David Thiselton

 

A number of Summerveld trainers spoke about the chances of their Hollywoodbets Durban July day runners yesterday morning.

 

Tienie Prinsloo is bullish about the chances of his crack Vercingetorix three-year-old filly Quickstepgal in the Gr 1 wfa Ridgemont Garden Province Stakes over 1600m and after the below interview he stated that he believed she was going to beat the favourite Double Grand Slam.

 

He had said before that bold statement, “Everything is good with her, she is doing her best at home and I am very happy with her. Her draw of seven is a very, very nice draw in my opinion, it’s not outside and it’s not inside. I think she will have a nice jump from gate seven. The 1400m of her last win suits her down to the ground, but she did win the Gr 1 WSB Cape Fillies Guineas and as an older filly she might start preferring the mile. Anyway I don’t see any problem with this distance, we are just going to have to look out for Justin Snaith’s filly (Double Grand Slam).”

 

Tienie believed the right decision was made by the stipendiary stewards last time when Quickstepgal had a ding-dong duel down the straight with Mon Petite Cherie in the Gr 2 HKJC World Pool Stakes over 1400m and she kept the race after an objection against her. She will now be 3kg better off with Mon Petite Cherie, despite having beaten her by a short-head, so she should confirm the form.

 

Gareth van Zyl has King Pelles (Duke Of Marmalade) in the big one, the Hollywoodbets Durban July, and he said, “He is doing well, he has had no hiccups in his preparation. He is fit and is in a very good space and he is ready to run. His draw of 17 is actually nice as it means he will be out of the hustle and bustle that will be going on, so hopefully we don’t get trapped more than three wide. Horses have won going three wide, it is not always an excuse in a race like the July (with the probable most important factor being to get cover). I am not upset about the draw, it could have been worse if we had been in the middle and being bumped around. His gallop on Thursday was pleasing. He is not a horse who sets the track alight, he does what he needs to and he came out of it well.”

 

Gareth runs Dubai Dude (Declarationofpeace) and Place Of Practice (Vercingetorix) in the first race on the poly over 1600m and he said, “Dubai Dude put up an eye-catching gallop with King Pelles. If he had a draw we would be confident (but he is drawn 12 out of 12). If he doesn’t burn up too much gas from the draw he can definitely be involved. Place Of Pratice has the draw on his side and we are hoping that he is competitive, although first time out the maidens might be a bit tough for him.”

 

Grand Occasion (Danon Platina) ran at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Sunday and runs six days later in Race 2 on July day over 1600m on the poly. Gareth said, “The pace was a bit slow for her on Sunday, but she has taken the race well and she might prefer the poly at the moment, so we will give it a go (in her last three runs on the poly she has had two wins and a second, so is in fine poly form and she has a good draw of four).”

 

Gareth has Imilenzeyokududuma (Dynasty) in the July consolation race, the Gr 3 Magical Zulu Kingdom 2200, and he said, “He is in very good form, he’s racing well and he’s loving his work and just loving life. He is looking like a young horse again and I would be surprised if he doesn’t contend the finish here.”

 

Tomyris (Vercingetorix) is also running in the Magical Kingdom and Gareth said, “She raced on Sunday and there is a chance she likes this 2200m trip. If she does she can maybe earn a cheque considering her light weight.”

 

Imposing (Visionaire) has thrived in the Van Zyl yard and Gareth said ahead of his engagement in the Listed Premier Gateway International Handicap over 1600m on the turf, “He is doing very well and from a decent draw it is the right type of race for him and I make him one of the principle contenders here. His run to Zeitz last time out was a very good run (0,90 length second over 1400m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville giving the latter 1,5kg) and proved he is competitively handicapped off a 107 merit rating. He is in a good space, he is a genuine horse.”

 

Gareth runs Serengetti Sun (Legislate) in the 11th race over 1200m on the poly and said, “She’s got more to offer. Last time from a wide draw there was merit in the run, she tired late and from a good draw this time out I think she is one of the principle contenders in this event.”

 

He runs Scarlet Starlet (Erik The Red) in the last race over 1200m on the poly and he said, “She was unlucky last time out, if she jumps well (from draw two) I think she could also be a principle contender. She is a horse with more to offer.”

 

Paul Lafferty brings the talented Danon Platina three-year-old Bruh back for his first run as a gelding having last run three months ago. He had a bit of a setback after the gelding which put him a little bit behind in his work. Paul said about his chances in Race 2 over 1600m on the poly, “He is probably a little bit behind the eightball, but I am hoping he will be up there because he is a decent horse, I have always rated him.” Bruh was looking in fine fettle when cantering past on the bottom sand track. Paul emphasised for all presenters around the country to take note of that this horse’s name is pronounced the same as the word “brew”.

