RACE 1

Summary: Many first timers so keep an eye on the betting. Of those that have run, THE MARQUEE (8) made a smart debut starting at odds of 100-1. A repeat can see him go one better. Favourite for that race was JOHNNY BOY (13) who finished six lengths back. He has a wide draw but is back over the course where he made a promising debut. EASTERN HIGHLANDS (1) was a touch disappointing when trying a furlong further in the soft. He made a useful debut over course and distance and has the best of the draw. Of the first timers PLACE OF PRACTICE (3) and CHRISTMAS CACTUS (2) make some appeal. (Andrew Harrison: 8-13-1-3).

 

RACE 2

Summary: CHEERSCHEERSCHEERS (13) was a close-up third last run at just his second start. He gets first time blinkers which could see him home. GREEN GLOW (9) was a distant second on debut but should come on from that effort. MOUNT KENNEDY (11) was not far back when making his debut over 1400m. Gareth van Zyl has stepped him up in trip with first time blinkers. LIGHT THE FIRE (12) has put in three decent sprints. Gary Rich has jumped him up in trip and is one to watch in the betting. (Andrew Harrison: 13-9-12-11).

 

RACE 3

Summary: Wide open. SAINT BRIGID (2) has only had one local outing and was not far back from a wide draw. She is up in class but has a light weight and should come on from her last outing. GREENHOUSE (9) has been knocking on the door for some time now. She goes well this trip and is due a change of fortune. ACACIA’S BLOSSOM (10) has dropped three points in the ratings and is 1kg better off with Greenhouse on their last meeting so there should not be much between them. PROM QUEEN (11) has the widest draw but has been consistent of ate and has a good money chance. (Andrew Harrison: 2-9-10-11).

 

RACE 4

Summary: COGNAC (4) was an impressive winner on debut and looks to have plenty of scope for improvement. CIRCUMBENDIBUS (7) has shown up well in two local starts and takes the turn for the first time. LUNELUCK (1) is lightly raced but has been showing steady recent improvement and looks ripe. INTREPID (6) has smart form on the poly but also goes well on the turf. He gets a 4kg claimer up and is not out of it. (Andrew Harrison: 4-7-1-6).

 

RACE 5

Summary: Smart line-up but many returning from a break. Not and easy race. CATS PAJAMAS (10) is returning from a break but is best in at the weights given his rating. Frank Robinson can get them fit first time out. AFRICAN SKYLINE (1) gets blinkers again and has bottom weight from the best of the draw. O’TENIKWA (6) is never far back and is fairly well treated at the weights. There should be little between FUTURE VARIETY (7) and I AM GIANT (9) both returning from short breaks. (Andrew Harrison: 10-1-6-7).

 

RACE 6

Summary: WHISPERING DEATH (2) makes his long awaited reappearance after showing smart juvenile form. If he has trained on he will be hard to beat. ON MY HONOUR (8) will prefer it a lot further but is smart and his class can pull him through. ACTOR (7) has shown up well at his last two but has more to do here. BRISTOL HERCULES (5) is never far back and has a strong money chance. (Andrew Harrison: 2-8-7-5).

 

RACE 7

Summary: QUICKSTEPGAL (6) makes her seasonal debut but is top class. She gets a 4kg claimer aboard and if ready will be hard to beat. WARRIOR ROYALE (3) seemed to be short of a run last start and should come on from that effort. LADYOFDISTINCTION (5) has a touch of class but has not been out since November last year. She might need this. ONE PATH (7) is lightly raced but can finish in the money. (Andrew Harrison: 6-3-5-7).

 

RACE 8

Summary: Tricky handicap with many looking for further. OFFICER IN COMMAND (7) has joint bottom weight but was scratched from Tuesday’s meeting with stipes permission probably with this race in mind. Candice Dawson makes a raid from the Highveld with PIONEER SQUARE (11). He is a lightly raced gelding but won well last time out and can go close in a field of this nature. FIELD MARSHAL (2) will prefer further but does have a touch of class. JOHNNY THE THIEF (4) is holding form well and his last win was over course and distance. GO GRAYSON GO (9) enjoyed the extra last run and can follow up. (Andrew Harrison: 7-11-2-9).

