RACE 1

2 LADY GODIVA   5 AMC ROY’S FANTASY   6 MIST IN MARYLAND   9 QUEEN’S BOUNTY

Summary: Mostly first timers but of two that have run, LADY GODIVA (2) started favourite last outing but was a well beaten fourth. Both starts have been in the soft. AMC ROY’S FANTASY (5) has not been far back in her three starts but was running on late last time out and the extra 100m should suit. Watch the market on the balance. (Andrew Harrison: 2-5-6-9).

RACE 2

16 OMKHULU BOSS    1 SMART CHOICE   2 STEAMY WINDOWS   13 RIFF RAFF BOY

Summary:  Many first timers. OMKHULU BOSS (16) improved at his second start behind St Harry who has since franked that form against winners. He must rate the one to beat. The filly SMART CHOICE (1) has improved with each outing. She gets a sex allowance plus a further 1.5kg from Mickaelle Michel which could be enough to see her home. Stable companion STEAMY WINDOWS (2) was well beaten by promising stable companion Master Magician on debut and should come on from that effort. Another from the Mike Miller yard, RIFFF RAFF BOY (13) made marked improvement at just his second outing and can feature again. (Andrew Harrison: 16-1-2-13).

RACE 3

2 PSYCHE   3 RED CARDINAL   7 QUARTER MASTER   1 BOURBON’S BEAST

Summary: PSYCHE (2) is a filly taking on males but has shown up well in her first two starts and the step up in trip should suit. RED CARDINAL (3) has been close-up at his last two over the distance. He was run out of it late last start and can go one better. Stable companion BOURBON’S BEAST (1) has been knocking at the door and has the best of the draw. He should contest the finish. QUARTER MASTER (7) steps up in trip but has showing up well in two competitive maiden sprints. He is one to watch. (Andrew Harrison: 2-3-7-1).

RACE 4

8 SESAME   5 TREASURE ISLAND   7 ZENA ROSE   10 SASCHA’S DREAM

Summary: SESAME (8) was a comfortable winner at Fairview last run. She makes her local debut but had good Western Cape form before her last win. TREASURE ISLAND (5) has come to hand nicely at her last two and the step up in trip could be watch she needs. There should be very little between ZENA ROSE (7) and SASCHA’S DREAM (10) a neck separating them when last they met. A toss-up between the two. (Andrew Harrison: 8-5-7-10).

RACE 5

11 PHUTULICIOUS    13 SUN DAZED   6 TOWN CRIER   8 GORGEOUS GIRL

Summary: PHUTULICIOUS (11) has a big weight and a wide draw to contend with but is never far back and with some luck in running could land this competitive handicap. SUN DAZED (13) has the widest draw but goes well this trip and was a beaten favourite last run. TOWN CRIER (6) is lightly raced and made marked improvement first run in blinkers. However, he did get a four point increase in his rating which could prove telling. GORGEOUS GIRL (8) was touched off over the distance last run where she carried a light weight. She has more to shoulder this time around but the stable is in form and she has a promising 4kg claimer aboard once again. (Andrew Harrison: 11-13-6-8).

RACE 6

2 CONVOCATION   11 TARA STAR   3 SERENGETTI SUN   1 ONE SMART COOKIE

Summary: CONVOCATION (2) is seldom far back and not disgraced behind William Robertson last time out. She gets blinkers and S’Manga Khumalo has forgone the ride on the lightly raced SERENGETTI SUN (3) who returns from a long break but does appear to have some class. The break could find her out. TARA STAR (11) has been consistent of late and should put in another good effort with the form of her last run having held up. There should not be much between ONE SMART COOKIE (1) and BACK AT THE GEORGE (12) as they meet on the same terms as their last encounter. (Andrew Harrison: 2-11-3-1).

