South African Quartet Pools with fractional betting offered at Kempton and Hexham (UK) – 10 December 2025.

David Thiselton

Tienie Prinsloo has said Gr 1 WSB Cape Fillies Guineas heroine Quickstepgal would not be considered for the Gr 1 Cartier Paddock Stakes and would be coming home to Summerveld. Her future program would be decided from there.

Tienie recalled going to the KZN Yearling Sale venue last year to inspect the horses and starting on Lot 1, but after inspecting Lot 5 he said to his wife, “Let’s turn around and go home. She said, ‘Why?’, I said I’ve found my horse.”

Lot 5 was the Vercingetorix filly Quickstepgal, bred by Marsh Shirtliff’s Greenacres Trust, and she was destined to give him his first Gr 1 win.

He recalled going back to the Sale ground the next day and looking at a few more horses, while  noticing nobody else was looking at Lot 5.

He said, “I took Rakesh Singh to look at her and said to him, ‘Rakesh this is the horse you must buy for me, please.’ He said, ‘You want her I am going to buy her for you, it doesn’t matter what she goes for.’ We sat together for the bidding and he just kept on putting his hand up and we got her.”

The price of R450,000 is a lot before a horse has raced, but she soon proved to be a bargain and Rakesh would have profited handsomely when selling her in training to prolific owners, the Laurence Wernars family and Harry Wilsson.

Tienie is still feeling on top of the world after Saturday’s big win.

He said, “It still feels like my heart is sitting outside my body, it is still not totally there yet.  But just to stand on that podium, where you have won a Gr 1 and Laurence Wernars is looking at you and then you start getting that something in your throat like you want to cry. It is just unbelievable, I can’t even describe how nice it is. A normal winner is nice, but to have a winner for big owners like them and it is a Gr 1 and you standing there waiting to go on the stage, it touches you. You overflow with happiness, it is just  amazing and then everybody just comes to you and says, ‘Well done, well done, well done,’ I mean even Eric Sands had tears in his eyes and I could see too that Laurence was emotional. It meant a lot to him. It was a nice day. Very nice.”

Many would have liked to have trained Quickstepgal but Laurence was adamant that the filly would stay with the small yard of Tienie Prinsloo and the latter has proved it to be not just a gentlemanly decision but a beneficial one for the owners too.

Tienie revealed that Quickstepgal had endured a tough journey down from KZN, which made her run in the Gr 2 Western Cape Fillies Championship, where she finished a 1,75 length fourth, most commendable.

He said, “With all the roadworks she spent 36-and-a-half hours on the float. It took a lot out of her and she was very tired. She almost didn’t want to eat. She was nibbling here and there but we thought we are going to have to go for the Gr 2, because she must see the track. Gavin was not hard on her and I think just gave her one smack in the last 100m and she just stayed on. She was slowly running at them. She had lost 25kg before that race from the journey down and she gained about 13 to 14kg after that race. She regained her weight and she looked so much more happy.”

Tienie had nothing but high praise for caretaker trainer Eric Sands.

He said, “We left her there with Eric. What a great horseman. I couldn’t be more happy for Eric to help me, he is a master of note. He is an unbelievable guy. He has become one of my best friends. He will always be in my good books. He is a guy who will help you with anything and he won’t even blink an eyelid. He looked after her very well. We went down there and I looked at her and I said to Eric ‘Gee whiz this filly is looking very well, hey’.”

He continued, “And she won the race. Once she turned for home and she quickened I said to my wife, ‘Listen here, I don’t think they will catch her.’ Richard came up to her and Eric’s other horse Stormwatch came on the inside. That was 300m out but we just kept on rolling to win the race. She won a very, very nice race.”

Tienie said he had left the tactics to Gavin Lerena and praised him for fine ride and a clever one.

Lerena wanted the filly to use her fine action so was happy to dictate and she was always going to be a hard one to catch once she had relaxed in front.

Tienie and Gavin go back a long way and he remembered him once phoning him when he was training in Kimberley and said, “Tienie I need some winners to win the championship and I said, ‘Come down.'”

On Saturday Gavin leant off his horse as he was being led in and gave Tienie a hug and said, “I am so happy for you.”