 

Wendy Whitehead has the talented Buttercup Baby (What A Winter) in the 11th race, a polytrack event over 1200m. She was asked to just do a light canter on the bottom sand on Monday morning as she has had plenty of racing lately, although she will do faster work on Tuesday and Thursday. She had a gleaming coat, underlining her well-being, and Wendy said, “She likes to race up in the first section and she has a good draw with Rachel Venniker up claiming the 1,5kg. She is back on the poly which she loves. She is in a great space and will go close.”

 

Wendy’s charge Sundance Kid (Master Of My Fate) runs in race 2 over 1600m on the poly and she said, “He is working very, very well. He is coming into this race fresh (last ran on April 24), but he loves to run fresh and he loves the polytrack and 1600m is his game. He is a very competitive horse, he tries hard every time, so I am hoping for a great run. He has so much gatespeed that he should be able to overcome his draw of 12 easily (under Calvin Habib).”

 

MJ Odendaal runs Johnny The Thief from pole position in the Gr 3 Magical Kingdom 2200 and he said, “He ran fourth in this race last year, despite things not going his way.. He ended up leading and he’s always been better from off the speed. He normally runs well quite fresh, so we’re coming into the race fresh (last ran on April 24). He had a proper, proper mile gallop last week Tuesday. I am not saying we are going in confident, but I’m quietly confident he will be in the money.”

 

Interestingly, Johnny The Thief sneaks into the handicap with the minimum weight of 52kg off his 94 merit rating and last year he was 2kg under sufferance off a 92 rating.

David Thiselton

 

Summerveld was abuzz yesterday morning on the week of the Hollywoodbets Durban July and three jockeys, Tristan Godden, Sean Veale and Andrew Fortune, were able to comment between work rides on their July mounts Mocha Blend, Isivivane and Wish List respectively.

 

All three will be out to score their first Hollywoodbets Durban July wins.

 

Tristan said about the Frank Robinson-trained four-year-old filly Mocha Blend, “We are very happy with her. She has had the ideal prep going into the race. Frank will do the final touches, but she is doing really well and I am looking forward to the big race and I am very confident of a big run from her.”

 

Tristan showed in last year’s race he has the necessary BMT for the country’s premier race. No quarter is asked for or given in the July, which makes it the toughest of races to ride in.

 

Tristan rode 100/1 shot Native Ruler to a 3,95 length sixth from draw 18 of 18 last year and it could have been better as he had to find his way through a crowd of horses coming from near the back. That forced him to switch way inward and he had to then switch outward late when the horses in front of him hung inward.

 

Tristan has another tricky draw of 13 to negotiate this year and he said, “Obviously it is not ideal, but I am not too worried about it. She is a pretty straight forward filly and if things go to plan I think we will be in the right place.”

 

Mocha Blend will be out to give the most successful family in Hollywoodbets Durban July history, the Oppenheimer family, a tenth win in the big race. The family has won it six times with homebreds, one with a part-owned horse and they bred a further two winners.

 

Mocha Blend was officially bred by Wilgerbosdrift and Mauritzfontein. Mary Slack, the daughter of Mauritzfontein’s founders Harry and Bridget Oppenheimer, founded Wilgerbosdrift Stud and her daughter Jessica Jell (nee Slack) now owns Mauritzfontein together with her husband Steven.

 

Mocha Blend runs in the famous black colours with the yellow sash, sleeves and cap of Mauritzfontein and she will be out to become the seventh Oppenheimer family homebred to win it and the seventh to win the race in those famous black and yellow silks.

 

Sean Veale rides the Peter Muscutt-trained Isivivane and he said about the pole position-drawn four-year-old Erupt gelding, “He is doing very well, his gallop was very good. Obviously it is a competitive race, but it’s an open July and with that weight I have got to have some sort of a chance. He’s drawn one and is quite a straight forward horse, he does everything I want him to do, he pings the gates and is a horse who can hold his position for that first 200m. So, I will probably be in the box seat for the first few hundred metres. His preparation couldn’t have gone better. He is in a very good space and it’s now just up to the race to tell.”

 

A bullish Andrew Fortune kept it short and sweet about the twice Gr 1-winning three-year-old filly Wish List, “Why do you think I chose her? She is the best of the Justin Snaith yard’s runners, I don’t care what they say.”

 

Wish List is one of three Hollywoodbets Durban July runners who are by the former July winner Legislate. History will likely be made as any of this trio could become a third generation winner from the same sire line, because Legislate himself was by former July winner Dynasty.

Dear valued customer, please note IsiZulu commentary for Africa’s greatest horse racing and social event Hollywoodbets Durban July is available, kindly click the link below to listen to it

https://www.galloptv.co.za/live-streams/rsa-oncourse-feed-isizulu

Please Note: South African Quartet Pools with fractional betting offered at Pontefract and Windsor (UK) – 29 June 2026

David Thiselton

 

The Gr 3 Post Merchants will be one of the most interesting races on Hollywoodbets Durban July day, but the conditions of the race mean the highest rated horses are ostensibly slung in.

