Warren Lenferna

There are eight races on the card at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth today, and four horses in particular stand out as serious contenders for the win. Race one is scheduled to start at 13:00pm, with the last race at 17:10pm.

The first of the four selections, Late December, runs in Race 2, a Class 3 over 1200m. This son of Rafeef has a brilliant name, being out of a mare called Sixtythree. The team at Narrow Creek Stud clearly enjoy music, as the name is a nod to the familiar song “December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night),” famously performed by Frankie Valli.

Trained by Greg Ennion, Late December will be ridden again by Corne Orffer, who was victorious on him last time out. This is his third run after a rest, and despite a rise in class, he appears up to the task and is selected to reel off a hat trick of wins.

The first leg of the Pick Six is Race 3, where World Warrior is the firm first choice. Although he is drawn widest of the eight runners, it is a small field, and jockey Callan Murray is more than capable of positioning his mounts into a striking position. This three-year-old son of One World, from the Crawford stable, showed eye-catching improvement four weeks ago when he finished second to Note To Self, who has since run a close second in his post-maiden start. World Warrior rates as the one to beat. Gold Giboski looks to be the biggest danger and an obvious inclusion for the exacta.

Yamazaki lines up in Race 4, a Maiden Plate over 1600m, which looks to be the ideal race for this Danon Platina colt to break his maiden. He has made considerable progress with each run, and his last two efforts over this course and distance have been very encouraging. He has a strong chance to cross the line first and collect the R65,313 prize for his connections.

Another horse catching the eye is Naretoi. He runs for trainer James Crawford, jockey Callan Murray, and owner Mr Murugasa in the sixth over 1950m. His debut run was over 1400m, which was a clear indication that he would be looking for the longer distance he gets today. The addition of blinkers and a tongue tie has clearly had the desired effect, and over this extended trip, he could be very difficult to beat.

David Thiselton

There was some decent racing at Turffontein Inside on Sunday and the winner of the highest rated race, a Graduation Plate over 1200m, was the classy Sean Tarry-trained The United States filly Rodeo Drive.

At this time last year Rodeo Drive looked a likely candidate for the Gr 1 SA Fillies Sprint as she had oozed class as a two-year-old.

However, she was never able to rise to those expected heights and her merit rating actually declined during a winless 2024/2025 campaign from 105 to 103 and she has still not earned bold black type, despite being a 0,30 length runner up in the Gr 1 Allan Robertson Championship over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville as a two-year-old.

She did not enjoy much luck during last season and Sunday’s win would have done her confidence some good.

Form studiers would have jumped at the chance to back her as she was bigger in the betting than the young three-year-old Nyaka Nyaka, who might have finished second to the subsequent Gr 1 winner Jan Van Goyen last time out, but on official ratings was a whopping 13,5kg under sufferance with the best weighted Bjorn Ironside and he was 10,5kg out with Rodeo Drive.

Bjorn Ironside had not run since a February 1100m outing at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth and also came out worse than Rodeo Drive on collateral form through Symphony In White.

Rodeo Drive did have to overcome a wide draw of seven out of seven, which was a bit of a concern.

However, she broke well and reached the front in effortless fashion under Craig Zackey and she then responded well when Zackey settled her to set no more than a steady pace.

She then kicked well when asked the question and opened a lead that proved unassailable.

She passed the line 1,60 lengths clear of Nyaka Nyaka with Bjorn Ironside a neck further back.

The Sandown Stud-bred Rodeo Drive has a good pedigree and Tarry will be keen to get some bold black type with her in her four-year-old season.

Her sire The United States, whose sire Galileo is the most successful Gr 1 sire in history, is from one of the hottest families in the stud book.

The United States’ full-sister Salsa is the dam of this season’s G1 Paddy Power Pretty Polly Stakes/G1 Qatar Nassau Stakes winner Whirl, with Whirl currently second favourite for the 2025 G1 Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

Another star three-year-old hailing from this family is Henri Matisse, winner of the G1 Emirates Poule d’Essai des Poulains (French 2000 Guineas). The latter’s third dam is Mill Princess, the fourth dam of The United States.

Rodeo Drive is out of the Listed-winning Horse Chestnut mare Crystal Cavern, whose five wins were from 1200m to 1600m and she is a half-sister to three other stakes winners, one of them being a sprinter, another a miler and another a stayer.

Rodeo Drive could stay further on pedigree, but seems to be a sprinter and she should have a good season.

Another interesting race on Sunday saw the well regarded Tony Peter-trained The Ultimate King (Vercingetorix) only just failing to carry topweight to victory in a MR 90 Handicap over 2000m. He had to give 2,5kg to the James Crawford-trained Gimmethegreenlight gelding Luce Verde and had to come from last after being dropped out from a wide draw. He made up the ground rapidly in the straight, but Luce Verde had something left in the tank and might have a suppressed merit rating, this being only his second start on the Highveld after having some decent form in the strong centre of Cape Town. Luce Verde prevailed by 0,70 lengths and denied The Ultimate King four wins in succession, although both horses look worth following as they were 2,50 lengths clear of the rest of the field.