The winning trainer described that as the most special moment of all coming from a man he described as the finest of gentleman.

Tienie did reserve some praise for himself too.

He said, “I don’t want to race her too much. She is a special filly. I would rather go for the races which are perfect for her than taking on the big guns, because she is still a three-year-old. She doesn’t have anything to prove anymore. She’s very lighly raced, eight runs for five wins and two places. I really think I have planned it very nicely for her.”

He is going to stick to 1400m to a mile for her for the time being.

Tienie reserved the last word for his wife and was amazed and grateful by how she had been able to stand by him through all of the many pressurised times that happen in the toughest of professions, training racehorses.

Warren Lenferna

The mid-week meeting takes place in glorious Cape Town at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Wednesday, 10 December and Christmas is fast approaching. Soon 2025 will be done and dusted, but before that there is plenty of racing to entertain us. This mid-week card is headed by a Class 2 with a Benchmark of 112. It is the eighth race on the programme, set to get underway at 16:44 over 1500m, and is called the Woodruff Racing Syndicate Class 2. Syndication in Race Coast land is absolutely flying at present, and interest in the various ownership groups is growing weekly. It is a wonderful way to get involved in owning a share in a racehorse, whether big or small.

Let us go through the runners for this intriguing contest. At first glance, it looked as though there might be a possible banker for all bets, but on closer consideration, two runners should be sufficient for the exotics. We begin with Justin Snaith’s powerful hand, as he saddles four of the eight runners — exactly half of the field. Ardabil has drawn gate 1 and benefits from the claim of Nicola Yuen. He was not persevered with in the Betway Algoa Cup six weeks ago and can be forgiven for that effort, especially when judged on his earlier fair form. Legal Council is an exciting prospect who continues to improve with every outing. He has had just ten starts, has already won half of them, and is clearly on an upward trajectory. Entered for the Grade 1 L’Ormarins King’s Plate, he might prove very hard to beat. Callan Murray retains the ride and enjoys a much kinder draw this time.

Get Impressed was in solid form before his most recent below-par run and is certainly capable of better, though his tendency to fluff the start and race fiercely can make life difficult for his jockey. Scottish Kiss failed to fire in a Listed race last time but had produced sparkling winning form prior to that. If Callan Murray had the choice, it is evident that he has opted for Legal Council over Scottish Kiss, though the 55kg carried by the latter may have swayed him.

Gallic Dream was far from disgraced when returning from a 24-week layoff and should have tightened up significantly from that outing. He has ability, has run close to Garrix, and must be included on any shortlist. His Majesty is another runner who brings intrigue to the race, having caught the eye in his local debut three weeks ago. He is a handsome son of No Nay Never out of the Sixties Icon mare Czabo — a pedigree to admire — and he is evidently in South Africa with a future at stud in mind. He ran on strongly to finish fifth, only 3.05 lengths behind It Is My Time over 1400m at this course. He would have needed that run and is sure to have come on markedly. With an entry in the Grade 1 L’Ormarins King’s Plate, the hopes and aspirations surrounding this entire are clear. Richard Fourie unsurprisingly keeps the ride, and His Majesty may improve so dramatically that he puts this field to bed with ease.

Captain West showed good determination when setting the pace last time and hanging on for second behind a useful sort. With Keagan De Melo aboard, he commands respect. I Salute You, meanwhile, would have needed his first run back from gelding and is capable of better. He is a talented individual and can never be ignored.

In conclusion, this looks very much like a two-horse contest between the hugely exciting Legal Council and the imposing His Majesty. These two should suffice for the exotics, and the race promises to be a thriller. If forced to choose a first pick, the nod would go to His Majesty, but the suggested bet is a boxed exacta, taken as many times as the budget allows.