 

RACE 9

Summary: BUDDY BOY (2) stepped up to a mile after making a promising sprint debut, simply romped home. That sprint form has held up well so he looks to be a colt with more to come. KANAAL SKATER (7) showed up well first run out of the maidens. He steps up to a mile for the first time and he should enjoy the extra. TURBO TWENTY (10) won well in his local debut after coming off a Cape win. He appears to have come to hand. MOHAVE PRINCE (5) was not far back in his handicap debut. (Andrew Harrison: 2-7-10-5).

 

RACE 10

Summary: GOTTA GO EDDIE (1) has not missed a cheque in six starts. He goes well this trip and has the best of the draw. LUCKY DOLLAR (11) has drawn wide but is in good form and he will prefer this trip. KIMBAL O’HARA (2) is never far back over shorter but he may now prefer this trip. One to watch in the market. MASTER DU ROUVRAY (10) was a recent maiden winner but has had his issues and can still improve. (Andrew Harrison: 1-11-2-10).

Andrew Harrison

Punters face a cracking ten-race card on the turf at Hollywoodbets Greyville tomorrow with a number of last season’s top contenders making their seasonal debuts as well as many runners having their pipe-openers before heading to raid the Highveld’s big features, the Gr1 Betway Summer Cup seemingly high on their agendas.

The Michaelmas Handicap heads the card but has something of a strange look about it but a race that punters should take a more than passing interest in as many of the more accomplished runners are looking for further which could leave the way open to the horses at the bottom of the weights. One of these is Officer In Command. Mike and Mathew de Kock’s runner is not particularly well in at the weights but has joint bottom weight but of interest is that he was scratched from last Tuesday’s meeting with stipes permission obviously with this race in mind. He won well enough last time out and Athandiwe Mgudlwa, fresh off a double last Tuesday, gets the ride with Callan Murray never going to make the 52kg.

Candice Dawson makes a raid from the Highveld with Pioneer Square who may prove to be the biggest threat. He is a lightly raced gelding but won well last time out and can go close in a field of this nature. Frank Robinson is never afraid to raid the Highveld and saddles two runners that could be heading for the Summer Cup although currently not entered. Both Field Marshal and Shoot The Rapids would prefer a little more ground but they are smart performers and like stable companion Mocha Blend on Tuesday, class may prevail.

Whispering Death made a name for himself last season, winning back-to-back in impressive fashion before being rested. He makes his long awaited reappearance in the sixth and if he has trained on, he could be hard to beat. On My Honour is a Summer Cup entry and although he will prefer it a lot further he is smart and his class could make him very dangerous.

In the seventh, Quickstepgal makes her seasonal debut but is top class. Tienie Prinsloo has booked 4kg claiming apprentice Dezahn Louw to further enhance her chances and if anywhere near ready she will be hard to beat. Mike Miller saddles Warrior Royale who seemed to be short of a run last start and should come on from that effort and could be a threat while Ladyofdistinction has a touch of class but has not been out for Michael Roberts since November last year and might need this.

Stuart Ferrie could have the key to the first leg of the Pick 6 as Cognac was an impressive winner on debut and looks to have plenty of scope for improvement. This is likely to be his last outing before making his way for a crack at the Cape Town features. Dangers could be Circumbendibus who has shown up well in two local starts and takes the turn for the first time and Luneluck who is lightly raced but has been showing steady recent improvement and looks cherry-ripe.

There is a smart line-up of sprinters for the A Stakes but many are returning from a break so their fitness must be taken on trust so it’s not an easy race. Cats Pajamas is returning from a break but is best in at the weights given his rating and Frank Robinson can get them fit first time out. African Skyline gets blinkers again and has bottom weight from the best of the draw while O’Tenikwa is never far back and is fairly well treated at the weights. There should be little between Future Variety and I Am Giant, the latter also headed for the Cape, and if Imilenzeyokududuma can repeat his last effort he must also be in with a shout.

