David Thiselton

Turffontein Standside stages a nine race meeting today and there look to be some fair opportunities for punters.

There are two Pinnacle Stakes events and two high class handicaps, while the other five races are all maidens.

In the first race, a Pinnacle Stakes event over 2400m, topweight Nebraas has not won a race for a whopping 794 days but has returned to form lately and that includes a 0,25 length second in the Listed TAB Gold Bowl over 3200m where he beat United Council by 6,75 lengths in testing conditions. He should make a bold bid under Craig Zackey as he is only 2kg worse off with United Council from that run. Silent War is an interesting runner from pole position in his first attempt at a staying trip. He is by Gimmethegreenlight, who was ostensibly a miler, out of a Commands Australian-bred who was a sprinter. That does not augur well for him staying, at first sight, but both Gimmethegreenlight and Commands have produced stayers an Silent War does usually finish well, so there is a chance he will stay. United Council is better off at the weights with Nebraas by 2kg if it is taken on official merit ratings and she not only appears to be better at this trip than 3200m, but Gavin Lerena is aboard too, so she could also take first prize.  

In the second race over 1160m, a Maiden Juvenile Plate, Chericherilady showed good pace in her second start over this trip and was only found out late when going down by 3,30 lengths. She should have come on from her first two runs and although the draw bias no longer seems to be significant these days she is drawn on the right side by trends. Queen Of Pearls is not surprisingly the 15/10 favourite as she is by Hawwaam and is a half-sister to Gr 2 winner White Pearl (Danon Platina). A Bit Of Class is another first-timer of interest being by Futura out of Gr 2 Golden Slipper winner Princess Sassi (Model Man). 

In the third race over 1160m Palace Attack stayed on well on debut after a slow start over this course and distance and he is not a surprise favourite as he should improve. Royale Jacket was not disgraced in his only attempt at a sprint, on debut, when 6,20 lengths behind subsequent Gr 3 winner One Fine Winter. She might enjoy the step down in trip and could be right there with a late surge. Carnarvon is improving, but is no great shakes, although he does come out ahead of Royale Jacket and Palace Attack on a formline through Time Will Tell and Mizzen Sword. However, the latter pair look to have more scope for improvement.

In the fourth over 1600m Golden Warrior went close last time with second time blinkers on and is drawn in pole over the same trip. Rejuvenate did well when stepped up to this trip last time and has a good draw. Master Spy should improve with the step up in trip and can be in the shake-up. Mr Bright Spark is a well-bred sort and should improve over this trip. World Order looks to be capable of improvement.

In the fifth over 1600m Curtiss Condor has caught the eye in both starts and looks likely to enjoy this trip on visual and pedigree evidence. He looks the one to beat from pole position. Nkwenkwezi is well drawn and distance suited and also has a chance. Phil The Fluter has been going close no matter which centre he runs in, which includes all four SA centres, and he should do well over a suitable distance from a fair draw. Fire Starter led over 1600m last time before tiring and being beaten 5,45 lengths but he could improve in his third career start. Chieftain’s Shield is an honest sort, who should be running on. 

In the sixth over 1600m Bold Action has the form to be involved here and Gavin Lerena is an eye-catching booking. Ethical was close up last time over 1700m and should be involved from a good draw. Fire On Fire should enjoy the step up in trip and has a fair draw. Intro has run some good races and could earn here again. Lava Lamp was close up last time over 1700m and should be involved from a good draw. 

In the seventh over 1800m Count Huhtikuu is on the up and could be the one to beat from a good draw. DJ Junior is consistent and should earn again. Jordan won well last time and can do so again if it pans out well. Bacchus has class and is better than his last start. Hawkbill has the ability to pop up. Total Surrender is capable of a good performance.

In the eighth over 1160m Buffalo Storm Cody has been in devastating form and can make it to hat trick. Grand Crescendo has plenty of class and should be right there. Yamadori is in good form and should be involved here. Quantum Theory is knocking on the door and should be right there. Dantonfromsandton is drawn one which can be disadvantageous but he has the ability to be right there. 

In the ninth over 1160m Exceedingly Glam has been in consistent form and has a chance here. Hong Kong has been a touch disappointing but is capable and should be in the shake up. Kindred Heart was a bit disappointing last time but can do better. Quasikat is capable of popping up. Pointer has a low draw but has the ability to be right there.

