Horse Racing News | Gold Circle Horse Racing And Betting

Vaal – Saturday 24 January – Comments by David Thiselton

PUBLISHED: January 23, 2026

Race 1 3 GIMME A VODKA 1 DADS DREAM 8 THEODORE ROOSEVELD 6 SILVER COMET Preview: 3 GIMME A VODKA just failed on debut and should go one better. 1 DADS DREAM has run two fair races in strong fields. 8 THEODORE ROOSEVELD was not disgraced against some good sorts on debut and should […]

Buster Barnes targets his first SA victory

PUBLISHED: January 23, 2026

David Thiselton The Listed TAB Dr Richard Maponya Handicap over 1800m at the Vaal’s main track today could see a first South African victory for Buster Barnes, while the Listed TAB Spook Express Stakes could go to Woman’s World. In the Richard Maponya Handicap the Zimbabwe Triple Crown hero Buster Barnes has his […]

David Thiselton

The Listed TAB Dr Richard Maponya Handicap over 1800m at the Vaal’s main track today could see a first South African victory for Buster Barnes, while the Listed TAB Spook Express Stakes could go to Woman’s World.

In the Richard Maponya Handicap the Zimbabwe Triple Crown hero Buster Barnes has his third run in South Africa and although it will be his second run after a rest he has plenty of class and could be proven to be well handicapped off a 102 merit rating. On the downside, he does have a wide draw to overcome. The Ultimate King comes off a fine third in the Betway Summer Cup. However, that was an ultra tough race and he would likely have had to be freshened up, so might not be quite at his peak. He also has to carry topweight and has a wide draw. Willy Meet Again ran well in first time blinkers and she is in pole position over a step up in trip she should enjoy. Aristotle will relish this trip being by Rafeef out of the Gr 1 SA Fillies Classic winner Athina. Copper Eagle will be right there if able to repeat his penultimate start and he has a good draw.

In the Listed Spook Express Stakes over 2400m Woman’s World won easily over 2000m last time and is proven over this trip. She does have to carry the second top weight of 58kg, but looks to be at the top of one of the merit rating bands. However, she does have a wide draw to overcome. Soldier’s Eye is knocking on the door and on pedigree should relish the step up in trip. She also comes from the Marwing yard, known for their expertise with stayers. Royal Invitation won over this trip in fine style last time, but that did take her merit rating into a higher band and she thus carries joint topweight despite being rated two points lower than Soldier’s Eye. Teo Torriate is in the same boat at the weights but is a consistent sort and she should be right there. Poplar Park is 2kg better off with Royal Invitation for a two length beating, so should be right there.

In the first leg of the Pick 6 over 1200m Rockaroundtheclock was a touch disappointing last time, but on previous form has a fine chance here. Peregrine Falcon is in good form and has a shout. One Tiger should be in the shake up on form. Sea Shanty has had bad luck with draws but is interesting dropped in trip here down the straight with cheekpieces on because he does pack a strong finish. Prized Platinum has the form to be a contender.

In the fifth race over 2400m Arlington Action is a reliable stayer and was only beaten last time when carrying 60.5kg by a filly who benefited from the Classified Conditions of the race, so he should be in the shake up. Top Shelf Teddy has plenty of ability and is interesting over this trip being by Master Of My Fate out of a Captain Al mare who won over 1800m. Military Moves has fair form over 2000m and should enjoy this trip being out of a daughter of Front House, who won twice over this trip. Euphrates won well in the maidens when stepped up to this trip with blinkers on and starts handicapping off a reasonable 67 merit rating. Banha Bridge stays the trip and could earn again.

The eighth over 1700m should be fought out by Trombolines and Jaffa, who have both shown themselves to be sorts who could be going places. Trombolines’ form has been franked so he gets the vote. Tommy Atkins has shown a lot of ability and could earn. Prince Of Kildare has the form to earn. Page Boy has been disappointing, but from pole position could earn. Birthright has the ability to have a shout.

In the first leg of the PA over 1200m Stoneywood is a full brother to Dyce and will be hard to beat unless his high draw of nine turns out to be disadvantageous. Balule showed promise before a long rest and can’t be ignored.