RACE 7

9 MAR DEL PLATA   8 CIRCUMBENDIBUS   2 POSITION OF POWER   6 JET LEGACY

Summary: MAR DEL PLATA (9) has bottom weight and has been close-up in recent outings. He is also way better off at the weights with the consistent CIRCUMBENDIBUS (8) who is one of the principal runners in opposition who has won two of his last five starts and close-up in the other three. JET LEGACY (6) has won his last two over course and distance and was not far back on the poly last run. Stable companion POSITION OF POWER (2) is over his best trip with a handy galloping weight. (Andrew Harrison: 9-8-2-6).

RACE 8

14 CALL ME JANE   9 CAPTAIN VENTURA   12 PERFUME POWER   8 WINGS OF JOSEPHINE

Summary: Wide open handicap. CALL ME JANE (14) is seldom out of the money and was running on strongly behind the progressive PERFUME POWER (12) last time out. She is now 2.5 kg better off at the weights and should be able to turn the tables. CAPTAIN VENTURA (9) was a recent maiden winner but three runs back was under a length behind Perfume Power. She is now 7kg better off and won well enough last run with first time cheek pieces. VISION TO ACHIEVE (2) is quick and over her best trip although she may prefer Hollywoodbets Greyville! The same goes for WINGS OF JOSEPHINE (8) who is also in smart form of late. (Andrew Harrison: 14-9-12-8).

RACE 9

7 NIGHT TIGER   9 ARVERNI PRINCESS   4 INTREPID   8 TRAFALGAR SQUARE

Summary: NIGHT TIGER (7) appears to have come to hand since her arrival from the Cape and was a good second behind the much in form ARVERNI PRINCESS (9) last time out. She is now 1.5kg better off in the weights. INTREPID (4) has a big weight but has been consistent of late and can feature. There appear to be many poly track specialists in the field, one of which is TRAFALGAR SQUARE (8) who gets a stronger rider aboard and can go one better. (Andrew Harrison: 7-9-4-8).

Andrew Harrison

Nine testing races face punters at Hollywoodbets Scottsville today but as the saying goes, where there is adversity there is money to be made.

Chad Little makes his way up from Cape Town for Glen Kotzen and the pair can get the Pick 6 off to a winning start in the form of Sesame.

The daughter of Legislate was a comfortable winner at Fairview last run and makes her local debut but had good Western Cape form before her last win which should hold her in good stead. Treasure Island has come to hand nicely at her last two and Mike Miller has stepped her up in trip which could be what she needs. There should be very little between Zena Rose and Sascha’s Dream, a neck separating them when last they met. It’s a toss-up between the two.

In the fifth, Phutulicious has a big weight and a wide draw to contend with but is never far back and with some luck in running could land this competitive handicap. Sun Dazed has the widest draw but goes well this trip and was a beaten favourite last run. He has the benefit of Andrew Fortune aboard. Town Crier is lightly raced and made marked improvement first run in blinkers. However, he did get a four point increase in his rating which could prove telling. Gorgeous Girl was touched off over the distance last run where she carried a light weight. She has more to shoulder this time around but the stable is in form and she has a promising 4kg claimer aboard once again.

Gareth van Zyl saddles Convocation in the sixth who is seldom far back and not disgraced behind William Robertson last time out. She gets blinkers and S’Manga Khumalo has forgone the ride on the lightly raced stable companion Serengetti Sun who returns from a long break but does appear to have some class. The break could find her out. Tara Star has been consistent of late and should put in another good effort with the form of her last run having held up and there should be little between One Smart Cookie and Back At The George as they meet on the same terms as their last encounter.

Tony Rivalland sends out bottom weight Mar Del Plata in the seventh who has been close-up in recent outings. He is also way better off at the weights with the consistent Circumbendibus who is one of the principal runners in opposition who has won two of his last five starts and close-up in the other three. Jet Legacy has won his last two over course and distance and was not far back on the poly last run but stable companion Position Of Power could be a better proposition as he is over his best trip with a handy galloping weight.