RACE 1

7 VROOM VROOM ran a great race on debut behind Gimmeanotherviking on the 8th of November at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth, she stayed on beautifully to finish second and was only beaten just over one length at the line, there is no doubt that she will improve tremendously going into her second run on Wednesday, she will be very hard to beat in this field. 1 SILVER SALUTE finished just over five lengths behind Call Me Secret on debut, it was a big field, and she was still green, she should improve quite a bit going into this race, watch her closely. 3 LADY ORBIT ran a fair race on debut, she ran just over six lengths behind Vroom Vroom on the 8th of November, she moved up to a point, and then showed signs of needing the run late, with natural improvement expected, she might sneak into the places at a big price. 5 VIVO PER LEI has been well tried in the maiden ranks, she has run two great races in succession, on her best form, she can definitely finish amongst the places. (Brandon Bailey: 7 – 1 – 3 – 5)

RACE 2

2 BLACK ERIKA improved nicely last time, she ran a great race for third behind Innerbloom on the 8th of November, if she can build on that performance, she will take lots of beating in this field. 5 FANTINE stayed on well for fourth in the same race as Black Erika on the 8th of November, she was beaten just over three lengths by the winner, she can only improve with more racing, watch her closely. 3 WINTER IN AUCKLAND ran a fair race behind Innerbloom in her last start, it was her first run back after a break, with further improvement expected on Wednesday, she might trouble them all in the finish. 1 SWIFT SERENITY is much better than her last run on the 25th of October at Hollywoodbets Durbanville, the drop in trip is key for this filly, include her into all bets. (Brandon Bailey: 2 – 5 – 3 – 1)

RACE 3

5 LOUI’S STAR ran a super race for third behind Rose Woott at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on the 19th of November, the blinkers stay on, and she gets a decent draw on Wednesday, this looks like the right field for her to exit the maiden ranks. 8 PACIFIC WATERS stayed on well for fifth last time behind Boozy Susie on the 2nd of November, she was drawn wide on that occasion, and she still managed to run a good race, unfortunately she has a tricky draw again here, with some luck in running, she could trouble them in the finish late. 6 CASSANDRA was a touch disappointing behind World First on the 19th of November, top jockey Richard Fourie has been booked to ride this filly on Wednesday, on her best form, she definitely has a winning chance. 2 BEAUTIFUL ONE is much better than her form suggests, she ran fifth in her last start behind Saachi One on the 18th of October, the step up in trip should help her improve, watch her closely with jockey Gavin Lerena in the saddle. (Brandon Bailey: 5 – 8 – 6 – 2)

RACE 4

8 PEACHES AND CREAM absolutely flew home late for fourth last time behind Kattekkwaadkwadraad on the 10th of November, she will love the step up in trip to 1600m, watch her late, she will be storming home. 6 HOMING PIGEON has run two excellent races in succession, she has improved nicely with every start, the drop in trip to 1600m on Wednesday should be no problem at all, she will run a big race, include her into all bets. 1 HER WORLD ran a fair race behind Rose Woott on the 19th of November at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth, she ran fifth and was only beaten just under three lengths at the line, from a neat draw, she can definitely finish amongst the places. 2 LILTING SONG is much better than her last run on the 19th of November, if she can bounce back to her best form, she will be right there in the finish. (Brandon Bailey: 8 – 6 – 1 – 2)

RACE 5

5 ERIC LIDDELL ran a lovely race for third behind Wehaveasituation on the 19th of November, he has improved tremendously since being gelded on the 26th of August, the blinkers stay on, and he steps up in trip to 2000m on Wednesday, he will be hard to beat in this field. 6 FAST AND FREE ran a terrific race for second behind World First on the 19th of November, the blinkers did the trick with this gelding last time, he will be right there in the finish with Jockey Andrew Fortune. 11 SEAFARER improved in a big way at Fairview Racecourse on the 31st of October, he stayed on well for second behind Clouds Clearing, if he brings that performance to the track on Wednesday, he could trouble them all. 10 PHANTOM MAN ran a better race on the 19th of November, unfortunately the wide draw here will make it tough for him, if he gets the right run, he could sneak into the Quartet. (Brandon Bailey: 5 – 6 – 11 – 10)

