Andrew Harrison

Thoroughbred breeders in Kwa-Zulu Natal are a resilient band. In spite of trying markets and

dwindling numbers, the diehards have ridden the hard times. Hopefully vastly increased stakes and

the possibility of overseas export for top performers has buoyed their sales market.

The Kwa-Zulu Natal Breeders day at Hollywoodbets Greyville today has ten races restricted to

KZN-bred runners headed by the R650 000 KZN Breeders Mile.

Justin Snaith has warned that his Champions Season raiding party will improve as the season

progresses and he saddles the three-year-old Legal Council. The promising gelding has a wide draw

to contend with but is nicely in at these weights. His form was boosted on Wednesday with the much

improved and year older Thisiswhatitmeans narrowly ahead of him last time out.

Wendy Whitehead sends out the former Fairview galloper Cherry Ano who has been racing in top

company since his arrival in KZN. He was just over three lengths back to recent Gr1 Hollywoodbets

Gold Challenge winner Dave The King at Hollywoodbets Scottsville and has good form in blinkers. He

is the best rated and should fight out the finish.

Sean Tarry is a stalwart supporter of KZN-bred horses and sends out Dantonfromsandton who won at

this meeting last year and was subsequently narrowly beaten by Cats Pajamas in a sprint feature on

July day. He was friendless in the market last Ame out but at best will have a strong chance in this

line-up although he has yet to prove that he stays the trip. African Skyline is up-and-down in trip but

was not far off Dave The King last Ame out and must have a shout.

In the first leg of the PA Cassandra started at long odds on debut but showed up well, finishing close

up behind Dark MaTer. She takes on males and makes her poly debut but looks the part with Glen

Kotzen’s runners in good heart. Queen Of The Air was a beaten short-priced favourite at just her

second start but comes off a lengthy break. That run was possibly too far but she does appear to

have some ability.

The fourth is a tricky Pick 6 opener. Fortress Of Fire was a smart winner on debut but has

disappointed since in two feature races much to Michael Roberts’s chagrin. He is now down in class,

and if he can reproduce his debut effort he could prove difficult to beat. Master Silvano has a wide

draw but was close-up in his debut. This trip will suit. As menAoned, Tarry has an enviable record at

this meeAng and War Talk should come on from her promising debut effort.

Window To My Soul could prove to be one of the beTer bets. Alyson Wrights gelding was touched off

when going ground for the first Ame and on his poly debut. He is lightly raced and looks the part. Tee

Dog has shown some promise of late and stays the trip. The switch to poly could be in his favour and

looks the most likely threat. Possible Bomber has not shown much in two sprints but jumps in trip

and is one to watch in the market.

Hat’s Queen is visiting Tony Peter’s only runner on the day and is possibly the best bet on the card.

She is very well in at these weights and from the best of the draw she should take a lot of beaAng.

Queen Amina could be a threat as she has shown consistent form since shedding her maiden. She

goes well on the poly and stays the trip.The seventh is not so straight forward with a number in with chances. Garth Puller’s runner Agrado

shows promise and is hardly ever out of the money. He should go well this course and distance and

can get the beTer of DisAng who that has some fair form in useful feature company. She has the

best of the draw and should go close. Silver Tudor is way beTer than his last effort although not

beaten far. He boasts some useful Highveld form and cannot be ignored. Veteran galloper Proud

Master is way beTer than his last two runs would suggest. He looks well weighted here in spite of

62kg and the poly will suit.

In the last leg of the Pick 6 Tarry sends out Willow Express. The seven-year-old has had four aTempts

at the KZN Breeders Mile without success and Tarry has him taking on a lesser field in the KZN

Breeders 1600 where he should be competitive. He is way beTer than his last run and can finally add

an eighth win to his CV . Puller sends out the lightly raced Actor who was returning from a lengthy

break when badly in need of the ouAng last Ame out. He has the best of the draw and should be

competitive. The mare Radu looks to be the pick of Wendy Whiteheads coupling however, all of her

recent form has been at Hollywoodbets ScoTsville where she has been close-up in recent exchanges.

Stable companion Joshua Hotsnake is always dangerous and has a money chance.

Snaith could round off the day with Among The Clouds. The grey has a wide draw but has come on

nicely since arriving in KZN. She won with authority last time out over course and distance and can

follow up. Miss Paget has the best of the draw and has been close-up in her last two over course and

distance. She looks well in and will be a big threat from her pole position draw.

Please Note : South African Quartet Pools with fractional betting offered at Ffos Las (UK) – 22 June 2025.

