David Thiselton

Turffontein Standside hosts an interesting eight race meeting today and there looks to be opportunities for both exotic and on the nose punters.

The highest rated race on the card is the seventh, a MR 90 handicap for fillies and mares over 1600m and the progressive Lady Amherst can follow up on her last win, which was over this trip down the Vaal straight. That race did not pan out too well from an unfavourable low draw and she raced without cover in the front for the first half of the race and did not settle perfectly. It was thus commendable that the big filly, who has grown into her big frame, found extra to get up. In her previous start over today’s course and distance she appeared to have found a good position from draw six, one out and three back, but then pulled and S’Manga Khumalo had no option but to let her go and she thus rounded the few ahead of her coming up Turffontein’s energy-sapping hill. It was thus commendable she ran all the way to the line to be beaten just 0,40 lengths by Ululate. Three winners, including herself, have come out of that race. She was raised four points for her last win but now has a good draw of three and Khumalo would have learnt from those last two runs. It would be no surprise to see him taking her to the front and attempting to dictate. Querari Ferrari should beat Lady Amherst on a line through Ululate. Lady Amherst received 5kg from Ululate and lost to her by 0,40 lengths. Querari Ferrari gave Ululate 2kg in the Listed Syringa Handicap last time and beat her by 4,65 lengths. However, other collateral form points to Ululate having run below par in her last two outings and Querari Ferrari also has a tough draw to overcome. Sultanah gave Lady Amherst 2.5kg and a 0,40 length beating over this trip on the Inside track last November. There is now not only a reversal in draw fortune that favours Lady Amherst but the latter is also receiving 4kg. However, Sultanah proved how useful she is last time when going down narrowly over this trip on the Vaal Classic track to the progressive Paton’s Tears. She received 2kg from Ululate that day and beat her by 3,25 lengths which puts her ahead of Lady Amherst on that bit of form. However, on direct form between them Lady Amherst is ahead of Sultanah which might point to the Ululate form-line not being consistent. Now You See Me has a fine chance on paper with Lady Amherst as she is 2kg better off with her for a 0,40 length beating. She raced in front that day down the Vaal straight. However, she does not have as much scope as Lady Amherst and is also a touch one-paced so will need to find the front from draw six but might be kept out by Lady Amherst. Now You See Me sneaks into the handicap with the minimum weight and Chase Maujean knows her well. The topweight Rouge Allure is now seven years old but is still capable and enjoys this trip there days. She was beaten 4,75 lengths by Lady Amherst last time and is only 2.5kg better off. However, she does prefer going around the turn and is drawn in two so can’t be discounted off a mark that is now two points lower than her last win, which was on the Inside course last August. Making A Scene has a shout on paper on the grounds of her last run over this trip where she beat Lady Amherst by a short-head as she faces her on the same terms but in reality is 1kg better off if weight for age improvement is taken into account. However, there is a reversal in draw fortune that favours Lady Amherst. Ideal Angel goes for a hat-trick and as a typically progressive Ideal World four-year-old she is hard to ignore although Warren Kennedy is replaced by Ryan Munger and Kennedy rides the former KZN horse Nirvana Girl, who ran well over this trip first time out the maidens at Hollywoodbets Greyville. However, Nirvana Girl will likely find it tougher on the Highveld and she hasn’t race for five-and-a-half months. Golden Spoon represents the in form Mike de Kock yard and comes off a win over 1450m. However, she had previously been beaten 0,25 lengths over this trip by Ideal Angel and is now 2kg worse off in real terms and 1kg worse off if weight for age improvement is considered. That leaves Sweet And Spicy and Let There Be Light who will have to improve on their recent form and the former is returning from a layoff too. It is an open race but they are selected in the order mentioned.

In the previous race, a Classified Stakes race over 1600m, Encore makes appeal as a possible banker. She won a Classified event cosily last time over this trip and is the joint best weighted here and can follow up against uninspiring opposition. However, she does have a tricky draw of seven and the risk averse can also include Fifth Of July, who reverts to his probable best trip for the first time since his maiden win, and All Aglow, who is the joint best weighted and is distance suited and well drawn.    

 Andrew Harrison

The hunger for turf racing sees a ten-race programme at Hollywoodbets Scottsville tomorrow and punters are faces with competitive handicaps with mostly maximum fields.

This is a sure recipe for some upset results but the Tony Rivalland-trained Rain Wear could provide some protection in the exotics where she lines up in the fifth. She has been runner-up in her last three in what stacks up to be a fairly modest maiden field she should be able to go one better.

The balance of the card will keep all guessing.

