David Thiselton

The Turffontein Standside track has a nine race meeting on today that will offer punters some opportunities considering there are six plate races, one middle stakes event and two handicaps. 

The headliner is a MR 100 handicap over 1600m and the progressive Claw is the one to beat. This Horizon gelding has always struck as useful and after winning over course and distance last time he was only given a three point raise and two horses from that race have already come out and won. He has a fine chance of following up from a plum draw of two under S’Manga Khumalo. Presley has been a touch disappointing in his last two starts, but Gavin Leena has ridden this horse in all three of his wins, including twice over this course and distance,  and he has come down to a competitive merit rating, so has the ability to win from draw five. Artist’s Model has quite a lot of class and is 1,5kg better off with Claw for a 3.20 length beating, so should get closer. He represents the flying De Kock and Murray combination. Grand Crescendo looked to be a class horse in the making after finishing a close up third in the Gr 1 Premier’s Champion stakes over 1600 meters at Hollywoodbets Greyville. He hasn’t lived up to expectations this season, but he has shown glimpses of that form and has come down to a competitive merit rating. From draw three with a 1.5kg climber up, he could make an impact. Pressedonregardless is a hard knocking sort who has done well over this trip before and if he can overcome a wide draw he should be in the shake up. 

The seventh race is a middle stakes event over 1160m and Guy Gibson could be the one to beat with Richard Fourie aboard as he ran a cracker at Hollywoodbets Scottsville last time out and now has his third run after a lay off. Bob’s Your Uncle is an ultra consistent sort and is going for a hattrick. He will enjoy this course and distance and should be right there. Night Bomber has run well over this course and distance before, including finishing just 0.4 lengths behind Bob’s your uncle in March and he is now 2kg better off so has a fine chance. Tsar Bomba has plenty of ability and also has the form to be a contender if producing his best. Chyavana has a big drop in class here and back in this company cannot be ignored with Gavin Lerena up.

The last race is a MR90 handicap for fillies and mares and Palace Dancer could bounce back here after being narrowly beaten last time by Mountain High over 1400m. She should enjoy the step up to 1600m having won over 1500m before and she is 1.5kg better off with Mountain High for a mere neck beating. Mountain High followed up with a fair 3.2 length seventh in the Betway Secretariat Stakes over 1400m and the form of that race was very much franked when the first two, Choisanaada and Immediate Edge, both came out and won again. So she will have a big chance of following up on her last win. Future Date has been in fair form and from a good draw could earn again. Accept Cookies has Richard Fourie aboard and this improving sort can be involved if able to overcome a wide draw. Hillary Step lost by 2.95 lengths to Mountain High last time and is now 2kg better off, so could earn from a good draw.

In the first race over 1160m Anchorage is knocking on the door and with a 3kg advantage over the winners should get it right here. Detailed Forecast is by Gimmethegreenlight out of a Soft Falling Rain mare and is an interesting first timer. Victory in Orleans makes most appeal of the rest having won well on debut over this 1160m course and distance.

In the second race over 1160m Jan van Gooyen looks to be a very promising sort in the making and he can follow up on his first win and be bankered in all bets.

The third race is the first leg of the PA and Radio Star has the best form, having finished second on debut over 1400m and Gavin Lerena has stayed aboard, but he does have a wide draw to overcome. Chieftain’s Shield is a consistent sort capable of running on and he should be included too from a plum draw. Greenlight Racer is drawn in pole and could improve to earn here. Johnny Drama has shown enough ability to earn here also. Silver Longsword looks capable of improvement over the step up in trip.

In the first leg of the P6 Japanese Garden has good form and Gavin Lerena stays aboard, although she does have a tricky draw to overcome over a suitable trip. Daisy Jones went close on debut over 1500m behind a fair sort and can be involved if able to overcome a wide draw. Green Street has run some fair races and from a good draw should be in the shake-up. Shamoon is never far off them and could earn again from a tricky draw. Umami comes from Cape Town and they usually improve from that powerful centre when relocating, so she is one to watch.

In the fifth race over 2000m Lava Lamp went close last time over 1600m and being by Erupt out of an Ideal World mare should enjoy the step up in trip. Mattiazzo and Into Dancing make most appeal as the dangers.

Mizzzen Sword is well drawn in the sixth race over 1800m and might enjoy the dramatic step up in trip from a good draw as he is a half-brother to Green Haze who was a graded performer up to 2850m. Enflame, Heroic Act and Santiago’s Pride could all challenge him. Future King is another one who can’t be ignored.

