Andrew Harrison

Most visitors to this country who have had all of their kit stolen out of their car would have packed up and gone home. Not Mickaelle Michel. The French jockey on a ‘busman’s holiday’ is still enjoying her stay and is hoping to see out the current season before heading to another country, having ridden winners around the globe.

She made the most of her ride on the Peter Muscutt-trained City Of Love in the Diya Valves B Stakes that headed the card at Hollywoodbets Scottsville yesterday. Sitting just off the pace in the middle of the track, she made full use of her handy galloping weight to send the lightly raced gelding for home at just the right moment, the grey sprinting clear of veteran Donquerari and Position Of Power to win first time out for Muscutt.

If there is any doubt about Michel’s ability, it was there for all to see as she punched Captain Ventura home in the tightest finish of the afternoon with three short heads separating the first four home in the eighth.

It was the proverbial stampede for the line from the 200 m mark with Call Me Jane first to stick her head out of the scrum and looked to have done enough. However, Michel had Captain Ventura in full cry with Magical Sky and Vision To Achieve also putting up their hands. A nostril separated Captain Venture and Magical Sky at the line with the judges unable to separate Call me Jane and Vision To Achieve; Captain Ventura giving Darryl Moore a double

 When it comes to two-year-olds there is no substitute for experience, unless there is a real ‘springer’ in the field.

The winners of the first two races added some substance to that theory with Lady Godiva making most of the running in the first after two pipe-openers and Steamy Window following up in the next.

Lady Godiva showed pace in both of her two starts but there were not mistakes this time around as Rachel Venniker had Doug Campbell’s filly up with the pace throughout before drawing away to win rather comfortably. The two first timers, Predator’s Crown and Anushka gave come cheek while well-supported favourite Queraristinyferrari shows pace from her outside draw but did not go on with her effort and finished a well-beaten fourth.

Omkhulu Boss was sent out favourite in the second, and like Queraristinyferrari was drawn in the outside gate and also showed early speed. Whether that had anything to do with the outcome is debatable but it was the inside drawn Steamy Windows who made the required improvement from his debut effort behind the Mike Miller stable star Master Magician and quickened away to win well. Better Never Ends  has obviously learned little form his first three outings and was all over the course under pressure with Quest Of Valor running on nicely for the minor money.

 After winning on Steamy Windows, Tristan Godden labelled Psyche as his best ride of the afternoon but Peter Muscutt’s filly was all at sea in finishing a gallant third in a tight three-way finish to the first leg of the PA.

Psyche moved into contention at the top of the straight but was immediately challenged by Wendy Whitehead’s gelding Red Cardinal with Venniker, in the hunt for her second of the afternoon, getting the most out of the son of Eric The Red. Pressure Point also joined the fray and it was a three-way fight to the line with Red Cardinal holding on to keep Pressure Point at bay with Psyche rallying gamely for third.

Venniker made a bold move down the back straight to send Sascha’s Dream to the lead in the fourth and it was a ploy that almost paid off. Doug Campbell’s filly tried gamely to hold onto her lead but she was being chased hard by Fine Wine and Zena Rose. But Keagan de Melo had timed his run to perfection on Zena Rose and the Duncan Howells-trained filly gradually reeled them both in to stick her head in front when it mattered.

Sean Veale took a calculated risk from his wide draw in the fifth to send Phutulicious to the lead setting brisk early fractions  but apprentice Dezahn Louw was wise to the move and had Gorgeous Girl tracking all the way with the balance of the field well stretched out. The two fought a tight duel to the finish but it was the 2.5kg claim that eventually told the tail as Tony Rivalland’s mare slowly edged ahead to claim victory. Definitely Yes was also in contention but not quite able to catch the first two but was a creditable third.

Tara Star has been a dream mare to own and Darryl Moore has done wonders in keeping the five-year-old on the boil. Probably one of the last runners by the stallion Just As Well, she has a special affinity with her regular rider apprentice Mxolisi Mbuto. Jumping from a wide gate, he kept the mare away from the pack as he explained post-race that she was not partial to being caught in the scrum. Serengetti Sun and Convocation looked destine to fight out the finish with Convocation slowly getting the upper hand before Tara Star arrived late to run them both out of it.

Night Tiger started a short-priced favourite for the last but after a slow start he was never in the hunt and eventually eased out of the race by Andrew Fortune.

In another tight finish to the last De Melo notched a double for the day as he got Intrepid home in the shadow of the post to snatch it away from Jane’s Vision and Purple Power House.