In the first race over 1200m Gimme A Vodka just failed on debut and should go one better.

In the second over 1200m Master’s Lady is knocking on the door and gets a good opportunity here.

In the tenth over 1400m Mattiazo won easily last time and although now having an eight point raise to overcome Zackey has stayed aboard.

Cats Pajamas can stamp his class

PUBLISHED: January 23, 2026

Andrew Harrison Cats Pajamas has always been up there with the country’s top sprinters and he gets a chance to show his mettle when he lines up in the African Holly Stakes over 1100m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Sunday and could prove to be one of the better bets on a bumper 10-race programme in […]

Andrew Harrison

Cats Pajamas has always been up there with the country’s top sprinters and he gets a chance to show his mettle when he lines up in the African Holly Stakes over 1100m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Sunday and could prove to be one of the better bets on a bumper 10-race programme in spite of facing some speedy opposition under a big weight.

The Rafeef gelding has his first run for Nathan Kotzen and is the second-best weighted behind regular visitor William Robertson who is something of a course specialist.

Cats Pajamas has not been out since late November where he contested a Pinnacle Stakes race at Turffontein when under the care of Frank Robertson and running a commendable two-lengths off the smart Minogue who was in receipt of 8 kg.

Prior to that he had solid form behind the likes of I Am Giant and Gladatorian but his best recent effort was a two-length fourth in the Gr1 Mercury Sprint at WFA behind Buffalo Storm Cody.

Given that Kotzen has him close to his best, he could take some beating. But as mentioned he is up against a course specialist in William Robertson.

The gelding has been a soldier for Corne Spies, winning 15 races and getting his just rewards when winning the Gr1 Computaform Sprint last season.

His form since then has been a little patchy since but he has been forced to shoulder big weights. He finished second to surprise winner Captain Bombshell in this race last year and given that he is the best weighted, he should make a spirited bid.

Tony Rivalland saddles the speedy King Of The Gauls who finally showed his true ability last time out when sprinting home unchallenged on the Hollywoodbets Greyville poly. If he can carry that form back onto the turf he should also be in the firing line as he is super quick.

Of the balance, Convocation is seldom far back but jumps in class and in spite of her light weight she should be out-gunned.

Wild Justice will be looking to follow up on his recent victory when he lines up in the B Stakes, next on the card.

Gareth van Zyl’s colt has won three of his four starts and still looks to be under the handicapper’s radar. However, he is 3kg worse off with Garth Puller’s runner Major Tommie on their last meeting and will need to up his game if he is going to confirm the placings although the trip also seems to be in his favour. Circumbendibus was a winner all the way to the line at his last start before being snaffled on the line. He has come good of late and should be a contender. Dark horse could be Cowboy Country. He is lightly raced and has shown some promise. With his handy weight he should at least feature prominently.

Mark Dixon sends out Master Du Rouvray in the C Stakes over 1950m and the gelding has not been out of the money in his last five starts including two wins. He has a fair weight but looks capable of going in again. Biggest danger could come from High Queue who has been in good form for his new stable since arriving in KZN and finished runner-up at his last two. The blinkers are back on and this trip suits. Spectacular is seldom far back and with a 4kg claimer aboard should be competitive in this line-up.

An interesting runner on the day comes in the first, the KZN Futurity Plate where two-year-old ace trainer Mike Miller saddles Master Magician. The Summerveld dogs were backing long before he made his debut with touts not slow to clock the gallops in spite of Miller and he assistants back in bed before most start work in the mornings. Master Magician was super impressive on debut and was well supported in the market. He could prove hard to beat unless there is a springer in the form of a couple of unraced runners.

Andrew Fortune makes the trip from Cape Town and Blue Steel can pay for his air fare. The Candice Bass-trained gelding arrives with some promising Cape form and could prove too strong for this field although it is a competitive line-up where Dubai Dude and Eastern Highlands are among the main contenders.

The opening leg of the Pick 6 is an open maiden over 2400m. Day Two has only had three starts and steps up in trip. He was not far back in a useful maiden field last run and if he stays he should at least be in the placings. Doug Campbell saddles Peeping Tom who has shown signs of coming to hand at his last two and the step up in trip may suit. Window To My Soul has been consistent over shorter of late and if he stays the extra he will be a big runner.