The eighth is a wide open handicap but Call Me Jane is seldom out of the money and was running on strongly behind the progressive Perfume Power last time out. She is now 2.5 kg better off at the weights and should be able to turn the tables. Captain Ventura was a recent maiden winner but three runs back was under a length behind Perfume Power. She is now 7kg better off and won well enough last run with first time cheek pieces. Vision To Achieve is quick and over her best trip although she may prefer Hollywoodbets Greyville! The same goes for Wings Of Josephine who is also in smart form.

Fortune may have to wait until the last to pay for his air fare back to Cape Town when he partners Night Tiger for Candice Bass. The gelding appears to have come to hand since his arrival from the Cape and was a good second behind the much in form Arverni Princess last time out. He is now 1.5kg better off in the weights. Intrepid has a big weight but has been consistent of late and can feature. There appear to be many poly track specialists in the field, one of which is Trafalgar Square who gets a stronger rider aboard and can go one better.

Although there are many first timers in the first leg of the Bi-Pot recent Cape Town arrival Omkhulu Boss improved at his second start behind St Harry who has since franked that form against winners. He must rate the one to beat and could be a banker but keep a weather eye on the market.

Others that have run, the filly Smart Choice has improved with each outing and gets a sex allowance plus a further 1.5kg from Mickaelle Michel which could be enough to see her home. Stable companion Steamy Window was well beaten by promising Master Magician on debut and should come on from that effort.

In the opening leg of the Place Accumulator, Psyche is a filly taking on males but has shown up well in her first two starts and the step up in trip should suit. Red Cardinal has been close-up at his last two over the distance. He was run out of it late last start and can go one better. Stable companion Bourbon’s Beast has been knocking at the door and has the best of the draw. He should contest the finish along with Quarter Master who steps up in trip but has showing up well in two competitive maiden sprints and is one to watch.

Please Note: South African Quartet Pools with fractional betting offered at Kempton and Ludlow (UK) – 18 February 2026

Soccer13 Wednesday 18 February 2026. Carryover R3 591 424. Estimated Pool: R6 Million. Pool Closes at 21h15. Sport 11 and Pool 1.

David Thiselton

 

The Hollywoodbets Durban July conditions have been finalised and the final field panellists might be in for an interesting evening before the Final Field And Barrier Draw Ceremony, whilst the three-year-olds look to be on the back foot at present.

 

There will be a longer handicap this year with a 10kg spread in the weights from a topweight of 62kg down to a bottom weight of 52kg.

 

Furthermore, it will just be a straight handicap, unlike recent July conditions in which there was a maximum and minimum weight for certain age groups and genders.

 

If the final field happens to have a spread that is less than 10kg, the topweight will still be 62kg. If, for example, there is a weight spread of 7kg among the entries, then the bottom weight will be 55kg.

 

If the topweights are scratched after the setting of the weights, then the new topweight will be dragged up to 62kg. For example if the topweight after scratchings is 60,5kg, it will be dragged up to 62kg and after the rest of the field have been dragged up the bottom weight will become 53,5kg.

 

The final field will not necessarily be chosen by merit rating order.

 

Justin Vermaak, Executive Racing and Bloodstock of Race Coast, said, “There will be a final field selection panel like before and merit rating will be a leading aspect, but the panel will also take current form and distance suitability into account etc.”

 

In recent years the final field panellists have not had it too tough as the field was cut up before the final field announcement, with a lot of horses being scratched due to the recognition by the connections they do not have much chance, either due to the weights not favouring them or due to them being off form – the final declaration fee could have, in those cases, been considered a waste of money.

 

However, with the longer handicap, there are going to be more horses who still have form chances on paper.

 

Looking at last year’s July for example, third-placed Selukwe was rated 111 and had to carry 54kg due to the condition that the minimum weight for an older male was 54kg. He was thus 2kg under sufferance with the 127-rated topweights, both older horses, and he was 4kg under sufferance with the officially best weighted horse, the 129 rated (nett 125-rated) Eight On Eighteen, who was set to carry 57kg despite being the highest merit rated horse in the race due to a condition that three-year-old males could not carry more than 57kg.