RACE 1

1 BATTLEGROUND 2 MILITARY MOVES 5 EUPHRATES 6 VESUVIO

Preview: 1 BATTLEGROUND is a talented staying type and has come back into form. 2 MILITARY MOVES is a promising up and coming stayer and should be right there. 5 EUPHRATES is in good form over staying trips and is slightly under sufferance but is drawn in pole. 6 VESUVIO is usually thereabouts and is an interesting runner here. (David Thiselton 1-2-5-6)

RACE 2

2 FUTURE GAMBLE 1 GALAXY QUEEN 4 IN BETWEEN 7 STORM BALLET

Preview: 2 FUTURE GAMBLE has some fair form in the strong centre of Cape Town and will enjoy this trip 1 GALAXY QUEEN has been knocking on the door and has a chance with Zackey up. 4 IN BETWEEN is improving and has a good draw over a trip which she should enjoy.  7 STORM BALLET can earn if repeating her last start. (David Thiselton 2-1-4-7)

RACE 3

9 STATUS 7 GIMMETHESPOTLIGHT 5 FOREVER RED 1 QUEVANO

Preview: 9 STATUS made a good debut and will enjoy the step up in trip but has a tough draw.  7 GIMMETHESPOTLIGHT has run two good races and should go close over a suitable trip with Lerena up from a fair draw. 5 FOREVER RED has shown some ability and could earn. 1 QUEVANO has shown enough to be able to earn here. (David Thiselton 9-7-5-1

RACE 4

2 PRESSONREGARDLESS 10 WINDS OF CHANGE 9 FAMOUS LADY

Preview: 2 PRESSONREGARDLESS has plenty of class and can follow up on his good feature race win last time. 10 WINDS OF CHANGE has always had a lot of ability but not much luck and now gets pole position over a trip he should enjoy.  9 FAMOUS LADY can earn if reproducing her best. (David Thiselton 2-10-9)

RACE 5

2 GOT THE FEELING 1 TURBO POWER 7 FOSTINOVO 5 AFTER HOURS

Preview: 2 GOT THE FEELING has an easier task than recent a n d can go close. 1 TURBO POWER is usually right there and is a threat. 7 FOSTINOVO is consistent and should be in the shake up. 5 AFTER Hours is a gallant soldier who retains ability. (David Thiselton 2-1-7-5)

RACE 6

5 WAITING ON Charlie 1 BRIGHT AND BRAZEN, 3 SAKURA HANAMI 6 MISTY METAL

Preview: 5 WAITING ON Charlie is the form choice here. 1 BRIGHT AND Brazen is in good form and should be right there. 3 SAKURA HANAMI has ability and should enjoy this course and distance. 6 MISTY Metal can earn if producing best. (David Thiselton 5-1-3-6)

RACE 7

5 KISSING Machine 4 ANCIENT WISDOM, 3 COCOMELON

Preview: 5 KISSING MACHINE is off a competitive mark and will be in the shake up. 4 ANCIENT WISDOM has the form to be a threat here. 3 COCOMELON has been  disappointing but showed signs of a revival last time (David Thiselton 5-4-3)

RACE 8

10 FALCONFLY 1 BACK FROM WAR 2 LITTLEMISSSPLENDID 3 ANNEWITHAN E

Preview: 10 FALCONFLY made a good impression last time and is the one to beat. 1 BACK FROM WAR can go close with a repeat of last run. 2 LITTLEMISSSPLENDID has been in good form and can earn again. 3 ANNEWITHAN E has the form to be a threat. (David Thiselton 10-1-2-3)

RACE 9

1 EXPRESS YOURSELF 11 FULL GO 12 FUSHIMI INARI 2 FORCE PUBLIQUE

Preview: 1 EXPRESS YOURSELF should be cherry ripe and can go close. 11 FULL Go is an honest sort who has a shout. 12 FUSHIMI INARI has the form to be in the shake up. 2 FORCE PUBLIQUE is in fair form and can earn here. (David Thiselton 1-11-12-2)

David Thiselton

The Turffontein Inside meeting today kicks off with a MR 86 Handicap over 2600m and the talented stayer Battleground looks the one to beat.

The Lucky Houdalakis-trained six-year-old lost his way last season but has bounced back with good efforts in his last couple of starts having dropped to a competitive merit rating of 89, which is just one point higher than his highest winning mark. He has won over 3200m before so will relish the step up to 2600m and Gavin Lerena will help him negotiate the widest draw of all in the six horse field. Military Moves is an up and coming stayer and will get 9.5kg from Battleground so should make a bold bid. Euphrates is slightly under sufferance but stays well and could earn. Vesuvio is usually thereabouts and can earn again. Bellerephon has shown ability over saying trips and can still improve further. Apache Son ran well over 1800m last time and should stay this trip.

