Warren Lenferna

Racing lovers were treated to some sterling performances at the Country course yesterday, and three horses in particular made the headlines.

The third race, a competitive Progress Plate over 1250m, saw All The Rage strongly punched out to victory by Aldo Domeyer for trainer Candice Bass.

This smart, quality colt in the making was bred by Jan Mantell’s Millstream Farm. Mantell and all associated with this handsome son of Rafeef must be looking forward to the feature races ahead. He has the looks, the gears, and tons of ability. His victory was impressive, coming from the deepest draw. Domeyer never drew the stick, instead just powerfully punching him out to deny the Grade 1 winner, Good For You, a comeback win. Glen Kotzen’s talented gelding never went down without a tenacious fight.

Reet Petite was arguably the most impressive winner of the afternoon. She was drawn awkwardly, came from a way back, and had to switch up the straight, but when Richard Fourie asked for maximum effort, she absolutely took off like a rocket to win a tad cozily.

“She’s nice,” were the words of race commentator Alistair Cohen, and you could hear in the tone of his voice that he was, like all of us, super impressed with that performance. The attractive Rafeef filly is trained by James Crawford and owned in partnership by Ridgemont (Craig Kieswetter) and Devin Heffer. Follow her—she looks like the real deal.

It was time for Vercingetorix’s progeny to shine in Race 7 with the smart Viva’s Liberté from the Bass yard remaining unbeaten, now two-for-two. Serino Moodley caught the early flight out of Durban to fill his engagements in the Western Cape, and there is no doubt that this win would have been his highlight of the trip.

He was given a perfect ride from Moodley, who is clearly making the message of “have saddle, will travel” very clear. Viva’s Liberté was still a tad green up the lane, but when pressed and asked for maximum, he took it very seriously and went on to win well. He could be anything, and one cannot help but get excited by this progressive colt.

It will be interesting to see where these three horses are directed to next by their respective trainers, but all connected to All The Rage, Reet Petite, and Viva’s Liberté will surely have plenty to cheer about come the Western Cape season and the eventual return to Hollywoodbets Kenilworth.

Andrew Harrison

In a South African context, accomplished sprinter Dyce is getting a little long in the tooth. The seven-year-old gelding boasts and exceptional record of ten victories from his 22 starts but he could face an uphill battle in the Pinnacle Stakes over 1000m that heads the card at The Vaal today.

Firstly he has not been out since his fourth-placed finish behind Gimme A Prince in the Gr1 Cape Flying Championship back in January this year and he has the steadier of top weight of 62kg.

That said, he is the best rated and weighted horse in the field and Lucky Houdalakis has called on the services of reigning champion Richard Fourie for the ride replacing the now retired champion Piere Strydom.

Dyce took a new lease on life after gelding, winning four on the bounce and was far from disgraced in his last two starts before being rested. His fitness must be taken on trust as he does face a useful field of short-cut specialists but if anywhere near to his best he should make a bold bid.

One of those is Paul Matcetts four-year-old Karate Kid who comes off a string of narrow defeats on the Turffontein inside course. In all those races he has carried 62kg and although stepping up in class today he only has 52kg to shoulder getting 10kg from Dyce which could be too much for the top weight to handle.

Sean Tarry got the Highveld Season off to a memorable start last Saturday and many in today’s contest will be warming up for a crack at the bigger prizes on offer.

Serino Moodley has been a regular visitor to the Highveld since the start of the season with plenty of success. He partners Candice Dawson’s grey Truth who also returns from a break after going off the boil at his last two. If he can find some of his earlier form he will be a runner. Truth is Dawson’s only runner on the day for those that follow this trend.

One of the better bets on the card should be Francilien in the opening leg of the Pick 6, fourth race on the nine-race programme and could well give Houdalakis the first leg of a double.

The What A Winter filly has not missed a stakes cheque in her eight starts and both of her wins have come over course and distance. She has been touched off at her last two and Fourie does duty for the stable once again.

Danger could be Komati River who beat  Francilien by a neck when they met last time out. Tony Peter has stuck with Mauritian four-claiming apprentice Girish Samo-Burthia but the 1kg swing in the handicap could see  Francilien turn the tables while Bosum Buddy is 3kg better of with Komati River given Rachel Venniker’s 1.5kg allowance for a 3.50 length beating.

Most of the runners in the sixth, a straight mile, will be tripping over their beards and the youngster Palace Prince can take advantage. John Gray’s three-year-old jumps in class but has shown up well in two recent outings over sprints and was compromised last time out when blowing the start. Gray has jumped him up to 1600m for the first time but his home-bred looks fully capable.

Tim Woodruff holds the fort on the Highveld for James Crawford and Callan Murray will be looking to keep his unbeaten record on Aladdin’s Lamp after guiding him to three straight wins. The gelding has been rested and his preferred trip is over more ground so this race is obviously a warm-up for things to come. In spite of this trip being on the short side, the son of Master Of My Fate has come into his own and he has definite claims

Soccer10 Friday 10 October 2025. Carryover R100 000. Estimated Pool: R1.5 Million. Pool Closes at 20h30. Sport 8 and Pool 1.

Soccer10 Saturday 11 October 2025. Carryover R100 000. Estimated Pool: R1.5 Million. Pool Closes at 15h00. Sport 12 and Pool 1.

Soccer Any 13Xtra Saturday 11 October 2025. ADD-IN R100 000. Estimated Pool: R400 000. Pool Closes at 15h00. Sport 13 and Pool 1.

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Soccer SCORES Carryover R 85 959. Saturday 11 October 2025. Pool Closes at 16h00.

Soccer CORNERS Carryover R 3 406. Saturday 11 October 2025. Pool Closes at 16h00.

South African Quartet Pools with fractional betting offered at Kempton and Nottingham (UK) – 08 October 2025