David Thiselton

 

There are seven races at the Vaal  meeting today and the highest rated race is a MR 94 handicap over  1400m for fillies and mares.

 

Ringa Ringa Roses runs over a suitable trip and has proved up to her 87 merit rating in her last few starts as she has been knocking on the door.  Craig Zackey sticks with her at the expense of Fire In Her Soul, who was 5kg under sufferance in a Listed event over 1400m last time and was hence not disgraced in finishing just four lengths back. Keagan de Melo aboard is an indication that it could not have been an easy decision for Zackey. Ringa Ringa Roses is drawn relatively low and Fire In Her Soul is drawn relatively high but at time of writing the course set up had not been published yet. Generally speaking high draws are favourable in the straight races if the standside rail has not been brought in off it or it brought in by just a few metres, but if it is brought in by over 10m or so, then low draws can be favourable. Paris Fun won well over 1600m last time but has also won over this trip before and off just a three point higher mark she should go well, especially if high draws are favourable. Sonic Jet will relish the step back up in trip after being outpaced over 1160m in a Gr 3 last time. Cocomelon was not disgraced when out at the weights in a Graduation Plate over  1400m last time and she did begin staying on late before being eased, so this disappointing filly could make an impact back in a handicap.

 

The first leg of the Pick 6 is race 2, a Maiden Plate over 1200m and the one to beat could be Gimmesumluv, who looks to be no great shakes but she does have the best form here. She has placed third three times and as one of those starts was over 1160m she is interesting stepped back to 1600m with cheekpieces on. Cool Reggae was longer in the betting than Gimmesumluv last time and duly finished a length behind her, but she could be the main danger in this uninspiring event. Sapphire Sun ran a fine race last September over 1500m, finishing just 5,30 lengths behind the top class Hazy Dazy, and the form of that race has worked out well. She was not striding out in her next start and finished well back but was then given a six month layoff and made a fair comeback last month which should have brought her on for this race.

 

The third race over 1200m could be won by Destiny’s Dream. This horse had some fair form in Cape Town and went close on her Highveld debut over 1250m after a short layoff. She should have come on from the run and Craig Zackey rides. Rendevous In Rio had some good form last year but comes back from a long layoff. Over this trip she could get away with it. Brigitte Anne has been knocking hard and has a form chance here.

 

In the third leg of the Pick 6 over 1200m Highwayman Harry has been knocking hard and gets a good opportunity. He is drawn one so if that proved to be a favourable draw for Destiny’s Dream in the previous race then confidence in his chances can go higher and vice versa. Sands Of Valhalla by Erik The Red will be a big danger as he made a good debut in what looked to be a relatively good time and he comes out well on formlines too. Periodic Table made a good debut after drifting in the betting and he ran a quicker time than Destiny’s Dream, so the latter’s run in the previous race must be taken note of. Captain Cooper is also by the promising sire Erik The Red and can go close after finishing a 2,70 length second on debut. He ran in a race whose time was slower than the previous race on the same day over the same trip, but the form of the latter race looks to be strong. Sky Pilot looks well held by Periodic Table, but could earn.

 

In the fifth race, a MR 84 Handicap over 1200m, Geostorm is a full brother to the highest rated runner in the country, Buffalo Storm Cody, and after a good win over this course and distance second time out he starts on a reasonable merit rating of 80. The horse he beat by 0,40 lengths was the progressive Highwayman Harry, so the latter’s run in the previous run must be watched. The third horse in that race was beaten 3,50 lengths and the rest of the field were strung out like the washing, which is usually the indication of good form. Salute The Flag is capable of being in the shake up as he has come down to a reasonable merit rating and the form of his last run has been well franked. Russian Nobility should relish the step back down in trip and is also one to consider.

 

In the last race over 1400m Utsaah had some hard knocking form before winning last time with second time blinkers over 1600m. Craig Zackey knows her well now and she should go close over this equally suitable trip off a 77 merit rating.  Shivering Light won on debut over 1200m and the form has worked out well, so she could be well treated off a 78 merit rating and she should enjoy the step up in trip being by Fire Away out of a High Chaparral mare. She has not raced for two-and-a-half months but the Peter yard gets them fit. Greenandgold went close over this trip third time out and with Keagan de Melo up should go close off a 75 merit rating.

 

The first race should be won by Impressive, who just found one better last time and should despatch this field, although Life’s Treasures has come fair form and could give some cheek.