In the fifth, Gareth van Zyl sends out La Maddalena in a tricky handicap but his filly has improved since being tried over ground and comes from an in form stable with a handy galloping weight. Curious Girl disappointed when favourite first run out of the maidens but that was on the poly. She can make amends back on turf and is one to watch in the market. Fine Wine caused a major boil-over when winning first up out of the maidens but she has made recent improvement. She gets a 4kg claimer aboard and could go in again.

The final leg of the Pick 6 is an open handicap but Fascination was caught late at her last two and only has 51kg to shoulder. Light Of Gabriel landed the odds narrowly when coming from a long way back to snaffle Fascination on the line. She is now 2kg worse off but given her style of racing, she can deny the handicap as she is lightly raced and still improving. Tomyris goes back to sprinting but is smart on her day. This may be on the short side but she is definitely not out of it. Winter Rainfall has not been out of the money since arriving in KZN. She too is better off at the weights with Light Of Gabriel and can send Fortune back to Cape Town in high spirits.

Hollywoodbets Scottsville Sunday 25 January 2026 – Comments by Andrew Harrison

PUBLISHED: January 23, 2026

RACE 1 8 MASTER MAGICIAN 3 SPIRIT OF GABZ 6 BETTER NEVER ENDS 4 JAPURA Summary: MASTER MAGICIAN (8) was super impressive when winning on debut and was well supported in the market. He could prove hard to beat. SPIRIT OF GABZ (3) has had plenty of experience and shed his maiden against winners. He […]

RACE 1

8 MASTER MAGICIAN 3 SPIRIT OF GABZ 6 BETTER NEVER ENDS 4 JAPURA

Summary: MASTER MAGICIAN (8) was super impressive when winning on debut and was well supported in the market. He could prove hard to beat. SPIRIT OF GABZ (3) has had plenty of experience and shed his maiden against winners. He just got home last time out. BETTER NEVER ENDS (6) improved nicely at second time of asking over course and distance. JAPURA (4) has finished in the money at her last two and should be thereabouts again. (Andrew Harrison: 8-3-6-4).

RACE 2

4 BEST OF ALL 1 WINTER BLESSING 8 WINTER IN LONDON 9 GREEN TICKET

Summary: BEST OF ALL (4) found strong market support on debut over course and distance but found one too good. With that experience he can make amends. The filly WINTER BLESSING (1) has not been out of the money since raced in blinkers. She has a handy weight with a 4kg claimer aboard. WINTER IN LONDON (8) was a little disappointing in the soft last run after a promising previous showing. He gets cheek pieces and a tongue-tie.. GREEN TICKET (9) has put in two fair efforts to date and has a money chance again. (Andrew Harrison: 4-1-8-9).

RACE 3

7 BLUE STEEL 3 DUBAI DUDE 4 EASTERN HIGHLANDS 2 TASK FORCE

Summary: BLUE STEEL (7) arrives with some promising Cape form and could prove too strong for this field although it is a competitive line-up. DUBAI DUDE (3) made good improvement over course and distance second time out from a deep draw. He has a plum draw with a 1.5kg allowance from the saddle. EASTERN HIGHLANDS (4) steps up in trip but has some solid recent form over shorter. This trip should suit. TASK FORCE (2) improved in blinkers and a tongue-tie last run on the poly and could show more. (Andrew Harrison: 7-2-4-2).

RACE 4

8 DAY TWO 1 PEEPING TOM 6 WINDOW TO MY SOUL 10 MAGIC HAT TRICK

Summary: Open maiden. DAY TWO (8) has only had three starts and steps up in trip. He was not far back in a useful maiden field last run and if he stays he should at least be in the placings. PEEPING TOM (1) has shown signs of coming to hand at his last two and the step up in trip may suit. WINDOW TO MY SOUL (6) has been consistent over shorter of late. If he stays the extra he will be a big runner. MAGIC HAT TRICK (10) has shown some ability and this extended trip could see him improve further. (Andrew Harrison: 8-1-6-10).

