David Thiselton

Justin Snaith can end a magnificent Champions Season on a high as he has a strong team on World Pool Gold Cup day.

In the Gold Cup he has three runners and Jonathan Snaith said about them, “Ahead Of The Facts has established himself as South Africa’s leading stayer this season, but a 20-point rise in the ratings over the past seven months means the handicapper is beginning to catch up with him, especially over this testing 3200m. Even so, he remains in with a genuine winning chance. With Richard Fourie in the saddle and his trademark consistency, he deserves the utmost respect.

Magic Verse returned to something close to his best with an encouraging performance last time out when winning the July consolation race. While there are slight stamina concerns over the two miles, a slow run race, which appears very likely, would significantly increase his chances.

Native Ruler had little luck in the Hollywoodbets Durban July and, with a clearer passage, could easily have finished third. He has come through that race in outstanding order and is thriving at home. If he sees out the 3200m, he is capable of running a huge race and looks outstanding value at around 8-1. He is an underrated horse with his best racing ahead.”

The yard have a strong team of four in the Gr 1 wfa HKJ Champions Cup over 1800m and Jonathan said, “See It Again has been aimed specifically at this race and arrives in peak condition. He has enjoyed another outstanding campaign and victory here would see him complete the remarkable feat of winning three Gr1 wfa races in three different provinces as a six-year-old. On current form, he looks the horse they all have to beat. He is a Warhorse.

Eight On Eighteen is looking an absolute picture heading into Sunday. While there has to be some caution after his disappointing last start, virtually everything went against him on that occasion in a slowly run race that didn’t suit. His preparation has been faultless, his work has been excellent, and at his best he is an exceptionally difficult horse to beat. Pure class.

Legal Counsel may be feeling the effects of a demanding Hollywoodbets Durban July, which would have taken plenty out of him. Nevertheless, he has produced a series of top-class performances throughout the season on weight for age terms and, returning to what is arguably his ideal trip, he cannot be dismissed if reproducing his very best. He is an exciting prospect for the Cape Summer, which he will take in after a nice break.

Malmesbury Missile is probably at his most effective between 1400m and a mile, but if the pace is moderate he has enough quality to stay on into the money. At 25-1, he appeals as an interesting outsider, although the running of the race will have to go his way. Gavin Lerena is a huge asset to his chances.”

The yard have one runner in the Gr 2 Bet With The World Gold Bracelet over 2000m and Jonathan said, “Kubu takes a significant step up in class but enjoys a favourable weight pull against many of her rivals. While this is undoubtedly a stiff assignment, she has been working nicely at home. A top-three finish and valuable black type would be an excellent result, but she would need to deliver her best performance yet.”

Such is the Champions Season that Justin has enjoyed that he would be crowned KZN Champion Trainer if it was judged on stakes earnings instead of by number of wins. He has earned R11,820,556 in stakes in KZN this season with the next best being Gareth van Zyl on R6,600,181.

Van Zyl has had 49 wins in KZN this season with Alyson Wright next best on 46, but Van Zyl will retain his title because Wright only contests one more race in the season.

RACE 1

A very weak race and many of them are trying this distance for the first time. Anything is possible. MONKEY’S WEDDING has held his form and could score. SAPPHIRE SUN was often competitive without winning when in the Western Cape. She needed her local debut but could be a real threat. CAPRANICA makes his debut but will not be a surprise winner stepped up in distance. DEAD POETS SOCIETY has run well for this jockey a couple of times already and is not out of it. STRAIGHT RED and LYRICS AND SONGS have both shown improvement on the Polytrack and must be respected for that. LUCA DA WHEELS could be the surprise package going this distance. NIGHT IN JAPAN might play a minor role at very best.

RACE 2

REMIND ME OF YOU has run well in both her starts and could go one place better this time around. LUCY’S WORLD has not been at her best on the Polytrack but could be a threat on her best form. SPIRIT OF NICAL makes a local debut and is not out of it. STONE OF SCONE has been unreliable of late but should run well for Andrew Fortune. TIPSY showed improvement last time out and is not out of it. WITCHING HOUR is better than some recent form suggests and could surprise. Watch the betting on the newcomers, CAUTIONARY, PRINCESS CHANTE, QUEEN OF CASTILLE and LOVE YOU LOTS.

RACE 3

SONG OF MYSELF continues to win her races and there is no real reason she cannot win this as well. Stable companion INSTAWORTHY is well weighted and is a strong front-runner when in the right mood. LOTUS SILK is better than her last Polytrack performance. UNCONQUERABLE LADY could surprise over this course and distance. ROAMING SPIRIT was making good late progress last week and could be a threat. GENOVEFA is improving but does love the Polytrack. YOU’RE SO SPECIAL is suited to this course and distance and could be the surprise package of the race.

RACE 4

A tricky race and it could be worth going wide in the Pick 6. ASTRONOMICAL BOY was a hit-and-miss performer in the Western Cape and may well win on local debut. His stable companions are a concern, though. FOREST SPY, THE WINTER LAKE and FRENCH FLAME are all effective over this track and distance so must be respected. AUGUSTA ROSSO has run well in better races than this and should be competitive. CIAN THE CONQUEROR, DUPONT EMERALD and OVERTURE could surprise.

