Please note: South African Quartet Pools with fractional betting offered at Aintree and Wolverhampton (UK) – 26 December 2025.

 

RACE 1

Summary: Mostly first timers but of those that have run, SMART CHOICE (6) was running on nicely behind stable companion Master Magician who is highly rated so this was not a bad debut. KAVADY (9) made a promising Highveld debut at long odds over 800m. He has an extra furlong to run but experience should count. BUFFALO KING CODY (4) finished behind Kavady but did have some market support and has the better draw. JAPURA (1) was well beaten on debut but did find some market support and has the best of the draw. (Andrew Harrison: 6-4-9-1).

RACE 2

Summary: Tricky maiden. COCCOLINA (6) is a lightly raced four-year-old but made a promising debut over course and distance. She could have more to come. LOU LOU (7) disappointed in the soft ground last time out after a promising previous effort on this course. PRIORY TERRACE (2) has only been out of the money once. She can do better back on turf. AMERICAN GEM (9) has not been far back in two starts on the poly. She is still improving and can feature prominently. (Andrew Harrison: 6-7-2-9).

RACE 3

Summary: GOOD OMEN (6) was a close-up second over course and distance last outing. She has improved in blinkers but she had a host of her opposition close up behind. THAT’S ALL BROTHER (1), OWNER OF CREATION (2) and VENCEDOR (3) all finished on top of each other. VENCEDOR (3) now has the benefit of a 1.5kg allowance while the other two are now ridden by senior riders. Vencedor could prove the pick of the trio. (Andrew Harrison: 6-3-1-2).

RACE 4

Summary: SPIRIT OF SHIMLA (8) has put in two smart efforts on the poly. She goes this trip for the first time but the form of her last race has held up quite well and she looks the part. CHOOKS KISS (2) has raced green in both starts and should come on from her last run. ECHO (9) has steady form over ground but has drawn wide. PRETTY KARA (3) improved second time out and should come on further. (Andrew Harrison: 8-2-9-3).

RACE 5

Summary: ICY BLAST (2) has been consistent over shorter. He steps up a furlong further but is well drawn and has a handy weight. GOLDEN RULE (5) has won two of his last three on the poly but has also won over course and distance. He got a six-point raise in the handicap for his last win. ROSH KEDESH (4) has been a little off form of late but is over his optimum course and distance and at best will be competitive. The filly JEANNE DARC (3) is useful on her day and will have a chance off her handy weight. (Andrew Harrison: 2-5-4-3).

RACE 6

Summary: LADYOFDISTINCTION (3) scrambled home last start but that was her second run after a long break and she can come on from that run. ICE RAIN (9) has won three of her last five, all three on the poly. However, she has some useful turf form and should be right there again. FORWARD MOTION (2) is in very good form of late and goes well over the trip. She should feature from a good draw. TOMYRIS (1) was not far back in a Highveld feature last start. She has been consistent of late and rates a winning chance. (Andrew Harrison: 3-9-1-2).

RACE 7

Summary: FIELD MARSHAL (5) in a Highveld feature last time out. He stays well but the drop back to a mile should still be within his compass. IMPOSING (2) has shown his better recent form over shorter but he comes in with a handy weight from a good draw so he should be competitive. CAPSAICIN (3) improved last run over course and distance under Rachel Venniker and she retains the ride. Off bottom weight a repeat showing could see him home. CLAW (1) ran a little below from first up on the poly and has gone close over course and distance which puts him in with a chance. (Andrew Harrison: 5-2-3-1).

RACE 8

Summary: Wide open. ONE PATH (3) ran below form last start. Her recent form has been on the poly but this step up in trip should suit. PROM QUEEN (5) has not been far back at recent outings and should deliver another honest performance. HAPPY FORTUNE (6) was run out of it late last time out by surprise winner MRSGLITTERSPARKLES (9). The both step up in trip with the former 0.5kg better off so there should not be much between the pair. (Andrew Harrison: 3-5-6-9).