RACE 5

3 LA MADDALENA 1 CURIOUS GIRL 8 FINE WINE 5 ZENA ROSE

Summary: LA MADDALENA (3) has improved since being tried over ground. She comes from an in form stable with a handy galloping weight. CURIOUS GIRL (1) disappointed when favourite first run out of the maidens but that was on the poly. She can make amends back on turf. ZENA ROSE (5) is back on turf but caught the eye last run with the compression mask removed. FINE WINE (8) caused a major boil-over when winning first up out of the maidens but she has made recent improvement. She gets a 4kg claimer aboard and could follow up again. (Andrew Harrison: 3-1-8-5).

RACE 6

1 MASTER DU ROUVRAY 7 HIGH QUEUE 2 SPECTACULAR 8 SHINY BOB

Summary: MASTER DU ROUVRAY (1) has not been out of the money in his last five starts including two wins. He has a fair weight but looks capable of going in again. HIGH QUEUE (7) has been in good form for his new stable since arriving in KZN and finished runner-up at his last two. The blinkers are back on and this trip suits. SPECTACULAR (2) is seldom far back and with a 4kg claimer aboard he should be competitive in this line-up. SHINY BOB (8) may have found his last run too far and is back over a more suitable trip. (Andrew Harrison: 1-7-2-8).

RACE 7

2 CATS PAJAMAS 5 WILLIAM ROBERTSON 4 KING OF THE GAULS 1 CONVOCATION

Summary: Cracking sprint. CATS PAJAMAS (2) is the second-best weighted in spite of the 62.5kg on his back. He has his first run for a new stable and is smart on his day. WILLIAM ROBERTSON (5) is something of a course specialist and has good form in strong company. He should be right there. KING OF THE GAULS (4) finally showed his true ability last time out but that was on the poly. If he can carry that form back onto the turf he should also be in the firing line as he is super quick. CONVOCATION (1) is seldom far back but jumps in class. However, she does have a light weight. (Andrew Harrison: 2-5-4-1).

RACE 8

8 WILD JUSTICE 2 MAJOR TOMMIE 1 CIRCUMBENDIBUS 3 COWBOY COUNTRY

Summary: WILD JUSTICE (8) has won three of his four starts and still looks to be under the radar. However, he is 3kg worse off with MAJOR TOMMIE (2) on their last meeting and will need to up his game if he is going to confirm the placings although the trip also seems to be in his favour. CIRCUMBENDIBUS (1) was a winner all the way to the line before being caught late. He has come good of late and should be a contender. COWBOY COUNTRY (3) is lightly raced and has shown some promise. He has a handy weight and should at least feature prominently. (Andrew Harrison: 8-2-1-3).

RACE 9

13 FASCINATION 2 LIGHT OF GABRIEL 14 TOMYRIS 5 WINTER RAINFALL

Summary: Open handicap. FASCINATION (13) was caught late at her last two. She only has 51kg to shoulder here and can go one better. LIGHT OF GABRIEL (2) came from a long way back to snaffle Fascination on the line. She is now 2kg worse off but given her style of racing, she could deny the handicap as she is lightly raced and still improving. TOMYRIS (14) goes back to sprinting but is smart. This may be on the short side but she is definitely not out of it. WINTER RAINFALL (5) has not been out of the money since arriving in KZN. She too is better off at the weights with Light Of Gabriel and rates a strong chance. (Andrew Harrison: 13-2-14-5).

RACE 10

9 MOHAVE PRINCE 4 CHRISTMAS CACTUS 15 SWORD SPEED 10 MOHANDAS

Summary: Tough handicap to finish off the day. MOHAVE PRINCE (9) steps up in trip but is useful. He has a big weight but should be competitive. CHRISTMAS CACTUS (4) shed his maiden in a competitive line-up and has improved with each step up in trip. He looks progressive. SWORD SPEED (15) shed his maiden at second time of asking at cramped odds. He has been rested and has a deep draw but also looks progressive in a well exposed field. MOHANDAS (10) won well in a race he should have won given the opposition last time out but he is holding form and his chances cannot be ignored. (Andrew Harrison: 9-4-15-10).