Andrew Harrison

Although starting favourite, Alannah still proved surprisingly easy to back as she put the Class 4 Handicap to bed, the main race on the Hollywoodbets Greyville card yesterday.

As Paul Lafferty pointed out post-race, the daughter of Ideal World had run a smart effort behind the crack filly Golden Palm in the Gr1 Thekwini Stakes and had progressed in two come-back outings as he had given the filly a break after her feature run.

 Muzi Yeni always had her well placed as Nicholas Patel set the pace on  La Maddalena but even though Alannah is a filly that has had seven starts she still shows signs of inexperience, her ears going back and forth and Yeni switching his stick multiple times to keep her on a straight course.

However, in the straight she quickly ate into La Maddelena’s lead, the 6kg difference in weight not holding her back.

Lafferty suggested that the further she goes the better she will be and she is certainly a filly for the notebook.

Very little stood between favourite Drielandenpunt and victory in the first and Dean Kannemeyer’s charge put the race to bed at the top of the straight. Leading for most of the way, he extended smartly with the balance of the field trailing in some eight lengths adrift. It was a particularly weak field so I don’t think one can read too much into this form.

It has been some time between drinks for Kom Naidoo but he had Time In Paris primed for a big showing in the second and she led all the way under Callan Murray. She was tracked by Queen Fenn but when the chips were down Queen Fenn was not able to respond. Favourite and debutante Spirit Of Shimla was tucked in off the pace in typical Kannemeyer style but she was mostly at sea but making up some ground. She doesn’t look to be a sprinter.

It is not always easy to work out the form of Open Maidens where one mostly relies on the handicappers assessments. Runner-up in his last three, Xiphos was the obvious choice in the opening leg of the Pick 6 but he was giving the seasoned mare Di Rosa 8kg which was always going to be a difficult ask. Apprentice Dezahn Louw is slowly building a reputation for being well worth his 4kg claim and he showed his inherent ability as he got his mare to buildup up nicely in the straight before asking her for and effort which proved to be a winning one. Fine Dining and Gorgeous Bomb were in the mix as Xiphos weakened to be runout out of it taking a few exotic tickets with him.

United Nation kept his clean sheet for Darryl Moore as the gelding made it three-from-three for his new yard. Athandiwe Mgudlwa made light of his outside gate and headed straight for the front and was not for the catching. Beamonesque, who had a shoe repaired at the start, was making late progress but the line came in time for United Nation. Fortress Of Fire lost the battle with the vet and made a promising debut as a gelding, coming from well back to finish third. One to watch going forward.

Louw was to the fore again for his second winner of the afternoon. Employing different tactics to those on Di Rosa, Louw bounced Sundance Kid out of the gate and set a steady pace up front, a pace that he kept up to the line as the balance of the five-horse field struggled to make up the leeway. It was the sixth win for Wendy Whiteheads gelding who was back to his best form.

Spaarne Rivier tried his best under Callan Murray in the seventh. He took up the running from the jump and clung gamely to the lead for most of the way up the straight. But Damyan Pillay celebrated his birthday in fine fashion as he sent Ultra Quick the shortest way home to sail past Spaarne Rivier. At one stage, racing off a 99 rating, Ultra Quick was down to a 68 with Pillay claiming a further 4kg.

Not to be outdone by Academy colleague Louw, Pillay rounded off the meeting with a late lunge on Garth Puller’s runner Imperial Power to deny the well supported Isikwishikwishi. Rachel Venniker had ridden the perfect race as she steered Isikwishikwishi through a gap and looked to have the race and Hollywood Racings 750^th winner at her mercy.

No to be. Pillay was in full cry up Venniker’s outside and just as race commentator Sheldon Peters was calling her home a winner, Pillay flashed up on her outside to snatch the victory. Puller is a hard taskmaster and even though Pillay got up to win his ears were burning post-race. It is an interview well worth watching on YouTube and gives insight into what is expected of riders, apprentices or seasoned, regardless.

David Thiselton

A Pinnacle Stakes event for fillies and mares over 1450m and a MR92 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1200m are the two highest rated races at Turffontein Inside toand the pair to beat could be Famous Lady and Rachel Wall.

