Andrew Harrison

Lucinda Woodruff heads back to a wet Western Cape on Saturday with a song in her heart after a successful raid on Champions Season. Her last three runners have been winners but particularly satisfying will have been Wing Walker notching up a hattrick of wins at Hollywoodbets Greyville yesterday to round off her raid and get her season off to a winning start.

Wing Walker arrived in KZN a maiden but after a promising start when second at Hollywoodbets Scottsville he ramped up his performance, shedding his maiden by five lengths and following up with a hard-fought victory first up in handicap company.

He made further progression yesterday. Stepped up to 1400m for the first time he finished off his race smartly to round off a hattrick before heading home. He appears to be a late maturing son of Rafeef and a mile looks well within his compass.

Run To Rio was game in defeat as he went clear over the subway but was unable to hold of Wing Walker’s challenge.

 Go Grayson Go and Solar Sail were at the top of the boards for the opening leg of the Pick 6, but the race resulted in a major boil-over as rank outsider Master Josh got the better of Go Grayson Go in a tight finish with Solar Sail outpaced in fourth place behind Down By The River and Mark Khan’s raider probably looking for further.

Master Josh was having his first run for Yadav Singh and was confidently ridden by Jason Gates who is never one to back off in a finish. Serino Moodley saw him coming and in a tactical move allowed Go Grayson Go to gradually press his rival towards the outside rail.  However, Master Josh started to hang in and without coming together, Gates pressured Go Grayson Go to finally get the job done.

The meeting got off to a delayed start as apprentice Dezahn Louw was dislodged on his way to the start on She’s A Trackstar and it took time to replace him with fellow apprentice Girish Dookhit.

Garth Puller’s charge Mohave Prince, a close-up second to the promising Green Gateway at his last start, vied for favouritism with Mark Dixon’s runner Master Du Rouvray who was coming off a lengthy break.

The money proved to be a reliable guide as the pair pulled clear of their rivals up the straight with Mohave Prince possibly just the fitter as he edged out Master Du Rouvray  with Global Warrior chasing them home for third but well back.

Catch A Penny finally made her exit from the maidens in the second after earning a cheque in all of her previous ten outings; but it was a close run thing. Starting deep in the red, those supporters who took the cramped odds about the favourite were preparing to tear up their tickets with 100m left of the race as the first timer Oklahoma Girl kept finding and was only run out of it on the line.

Muzi Yeni tried to keep all  honest as he set a brisk pace on second favourite Intro with Chad Little seemingly in no hurry as Catch A Penny dropped off the pace. Little had Intro in his sights off the false rail but it was Oklahoma Girl who was the surprise package as she went past Intro and had the line in her sights. Catch A Penny moved up along sides her rival under a driving ride and it finally came down to a bob of the heads.

Blinkers, a light weight and a change of stable brought out the best in Queen Of The Spear as she ran out a comfortable winner of the Open Maiden. There was obviously stable confidence as she found steady market support in spite of her run of seven duck eggs. Apprentice Mxolisi Mbuto tracked the early pace and took the brakes off Queen Of The Spear at just the right moment as she had to work the last bit to hold off a late-charging Ms Galore who will be worth following.

The Class 5 Handicap always had an open look about it and so it proved as Music Of Life gave Gareth van Zyl his second winner of the afternoon backing up from Queen Of The Spear. The pace was on from the jump and the contested turned into a test of stamina to see who lasted the longest. Nicholas Patel took the shortest way home jumping from his good draw and Music Is Life kept finding up the inside rail as challenges fell away leaving him in front. Whereverilaymyhat stayed on gamely for second with a blanket separating the next three home.

In a day of upsets, Grand Appeal continued the trend as he finished with a wet sail under Mathew Thackeray. Iron Will cut the early fractions with Yadav Singh hunting his second win but was closely tracked by Run Forest Run.

Iron Will was the first to faulter as Run Forest Run took up the running but Thackeray, who sat comfortably mid-field, slipped Gold Appeal up the inside of the pack and MJ Odendaal’s runner charged home to put the race to bed.

Jazz Café and Prom Queen made full use of their good fortune in the last avoiding a pile-up at the start. Blowin In The Wind, drawn two, took a sharp right turn out of the gate hampering most of the field except Jazz Café, dawn one, and Prom Queen drawn 11.

These two raced unhindered and came together crossing the subway with Tristan Godden getting maximum  out of Robbie Hill’s filly  to hold of Prom Queen and Callan Murray.

David Thiselton

A fillies and mares 80 handicap over 1200m is the highest rated race in an interesting eight race meeting on the Vaal straight course today.