RACE 9

Summary: Competitive handicap. SEND ME (6) is down in class and in the handicap. His recent form has been on the poly but he looks capable of a second victory. SLYTHERIN (7) has shown recent improvement. He goes well on the turf and the stable is in form. RICCARDO (1) is always game. He is down in class and although he has a big weight he should be competitive. PINK DIAMOND (2) gets a much more experienced rider aboard and is also down in class. With a handy galloping weight he can feature. (Andrew Harrison: 6-7-1-2).

Andrew Harrison

Michael Roberts has always held Ladyofdistinction in high regard and his judgement has been spot on to date with the filly never out of the money in six starts that includes three wins.

His judgement will be further tested when Ladyofdistinction lines up in the Flamboyant Stakes (Listed) joint feature on the nine race card at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Boxing day. The card also includes the tradition Christmas Handicap (Listed), both races over 1600m.

Ladyofdistintion scrambled home last start but that was her second run after a long break and she can come on from that run from a good draw.

She does face more seasoned runners and the likes of Ice Rain and Tomyris will be no pushovers. Ice Rain has won three of her last five for Andre Nel, all three being on the poly. However, she has some useful turf form to her credit and she should be right there again. Tomyris was not far back in a Highveld feature last start and from her pole position draw she rates a winning chance. Paul Lafferty’s filly Forward Motion is in very good form of late and goes well over the trip and can feature from a good draw.

The Christmas Handicap is another competitive affair with any number of runners in with winning chances. Frank Robinson sill bathing in the afterglow of his Summer Cup victory will be looking to Field Marshal to carry on the stables winning form. Filed Marshal contested a Highveld feature on the same afternoon as Mocha Blend’s cup victory but finished runner-up when starting favourite. He stays well but the drop back to a mile should still be well within his compass. Imposing has shown his better recent form over shorter but he comes in with a handy weight from a good draw so should at least be competitive. Capsaicin improved last run over course and distance under Rachel Venniker and she retains the ride. Off bottom weight a repeat showing could see him home. Adam Azzie is still hunting his first win since moving to KZN and Claw could provide that illusive win. He  ran a little below form first up on the poly and has gone close over course and distance which puts him in with a chance.  If there is to be an upset it could come in the form of Narina Trogon. Mike Miller’s gelding seldom runs a bad race and although finishing last of the eleven runners in his most recent start it was over a trip well short of his best and more like an exercise gallop. He will much prefer this trip and gets first time blinkers. Not one to leave out of any exotic bets.

Best bet on the card should come in the opening leg of the Pick 6 where Dean Kannemeyer’s filly Spirit Of Shimla should be difficult to beat. She has put in two smart sprints on the poly and goes this trip for the first time. That sprint form has held up quite well and she should make prefer the mile of this race and she looks the part. Chooks Kiss has raced green in both starts and should come on from her last run while Pretty Kara improved second time out and should come on further. However, it is a maiden handicap that can often favour older runners so the likes of Echo and Roy’s Blossom could surprise should Spirit Of Shimla fluff her lines.

PLEASE NOTE

Soccer13 Friday 26 December 2025. Carryover R 2 719 750. R4.5 Million (All-13-Correct Pool). Pool Closes at 16h30. Sport 20 Pool 1.

Soccer13 GUARANTEED JACKPOT Saturday 27 December 2025. R36 Million (If only One 13 of 13 Winner). Pool Closes at 16h30. Sport 10 Pool 1.

Soccer SCORES Carryover R 102 373. Saturday 27 November 2025. Pool Closes at 17h00

Soccer CORNERS Carryover R 719. Saturday 27 December 2025. Pool Closes at 17h00

David Thiselton

The 2026 Hollywoodbets Durban July will be a milestone one with the prize money doubled to R10 million and with a longer handicap introduced as the topweight will be upped to 62kg and bottom weight lowered to 52kg.