RACE 5

Trainer Alan Greeff has a decent hand to play in this race. KLEINZEE has been very impressive with some solid wins on the Polytrack and will have Richard Fourie in the irons. However, SILVAN MISTRESS is going to be a threat. She clearly did not like the Polytrack and has won well a couple of times of late and will have Andrew Fortune in the irons. INGQWELE has won his last three starts but has a tougher task under a penalty. LAGUNA VERDE and ABOVE THE HORIZON have been consistent of late and are not out of it. WORLD CHOICE is in good shape and can make the frame.

RACE 6

A very open race and we need to go wide in all the exotics, particularly the Pick 6. GREEN PLANET is well drawn and could bounce back to score. ASINANTANGA is unreliable but has a place chance. CORAL CREEK and SILVER OF SUNSHINE are both capable of scoring over this course and distance. PYRO EDITION is threatening to win and must be respected. CHEERFUL CHARLIE B is better than his last run and must be included in all bets. SILENT TRIGGER and RUN THE WORLD are also hinting that they could score soon.

RACE 7

A very interesting race. Only 8 runners carded for this and trainer Alan Greeff has five of them. Which one of them will prevail? Jockey Richard Fourie rides CHATTERBOX. She was a recent maiden winner and could have more to offer this distance. Stable companion FIRST OFFICER is consistent and clearly not out of it. GIMMETHATWORLDCUP was impressive second time out and should run well for Andrew Fortune. CASPERITA showed she is back to best with a handicap win and will not go down easily. FATEFUL LOVE seems to have lost her way and makes up the Greeff entrants. Dean Smith has two runners. JUST CARTER is consistent and ran on well in his recent defeat and is not out of it. GLOBAL THRILLER did not show his best last time out but might make the frame. FYFIELD LEGEND is consistent but this is a tougher race.

RACE 8

A very open last race handicap. KING VISERYS was caught too far back last time out but can win a race over this course and distance. TEEREX remains in very good form and should fight it out once again. CAN YOU DANSE is better than his last run and could surprise. HONORINE’S GIMMIE is consistent and must be respected for that. REAL WAR is in good form and should contest the finish. Stable companion TRAVEL MASTER enjoyed front-running tactics last time and may follow up. MIO DESTINO showed improvement last time out and is another to consider.

Please Note: South African Quartet Pools with fractional betting offered at Sandown and Thirsk (UK) – 24 July 2026

Please note that following an average pen of 35 and gallops this morning Fairview’s Turf meeting on Friday, 24 July 2026 has been moved to the Poly.

Race 1 distance becomes a 2200m.

All other distances remain as is.

 

David Thiselton

 

Summerveld trainer Louis Goosen has a couple of runners on World Pool Gold Cup day on Sunday at Hollywoodbets Greyville as well as a reserve and he is bullish about all three of them.

 

In the Gr 1 World Pool Moment Of The Day Champion Stakes over 1600m he runs the giant horse Erik Dubois who ran on well last time out in the Gr 2 Durban Golden Horseshoe over 1400m and is improving all the time.

 

Goosen said, “He is a big, solid sort, you are talking about a 600kg two-year-old and he is still growing in the hindquarters, so I don’t know if he will even fit into the starting stalls – they might have to extend the back or something! He is a magnificent horse. You will see the best of him at three, but I think he is a huge, huge runner in the Champion Stakes on Sunday. He is still a soft, big boy, but he is coming on all the time. He is at the top of his game.”

 

As opposed to the Golden Horseshoe when drawn widest of all in 14 and dropped in near the back before running on for a 2,95 length sixth, the Laurence Wernars family-owned horse is now drawn three and he has the bonus of three-time SA Champion jockey Lyle Hewitson aboard.

 

Earlier in the Gr 2 World Pool With Race Coast Debutante over 1200m he runs Ferrari Flair. This Vercingetorix two-year-old filly might still be a maiden, but she has shown class against the best.

 

In the Gr 3 Tote Strelitzia Stakes over 1100m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville she finished a 0,35 length third in her career third start.

 

She followed that with a 6,25 length seventh in the Gr 2 Allan Robertson Championship over 1200m in which she ran on very well from last after being squeezed out at the start.

 

Next time out she ran a fine 2,30 length third to Alice B Toklas in the Listed Devon Air Stakes over 1400m from a pole position draw.

 

In her last start she didn’t find much extra late when handy and running a 3,25 length eighth in the Gr 2 Amusnet Golden Slipper over 1400m.

 

She now reverts to a 1200m trip.

 

Goosen said, “We have got her absolutely spot on and I think she is definitely a runner. We had to decide whether to go up to the mile or back to the 12 and as she has run some crackers over sprints we decided to come down in trip. We managed to get Richard Fourie for the ride.”

 

Ferrari Flair has landed a plum draw of three and as a non-winner gets 2,5kg from the Gr 2 Amusnet Golden Slipper winner Palace Of Arvernia. Interestingly the latter beat her by 1,40 lengths in the Allan Robertson over this trip, so that puts them just about together at the weights here.

 

Ferrari Flair should be staying on strongly and has a chance.

 

The yard’s reserve runner is Blazing Fury, who is second reserve for the Listed HKIR In December Umngeni Handicap over 1000m.

 

Louis said, “Blazing Fury will be one of the nicest place bets in a long time if he gets in as he has been set 52kg and I will have claimer Blaine Marx-Jacobson up. He will be out at the weights still but it won’t matter he will be a huge runner if there are two scratchings.”