RACE 1     

5 ANCHORAGE 6 DETAILED FORECAST 4 VICTORY IN ORLEANS 3 VERSACE ONTHETRACK

Preview: 5 ANCHORAGE has gone close in both starts and with a 3kg advantage over the winners could get it right here. 6 DETAILED FORECAST  is by GimmetheGreenlight out of a Soft Falling Rain mare. 4 VICTORY IN ORLEANS won well on debut and with improvement has a chance of following up. 3 VERSACE ONTHETRACK won well at odds on last time and should be right there. (David Thiselton 5-6-4-3)

RACE 2     

2 JAN VAN GOYEN 1 GOT THE FEELING 7 TRUST 5 SHADOWFAX

Preview: 2 JAN VAN GOYEN  looks very promising after an impressive 4.5 length victory on debut. 1 GOT THE FEELING also won well on debut and should be the main danger. 7 TRUST is by Heavenly Blue out of a Frankel filly and he has some prominent owners. 5 SHADOWFAX ran well on debut and gets 3kg from the winners and Richard Fourie is aboard so he has a big chance too. (David Thiselton 2-1-7-5)

RACE 3     

10 RADIO STAR 2 CHIEFTAIN’S SHIELD 6 GREENLIGHT RACER 1 JOHNNY DRAMA

Preview: 10 RADIO STAR has a very wide draw but Gavin Lerena stays aboard and he beat GreenLightRacer by 3.5 lengths last time so should confirm the form. 2 CHIEFTAIN’S SHIELD has been knocking on the door and gets a plum draw over a trip that might be a touch on the sharp side but he still should be right there. 6 GREENLIGHT RACER has run two fair races and from pole position has a chance here.1 JOHNNY DRAMA has shown ability and should also be thereabouts. (David Thiselton 10-2-6-1)

RACE 4     

12 JAPANESE GARDEN 11 DAISY JONES 1 GREEN STREET 2 SHAMOON

Preview: 12 JAPANESE GARDEN has been knocking on the door and Gavin Lerena stays aboard so she should go close. 11 DAISY JONES went close on debut over 1500m behind a fair sort and can be involved here if able to overcome a wide draw. 1 GREEN STREET has run some fair races and from a good draw should be in the shake-up. 2 SHAMOON is never far off them and can earn again. (David Thiselton 12-11-1-2)

RACE 5     

1 LAVA LAMP 2 MATTIAZO 9 INTO DANCING 6 CODEWORD

Preview: 1 LAVA LAMP went close last time over 1600m and being by Erupt out of an Ideal World mare should relish this trip and is well drawn. 2 MATTIAZO improved last time and although by Silvano he is out of a Var mare, so the jury’s out on whether he will enjoy the step-up in trip. 9 INTO DANCING ran well when stepped up to 1600m last time and being by Ideal World out of a Gimmethegreenlight mare he should enjoy this trip from a good draw. 6 CODEWORD has shown some ability and could earn here. (David Thiselton 1-2-9-6)

RACE 6     

2 MIZZEN SWORD 9 ENFLAME 3 HEROIC ACT 1 SANTIAGO’S PRIDE

Preview: 2 MIZZEN SWORD is well drawn but does try a dramatic step-up in trip which might suit as he is a half-brother to Green Haze, who was a Graded performer up to 2850m. 9 ENFLAME improved when stepped up in trip last time to 1600 meters and being by Irish flame he should enjoy the further step-up in trip.3 HEROIC ACT went close in his penultimate start over this trip and should be in the shake-up in this line-up. 1 SANTIAGO’S PRIDE has done quite well over this sort of trip and from pole position should be thereabouts. (David Thiselton 2-9-3-1)

RACE 7     

2 GUY GIBSON 4 BOB’S YOUR UNCLE 5 NIGHT BOMBER 7 TSAR BOMBA

Preview: 2 GUY GIBSON did well last time in a strong race at Hollywoodbets Scottsville and should do well here under Richard Fourie. 4 BOB’S YOUR UNCLE is in cracking form and should be in the shake-up over a suitable course and distance.5 NIGHT BOMBER is interesting dropped down to this trip and could be a contender. 7 TSAR BOMBA went close last time and has a chance here. (David Thiselton 2-4-5-7)

RACE 8     

9 CLAW 7 PRESLEY 6 ARTIST’S MODEL 1 GRAND CRESCENDO

Preview: 9 CLAW is a progressive sort and off a three point higher mark he could go in again. 7 PRESLEY disappointed last time but with Gavin Lerena up could go close. 6 ARTIST’S MODEL is a classy sort who has the ability to be involved here if able to overcome a tricky draw.1 GRAND CRESCENDO has plenty of class and dropped to a more reasonable merit rating could be involved from a good draw over a suitable trip. (David Thiselton 9-7-6-1)

RACE 9     

2 PALACE DANCER 6 MOUNTAIN HIGH 10 FUTURE DATE 8 ACCEPT COOKIES

Preview: 2 PALACE DANCER only just failed last time and can make amends here. 6 MOUNTAIN HIGH beat Palace Dancer last time but is 1kg worse off for a neck beating. 10 FUTURE DATE has been going close and from a good draw could be in the shake-up. 8 ACCEPT COOKIES  won a nice race last time and Richard Fourie is now board albeit from a tricky draw. (David Thiselton 2-6-10-8)

PLEASE NOTE!