The Candice Dawson-trained Warm Reception is another worth following. This three-year-old Fire Away filly is a half-sister to the smart but ill-fated Heather’s Boy and won on debut over 1200m by four lengths.

Later, the Johan Janse van Vuuren-trained Vercingetorix filly Pretty Persuasive made it two wins from three starts when winning first time out of the maidens over 1200m in a handicap off an 89 merit rating and she also looks one to keep an eye on.

The Tony Peter-trained Buffalo Bill Cody filly Rifle Queen won a handicap for fillies and mares over 1200m by 3,20 lengths off an 88 merit rating to be unbeaten in two starts and is another exciting prospect.

RACE 1

3 MAGICAL PLACE      4 OBJET D’ART      12 FRANKIE FINGERS      11 TRIP TO CAMELOT

Preview: MAGICAL PLACE (3) has run two very good races and looks ready for the win. OBJET D’ART (4) caught the eye on debut and with the Apprentice claim again, can go very close – big runner. FRANKIE FINGERS (12) and TRIP TO CAMELOT (11) might be able to get into the thick of things first time at the races. Watch the betting. (Warren Lenferna 3-4-12-11)

RACE 2
3 LATE DECEMBER      2 JET FORCE      5 ROLAND GARROS      6 SCOTTISH KISS

Preview: LATE DECEMBER (3) won his maiden well and followed up with an even more impressive, run-away victory straight out in open company and is confidently selected to win again and achieve the hat trick. JET FORCE (2) is rested but also clearly talented and can race fresh and race well – include. ROLAND GARROS (5) can be forgiven for the last run and is a horse with ability – each way claims. SCOTTISH KISS (6) has claims and is a must for the quartet. (Warren Lenferna 3-2-5-6)

RACE 3

3 GOLD GIBOSKI      8 WORLD WARRIOR      2 GETUPANDGO      7 BUGLE BOY

Preview: GOLD GIBOSKI (3) keeps running third but looks ready and hard to beat here. WORLD WARRIOR (8) is making huge improvement at every run and he too, has a bright winning chance. Plenty cheek can be expected from him. GETUPANDGO (2) and BUGLE BOY (7) are trifecta and quartet horses. (Warren Lenferna 3-8-2-7)

RACE 4

3 SIGNOR DANTE      7 YAMAZAKI      6 LOVE FROM AFAR      8 JOSHUA

Preview: SIGNOR DANTE (3) is showing promise and gets an attractive draw. He can be given serious consideration for the win position. YAMAZAKI (7) is improving with racing and should win soon – big danger. LOVE FROM AFAR (6) can start really making an impression and JOSHUA (8) is the selected place value. (Warren Lenferna 3-7-6-8)

RACE 5

1 RULE OF THUMB      5 WE HAVE TOUCHDOWN      4 TENPENNY      2 KAMCHATKA

Preview: RULE OF THUMB (1) boasts solid and consistent form, is never far adrift the action and with the weight off, will have a sparkling winning chance. WE HAVE TOUCHDOWN (5) is taking time for the next win but showed last time that the next victory is near. Strong place claims. TENPENNY (4) won well last time and has an undeniable chance of following up. KAMCHATKA (2) can never be ignored – her form is very consistent. (Warren Lenferna 1-5-4-2)

RACE 6

2 NARETOI      4 STATE CAPITOL      1 TORI’S GIRL      6 FORT IMPREZA

Preview: NARETOI (2) is still a maiden as are many others in this D Stakes but his last run was good. STATE CAPITOL (4) was in the same race as Naretoi won by Baton Rouge and should be right there at the finish again. TORI’S GIRL (1) and FORT IMPREZA (6) are worth including on the shortlist. (Warren Lenferna 2-4-1-6)

RACE 7

5 BLIND DATE      6 SPIRIT      3 GREEN PLANET      4 SARDINIA BAY

Preview: BLIND DATE (5) beat Black Eagle in the maidens last time and Blace Eagle has franked the form. He could be anything, this colt and record back-to-back wins. He is the first choice. SPIRIT (6) caught the eye first time out the maidens and should be in the first three again. GREEN PLANET (3) finished 2^nd at long odds last time and if reproducing that effort again, will be there – include. SARDINIA BAY (4) gets weight off the back – quartet must. (Warren Lenferna 5-6-3-4)

RACE 8

7 TAMBOURINE MAN       1 LOVERS LANE      10 ROYAL LYTHAM      9 VIVO PER LEI

Preview: TAMBOURINE MAN (7) ran a cracker last time when nearly getting it all right. He is confidently selected to go one more. LOVERS LANE (1) can be forgiven for the below par last run and expected to bounce right back to near best – each way. ROYAL LYTHAM (10) is the value and must be respected and included and VIVO PER LEI (9) has a place chance. (Warren Lenferna 7-1-

Please Note: South African Quartet Pools with fractional betting offered at Catterick (UK) – 18 August 2025