In the first leg of the Pick 6 Namaqua Dove has improved with every start and he gets a very much in form rider aboard that could make all the difference. Zuberi is drawn on the opposite side of the course when runner-up to the strongly fancied Mr Master Starter last time out but he has taken time to shed his maiden.

The sixth is a tough handicap but although Flying First Class was a narrow winner first up for her new stable she can come on from that effort and from a good draw can follow up. Top Me Up Holly took on stronger last run when recording back-to-back wins and has yet to miss a place so should be right there again. Rise has gone close at her last two and is in good form while Panna has her first run for a new stable. She took on stronger last run and is one to watch.

The seventh is another difficult handicap over ground but the mare Mrs Hotline looked a winner before Saint Phillip collared her close home last time out. She stays well and from a good draw can go close again. Dream Destiny has shown his best over course and distance and although he jumps from a tricky draw, he has a top ride aboard. Before Noon has his third run after a break and caught the eye last run and over his optimum trip. 

The final leg of the first jackpot could rest between Kapen Pride who has come on nicely at recent starts and has been taking on stronger. He does switch to the turf but has the best of the draw. Mr Gonzales is well regarded by his stable but not the easiest. He showed something like his best form last run and if he can get it together, he will be a threat.

Scottsville is a horse’s for course and Blaze Of Silk is just that. He is at his best over course and distance and was narrowly beaten at his last two. Should he not run up to expectations then there will be a host of challengers. Princekresh could be a threat as he was well supported in the betting last run over course and distance when back on the turf. The filly Wizz of Odds has taken time to come down in the handicap but goes well this course and distance while King’s Road has smart form on the poly and can follow up on his last win if he takes to the turf. Valiente is quick and goes well this trip and is a must include in all calculations.

David Thiselton

The Justin Snaith-trained Crown Towers has been supplemented for the Vodacom Durban July after winning the Grade 3 Hollywoodbets Dolphins Cup Trial over 1800m at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday having earlier being scratched from the big race following his disappointing fourth place finish in the Grade 2 WSB 1900. 

The difference between the two races was that his chances of getting to the front in the WSB 1900 were scuppered by the horse drawn inside of him, Share Holder, whereas none of the horses inside of him on Saturday wanted the lead and he was able to get to the front fairly easily from a wide draw of seven out of eight.

He was thus able to bowl along in front using his stride the way he likes to and it also gave him the chance to fend off the challengers in the straight which he has been shown time and time again to be capable of.

In the 1900 he was caught one wide on the leaders quarters and tended to over-race, so it was not surprising he found little extra in the straight.

On Saturday he showed his usual good kick at the top of the straight to steal a length on Tristful, who had sat behind him in the running. Tristful then ran on to join him on his inside, while Nexus and Capoeira were challenging on his outside.

However, he dug down when Richard Fourie asked him the question and found enough to get up by a neck from Tristful with Nexus 0,40 lengths further back in third. 

Jay August, South Africa’s sectional timing guru, summed up the reason for Crown Towers’ ability to win from the front.

He said, “He can set both moderate and challenging although never overly fast fractions, and stay on the front end to the line. He had to go a bit faster in the Cup Trial than he has so far this year, but not overly fast, and he did so without much fuss.”
He added, “Runner-up Tristful is similar to Crown Towers with two exceptions. He rates just off pace rather than sets it and he more easily finds the runner-up berth than he does the winner box.”

In fact, Tristful has not won a race since October 2019 but has finished second six times since then.

Saturday’s sponsor now have Got The Greenlight at 5/2 outright favourite for the July, with Rainbow Bridge and Linebacker next best together at 9/2. 

Thirty one entries remain in the running for a gate in the R2 million Gr1 Vodacom Durban July after final supplementary and weight stage was reached today.

Final declarations for the 2200m spectacular to be run at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday, 3 July close at 11h00 on Monday 21 June.

The announcement of the final field of 18 plus 2 reserve runners, and their barrier draws, will take place on Tuesday, 22 June.

