Please Note: South African Quartet Pools with fractional betting offered at Goodwood (World Pool) and Wolverhampton (UK) – 31 July 2025

David Thiselton

Piere “Striker Strydom has his last ever professional ride at the Vaal Classic track’s nine race meeting today and he could well go out with a bang as he will be aboard the hard-knocking favourite, the Mike and Adam Azzie-trained What A Winter filly Summer Winter.

The MR 72 Handicap race for fillies and mares over 1000m will be contested by nine horses and three-year-old Summer Winter has to carry topweight of 61kg off a 79 merit rating and also possibly against her will be a draw of four over a course and distance in which high draws are often favoured. A positive is that  as Piere is a heavyweight rider she will not be carrying much deadweight. Summer Winter won her maiden in her penultimate start over 1000m at Turffontein Standside by 6,50 lengths and in the three races over that same trip on the day hers was the fastest. Her first run out of the maidens was on Hollywoodbets Durban July day over 1000m on the poly, a day in which the fields are always strong, and she ran a cracking 1,40 length third. The form has worked out well with a winner and a second having come out of the race. The main danger could be the British-bred Deal Maker, who finished a 5,20 length second on debut and the form has not worked out badly. She should improve and she has a nice high draw too. Gaelic Dancer is in good form and should be thereabouts. Time For Charity is capable of popping up into the places. Predatrice could also be in the shake up if repeating her last start.

The highest rated race of the day is the 6th, a MR 97 handicap for fillies and mares over 1450m. Hong Kong has always been highly regarded and improved last time when stepped up to 1600m. She should also enjoy 1450m from draw two. Exceedingly Glam might have a slight stamina doubt, but she has gone close over this course and distance before and from a fair draw in the fast winter conditions she could make an impact. In The Beginning showed a lot of early promise and should be cherry ripe, so could bounce back over a suitable trip off  a reduced merit rating. Andi’s Girl has plenty of ability and could bounce back to form under Lerena, although she has a tricky draw of six. Destiny Of Fire has some class and might enjoy the step down in trip as he did have some decent form over this distance category last year.

In he first leg of the Pick 6 over 1600m Radio Star has been knocking on the door and finished 2,70 lengths behind Jan van Goyen last time and the latter franked the form by winning a two-year-old Gr 1 with ease on Sunday. Luwak made a fair debut and the form has been franked by the second-placed horse winning next time out, but Luwak was beaten five lengths by that horse so will need to improve. Matroosberg improved last time and could earn again with a repeat. Sergeant Soqrat has shown some ability and could earn here. Balerion is by Wings Of Desire and is a half-brother to the like of Herodotus (Trippi), who was a Gr 2 runner up over 1800m.

In the fifth race over 1600m Asiah’s Tiara has a good opportunity to get off the mark from a middle draw and just needs to repeat her penultimate start over 1500m. Nkwenkwezi is knocking hard and should be right there under Strydom, who will have to overcome a wide draw. Bella Boop Boop is capable of being involved in the finish here. Witching Hour has a good draw with Lerena up and should be in the shake up too. Mattiazo should be in the shake up from a good draw.

In the seventh over 1450m Way To Burn was right there last time and would have gone close had the apprentice jockey kept the whip in the correct hand under the circumstances  instead of the wrong hand which caused the horse to hang out. Off a one point lower mark she should make a bold bid. Too Late My Mate was close to a couple of fair sorts last time, Busstopinhounslow and Guy Gibson, and is also a big runner here. Messaline can earn if repeating her last start. Whirlybird is never far off and can earn again. Sunshine Day is capable of earning here if able to overcome a wide draw.

In the eighth race over 1450m Palace Prince has run two good races out the maidens and is the one to beat under Gavin Lerena, although a wide draw will make it tough. After Hours goes well for Striker and from pole position he should be charging late. Crescendo is a lot better than his last run and this is a suitable trip, so he could bounce back from a fair draw.

In the first leg of the Bipot over 1200m Blushing Bloom finished a 2,10 length second to the promising Romilly last time over this trip and he is drawn in pole under Lerena so can go close with a repeat.

In the first leg of the PA Xenophon is knocking on the door and gives Strydom a good chance although the draw is tricky. Power Of Pearls debut form has worked out well and if close to her peak after a six month layoff she should be right there. Silver Longword showed some improvement last time out and has a plum draw. Gavius Maximus looks capable of improvement on his moderate debut and has Lerena up, albeit from a tough draw. Parabellum has his third run after a rest and has the ability to earn.

In the first race over 1600m The Last Duke won easily second time out over 1160m and should prefer this trip but does have a tricky draw and Singleton Sam will be a big threat.

Soccer13 Thursday 31 July 2025. Carryover R1 696 204.R4 Million (All-13-Correct Pool). Pool Closes at 18h30. Sport 20 Pool 1.

Soccer10 Friday 1 August 2025. ADD-IN R100 000. Estimated Pool: R1.8 Million. Pool Closes at 20h30.Sport 7 and Pool 1.

Soccer10 Saturday 2 August 2025. ADD-IN R100 000. Estimated Pool: R1.8 Million. Pool Closes at 15h00.Sport 8 and Pool 1.

Soccer13 Saturday 2 August 2025. R18 Million (If only One 13 of 13 Winner). Pool Closes at 15h30. Sport 10 Pool 1.

