Please Note: South African Quartet Pools with fractional betting offered at Goodwood and Southwell (UK) – 02 September 2025

DAVID THISELTON

SANELE MCHUNU has made giant strides as Race Coast’s Zulu horseracing commentator and has already commentated two Hollywoodbets Durban Julys with the feed going live on Supersport as well as on to the normal Gallop TV stream.

It all started for him when he landed a job as a cameraman for Gold Circle back in 2015. He said, “I was so privileged when I started my job as I was working closely with the presenters Kevin Shea, Warren Lenferna, Deez Dayanand and Sheldon Peters. They were sending me to

take their bets, so I started learning about betting and about the horses and I started grasping all the information related to punting. I couldn’t always rely on them to give me tips, so I started studying form so I could take my own bets. I would say I am an average punter. I do have my good days and I do have my bad days. “My best moment was when the Candice Dawson-trained filly Sentbydestiny won the Gr 1 Premiers Champion Stakes. She was running against big horses like Tempting Fate, who was the short-priced favourite, but I liked her and picked her and she won paying R25.20 on The Tote.”

Sanele was given an opportunity to be the first Zulu commentator in the country last year and jumped at it.

He said, “I had to teach myself, there was nobody to teach me, but I studied the Zulu commentaries in other sports to find a model that would appeal to a Zulu audience.”

He continued, “I had a number of practice commentaries using my phone to record myself, so I could see if I was doing well. I sent those videos to a couple of people to critique me and

they gave me some pointers. Sheldon and Deez were two of the critics. They gave me some good feedback that I learned from because it was a new thing for me. The critique made it a little bit easier, because I was doing it for the first time and so could afford to go wrong and I was going to learn from that.”

Sanele’s first live commentary was in May last year and a couple of months later he was doing his first Hollywoodbets Durban July.

He does his commentaries from the old SABC box at Hollywoodbets Greyville, which is directly below the main commentary box used by Craig and Sheldon Peters and is next door to the judge’s box. He said, “It’s the biggest racing event in the whole continent, so obviously you have to be nervous. Doing it for the first time and knowing that for the first time you’re going to an audience that has never heard you before, like the Supersport audience,which is a big platform, it was nerve-wracking.”

However, the commentary went very well, particularly as he screamed “ORIENTAL CHARM!”

in the final stages and his last words were that Oriental Charm had beaten Cousin Casey, the

one-two in a typically frantic July finish.

“I received some good feedback after that,” he said. However, he was sweating on the result and explained, “The most challenging aspect of the race was there were two horses with the same silks and the same caps, except the one had a little white pom-pom on which you couldn’t see. They were Cousin Casey and Future Swing and I did manage to call Cousin Casey second, but after the race I jumped up to look at the results board because I was thinking what if it was actually Future Swing and I was calling Cousin Casey? I was relieved I got it right.” By the time the next Hollywoodbets Durban July had come around commentating was starting to become second nature. He is no longer a cameraman and is now dedicated to his knew role as commentator and studio presenter as preview shows for all meetings are also done in Zulu.

He said, “I give it more time now and I study more colours. I follow the horses all over the

country to make it easier when it comes to the Champion’s Season, because there are raiders from Cape Town and from Jo’Burg, so you have to follow racing in the whole country. I also know the colours from around the country now.” In the 2025 July he once again emphasised the name of the winner in the closing stages. He rattled off the top five in the running at the 200m mark and correctly called the first five past the post, The Real Prince, Eight On Eighteen, Selukwe, Royal Victory and Madison Valley, despite their being some small margins between some of them. Sanele emphasised the name of the winner in true Zulu soccer-style commentary fashion, a deep guttural roar that makes it very exciting for the listeners. He said about this year’s Hollywoodbets Durban July, “I think it went well this year, it was for the second time and yes I had to improve. There were two good horses battling each other in the finish, so it was a very nice race to commentate.”

Sanele is fast becoming an institution in KZN racing with his commentaries on Gallop TV for

every meeting and other platforms for the big ones. He has become one of the most recognisable faces in KZN racing and is going from strength to strength. He looks to be a fine role model and there are sure to be some potential future commentators who have been inspired by his exciting calls.

David Thiselton

The outside rail at the Vaal meeting today is at zero which usually leads to high draws being favourable.