RACE 1     

1 NEBRAAS 2 SILENT WAR 6 UNITED COUNCIL 5 TWO MILES WEST

Preview: 1 NEBRAAS has bounced back to form and is drawn well. 2 SILENT WAR is capable of a strong finish and from pole position is interesting over  step up in trip. 6 UNITED COUNCIL might have found 3,200m too far last time and could do well over this trip. 5 TWO MILES WEST has good form and is interesting stepped up and trip. (David Thiselton 1-2-6-5) 

RACE 2     

3 CHERICHERILADY 11 QUEEN OF PEARLS 1 A BIT OF CLASS

Preview: 3 CHERICHERILADY improved second time out and could earn. 11 QUEEN OF PEARLS is by Hawwaam out of a Tiger Ridge mare. 1 A BIT OF CLASS is a well-bred sort by Futura out of and is drawn on the right side. (David Thiselton 3-11-1)

RACE 3     

8 PALACE ATTACK 9 ROYALE JACKET 2 CARNARVON 3 CHAPBOOK

Preview: 8 PALACE ATTACK can improve on his debut when running on well after a tardy start. 9 ROYALE JACKET was not disgraced behind a fair sort last time and did quite well on debut in his only attempt at a sprint. 2 CARNARVON has some fair form and has a fairly high draw. 3 CHAPBOOK ran a fair debut and has Gavin Lerena up. (David Thiselton 8-9-2-3)

RACE 4     

2 GOLDEN WARRIOR 8 REJUVENATE 4 MASTER SPY 5 MR BRIGHT SPARK

Preview: 2 GOLDEN WARRIOR went close last time with second time blinkers on and is drawn in pole over the same trip. 8 REJUVENATE did well when stepped up to this trip last time and has a good draw. 4 MASTER SPY should improve with the step up in trip and can be in the shake-up. 5 MR BRIGHT SPARK is a well-bred sort and should improve over this trip. (David Thiselton 2-8-4-5)

RACE 5     

5 CURTISS CONDOR 8 NKWENKWEZI 9 FIRE STARTER 7 MIRROR FLECTION

Preview: 5 CURTISS CONDOR  is drawn in pole over a suitable step up in trip and should go close. 8 NKWENKWEZI has been knocking on the door and might enjoy the step down to 1600m. 9 FIRE STARTER has been thereabouts in both starts and is drawn well over a suitable trip. 7 MIRROR FLECTION has run two fair races and this should be a more suitable distance. (David Thiselton 5-8-9-7) 

RACE 6     

7 BOLD ACTION 8 ETHICAL 9 FIRE ON FIRE 1 INTRO 6 LAVA LAMP

8 ETHICAL was close up last time over 1700m and should be involved from a good draw. 9 FIRE ON FIRE should enjoy the step up in trip and has a fair draw. 1 INTRO has run some good races and could earn here again. 6 LAVA LAMP was close up last time over 1700m and should be involved from a good draw. (David Thiselton 7-8-9-1-6)

RACE 7     

11 COUNT HUHTIKUU 7 DJ JUNIOR 6 JORDAN 1 BACCHUS

Preview: 11 COUNT HUHTIKUU is on the up and could be the one to beat from a good draw. 7 DJ JUNIOR is consistent and should earn again. 6 JORDAN won well last time and can do so again if it pans out well. 1 BACCHUS has class and is better than his last start. (David Thiselton 11-7-6-1)

RACE 8

2 BUFFALO STORM CODY 5 GRAND CRESCENDO 9  YAMADORI 6 QUANTUM THEORY

2 BUFFALO STORM CODY has been in devastating form and can make it to hat trick.5 GRAND CRESCENDO has plenty of class and should be right there.  9  YAMADORI is in good form and should be involved here. 6 QUANTUM THEORY is knocking on the door and should be right there. (David Thiselton 2-5-9-6)

RACE 9     

9 EXCEEDINGLY GLAM 5 HONG KONG 2 KINDRED HEART 7 QUASIKAT

Preview: 9 EXCEEDINGLY GLAM has been in consistent form and has a chance here. 5 HONG KONG has been a touch disappointing but is capable and should be in the shake up. 2 KINDRED HEART was a bit disappointing last time but can do better. 7 QUASIKAT is capable of popping up. (David Thiselton 9-5-2-7)

Durban – The R2-million Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge (Gr1) over 1600m at Greyville on Saturday has attracted a star-studded field including last season’s Horse Of The Year and defending champion, Dave The King. The 5yo son of Global View bounced back to his best form at Hollywoodbets Scottsville three weeks ago and from a neat draw will have every chance of recording back-to-back victories in South Africa’s highest-rated Grade 1 event. Callan Murray retains the ride for the De Kock team and Dave The King is likely to start favourite in the 12-strong field.