 

In last year’s race Oriental Charm carried 60kg, Eight On Eighteen carried 57kg and Selukwe carried 54kg.

 

Under this year’s conditions the weights for those three horses would have been: Oriental Charm 62kg, Eight On Eighteen 61kg and Selukwe 54kg. Selukwe would have been 2kg and 4kg better off with Oriental Charm and Eight On Eighteen respectively under today’s conditions.

 

He would have been 2kg better off with the winner The Real Prince too and, on paper, would have been beaten 0,30 lengths instead of by 2,65 lengths.

 

There could theoretically have been a horse who would have been even more favoured by today’s conditions than the 111-rated Selukwe example.

 

Using last year’s race under today’s conditions, an older horse who had been rated 107 would sneak into the handicap under today’s conditions.

 

A 107-rated older horse last year would have had to carry 54kg, 6kg less than the topweight, but under today’s conditions it would have only had to carry 52kg, which would be 10kg less than the 62kg topweight.

 

Therefore, there are theoretically going be a lot more horses standing their ground at the time of the final field selection process this year, because a lot more of them will have chances of winning on paper than would have been the case under the old conditions.

 

Furthermore, with stakes of R10 million up for grabs there will be less cases of horses being scratched due to the  connections deeming them to be off form. They might still want to take their chances.

 

The difficulty for the panel will come in deciding whether a lower rated horse is deemed to have better recent form or better distance suitability than a higher rated horse.

 

For argument sakes let’s assume that we go back to last year and there are still many horses standing their ground until the bitter end. After the top 17 are selected, according to the last log and current form, let’s assume the next two horses are the 115-rated Madison Valley and the 120-rated The Real Prince.

 

The Real Prince is rated five points higher than Madison Valley, but he has never run a race beyond 1600m before.

 

Madison Valley on the other hand finished a close fourth in the Betway Summer Cup over 2000m and in his final run before the July he won the traditional July pointer, the Hollywoodbets Dolphins Cup Trial over 1800m.

 

Which one are they going to put in the all important 18th slot?

 

Such a scenario is going to have much more chance of happening this year.

 

Although it has been said that weight avoidance tactics are going to be used this year, those who do take that route are probably going to run a bigger risk of not qualifying than ever before.

 

Now on to the three-year-olds.

 

Eight On Eighteen was held in high regard last year and came into the race 2kg well-in, according to official merit ratings, and yet he was not able to win the race.

 

Under today’s conditions he would have had to carry 61kg, effectively 2kg more.

 

So it was tough last year for a top, top three-year-old who was favoured by the old conditions.

 

How tough will it be for good-but-not-great three-year-olds under the new conditions, considering there is no maximum weight for them and no minimum weight for older horses?

 

Likewise it will be tough for females.

 

Furthermore, this year’s three-year-old crop are arguably overrated off their current merit ratings.

 

For example, Gauteng Guineas runner up Grand Empire could not win the Wolf Power 1600 against older horses when 2kg under sufferance off a 102 merit rating (effectively a 106 merit rating), yet he is now rated 120. There will be cries of “but the handicapper is clueless” when looking at that, but those who do say that are clueless themselves, because the handicapper rates a race on that race, not on past races, and Tin Pan Alley had earned his 117 rating by beating older horses and Grand Empire had then beaten him. Furthermore, Grand Empire was likely not at his peak for the Wolf Power with the Triple crown series looming.

 

Nevertheless, the overall impression is the current three-year-old male crop is not shining and it is questionable whether any of them have properly earned a rating of 120 or above.

 

It could well be an older horse July, but on the other hand there is an impressive unexposed horse like Note To Self among the three-year-olds and more such types might emerge.

 

The build up to this year’s Hollywoodbets Durban July is going to be more intriguing than ever!