The fourth is the highest rated race, a Conditions Plate over 1450m, and some talented types step out. Pressonregardless is a classy horse with a big action who is coming into his own and he can follow up on his win in a Listed race last time as he beat Grand Empire in that race and the latter went on to finish second in the Gr 2 Gauteng Guineas. Winds Of Change has always had a lot of ability but not much luck and now gets pole position over a trip he should enjoy. Famous Lady disappointed in her penultimate start but bounced back last time and can earn here if able to overcome a wide draw. Just Be Lekker will enjoy this course and distance and has a fair draw. Almond Sea does run on over shorter so is interesting stepped up in trip with Lerena up.

In the second race over 1600m Future Gamble has been unplaced but close up in all four of her starts in the strong centre of Cape Town and is the one to beat on that form, especially considering she finished just 3,60 lengths behind Rose Woott over this trip and the latter is now merit rated 85, whereas the highest merit rating in this race is the 77 rating of Galaxy Queen. However, Galaxy Queen would not be a surprise winner at all as her form has been well franked and she represents the very much in-form stable of Sean Tarry. She does have draw eight though compared to Future Gamble’s draw five. In Between is an improving sort who has a good draw and she should give some cheek.

In the third over 1600m Status is by The United States and is a half-brother to the Gr 1 SA Derby winner Son Of Raj. He made a good debut over 1450m and will relish the step up to this trip, although he does have a tricky draw of eight out of ten. Gimmethespotlight made a good debut and then improved to run 1,40 lengths behind World Order over this trip. World Order then franked the form by winning next time out, so Gimmethespotlight will be a big runner here from draw six of ten with Gavin Lerena up. Forever Red has not been disgraced in Cape Town and could earn here. Quevano has also shown enough to earn here. Top Floor made a fair debut but has not run for nine months. He has the ability to be a contender.

In the fifth race over 1450m Got The Feeling has an easier task than recent runs and can go close. Turbo Power is usually right there and will be a threat. Fostinovo is consistent and should be in the shake up. After Hours is a gallant soldier who retains ability. Drivelikeamaster has a form chance here too from a good draw with Lerena up.

In the sixth over 1200m Waiting On Charlie is the form choice here as he will relish the step back in trip and has some eyecatching form over this trip. Bright And Brazenbeat Waiting On Charlie easily over 1450m last time but would likely prefer the latter trip. Sakura Hanami has a reasonable merit rating of 82 considering her good form in the maidens and she should be right there from a good draw.  Misty Metal has the form to earn here. Winds Of Grace ran well first time out of the maidens last time but would likely prefer a bit further.

In the seventh over 2000m Kissing Machine is off a competitive mark and will be in the shake up. Ancient Wisdom went close when her merit rating was decreased to this mark last time and she can repeat off the same mark. Cocomelon has been disappointing but showed signs of a revival last time, so must be respected.

In the eighth over 2000m Falconfly made a good impression last time and rider Blaine Marx-Jacobson is improving, so she looks the one to beat. Back From War just needs to repeat her last run to have a fine chance. Littlemissplendid has been consistently thereabouts and can be again from a plum draw of two.

In the last race over 2000m Express Yourself  should be cherry ripe and having run just 2,90 lengths behind the talented Agoge last time he has a chance here. Full Go has run two good races in a row over middle distance and should go close from a plum draw. Fushimi Inari sneaks into the handicap with he minimum weight and has a form chance from a fair draw. Force Publique went close when stepped up to 2000m last time and can improve again here from a good draw. Carnelo has the form to be in the shake up from a good draw.

Please Note: South African Quartet Pools with fractional betting offered at Newcastle and Sedgefield (UK) – 19 February 2026.

Soccer10 Friday 20 February 2026. Carryover R200 000. Estimated Pool: R1.9 Million. Pool Closes at 19h00. Sport 20 and Pool 1.

Soccer6 Saturday 21 February 2026. Carryover R75 000. Estimated Pool: R 400 000. Pool Closes at 19h30. Sport 1 Pool 1.

Soccer10 Saturday 21 February 2026. Carryover R200 000. Estimated Pool: R1.9 Million. Pool Closes at 15h00. Sport 14 and Pool 1.

Soccer Any 13Xtra Saturday 21 February 2026. Carryover R150 000. Estimated Pool: R450 000. Pool Closes at 15h00. Sport 13 and Pool 1.

Soccer13 GUARANTEED JACKPOT Saturday 21 February 2026. R17.5 Million (If only One 13 of 13 Winner). Pool Closes at 16h30. Sport 10 Pool 1.

Soccer SCORES Carryover R 826. Saturday 21 February 2026. Pool Closes at 15h00. Sport V72

Soccer CORNERS Carryover R 1 126. Saturday 21 February 2026. Pool Closes at 16h30. Sport V71

Soccer SCORE10 Carryover R 10 000. Saturday 21 February 2026. Pool Closes at 17h00. Sport 9 and Pool 1.