Famous Lady has won her last two starts over 1450m and 1200m respectively and was particularly eye-catching in the 1200m event as she won by 3,50 lengths and stopped the clock in 69,55 seconds, which was nearly half-a-second quicker than the useful Quantum Theory’s time on the day, although she did carry 4kg less. In her penultimate start over 1450m on the Vaal Classic track she was drawn seven out of nine and showed fine gate-speed to go to the front and she then showed a good kick in he straight to win by half-a-length from Destiny Of Fire with the rest of the field a further 3,50 lengths back. Destiny Of Fire franked the form by winning easily over that same distance next time out. Famous Lady has not run since August 30 but should be able to handle a layoff of just short of two-and-a-half months and from draw five out of eight should have a good chance of getting to the front and dictating. She is only 1kg under sufferance with the best weighted pair Spumante Dolce and Minogue and looks capable of progressing. Spumante Dolce has proven class, having won the Gr 2 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas last season. However, this is her second run after a layoff and her comeback run saw her beaten 16 lengths in the Gr 2 Allied-Steelrode Charity Mile. Furthermore, she has to carry 60kg and is drawn eight out of eight. Minogue has class and is distance suited but has a tricky draw of six and, on a line through Destiny Of Fire, Famous Lady emerges in front. That’s My Baby seems to have an affinity for Hollywoodbets Greyville, a venue where three of her four career wins have happened, but her other win was over this course and distance, so she could do well from draw three. She represents the Sean Tarry/Craig Zackey combination, who had a four-timer at the Vaal on Tuesday. Miss Hannigan was close up in her last two starts, both over this course and distance and both times from draw two, so she must have a shout from the same draw with in-form 2,5kg claimer Girish Samo-Burthia aboard. Ceuta has to be given a chance from pole position in that case because she is 1,5 kg better off with Miss Hannigan for a 1,30 length beating over course and distance.

In the MR 92 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1200m, Rachel Wall is a progressive sort who represents the in-form Tony Peter yard. She has good pace and a good kick, so she won’t be easy to peg back jumping from pole position with Gavin Lerena up.  Her stablemate Blizzard Snow has some good sprinting form and with 4kg claimer Savanna Valjalo up she could earn. Stars And Bra’s proved last time she is effective over sprint trips and from a plum draw of two she could be a threat. Sister Golden Hair had some fine juvenile form. She has not run for nearly six months but has some class and should run well fresh over a trip too sharp. Hong Kong ran on well to win last time and the hold up tactic might be employed again, but she does have a five point raise to contend with.

In the first leg of the Pick 6 over 1500m Jabari Thimba was not disgraced behind the useful African Pride over 1200m last time and this half-brother to the classy Garrix should enjoy the step up in trip. He has a wide draw of ten but Gavin Lerena is up and can help solve that problem. Franky Fahrenheit ran well over 1200m last time and tries a step up in trip, which he might enjoy being by Danon Platina out of a speedy Frankel mare. Battle Of The Bulge could earn if able to repeat his penultimate start, but he does have a tough draw.

In the sixth race over 1450m Clarkson is course and distance suited and could do well from pole position with Muzi Yeni up. Sea Shanty is capable of a strong finish so should do well from a good draw. After Hours is consistent and honest and has a plum draw over a suitable trip with Lerena up, but she is now off an 81 merit rating, a four point raise for his last win, so it won’t be easy. Zip Code has an interesting drop in trip as his only win was over 1400m, but he does have a tough draw. Sutherland is capable of earning if able to overcome a wide draw. Eiffel Tower can’t be ignored.

In the seventh over 1450m Universal Girl keeps on improving and should go close here, although her draw of six out of ten is not easy. Calida is knocking on the door and has a fair draw over an ideal trip.  Vava Vegas only just failed last time but has to overcome a wide draw. Can’t Catch Me has a plum draw and a repeat of her last start will see her going close. Sunshine Day will enjoy the step down in trip, but does have a tricky draw.

In the last race over 1200m Princess Lola is in hard knocking form and has a chance here from a good draw with in-form claimer Samo-Burthia up. Season’s Greetings returns from a layoff, but looks to have plenty of ability and the form of her win last time has been franked so she can do well from a good draw. Maverick Queen has the form to be a contender here although the draw is a bit tricky. Golden Aspen is capable of popping up from a plum draw. Concordia starts handicapping off a reasonable mark and has pole position with Yeni up.

In the first leg of the PA  Damova is in fine form and will relish this 2600m trip. Trident King and Mount Etna make most appeal as the dangers.

In the first leg of the Bipot over 1200m Power Of Pearls is the one to beat from a fair draw. Echoes Of War will be dangerous from a plum draw.

In the first race over 1200m Plumbago Park will be hard to beat from a good draw over a suitable trip having gone close on his Highveld debut after moving up from Cape Town.