In the first race over 1400m Gonna Catch You represents Khaya Stables, an owner who has been in fine form around the country and this horse has been backed in to 11/10. He is by Vercingetorix out of a three-time winning stakes-placed Jet Master mare, which augurs well but he does have a potentially tricky low draw of three which will not make it easy on debut. Never Never Land is the one who could upset as he made a fair debut behind a top looking sort. However, he was beaten four lengths and the winner looked to still be cantering, so he will need to improve, although he does have a potentially better draw than the first choice. Amandla Ngawethu has some fair form and has a nice high draw but does seem to be a touch one-paced. War Of Wonders is by Act Of War and is a half-brother to the useful Chili Con Carne. Thoonsil is by Danon Platina out of a Giant’s Causeway mare.

In the second race over 1400m Paris Fun looks to be a progressive sort and she can follow up on her win in a Workriders Maiden over this course and distance. With the course set up as it is she looks to be drawn on the wrong side but it is not a big field and she could overcome it. Sunshine Day will be a contender from a high draw if able to repeat her last start. Commander Of All has the ability to be a contender here, although draw one might be against him. Libeccio is inconsistent but if producing his best he has a chance here from a nice high draw. Prized Platinum is capable but this is the first time this five-year-od tries a trip beyond a sprint.

In the third race over 1400m Soho Heartthrob ran a cracker behind the subsequent Group 1 winner Jan van Goyen last time out and that gives him a fine chance here, although he has a tricky draw of three and has to run off a 90 merit rating. Open Highway is in fine form and from a nice high draw over an ideal distance with Gavin Lerena up he could go close to scoring again. Master Christmas made a fair debut for the Tony Peter yard and could be in the shake-up under recent treble-scoring 4kg claimer Samo-Burthia, although the low draw makes it tricky. Sutherland could earn if producing his best. Fully Loaded could also earn if producing his best.

In the fourth race over 1600m Western Wishes should enjoy the step up in trip on pedigree and could go in with a in-form 4kg claimer up. Mattiazo led from start to finish last time and can overcome number one draw with her pace. She is by Silvano so can continue to improve. Can’t Catch Me was a bit disappointing last time, but is better than that and should enjoy this trip. Sheets And Goggle has Gavin Lerena up and should enjoy this step up in trip being by Gimmethegreenlight out of a Soskjaer mare. Golden Aspen tries 1600m for the first time as a seven-year-old and if staying could earn.

In the fifth race over 1800m Unsolved Riddle should relish the step up in trip on pedigree and is well drawn with Lerena up. Futurewolff won a good race last time and off a three point higher mark from a good draw could be in the shake up again. Zip Code did well over 1600m last time and should enjoy this trip on pedigree, but does have a wide draw. Chabal was disappointing last time and can do a lot better than that, so is one to consider from a fair draw with Khumalo up. Santiago’s Pride made sudden improvement to romp home in his maiden over 2000m and as he is by Futura he could continue to improve and he has pole position off a reasonable 77 merit rating.

In the sixth race over 2400m Damova won’t be ignored in the betting like she was last time as she is a consistent stayer and she has a fair draw under Craig Zackey. Royal Mazarin is a decent stayer who is well drawn and he should be right there.  Nuclear Force has been in consistent form and is a contender here. Romeo’s Magic has the class to be involved here despite having to carry top weight from a wide draw. Arlington Action is capable of earning a cheque.

In the seventh over 2000m Bob Lee Swagger has improved since being stepped up to this trip with blinkers on and should go close. Step Into It won second time out and off an 86 merit rating has a tough draw, but he should make a bold bid. Those two should fight it out.

In the eighth over 2000m Mount Darwin has been knocking on the door and has a good opportunity here from a fair draw over a suitable trip. Teo Torriate has been in devastating form and goes for a four-timer but does have a tough draw. Hawkbill is capable of winning this race and should make a bold bid. King’s Express is drawn in pole and should also be a contender. Vesuvio was not striding out last time and if bouncing back could be a contender.

RACE 1

 2 GONNA CATCH YOU 4 MY LUCKY CHARM 5 NEVER NEVER LAND 1 AMANDLA NGAWETHU

Preview: 2 GONNA CATCH YOU is by Vercingetorix out of a three-time winning stakes-placed Jet Master mare and he has been backed in to 11/10, but does have draw three which is on the wrong side by trends. 4 MY LUCKY CHARM is by Master of My Fate out of a three-time winning Seventh Rock mare and he ran on strongly on debut over 1450m on Saturday and has a fine chance here if able to overcome a potentially unfavourable low draw of one. 5 NEVER NEVER LAND made a fair debut against a promising sort, who did admittedly win effortlessly, and with improvement he should be right there from a fair middle draw. 1 AMANDLA NGAWETHU has some fair form and has a nice high draw but does seem to be a touch one-paced. (David Thiselton 2-4-5-1)