The course set up at present has the outside rail at zero for the races down the straight, meaning high draws should be favourable, while the two races around the turn will have a six metre spur at the 600m mark.

Three-year-old Hotaru is the one to beat in the headliner as she won a maiden handicap over course and distance by 4,25 lengths carrying topweight in June and followed up with a far from disgraced 6,95 length 12th in the Gr 2 SplashOut Golden Slipper over 1400m at Hollywoodbets Greyville which was won by the unbeaten star Anotherdanceforme. However, Hotaru does have to run off a 91 merit rating, which will make it tough, although she does have a nice high draw of eight out of nine and is the one to beat. Global Thunder has won his last two starts in good style, but does have to overcome a ten point raise as he was under sufferance when winning last time, so it won’t be easy for her either, although she does have the  highest draw. The Navy Lark is an honest sort with plenty of pace and she should make a bold bid in the fast conditions, although draw three might be against her. Sheets and Goggles has shown enough form to earn here from draw five with Jacey Botes claiming an effective 3,5kg and carrying no dead weight. Valieva comes off a nice win over 1160m and with Khumalo aboard could be a runner from draw six off just a three point higher mark.

In the first leg of the Pick 6 over 1000m Inspector James ran a cracker last time, beating Jet Querari by over two lengths, and he should also be in the shake up.Jet Querari ran an improved race next time out, also over this trip, and can go close with a repeat, although draw two might be problematic. Time Will Tell is a big runner too, as one who has been knocking on the door and has a nice draw under S’Manga Khumalo. Chilli Marmalade ran well over 1000m in her penultimate start and can earn with a repeat. has a chance if producing her best. Cyber Spirit could earn in this line up.

In the second leg of the Pick 6 over 1000m Mister Wilson won a good race last time and the form has been franked so he is the one to beat here on ability, but he has not raced for five months and has a low draw. Arilena ran well last time off this mark and is distance suited and has a high draw, so should be right there. Nazare has a good rider aboard and should be in the shake up. Blindfire will enjoy the step back to the minimum trip and should also be right there. William West looks best suited to this distance and had some fair form in the strong centre of Cape Town, so has a definite chance here, although he has not raced for three months.

In the sixth race over 2400m Silver Flare did well over this trip last time and being by Silvano she can continue to improve. Stop The Traffic did well over 2000m last time and although he is by Willow Magic he is out of a Traffic Guard mare, so might enjoy this trip, but he does have a wide draw. Cartagena looks to be an improving stayer and if overcoming a tricky draw will be right there.  Rosy Lemon is an honest sort who should enjoy this trip. Hat Furious is interesting stepped up in trip because although his sire Hat Puntano was a miler, he is out of a Fort Wood mare who won over 1900m.

In the seventh race over 1800m Futurewolff is always thereabouts and from a good draw looks the one to beat. Mizzen Sword won well last time in just his second start over a middle distance trip and he should be right there off a reasonable opening handicap mark of 75. Gimmeachoice has been knocking on the door over shorter and has a chance of staying this trip in his second attempt at it being by miler to middle distance sort Gimmthegreenlight, although his dam by Lecture only raced over 140m and her only win was over 1200m. Trident King looks to be distance suited here, but does have a wide draw to overcome. Crepuscolo is only half-a-kilogram under sufferance and could earn.

In the eighth race over 1400m Cape Saffron is in fine form and is distance suited, so could be the one to beat here. Dylan’s Champ will enjoy being back on the Highveld and has a form chance. Paul Revere has ability and if at his best could be a factor. Peregrine Falcon has been thereabouts over shorter and should manage this step up in trip. Titans Of War has a much easier task than last time and won well before that, so has a definite chance in this line up.

In the first race Trip To States did well over 1600m last time and this 1400m trip looks ideal, although a low draw makes it tough so Frere Jacques must be considered.

In the second race over 1400m Chantilly Dream is taken to improve from her debut and she should enjoy the step up in trip too.

