillies and mares over 1160m, Stars and Bra’s has a chance on form from a nice high draw, but it is wide open. Tuscan Romance has been knocking hard too and also has a light weight to carry, but a low draw could be a slight concern. Frozen Fantasy has to give the former pair a lot of weight but has the class to be involved especially with Zackey aboard. Poblano has been running below her best but her best races have been with Muzi Yeni up and he gets the ride from a nice middle draw. Pointer could also bounce back to form from a nice high draw.

In the fifth. a MR 93 handicap for fillies and mares over 1800m, Accept Cookies goes for a third win in her last four starts and this progressive sort can do it off a three point higher mark. She enjoyed the step up to 1700m last time and being out of a See You Think mare will likely enjoy the further step up to 1800m. Warning Sound disappointed last time but the yard have had some virus issues and she is capable of a lot better and on pedigree should relish the step up in trip. Key Worker is well bred being a full sister to Surcharge and can follow on from her last win over 2000m as the yard is in  form. Arctic Silver is in fine form and can earn again over the distance of her last two wins. Kissing Machine has the form to be a contender from a fair draw.

In the third over 1400m, the first leg of the Pick 6, Jaffa went close to the promising Wayne on debut and can go one better, although he does have a wide draw to overcome. Gavius Maximus improved stepped up to 1600m from sprints and should enjoy this trip too from pole position. Space Mission is improving and can go close with Zackey up.

In the next race over 1800m  Anahita is a full sister to Rascallion and should relish the step up in trip but she does have a tricky draw. Real Stunner has the form to be a contender but does have a wide draw, although Gavin Lerena could help him overcome it. Onceinabluemoon could be in the shake up here as she should relish the step up in trip on form. Stokesy went close when stepped up to 1700m second time out and has a chance if able to overcome a wide draw. Naretoi has a fine chance from a fair draw if able to repeat his last run.

In the sixth race over 1800m Duchess Of Paloma is a progressive sort who will relish this trip and she starts off handicapping off a nice mark of 71, although her draw of six out of eleven is tricky.  Surprise Party went close in her first try at a middle distance and has a plum draw. Scarlett Heart was not disgraced first time out the maidens and could earn. Lady Blunt is going for a hattrick but does have a four point raise to overcome. Red Sparrow is capable of popping up from a good draw.

In the eighth race over 1160m Victory In Orleans comes from a strong form race and should be in the shake up. Vamanos won her maiden well and starts on a reasonable mark. She’s All Mine has the form to be right there.

In the second race over 1400m, the first leg of the Bipot, Winds Of Change is knocking hard and gets a 4kg claimer up but does have a tricky draw. Kortvandraad was never far back in Cape Town and can improve on her Highveld debut. Delaware River is knocking on the door but does have a tricky draw. Pleiades Star stayed on for second over 1200m last time and should enjoy this trip. Utsaah is improving but does have a wide draw to overcome.

RACE 1

1 DON’T CRY FOR ME 6 READ ALL ABOUT IT 4 ROYAL EDITION 7 TAKE NO PRISONERS

Preview: 1 DON’T CRY FOR ME will be ridden by Craig Zackey, who will suit her perfectly as she can ruin her chances by taking too strong a hold but if relaxing she has class and she should enjoy this trip from a plum draw. 6 READ ALL ABOUT IT looks to be coming into his own and should be a runner from a fair draw. 4 ROYAL EDITION is capable of popping up. 7 TAKE NO PRISONERS improved with blinkers last time and can improve again. (David Thiselton 1-6-4-7)

RACE 2

1 WINDS OF GRACE 2 KORTVANDRAAD 3 DELAWARE RIVER 7 PLEIADES STAR

Preview: 1 WINDS OF GRACE is knocking hard and gets a 4kg claimer up but does have a tricky draw. 2 KORTVANDRAAD was never far back in Cape Town and can improve on her Highveld debut. 3 DELAWARE RIVER is knocking on the door but does have a tricky draw. 7 PLEIADES STAR stayed on for second over 1200m last time and should enjoy this trip. (David Thiselton 1-2-3-7)

RACE 3

12 JAFFA 4 GAVIUS MAXIMUS 5 SPACE MISSION

Preview: 12 JAFFA went close to a fair sort on debut and can go one better. 4 GAVIUS MAXIMUS is improving and should be a threat. 5 SPACE MISSION went close over 1700m last time but should handle this trip too. (David Thiselton 12-4-5)

RACE 4

15 ANAHITA 1 REAL STUNNER 14 ONCEINABLUEMOON 12 STOKESY

Preview: 15 ANAHITA is a full sister to Rascallion and should relish the step up in trip but she does have a tricky draw. 1 REAL STUNNER has the form to be a contender but does have a wide draw. 14 ONCEINABLUEMOON could be in the shake up here. 12 STOKESY went close when stepped up to 1700m and has a chance. (David Thiselton 15-1-14-12)

RACE 5

2 ACCEPT COOKIES 5 WARNING SOUND 4 KEY WORKER 8 ARTIC SILVER

Preview: 2 ACCEPT COOKIES goes for a third win in her last four starts and this progressive sort can do it off a three point higher mark. 5 WARNING SOUND disappointed last time but the yard have had some virus issues and she is capable of a lot better. 4 KEY WORKER is well bred being a full sister to Surcharge and can follow on from her last win as the yard is in  form. 8 ARTIC SILVER is in fine form and can earn again. (David Thiselton 2-5-4-8)

RACE 6

3 DUCHESS OF PALOMA 5 SURPRISE PARTY 4 SCARLETT HEART 2 LADY BLUNT

Preview: 3 DUCHESS OF PALOMA looks to have plenty of scope for improvement and starts handicapping off an attractive mark. 5 SURPRISE PARTY went close in her first try at a middle distance and has a plum draw. 4 SCARLETT HEART was not disgraced first time out the maidens and could earn. 2 LADY BLUNT is going for a hattrick but does have a four point raise to overcome. (David Thiselton 3-5-4-2)

RACE 7

10 STARS AND BRA’S 11 TUSCAN ROMANCE 1 FROZEN FANTASY 2 POBLANO

Previews: 10 STARS AND BRA’S has been knocking on the door here and gets a good opportunity here from a nice high draw. 11 TUSCAN ROMANCE has some useful form too and can also be in the shake up.  1 FROZEN FANTASY has the ability to be right there too. 2 POBLANO can do a lot better than last time but needs to bounce back. (David Thiselton 10-11-1-2)

RACE 8

2 VICTORY IN ORLEANS 9 VAMANOS 8 SHE’S ALL MINE

Preview: 2 VICTORY IN ORLEANS comes from a strong form race and should be in the shake up. 9 VAMANOS won her maiden well and starts on a reasonable mark. 8 SHE’S ALL MINE has the form to be right there. (David Thiselton 2-9-8)