Rainbow Bridge	(6G)	60	134	A	Eric Sands
Belgarion	(5G)	58	130	A	Justin Snaith
Do It Again	(6G)	57,5	129	A	Justin Snaith
Got The Greenlight	(4C)	55	124	AT	Joe Soma
ExpressFromTheUS	(4G)	54	122	A	Stuart Pettigrew
Sovereign Spirit	(5G)	54	122	BA	Candice Bass-Robinson
Linebacker	(3G)	53	124	A	Vaughan Marshal
Rascallion	(3G)	53	123	A	Vaughan Marshal
Kommetdieding	(3C)	53	122	A	HWJ Crawford/M Rix
Cirillo	(5H)	53	120	A	Sean Tarry
Shah Akbar	(3C)	53	119	AT	Sean Tarry
Doublemint	(6G)	53	118	A	Justin Snaith
Crown Towers(AUS)	(5G)	53	117	A M	Justin Snaith
Nexus	(5G)	53	117	A	Justin Snaith
Atyaab(AUS)	(5G)	53	114	A	Zietsman Oosthuizen
Tristful	(5G)	53	113	A	Tony Rivalland
Shango	(4G)	53	111	BAT	Sean Tarry
Flying Carpet	(3C)	53	110	AT	Sean Tarry
Silver Host	(4G)	53	110	A	Justin Snaith
Divine Odyssey	(6G)	53	109	BA	J A Janse van Vuuren
Tree Tumbo	(4G)	53	109	A	Sean Tarry
Johnny Hero	(4G)	53	106	BA	Tyrone Zackey
African Night Sky	(7G)	53	105	A	Justin Snaith
Pack Leader	(6G)	53	105	AT	Alec Laird
Azores	(4G)	53	104	A	Dean Kannemeyer
Super Silvano	(4G)	53	104	A	Brett Crawford
Matterhorn	(4G)	53	101	A	Alyson Wright
Running Brave	(5M)	52,5	119	A	Fanie Bronkhorst
War Of Athena	(3F)	52	122	A	Paul Matchett
Seeham	(4F)	52	107	A	Sean Tarry
She’s A Keeper	(4F)	52	96	A	Gareth Van Zyl

David Thiselton

The Eric Sands-trained Rainbow Bridge put himself in line for the Equus Horse Of The Year award when winning the Grade 1 weight-for-age Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge over 1600m at Hollywoodbets Greyville yesterday under Luke Ferraris.

Sands will be wondering how he will ever replace Ferraris when the latter leaves for his contract riding position in Hong Kong as the six-year-old Rainbow Bridge has never been in better form since being partnered by the 19-year-old. 

In five rides together they have now finished narrow seconds in both the Grade 2 WSB Greenpoint Stakes and Grade 1 WFA L’Ormarin’s Queen’s Plate and then rattled off wins in the Grade 2 IOS Drill Hall Stakes, the Grade 1 Cape Town Met and the Grade 1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge.  

Seeking The Stars was expected to lead but started tardily. However, Grant van Niekerk surprisingly did not make more effort to keep Cirillo out. Instead he hung back and Seeking The Stars, not able to use his stride, raced too strongly in second.

The strapping Jet Dark, having his first run since winning the Queen’s Plate five months ago, found the box seat on the rail but was tending to over-race.

WSB Dingaans winner Catch Twentytwo managed to slot in front of him at the 900m mark, which posed a problem for Rainbow Bridge who was now left one wide without cover. 

However, Rainbow Bridge remained beautifully relaxed and sauntered up to Seeking The Stars, who had moved past Cirillo at the top of the straight.

Catch Twentytwo was posing a threat on the inside but Ferraris got to work at the 200m mark and Rainbow Bridge lengthened his stride to beat the former by a cosy 0,30 lengths.

Chimichuri Run, who had sat behind Rainbow Bridge in the running, ran on strongly to deny Seeking The Stars third place. Belgarion and Jet Dark both proved in need it, finishing fifth and sixth respectively. 

Rainbow Bridge, an Ideal World gelding owned by Mike and Norma Rattray and bred by Wilgerbosdrift and Mauritzfontein Stud, has now won eleven of his 23 starts, including five Grade 1s.

Hollywoodbets recognised their business partners in the Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge meeting at Hollywoodbets Greyville yesterday and the supporting features provided some thrilling finishes.

In the Grade 3 Hollywoodbets Dolphins Cup Trial over 1800m the Justin Snaith-trained Crown Towers took up his favourite front-running role and in his normal courageous fashion kept going to narrowly defeat fellow VDJ entrants Tristful and Nexus.

In the Grade 2 East Coast Radio Tibouchina Stakes over 1400m, the Glen Kotzen-trained Caya Coco, the only horse to have ever beaten star filly Captain’s Ransom, burst through from a handy position to beat pacemaker Wisteria Walk by 1,50 lengths with the outsider Zimbaba running on well for third. 

In the Listed Cell C Sharks Gatecrasher Stakes the favourite, the Dean Kannemeyer-trained Cosmic Highway, produced a late surge under Keagan de Melo to get up by a long-head from long-time leader Party Time with Waterberry Lane in third. 

In the Listed Lighthouse Foundation Devon Air Stakes over 1400m the Sean Tarry-trained Twice The Trip ran on resolutely to keep the fast-finishing Kailene at bay and win by a quarter-of-a-length with Miss Putin staying on for third.

The Rising Sun Durban Dash was won by  the Kumaran Naidoo-trained outsider Ziva La Winter under Calvin Habib.