Race 1

An interesting opening event. Trainer Sean Tarry has his runners in good form. It will not be a surprise were One World Colt LUCKY AWESOME win on his debut. GUS ON THE BUS showed improvement last time out and could have more to offer. IMPRESSIVE is improving and only had one runner ahead of her last time. LIFE’S TREASURES has not been disgraced in two starts and can make the frame. WAR DOG is an Act Of War newcomer that has Keagan de Melo in the irons and could be a threat. (Trevor Reid 3-5-7-2)

 

Race 2

GIMMESUMLUV has been consistent without winning. She may be better over further but would certainly not be a surprise winner of this event. SAPPHIRE SUN tends to lack a strong finish but might play a minor role. MONEY GALORE needs to find a few lengths to win a race but does have a place chance. COOL REGGAE has held her form of late and can contest the finish once again. REGAL QUEEN showed improvement last time and could have more to offer. (Trevor Reid 2-4-6-1)

 

Race 3

DESTINY’S DREAM showed good improvement on local debut. She can go one place better. BRIGITTE ANNE is consistent and could contest the finish once again. RENDEVOUS IN RIO is knocking hard at the door and a first victory should happen but she is returning from a break and may need this run. ERIK’S GIRL tends to lack a finish but might play a minor role. So too, for that matter could CHERICHERILADY. VINDOLANDA makes her debut and could be anything. (Trevor Reid          1-7-2-3)

 

Race 4

A competitive leg of the Pick 6. Three of these runners all found one better on debut so it will be interesting to see who comes out on top. SANDS OF VALHALLA, a two-year-old colt, ran a cracker on debut two weeks ago and could prove best. PERIODIC TABLE did not attract any betting support on debut but did chase home an easy winner and is a year older than that rival. CAPTAIN COOPER was slowly away on debut so did well to get as close as he did to the winner and he deserves the utmost respect. HIGHWAYMAN HARRY is consistent and can also get involved with the finish yet again. (Trevor Reid 11-7-8-1)

 

Race 5

A very open leg of the Pick 6 and it may pay to go very wide in this particular leg. ROMILLY is not reliable but is capable of scoring. RUSSIAN NOBILITY has shown talent in her two starts but is returning from a short break. TURBO POWER is not reliable but is distance suited. SALUTE THE FLAG have shown improved form of late and is not out of it. GEOSTORM and PLUMBAGO PARK are both arriving for this race after solid wins and are clearly to be included in all bets. (Trevor Reid 5-13-8-10)

 

Race 6

Another open handicap. PARIS FUN looked an improved filly when scoring last time and could double up on that but she has had a 2 month break since then. FIRE IN HER SOUL is talented but returns from a short break and will have her fitness tested. RINGA RINGA ROSES could be the pick of the three Lucky Houdalakis runners as she does have Craig Zackey aboard. She is in good form and quite capable of scoring. WISE COUNSEL, TOP SHELF TEDDY and LADY SABRINA are capable of improvement and deserve respect. (Trevor Reid-7-6-2-3)

 

Race 7

The penny seems to have dropped for GREENANDGOLD and she was full of running last time out. The filly can start making inroads into her sale price and she looks to be on a fair opening mark with improvement likely. SHIVERING LIGHT was successful on debut and could be anything. Stable companion HEAVENLY GOOD has held form and could earn some money. UTSAAH picked up a confidence-boosting maiden win and can still improve. SOUTHAMPTON and EIGHT HATS have shown improved form of late and must be respected. KYLIE’S ANGEL is capable of doing better and has a place chance. (Trevor Reid 7-8-10-2)

Please Note that the New Live Commentary Line is 031 314 1555

Please Note: South African Quartet Pools with fractional betting offered at Kempton and Windsor (UK) – 4 May 2026

David Thiselton

 

The official opening day of Champions Season at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday saw some top class racing and plenty of talking points. Not least of which was that owner Ravi Naidoo pulled off a third win of the WSB Guineas, all achieved in the space of four years, and owner Jonathan Bloch and breeders Maine Chance Farms did a Guineas double, being  part-owner and breeders respectively of WSB Guineas winner Star Major and of WSB Fillies Guineas Wish List.

 

Durban-born Naidoo made no secret from day one of the regard his James Crawford-trained Querari colt Star Major was held in and his victory in Saturday’s  WSB Guineas made the three-year-old look like the real deal.

 

Naidoo, who races under the name Kalinga, part-owns Star Major together with Bloch, Neville Isdell and Prakashni Pillay and this win follows wins in the WSB Guineas with the Brett Crawford-trained Zapatillas (Master Of My Fate) in 2022 and with the Justin Snaith-trained Sail The Seas (Vercingetorix) last year, while he also finished fourth with the Glen Kotzen-trained Cousin Casey in 2023.