Soccer 4 : SFF Sport 19 Pool 1 – 14 JUNE 2025

Match 1 (M1): CAPE TOWN CITY vs CASRIC STARS. Postponed, New date 30 June 2025

Soccer 6 : SCC Sport 2 Pool 1 – 14 JUNE 2025

Match 1 (M1): CAPE TOWN CITY vs CASRIC STARS. Postponed, New date 30 June 2025

Soccer 10 : 1SS Sport 7 Pool 1 – 14 JUNE 2025

Match 1 (M1): CAPE TOWN CITY vs CASRIC STARS. Postponed, New date 30 June 2025

Soccer Any 13Xtra : Z13 Sport 13 Pool 1 – 14 JUNE 2025

Match 1 (M1): CAPE TOWN CITY vs CASRIC STARS. Postponed, New date 30 June 2025

Soccer Scores : 6SS Sport 73 Pool 1 – 14 JUNE 2025

Match 1 (M1): CAPE TOWN CITY vs CASRIC STARS. Postponed, New date 30 June 2025

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.

Soccer13 Net C/Over: R1 194 316 on Sunday, 15 June 2025 – Pool Closes at 14h30, Sport 11 Pool 1 – All 13 CorrectJackpot Pool: R3.7 Million (if only One 13 of 13 Winner)

David Thiselton

Twice South African champion jockey and New Zealand reigning champion jockey Warren Kennedy is arriving in South Africa this weekend three weeks before the Hollywoodbets Durban July and is seeking a ride in the big race.

He has apparently received offers already and will be choosing his best option.

Kennedy has never won the July before but regards his third place finish on the notoriously difficult Mike de Kock-trained 100/1 shot Forest Path in the 2009 July as one of his career best rides.

His first ride in the July was in 2004 on the unplaced 100/1 shot Cousin John.

His best finish other than his third place in 2009 was fourth on the Glen Kotzen-trained Eyes Wide Open in 2019.

Kennedy was SA champion jockey in the 2019/2020 season and the 2021/2022 season with 209 and 263 wins respectively.

Winning a championship in your home country is one thing, but to do it in a foreign country in your first full season there is an extraordinary feat and that is what Warren managed in New Zealand in a gruelling but memorable 2023/2024 season, in which he had 140 wins in 849 rides for a strike rate of one every 6.06 rides or in South Africa terminology 16.9%.

His season included a memorable seven-timer, which is a New Zealand record. 

Kennedy relocated to New Zealand in October 2022 and his seven-timer happened in a major ten-race meeting at Pukekohe on New Year’s Day 2024. It beat the previous single day record of six by Lance O’Sullivan, who was the co-trainer of three of Kennedy’s winning rides. Kennedy, who was booked on nine horses, partnered four of the first five winners of the day, which included two Gr 2 successes and he completed a hat-trick in races six, seven and eight, including the first Gr 1 race of 2024, the Railway Stakes aboard Waitak.

Kennedy was involved in an intense tussle for the title last season with the reigning champion Michael McNab. An untimely injury to the latter saw Warren ultimately pulling clear to win by 16.

The New Zealand press were high in their praise.

“To move to New Zealand as a total unknown here and win the premiership inside two years defies belief and McNab can take comfort he has conceded his title to a horseman of rare talent and drive,” wrote journalist Michael Guerin in the New Zealand Herald. “He (Kennedy) has been equal parts magnificent in the saddle, professional out of it and robotic in his determination to add the New Zealand jockey’s title to the two premierships he won in his native South Africa.”

Other records Warren set besides the seven in a day was becoming the first jockey to ever surpass NZ$5 million in stakes earnings in one New Zealand season and he might well have been the first foreign rider to win the title.

He said chasing the premiership had actually required more travel and had been just as taxing on him as it had been in South Africa.

He said towards the end of last season, “In SA you just fly into the major centres and you’re just about on course. But In New Zealand to get to some courses requires a two hour flight and a three hour drive. There are some pretty remote race courses and it’s quite a mission to get there, so it’s been very, very busy, really a lot of travelling.

Warren’s focus changed this season as his wife Barbara, former Summerveld assistant trainer to Dean Kannemeyer, took out her training license last season and he helps out as much as he can at the yard in addition to his other riding commitments.

This season Barbara has had ten wins in just 71 outings, a fine strike rate of 14.08%. She looks set to win more support at that rate.

Warren is likely to ride in meetings out here before the July, although he did not speak of that chance.