RACE 1

1 PLUMBAGO PARK 4 AQUARIUS 2 WINTER WEDDING 6 RUSSIAN NOBILITY

Preview: 1 PLUMBAGO PARK made a cracking Highveld debut and is drawn well so should be hard to beat. 4 AQUARIUS made a good debut and with improvement could be the main danger. 2 WINTER WEDDING has run well in her last two starts and could also be in the shake up. 6 RUSSIAN NOBILITY Is by Hawwaam out of a Windrush mare. (David Thiselton 1-4-2-6)

RACE 2

10 POWER OF PEARLS 4 ECHOES OF WAR 6 ACTUARY 5 ROYALE JACKET

Preview: 10 POWER OF PEARLS Is knocking hard and from a good draw will be hard to beat.4 ECHOES OF WAR ran a cracker last time over this trip and has a plum draw. 6 ACTUARY has shown some sign of ability and could earn with improvement. 5 ROYALE JACKET has shown ability and is interesting stepped down in trip. (David Thiselton 10-4-6-5)

RACE 3

2 DAMOVA 7 TRIDENT KING 3 MOUNT ETNA 9 THE MERCIFUL

Preview: 2 DAMOVA is in fine form and over a suitable course and distance is the one to beat. 7 TRIDENT KING has shown ability over staying trips and should be in the shake up. 3 MOUNT ETNA should enjoy the step up in trip and could earn. 9 THE MERCIFUL could also earn in this line-up. (2-7-3-9)

RACE 4

 3 JABARI THIMBA 8 FRANKIE FAHRENHEIT 1 BATTLE OFTHE BULGE

Preview: 3 JABARI THIMBA has the form to be a contender in this race. 8 FRANKIE FAHRENHEIT should be right there if able to repeat his last start. 1 BATTLE OFTHE BULGE could be in the shake up if bouncing back. (David Thiselton 3-8-1)

RACE 5

4 FAMOUS LADY 1 SPUMANTE DOLCE 3 MINOGUE 5 THAT’S MY BABY

Preview: 4 FAMOUS LADY is in fine form and on pedigree should be able to step up to this trip. 1 SPUMANTE DOLCE has the class to go close, but does have a tricky draw. 3 MINOGUE has class and could also be in the shake up if at her best. 5 THAT’S MY BABY could earn if bouncing back to her best. (David Thiselton 4-1-3-5)

RACE 6

9 CLARKSON 8 SEA SHANTY 2 AFTER HOURS 1 ZIP CODE

Preview: 9 CLARKSON has a plum pole position raw and will be dangerous. 8 SEA SHANTY is capable of a strong finish and is a threat. 2 AFTER HOURS is in fine form but does have a four point raise to contend with after his last win. 1 ZIP CODE has come down to a competitive mark but does have a wide draw. (David Thiselton 9-8-2-1)

RACE 7

4 UNIVERSAL GIRL 1 CALIDA 6 VAVA VEGAS 7 CAN’T CATCH ME

Preview: 4 UNIVERSAL GIRL keeps on improving and should go close here. 1 CALIDA is knocking on the door and has a fair draw over an ideal trip.  6 VAVA VEGAS only just failed last time but has to overcome a wide draw. 7 CAN’T CATCH ME has a plum draw and a repeat of her last start will see her going close (David Thiselton 4-1-6-7)

RACE 8

1 RACHEL WALL 2 BLIZZARD SNOW 5 STARS AND BRA’S 7 SISTER GOLDEN HAIR

Preview: 1 RACHEL WALL is talented and has pole position with Lerena up so can win again. 2 BLIZZARD SNOW hs some useful form and with a 4kg claimer up could earn. 5 STARS AND BRA’S has a plum draw ad has the form to be in the shake up. 7 SISTER GOLDEN HAIR has some useful form and should run well fresh over too sharp a trip. (David Thiselton 1-2-5-7)

RACE 9

9 PRINCESS LOLA, 1 SEASON’S GREETINGS 6 MAVERICK QUEEN 10 GOLDEN ASPEN

Preview: 9 PRINCESS LOLA is in hard knocking form and has a chance here.  1 SEASON’S GREETINGS returns from a layoff but looks to have plenty of ability and has a good draw. 6 MAVERICK QUEEN has the form to be a contender here although the draw is a bit tricky. 10 GOLDEN ASPEN is capable of popping up from a plum draw. (David Thiselton 9-1-6-10)

The Hunter Raceday from Newcastle this Saturday, the spotlight shines on Newcastle for their biggest day on the local racing calendar and it’s going to be huge. The $1 million The Hunter takes centre stage, leading a blockbuster 10-race program that’s stacked with talent, speed, and $2.59 million in prize money on the line.

From the moment the gates fly open, the energy will be electric. Every race is a battle. Every stride matters. Every cheer will shake the grandstand. Soaking it all in by tuning in from home, you can feel the buzz building for one of the most anticipated meetings of the late-spring.

There’ll be form to study, odds to watch, and fortunes to be made because The Hunter region knows how to party and anything can happen. Newcastle is ready to raise the roof… are you ready to be part of it?

Please Note: South African Quartet Pools with fractional betting offered at Dundalk (IRE) and Bangor (UK) – 12 November 2025.