RACE 1

4 TRIP TO STATES 5 FRERE JACQUES 6 PALACE ATTACK 1 AMANDLA NGAWETHU

Preview: 4 TRIP TO STATES Ran a cracker when stepped up to 1600 meters last time and should enjoy this trip too, so should be right there. 5 FRERE JACQUES made a good debut and will relish the step up in trip. 6 PALACE ATTACK has a form chance in this line up. 1 AMANDLA NGAWETHUhas shown some signs of ability and could earn. (David Thiselton 4-5-6-1)

RACE 2

8 CHANTILLY DREAM 3 EMPRESS WU 1 TIPPERARY 6 CONCORDIA

Preview: 8 CHANTILLY DREAM made a fair debut and with improvement could be right there. 3 EMPRESS WU is knocking on the door and should enjoy the step up in trip so has a big chance. 1 TIPPERARY was very disappointing last time but if recapturing her best form after a layoff she could earn.  6 CONCORDIA has enough form to be given a chance in this line up. (David Thiselton 8-3-1-6)

RACE 3

1 INSPECTOR JAMES 2 JET QUERARI 3 TIME WILL TELL 9 CHILLI MARMALADE

Preview: 1 INSPECTOR JAMES ran a cracker last time, beating Jet Querari by more than two lengths, and he should also be in the shake up.2 JET QUERARI improved in his following start and went close so if repeating that run he should be right there.  3 TIME WILL TELL is knocking on the door and also has a chance here. 9 CHILLI MARMALADE has a chance if producing her best. (David Thiselton 1-2-3-9)

RACE 4

2 MISTER WILSON 3 ARILENA 5 NAZARE 7 BLINDFIRE

Preview: 2 MISTER WILSON won a good race last time and is the one to beat here. 3 ARILENA ran well last time off this mark and has a chance.5 NAZARE has a good rider aboard and should be in the shake up. 7 BLINDFIRE will enjoy the step back to the minimum trip and should also be right there. (David Thiselton 2-3-5-7)

RACE 5

3 HOTARU 1 GLOBAL THUNDER 4 THE NAVY LARK 7 SHEETS AND GOGGLES

Preview: 3 HOTARU was not disgraced against a top class sort over 1400m last time and will appreciate the step back down in trip. 1 GLOBAL THUNDER has won his last two starts in good style but does have to overcome a 10 point raise as he was under sufferance when winning last time. 4 THE NAVY LARK is an honest sort who should make a bold bid in the fast conditions. 7 SHEETS AND GOGGLES has shown enough form to earn here. (David Thiselton 3-1-4-7)

RACE 6

7 SILVER FLARE 4 STOP THE TRAFFIC 2 CARTAGENA 1 ROSY LEMON

Preview: 7 SILVER FLARE did well over this trip last time and being by Silvano she can continue to improve. 4 STOP THE TRAFFIC did well over 2000m last time and being out of a Traffic Guard mare might enjoy this trip, but he does have a wide draw. 2 CARTAGENA looks to be an improving stayer and if overcoming a tricky draw will be right there. 1 ROSY LEMON is an honest sort who should enjoy this trip. (David Thiselton 7-4-2-1)

RACE 7

4 FUTUREWOLFF 3 MIZZEN SWORD 1 GIMMEACHOICE 5 TRIDENT KING

Preview: 4 FUTUREWOLFF s always thereabouts and from a good draw looks the one to beat. 3 MIZZEN SWORD won well last time in just his second start over a middle distance trip and he should be right there. 1 GIMMEACHOICE has been knocking on the door over shorter and has a chance of staying this trip. 5 TRIDENT KING looks to be distance suited here but does have a wide draw to overcome. (David Thiselton 4-3-1-5)

RACE 8

3 CAPE SAFFRON 2 DYLAN’S CHAMP 1 PAUL REVERE 5 PEREGRINE FALCON

Preview: 3 CAPE SAFFRON is in fine form and is distance suited, so could be the one to beat here. 2 DYLAN’S CHAMP will enjoy being back on the Highveld and has a chance. 1 PAUL REVERE has ability and if at his best could be a factor. 5 PEREGRINE FALCON has been thereabouts over shorter and should manage this step up in trip. (David Thiselton 3-2-1-5)

Please Note: Below pool time change due to kickoff time change.

Soccer 6: 6GG – 7 AUGUST 2025
Match 3 (M3): CFR CLUJ vs SPORTING BRAGA. Kick Off Time Revised from 19:00 to 18:30
New Pool closing time 18:30

Soccer10 Friday 8 August 2025. ADD-IN R100 000. Estimated Pool: R1.8 Million. Pool Closes at 19h00.Sport 16 and Pool 1.

Soccer10 Saturday 9 August 2025. ADD-IN R100 000. Estimated Pool: R1.8 Million. Pool Closes at 15h00.Sport 8 and Pool 1.

Soccer Any13X on Saturday 9 August 2025. ADD-IN R75 000. Estimated Pool: R 250 000. Pool Closes at 13h30. Sport 13 and Pool 1

Soccer13 Saturday 9 August 2025. R18 Million (If only One 13 of 13 Winner). Pool Closes at 15h30. Sport 10 Pool 1.