 

The highest rated horse in the land, the 132-rated twice Gr 1-winning sprinter Buffalo Storm Cody, is thus very well in at the weights, and second best in is Dave The King, who is the most interesting runner, followed by Tenango and Princess Of Gaul, who are joint third best in.

 

The race has merit-rated band conditions with one key difference.

 

Usually the horses that are higher rated than the highest band are allotted half-a-kilogram for every point they are above that highest band.

 

However, the highest band in this case reads “122 or more … 62kg”.

 

That band would normally read 122 to 126 and under the normal rules for merit-rated band events Buffalo Storm Cody would be carrying 65kg as he is six points higher than the top rating of the highest band. So, he is ostensibly 3kg well in carrying 62kg.

 

Dave The King would normally be carrying 63kg, but carries 62kg, so is 1kg better off than normal, but is 2kg under sufferance with Buffalo Storm Cody.

 

Tenango is merit rated 126, so he is top of what the band would normally be, but is officially 3kg under sufferance with Buffalo Storm Cody.

 

Equally well treated with the latter is the crack filly Princess Of Gaul, who is 114-rated but gets a 2,5kg gender allowance.

 

The worry about Buffalo Storm Cody is that he might be using it as a preparation for the Gr 1 Mercury Sprint, which he appeared to do last year because last year he only ran a 1,65 length fourth in this race carrying 56kg, meaning he was 5,5kg better off than weight for age with the highest rated runner, and he then came out and won the weight for age Mercury Sprint over the same course and distance by 1,60 lengths. Interestingly he jumped from draw 9 in the Mercury, the same draw he has in this year’s Post Merchants. This horse does appear at his best around the turn. Richard Fourie up is a bonus.

 

Dave The King is interesting, because although his best form is over a mile and middle distances he went at a blistering gallop in the L’Ormarins King’s Plate. It was a ridiculous pace, but he displayed his speed around the turn in that race as he went through the first 400m in a time just 1,7 seconds slower than the pacemaker and the winner of the Gr 1 World Pool Cape Flying Championship over 1000m. He has had four starts over 1200m in his career and won three of them easily and his only loss was when returning from a layoff and having a seasonal reappearance preparation run and running just 2,65 lengths behind former Post Merchants winner, the now 127-rated Gladatorian. Dave The King has drawn seven which should give him room to go to the front if quick enough and the latter is actually a concern, because of course leading over 1200m is a different ball game to leading over 1600m.

 

Tenango ran a good 1,95 length seventh in the Gr 2 Golden Horse Sprint, where he carried topweight. That should have brought him on for this race and he has a plum draw of five. Keagan de Melo is contracted to part-owner Laurence Wernars and takes the ride here having not ridden him in the Golden Horse. He will likely be all out to win this race as the Mercury will be a lot tougher, although he did show his class and course and distance suitability by finishing a fine second in the latter race last year, despite jumping from draw 13. Tenango looks to be a massive runner.

 

Princess Of Gaul is also a big runner carrying just 55,5kg and jumping from draw three under Craig Zackey. She won the Gr 2 World Pool With Race Coast Debutante over course and distance last year in just her second career start. Last time out she showed he class over this trip by finishing just 2,60 lengths behind Asiye Phambili and Double Grand Slam in the Gr 1 SA Fillies Sprint. If the latter pair were in the Merchants they would likely be the two favourites so with Princess Of Gaul beaten by that margin under weight for age conditions and now being 4kg better off than weight for age conditions with the first three mentioned she should also be a massive runner.

 

Cafe Culture is a former winner of this race, but is officially 4kg under sufferance with Buffalo Storm Cody and has a tough draw of 13, but he should be kicking on if managing to find cover in a handy position.

 

One of the joint topweights is the 122-rated Outlaw King, who is thus officially 5kg under sufferance with Buffalo Storm Cody. However, he is ultra courageous and often defies the official weights, as he did when a 1.05 length third in the Cape Flying. His last run in the Golden Horse is best ignored as he stumbled at the start.

 

Cats Pajamas is also rated 122 and has a fine course and distance record and was just a 1,75 length fourth in the Mercury last year. However, he has the widest draw of all.

 

Speedman is rated only 105 and carrying 54kg is officially 6kg under sufferance with Buffalo Storm Cody, but he is an up and coming sort who could prove better than rated, so he is the dark horse.

 

One Eye On Vegas was third in the Golden Horse and finds himself officially 4,5kg under sufferance with Buffalo Storm Cody, but he is a progressive sort with speed and class so should be running on from draw 11.

 

Jet Force is also a classy sort who could surprise dropped down in trip. He is 4,5kg under sufferance with Buffalo, but is well drawn.

 

Jerusalema Rain beat Buffalo Storm Cody by a neck in the Gr 2 Senor Santa over 1160m, but is now 4kg worse off.

 

The ones mentioned are the ones who make the most appeal and the selection is Buffalo Storm Cody to beat Tenango with Princess Of Gaul, Speedman and Jet Force next best.