RACE 2

3 PARIS FUN 2 SUNSHINE DAY 6 COMMANDER OF ALL 5 LIBECCIO

Preview: 3 PARIS FUN won a Work Riders Race well last time and this progressive sort has a chance in this line up, although the draw of two is not in her favour. 2 SUNSHINE DAY has a chance if repeating her last start and she has a nice high draw. 6 COMMANDER OF ALL has the ability to be a contender here but does have draw one. 5 LIBECCIO is inconsistent but if producing his best he has a chance here. (David Thiselton 2-3-6-5)

RACE 3

7 SOHO HEARTTHROB 3 OPEN HIGHWAY  5 SUTHERLAND 2 FULLY LOADED

Preview: 7 SOHO HEARTTHROB  caught the eye running a cracker behind the subsequent Group 1 winner Jan van Goyen last time out and that gives him a fine chance here.3 OPEN HIGHWAY is in fine form and looks to have a winning chance here over an ideal trip from a nice high draw. 1 MASTER CHRISTMAS made a fair debut for the Tony Peter yard and could be in the shake-up under recent treble-scoring 4kg claimer Samo-Burthia, although the low draw makes it tricky. 5 SUTHERLAND  is distance suited and looks to be a contender here. 2 FULLY LOADED should enjoy this trip and should be thereabouts from a middle draw. (David Thiselton 7-3-1-5-2)

RACE 4

1 WESTERN WISHES 2 MATTIAZO 6 CAN’T CATCH ME  5 SHEETS AND GOGGLES

Preview: 1 WESTERN WISHES is an interesting stepped up in trip being by What A Winter out of an Elliodor mare and has a 4kg claimer up which will help. 2 MATTIAZO won well last time over this trip and being by Silvano might be coming into her own now. 6 CAN’T CATCH ME was a bit disappointing last time but is better than that and should enjoy this trip. 5 SHEETS AND GOGGLES has Gavin Lorena up and should enjoy this step up in trip being by Gimmethegreenlight out of a Soskjaer mare. (David Thiselton 1-2-6-5)

RACE 5

3 UNSOLVED RIDDLE 4 FUTUREWOLFF 1 ZIP CODE 6 CHABAL

Preview: 3 UNSOLVED RIDDLE should relish the step up in trip on Pedigree and is well drawn. 4 FUTUREWOLFF won a good race last time and off a three point higher mark from a good draw could be in the shake up again. 1 ZIP CODE did well over 1600m last time and should enjoy this trip on pedigree, but does have a wide draw. 6 CHABAL was disappointing last time and can do a lot better than that, so is one to consider from a fair draw with Khumalo up. (David Thiselton 3-4-1-6)

RACE 6

2 DAMOVA 3 ROYAL MAZARIN 5 NUCLEAR FORCE 1 ROMEO’S MAGIC

Preview: 2 DAMOVA won’t be ignored in the betting like she was last time as she is a consistent stayer and she has a fair draw under Craig Zackey. 3 ROYAL MAZARIN is a decent stayer who is well drawn and he should be right there.  5 NUCLEAR FORCE has been in consistent form and is a contender here. 1 ROMEO’S MAGIC has the class to be involved here despite having to carry top weight from a wide draw. (David Thiselton 2-3-5-1)

RACE 7

6 BOB LEE SWAGGER 1 STEP INTO IT 8 CREPUSCOLO 3 FLAG BEARER

Preview: 6 BOB LEE SWAGGER is in good form and over a suitable distance he could progress again. 1 STEP INTO IT won well second time out and will enjoy this step up in trip, but does have a tough draw. 8 CREPUSCOLO has a form to be a contender from pole position. 3 FLAG BEARER is capable of earning in this field if the 4kg claimer rides a good race. (David Thiselton 6-1-8-3)

RACE 8

4 MOUNT DARWIN 9 TEO TORRIATTE 2 HAWKBILL 1 KING’S EXPRESS

Preview: 4 MOUNT DARWIN has been knocking on the door and has a good opportunity here from a fair draw over a suitable trip. 9 TEO TORRIATTE has been a devastating form and goes for a four-timer but does have a tough draw. 2 HAWKBILL is capable of winning this race and should make a bold bid. 1 KING’S EXPRESS is drawn in pole and should also be a contender. (David Thiselton 4-9-2-1)

Please note: Soccer 6: Sport 4 Pool 1 – 01 September 2025. Match 1 (M1) : Arda Kardzhali vs Beroe – Rescheduled

Soccer 10: Sport 14 Pool 1 – 01 September 2025. Match 1 (M1): Arda Kardzhali vs Beroe – Rescheduled

All results ( the field ) will qualify for the above match. In terms of TAB rules, all choices ( the field ) will apply in determining results and payouts.