RACE 6

7 PUSHING LIMITS ran a good race for third in her last start behind Dawn’s Early Light on the 29th of October, she is in great form at the moment, she will be just off the speed early, and she will be thundering home late, she has a big winning chance in this field. 1 COUNTRY TIME won a good race at Hollywoodbets Durbanville on the 15th of October, she was given three points for that win, champion apprentice Brevan Plaatjies gets a good tune out of this mare, on her best form, she will be competitive. 4 MORFELIHA won really well at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on the 2nd of November, the form of that race has worked out nicely, she is clearly still improving, watch her closely. 2 CHAMPAGNE MAC will need to improve quite a bit to win, but he has dropped even further in the ratings, and top jockey Keagan De Melo gets the ride, watch for sharp improvement. (Brandon Bailey: 7 – 1 – 4 – 2)

RACE 7

3 WINTER SNAP quickened up like a smart horse to win a good race on the 15th of November, he was given five points for that impressive victory, even though he carries top weight for this Middle Stakes on Wednesday, he is packed with ability, and he will go very close to winning again. 6 DEMANDING DAVE was given a top ride by jockey Andrew Fortune last time, he won a great race beating Churchillian on the 15th of November, he was given three points for that win, the yard thinks highly of this gelding, he should run a big race again. 4 ELUSIVE WINTER could be the value play in this tricky race, he is lightning fast, he stayed on well for third behind Winter Snap on the 15th of November, the 4kgs apprentice claim could play a huge role for this geldings chances on Wednesday, watch him closely, he will run a cracker at a decent price. 2 BLACK CHEETAH caught the eye late for second on the 15th of November, that was his first run back after a long break, he can only improve. (Brandon Bailey: 3 – 6 – 4 – 2)

RACE 8

2 LEGAL COUNSEL won impressively at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on the 8th of November, he was given four points for that good win in the Grade 3 Cape Mile, he definitely has a big winning chance again from a neat draw. 3 GALLIC DREAM stayed on nicely for fifth behind Outlaw King on the 18th of October at Hollywoodbets Durbanville, that was his first run back after a long break, he is very consistent, on his best form, he will be right there in the finish. 6 CAPTAIN WEST ran a terrific race for second behind Native Ruler on the 2nd of November, he is a quality gelding with a super action, he will be competitive in this field on Wednesday. 5 HIS MAJESTY powered home late to finish just over three lengths behind It Is My Time on the 19th of November, he looked magnificent on the way to the gates last time, the step up in trip to 1500m will help his chances. (Brandon Bailey: 2 – 3 – 6 – 5)

RACE 9

3 CHANCE ENCOUNTER must have a big winning chance in this field, he got going late for fourth behind Signor Dante on the 19th of November, the blinkers have been fitted, from a neat draw, he will run a big race. 1 CHARLIE BUCKET stayed on nicely for third behind Man Of Consequence on the 19th of November, that was his first run back after a long break, he should be much fitter on Wednesday, from a good draw, he will be competitive. 11 LOMU never runs a bad race, he stayed on strongly for second behind Diogenes on the 18th of October, unfortunately the wide draw here will make it hard for him, if he gets some luck in running, he should finish amongst the places. 5 FORT LIAM could be the value horse for the Quartet, he ran a beautiful race behind Signor Dante on the 19th of November, he finished just over one length behind the winner on that occasion, the blinkers have been fitted, he will be doing some good work late. (Brandon Bailey: 3 – 1 – 11 – 5)

 

Soccer10 Friday 12 December 2025. ADD-IN R200 000. Estimated Pool: R2 Million. Pool Closes at 21h00.Sport 8 and Pool 1.

Soccer6 Saturday 13 December 2025. ADD-IN R100 000. Estimated Pool: R600 000. Pool Closes at 17h00.Sport 3 and Pool 2.

Soccer10 Saturday 13 December 2025. ADD-IN R200 000. Estimated Pool: R2 Million. Pool Closes at 14h30.Sport 12 and Pool 1.

Soccer Any 13Xtra Saturday 13 December 2025. C/Over: R100 000. Estimated Pool: R500 000. Pool Closes at 15h00. Sport 13 and Pool 1

Soccer SCORES C/Over: R 99 911. Saturday 13 December 2025. Pool Closes at 15h00. Sport 73.

Soccer CORNERS C/Over: R 7 479. Saturday 13 December 2025. Pool Closes at 16h30. Sport 74.