Mike de Kock has stepped Buddy Boy up to a mile after making a promising sprint debut where he simply romped home. That sprint form has held up well so he looks to be a colt with more to come. He too is headed for the Cape season and the Gr1 Cape Guineas could be on his agenda. Kanaal Skater showed up well first run out of the maidens and Dean Kannemeyer’s charge also steps up to a mile for the first time. He should enjoy the extra and could give Buddy Boy some cheek.

Turbo Twenty won well in his local debut after coming off a Cape win and appears to have come to hand.

Please Note: FNB will be offline on Sunday 12 October 2025 due to scheduled system maintenance.

Please Note: South African Quartet Pools with fractional betting offered at Newmarket and Wolverhampton (UK) – 11 October 2025.

Andrew Harrison

Sean Tarry got his Highveld Spring Season off to a flying start, winning both of the Gr2 Spring Challenge races that kicked off the Highveld season last Saturday. Tarry has a knack of peaking his runners for the big occasion and although the Allez France Stakes Non-Black Type that heads the card on the Turffontein Inner track today may not be top of the agenda for his filly Cocomelon, who holds an entry into the Betway Summer Cup, she goes into the race with a lot in her favour.

Her campaign last season ended in April when tailed off in the Gr1 Igugu Stakes over 2000m and she was given a five-month break. She made her seasonal debut last month in a Graduation Plate over 1600m where she raced fresh, stretching the arms of her apprentice rider, but staying on in the finish.

Given that she placed in both the Oaks Trial and the SA Oaks where she was just over two lengths adrift of Fiery Pegasus, this 2200m trip should be right up her alley.

Louis Goosen makes the long trip up to Turffontein with just one runner in the six-year-old mare Royal Invitation who has yet to win for the yard since moving from Candice Bass. She has never been far back but her rating has dropped to an 84 from a career high of 95. She is joint bottom weight and I doubt that Goosen will have made the trip if he didn’t fancy her chances.

Also at the bottom of the handicap is Lava Lamp who goes into the race off a hat-trick of wins. In contrast to Royal Invitation, Robyn Klaasen’s filly has been climbing the ratings and earned a further six points for her latest win. She is unbeaten in her three starts since being sent over ground and she could still be under the handicappers radar.

The seventh, a Graduation Plate over 1450m, should shed some light on just how far some of last season’s smart Highveld two-year-olds have progressed. Chronicle King surprised all when winning the Gr2 Golden Horseshoe at long odds on Hollywoodbets Durban July day and finished a creditable third in the G1 Premiers Champion Stakes behind rising star Jan Van Goyen in one of the last meetings of the season.

Close-up behind him was King Harald in fourth, a smart effort considering that he had to contend with a 14 draw over the Hollywoodbets Greyville mile. However, he has been unlucky in the draw again and jumps from the extreme outside gate.

Given the condition of today’s event, he is 3kg better off with Chronicle King so the inference is obvious but given that both are making their seasonal debuts after nearly three months, both should have progressed.

Also in the mix is Echo Check. Fabian Habib’s gelding is unbeaten in two starts and led all the way to win last time out. Rachel Venniker takes 1.5kg off his back and this will be a test of his ability.

Copper is one to consider, so a close eye on the market should prove beneficial.

Eighth race on the card is a Middle Stakes race over 1200m where punters have their work cut out with any number of runners in with winning chances.

Fully Loaded has the best of the draw and with leading apprentice Girish Samo-Burthia in the saddle, the six-year-old only has 49.5kg on his back.

Likely pacemaker is the speedy Pennsylvania. Lightly raced, he has improved with a tongue-tie and was a comfortable winner of his penultimate start. He followed up with a close-up second over course and distance last time out.

Mike and Mathew de Kock’s filly Roaming Spirit is seldom out of the money and finished off her race smartly to win over 1000m on this course last time out. She is at home over the extra furlong and is joint bottom weight from a handy draw so is a must inclusion in all exotic bets.