Soccer Any13X on Saturday 2 August 2025. ADD-IN R75 000. Estimated Pool: R 250 000. Pool Closes at 15h00. Sport 13 and Pool 1.

UK – Goodwood will be a World Pool event from 29 to 31 July. All races will be World Pool races. World pools will be on the Win, Place, Swinger, Quinella, Exacta and Trifecta

David Thiselton

Just about every winner on World Pool Gold Cup day was a logical choice and proved that form is king and theories like “fresh horses are at an advantage in the Champions Cup” should not be given much attention.

The first two home in the Gr 1 weight for age HKJC Champions Cup, Gladatorian and The Real Prince, both ran in the Hollywoodbets Durban July and beat home five other horses, all of whom would have fitted into the “fresh” category.

Gladatorian gave Stuart Ferrie a deserved first Gr 1 victory after a perfectly timed charge by Sean Veale and he was the logical form choice in retrospect.

He had already proved he stays 1800m with an impressive win at Hollywoodbets Scottsville over 1750m.

Gladatorian only has one way of running and that is to be left alone from off the pace and produce a late charge and having drawn two in a seven horse field, as opposed to eight in a twelve horse field in the Gold Challenge, he was always likely to have less ground to make up and was also likely to get a clearer run.

Dave The King had looked ominously like the winner approaching the final turn, because unlike the Gold Challenge when boxed in he had led at a slow pace early and this had allowed him to begin his well know long run in from the 800m mark.

However, one disadvantage he had is that opposition know him well now and know that he is not going to come back to the field.

The Real Prince might have been an impressive winner of the Hollywoodbets Durban July and he was equally eye-catching in the IOS Drill Hall Stakes, but he was unexposed over this trip.

Craig Zackey kept Dave The King’s in his sights when the latter began stretching them a long way out, but the Real Prince’s acid test was going to be whether he could make an impression on Dave The King in the straight.

Meanwhile, See It Again was enjoying much more luck than he had in the race last year as he had perfect cover from Montien, who was lying one out and one back and Gladatorian was perfectly placed behind The Real Prince on the rail.

To the surprise of a few The Real Prince was soon all over Dave The King and See It Again was proving last year’s run was all wrong, because he was also all over the big horse.

Keagan de Melo used his experience of the tight racing in Hong Kong to keep The Real Prince in.

However, Dave The King had left just enough room for The Real Prince to sneak through between him and the rail.

It then became clear that The Real Prince, despite hanging outward, had the measure of See It Again.

However, Gladatorian, as usual got into top gear at the 200m mark and was making inroads.

A deft change of whip-hand by Sean Veale as close to home as the 50m mark might well have been the difference between victory and defeat as Gladatorian found an extra gear surged past the three-year-old The Real Prince to win by 0,40 lengths with See It Again a further 1,20 lengths back.

Fire Attack was another closer who relished the fast pace in the latter half of the race and he ran on strongly to be beaten just 2,35 lengths.

Dave The King was beaten 2,95 lengths into fifth.

Gladatorian boosted the champion sire Vercingetorix’s earnings to over R36 million, which is likely a new record.

In the World Pool Gold Cup King Pelles proved in the Gr 3 Durban Gold Vase last time he is not only an out and out stayer but he also has class as he turned it on superbly off the back of a slow pace to give Gareth van Zyl and S’Manga Khumalo a second Gold Cup together. He proved worthy of his 5/4 starting price on Saturday and always looked the winner of the 3200m event.

Varsfontein-based sire Master Of My Fate was sire of both Gr 1 juvenile mile winners, the Alan Greeff-trained Golden Palm and the Mike de Kock-trained Jan van Goyen ridden by Richard Fourie and Callan Murray respectively, and both impressed as horses with big futures and confirmed what their respective stables thought of them.

In the Gr 1 Mercury Sprint the Tony Peter-trained Buffalo Storm Cody gave Buffalo Bill Cody a first Gr 1 win and he defied the weights, especially according to Gr 2 Post Merchants form, but Gavin Lerena had said before the latter race he was a much better horse around the turn and he had the advantage on Saturday of a previous sighting of the course.

The Dean Kannemeyer-trained Princess Of Gaul gave a further boost to Vercingetorix when winning the Gr 2 World Pool With Race Coast Debutante over 1200m in a thrilling finish under Craig Zackey.

The finish to the Gr 2 Follow @Worldpool on X Umkhomazi Stakes over 1200m was just as thrilling and the Paul Matchett-trained Zalatoris ridden by Keagan de Melo gave Varsfontein-based champion freshman sire Erik The Red a boost and he proved his 1,35 length beating in the Gr 1 Gold Medallion over this trip at Hollywoodbets Scottsville was worthy Gr 1 form.

Candice Bass-Robinson’s Rainbow Lorikeet (Querari) was a deserved winner of Gr 2   Bet With The World Gold Bracelet over 2000m under Aldo Domeyer as she was luckless in the Gr 2 Woolavington over the same course and distance and she was another runner to have not been affected by running in the July.

Bass-Robinson’s Future (Var) proved his class in the last race over 1000m, the Listed HKIR In December Umngeni Stakes with a storming finish under Domeyer to catch the favourite Outlaw King.

In the first race of the day, the Listed Michel Nairac Appreciation Stakes Darley Arabian over 1600m, the Peter Muscutt-trained I Salute You (Soqrat) looked a picture before hand and prevailed under Richard Fourie.

The day was a lesson for punters to look at form logic and to not look for the spooks that muddy the waters.