 

Star Major began to show what he was capable of after the New Year, first by winning the Gr 3 HKJC World Pool Politician Stakes over 1800m at odds of 33/1 having finished fifth in the Race Coast Punters Cup and a 3,45 length sixth in the Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas, and he followed with a good fourth in the Gr 1 Lucky Fish Cape Derby.

 

On Saturday the Sean Tarry-trained Tin Pan Alley was all the rage in the WSB Guineas market, having won the Gr 1 Wilgerbosdrift HF Oppenheimer Stakes by 3,75 lengths, beating six Gr 1 winners in the process, including WSB Met winner See It Again.

 

However, he lost the race at the start.

 

He was officially “slow into stride” and after finding a position on the rail further back than he would have liked to have been he began over racing, which ultimately made him a sitting duck in the final stages.

 

Star Major settled well from the off and sat in joint last place with cover from Happy Verse, who was sitting outside of Tin Pan Alley.

 

In the straight Tin Pan Alley’s class enabled him to hit the front at about the 50m mark, overtaking One Eye On Vegas who was unable to go through with his dangerous looking run.

 

However, Tin Pan Alley’s earlier exertions meant his finish was laboured compared to his finish in the Horse Chestnut, in which he was able to stride out throughout.

 

Star Major, rated 114, scythed through the field with long strides under a fine ride by Mickaelle Michel to beat the favourite by 0,90 lengths.

 

One Eye On Vegas (107) was beaten two lengths into third, while Happy Verse (113) ran on quite well and was beaten 2,50 lengths into fourth.  Malmesbury Missile (110) was beaten 3,30 lengths into fifth.

 

One Eye On Vegas was the only horse in the top six officially rated below 110, although it should be pointed out the handicappers initially had him at 115, and the last five horses were all rated 106 or below.

 

One Eye On Vegas is obviously the outlier in the ratings, so is unlikely to be used as the line horse and Happy Verse looks the likely candidate.

 

Star Major was a R500 000 National Yearling Sale purchase and is now a winner of three races. His ten starts have also yielded five places and he took his stakes total to R880 295.

Andrew Fortune was confident of success on the Justin Snaith-trained Wish List in the Gr 2 WSB Fillies Guineas. The dual Gr 1 winner seemed a bit short in the market at odds-on, as the trip was on the sharp side and she had a wide draw, and she duly drifted out to 13/10.

 

However, she has transformed since her early three-year-old year from a hard knocker into a filly of true class who just gets better and better and she won cosily.

 

Fortune had her covered up near the back in the running.

 

Initially her run in the straight did not seem to be making much progress and she looked in danger of defeat as the WSB Cape Fillies Guineas winner Quickstepgal was going well in front and so was the main challenger Keukenhof.

 

However, Fortune then switched inward, aiming for a gap between Princess Of Gaul and Quickstepgal, and the Legislate filly took off.

 

Wish List burst through and Fortune was able to pose for the last stride, winning by 0,30 lengths from Quickstepgal with Keukenhof, Princess Of Gaul and Beach Verse next best.

 

Fortune complained about an apprentice rider getting in his way during the race.

 

However, Wish List has stamped herself as a dominant force and will be a factor in the Hollywoodbets Durban July.

 

She is rated 117 which will probably stay the same as second-placed Quickstepgal is rated 116, but there will be no allowance for females in the July this year, so she will not have an easy task carrying 53,5kg as things stand and giving weight to some of the best Highveld three-year-olds.

 

Wish List is owned by Jonathan Bloch together with Nancy Hossack and she has earned R2 023 738 in stakes.

 

Vaughan Marshall has done an incredible job with Questioning, who as a five-year-old has blossomed into a magnificent athlete, who has become the best horse in the country over 1400m and might even be the best over sprints too and even over a mile.

 

The Alec and Gillian Foster-bred Querari gelding, owned by the Bortz’s, Wernars and Mukund Gujadhur, was handily placed from pole position in the Gr 2 IOS Drill Hall Stakes and despite being a touch hampered at the top of the straight he powered clear under Richard Fourie to beat last year’s winner Gladatorian by 1,60 lengths, with Great Plains, a head further back, repeating his third place of last year.

 

The Sean Tarry-trained Gerbera (One World) got up late under a typically well timed ride by Craig Zackey to win the Listed IOS Insider East Coast Cup over 2000m.

 

The Durban Dash over 400m saw Louis Goosen claiming the exacta with Arverni Princess (Vercingetorix), ridden by Blaine Marx-Jacobson, and Donquerari.