Last year’s Hollywoodbets Durban July winner, Oriental Charm, makes his Champions Season debut after a lengthy spell on the side-lines following his close second behind Eight On Eighteen in the World Sports Cape Town Met back in January. He is at his best over a touch further but he did win the Green Point Stakes (Gr2) over 1600m in December. Montien ran third in the WSB Cape Town Met over 2000m, prior to which he finished a gallant second to One Stripe in the L’Ormarins King’s Plate over 1600m, and the Piet Botha-trained son of Louis The King is a resolute galloper.

Gladatorian and See It Again finished 1-2 in the IOS Drill Hall Stakes over 1400m at the beginning of May with just a nose separating the pair. Trained respectively by Stuart Ferrie and Michael Roberts, Gladatorian and See It Again fly the flag for the home province and are sure to have their fair share of supporters. William Robertson is an interesting acceptor as the Computaform Sprint (Gr1) winner is in the form of his life, but only the race will show whether he can compete at this level over 1600m.

The three-year-olds are represented by the highly-rated Great Plains and Cosmic Speed, and the former looked somewhat unlucky when narrowly beaten by Gladatorian and See It Again in the IOS Drill Hall Stakes. Eleven of the twelve acceptors are rated 120+, and we anticipate a vintage renewal of the Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge on Saturday.

A quality field has been declared for the R500 000 HKJC World Pool Stakes (Gr2) (F&M over 1400m, officially registered as the Tibouchina Stakes. With 13 runners set to face the starter, barrier positions could play a role in the outcome and in that regard the two highest-rated fillies, Be Merry and Scarlet Macaw, have not fared too well. Bevies Delight and Sohot Sowhat bring solid form into the race and jump from inside positions while the ever-consistent Callmegetrix has to overcome stall eight. Green Sapphire blotted her copybook from a wide draw in the WSB Fillies Guineas but should do better over this trip from a much better gate. Minogue ran third in the Camellia Stakes (Gr2) behind Mia Moo, and that form was franked on Saturday when Mia Moo edged home in the Grade 1 SA Fillies Sprint.

The R300 000 Hollywoodbets Dolphins Cup Trial (Gr3) over 1800m sees a number of HDJ hopefuls looking to gain promotion into the final field for the R5-million Hollywoodbets Durban July. Pacaya and Pomodoro’s Jet, 18th & 20th on the HDJ Log, share top weight of 62kgs but each enjoy the benefit of a kind draw. Underworld finished third in the World Sports Betting 1900 behind Selukwe and he will be looking to further enhance his chances of making the cut for the HDJ with another solid performance. He will have the services of Champion Jockey Richard Fourie who has been in terrific form over the past week. Wild Intent featured in the top 18 when the first HDJ Log was published and Saturday’s Hollywoodbets Dolphins Cup is perfectly timed to ensure peak fitness on the big day for the 3yo son of Gimmethegreenlight.

Races 7 thru 10 at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday have been designated as World Pool events, and racing fans can look forward to huge totalisator pools in each of the designated bet types, which include Win, Place, Swinger, Exacta and Quinella pools.

QUEENSLAND OAKS DAY BECOMES SUPER SATURDAY WITH TRIPLE GROUP 1 THRILLERS

This Saturday, Queensland racing will take centre stage on the global calendar with a blockbuster day rebranded as Super Saturday, as two additional Group 1 features are added to an already electrifying race card.

Following last weekend’s mid-meeting postponement, the Group 1 Queensland Derby and the Group 1 Kingsford Smith Cup will now join the Group 1 Queensland Oaks creating a trio of elite-level contests, edge-of-your-seat action from start to finish. No other race meeting in the world this week can match what’s set to unfold at Eagle Farm.

Rewind to last year, when Socks Nation stunned punters and pundits alike, claiming the Queensland Oaks at eye-watering triple-figure odds with local favourite Ryan Maloney aboard. It was an unforgettable boilover that etched its place in racing folklore. The Kingsford Smith Cup was no less dramatic. Fans held their breath as sprinting stars I Wish I Win and Bella Nipotina went stride-for-stride down the straight in a titanic clash. It was I Wish I Win who edged clear in the final bounds, delivering a finish for the ages. But the headline act? That belonged to Warmonger.

In the Queensland Derby, the colt delivered one of the most breathtaking performances Australian Group 1 racing has ever seen, obliterating the field to win by nearly 11 lengths in a demolition that left jaws on the floor.

With history-making moments fresh in the memory, and three Group 1 races on the bill, this Saturday promises something special.

Queensland Oaks Day has become Super Saturday. Don’t miss a second.

Please note: South African Quartet Pools with fractional betting offered at Brighton and Windsor (UK) – 2 June 2025