It will fittingly fall on the 30th anniversary of the centenary July, which turned out to be one of the greatest of all Julys as it was won by the legendary Alec Laird-trained London News, who went on to put South African racing on the map by winning the QE II Cup in Hong Kong.

The renowned South African wildlife painter Henk Vos released his celebrated work, the Painting Of The Century, depicting a century of July winners, after the July’s centenary running.

The iconic painting now hangs in the Classic Room at Hollywoodbets Greyville.

Alec Laird actually ordered one of the prints of the painting before it was completed as the print had the first of his great Uncle Syd Garrett’s five July winners on the left and the greatest of his father’s record seven July winners, Sea Cottage, was in the centre.

The right hand side just had a blank with a silhouette of a horse, because Vos did not know yet which horse he was going to paint there.

Alec, who trained out of Randjesfontein on the Highveld, related, “He hadn’t made up his mind what horse he was going to put in the last panel (the 20th panel) and he even said to me ‘I would like you to win the July because I would like to put you as the last painting.’ With about a year to go I said to him I’m not going to make it.’”

However, fate then had it that London News not only became the 14/10 favourite for the 100th running of the July, but he was also saddle cloth number 20, being the only three-year-old in the field and the bottom weight.

Piere Strydom recalled, “I remember at the traditional Friday night cocktail Henk Vos was there with his big painting and there was one spot left for the 100th winner and I can still remember saying to someone that I think my picture’s going to be up there.”

London News duly won the race and Alec, London News and Piere Strydom are now at the forefront of the famous painting’s 20th panel and the horse is fittingly carrying the no. 20 saddle cloth.

The London News story starts at the National Yearling Sale of 1994.

Alec recalled big owners Laurie and Jean Jaffee’s chief aim at that Sale was to buy a yearling by their own 1987 July winner, Bush Telegraph.

Alec recalled Harmony Forever being his number one choice at that Sale.

However, he remembered London News being “a nice horse.”

He added, “On the first day a Bush Telegraph colt called Mr Newspaperman went for about R300,000. London News looked more athletic and Jean Jaffee actually said to me, ‘What about this one?’ On the first day they didn’t get a horse, the second day they didn’t get one and the more they asked me about London News the nicer he got, because I was otherwise going to go home without a horse!”

The Jaffees managed to secure London News.

Alec recalled, “He was a light youngster and even as a three-year-old was quite light. He didn’t show immediately, but we always had the feeling that he would be a nice horse when he matured.”

In fact, London News made a particularly inauspicious debut, beaten no fewer than 16,5 lengths under Anton Marcus in a 1200m Maiden Juvenile Plate over 1200m at the Vaal on June 6, 1995.

However, he got better and better and when he smashed the Greyville 2000m course record, which still stands today, in the Gr 1 Daily News 2000, he had won six out of eleven starts including the Dingaans and two middle distance Gr 1s.

Piere Strydom was aboard for the Daily News 2000 too.

He reflected on the 1996 July, the first of his four victories in South Africa’s greatest race, “London News was a lekker horse to ride because he had gate speed, a lot of natural speed and he would travel right up there in front and he had a good kick. But at the top of the straight (having led) I thought with a light weight let me just let the reins go a bit and get a length or two for the short straight. But he accelerated way quicker than I had expected and that’s when he made up three or four lengths on the field. Obviously it was going to tell at the end and he was stopping quite badly at the end. I heard the horses coming and I was just hoping for the line and he held on.”

Alec added, “Mike Rattray had invited me to watch in his box because it was on the line and he won by a neck but my eyes wouldn’t believe it because there was so much pressure. I wanted to see the number up!”

Alec described the emotion of being on the honour roll together with his late record-breaking seven-time July-winning father Syd.

In fact his extended family is comfortably the most prolific July-winning family in history with his grandfather Alec winning one as a jockey, his great Uncle Syd Garrett winning two as a jockey and three as a trainer, his father Syd winning a record seven as a trainer, and the cousins Dennis Drier, Alec Laird and Charles Laird each winning one July apiece – a total of 16 for the July dynasty.