PLEASE NOTE!

Soccer 4: SFF Soccer 17 Pool 2– 20 JUNE 2025

Match 1 (M1): SALERNITANA vs SAMPDORIA. Rescheduled. New Date 22 June 2025

Soccer 6: 6II Soccer 4 Pool 1– 20 JUNE 2025

Match 2 (M2): SALERNITANA vs SAMPDORIA. Rescheduled. New Date 22 June 2025

Soccer 10: 1RR Soccer 14 Pool 1 –  20 JUNE 2025

Match 2 (M2): SALERNITANA vs SAMPDORIA. Rescheduled. New Date 22 June 2025

All results (the field) will qualify for the above match.

In terms of Tabgold rules, all choices (the field) will apply in determining results and payouts.

Soccer Corners : – 21 JUNE 2025

Match 4 (M4): CAVALRY FC vs PACIFIC FC. Reschedule to 22 June 2025 Due to unplayable pitch conditions. Pool will be resulted after match played

Graeme Hawkins

The R650 000 Kwazulu-Natal Breeders Mile heads the 10-race programme at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday 22 June and the former East Cape star, Cherry Ano, looks set to take home the lion’s share of the purse for Owner-Breeder, Henning Pretorius. Cherry Ano, a 5yo son of Cape Town Noir, has won eight of his twenty five starts, with six of these victories coming over 1600 metres. Cherry Ano has had three starts in KwaZulu Natal since being relocated to the Summerveld-based stable of Wendy Whitehead and his last two starts have been most encouraging.

In his penultimate outing, Cherry Ano finished fourth behind the useful Underworld who has subsequently been supplemented for the Hollywoodbets Durban July after running a very close second in the Hollywoodbets Dolphins Cup Trial (Gr3). Then a month ago, Cherry Ano took third spot behind multiple Grade 1 winner, Dave The King, and that level of form is surely strong enough to suggest he will prove a tough nut to crack in this 11-strong field.

Based on official handicappers’ ratings the Sean Tarry-trained Dantonfromsandton would appear the biggest threat to Cherry Ano’s supremacy but the 3yo son of Willow Magic has yet to win beyond 1200m and is not guaranteed to see out this trip. He was a remote fourth in the Byerley Turk (Gr3) over 1400m in March following which Dantonfromsandton won a very good race over 1200m when beating the talented Quantum Theory at the Vaal two months ago. Sean Tarry has over the years done remarkably well at the annual KZN Breeders’ Raceday but I fear that Dantonfromsandton’s lack of stamina might well be exposed here. 

Soldier’s Eye is a useful 4yo daughter of Rabada and she represents the Highveld-based stable of Weiho Marwing with reigning national Champion apprentice Kobeli James Lihaba in the saddle. Sporting the colours of Gerald Kalil, Lihaba rode Soldier’s Eye to victory in her most recent outing over 1600m at Turffontein and she could well finish in the money here. Hat’s Pride has been struggling to find his best form and has not won since 29 September 2023. However, Glen Kotzen’s charge showed very useful potential earlier in his career, including when finishing fifth in the Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas (Gr1) behind Snow Pilot. He is rated 18 pounds lower than Cherry Ano and given that in terms of the conditions of the KZN Breeders’ Mile he only receives 0,5kgs, it is a tall order to expect Hat’s Pride to have a clear winning chance.

A more interesting contender could be the relatively unexposed Legal Counsel from the stable of Champion trainer Justin Snaith. The 3yo son of Legislate has won three of his seven starts and could prove better than his current rating (98) suggests. Legal Counsel will have no problem with the trip and his last run, when second behind Thisiswhatitmeans just three weeks ago, suggests that Snaith has him in very good shape. Saxon Dynasty is another lightly raced 3yo, having only had four starts to date for two wins. By Querari, Saxon Dynasty will be ridden by championship-chasing Gavin Lerena but there is every chance that he will find 1600m very much on the sharp side, with his most recent victory having been recorded over 2200m.

As a 5-time winner African Skyline comes into the race with more than just a glimmer of hope. Trained by Garth Puller, African Skyline won a minor Feature over 1500m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville in February but on the evidence of his last run in May, he should be safely held by Cherry Ano. Noble City, stable companion to Saxon Dynasty, has been struggling of late but two years back he ran second in this race behind MK’s Pride and then last year was certainly not disgraced when third behind the brilliant Mrs Geriatrix. He could prove a worthy inclusion in Trifecta and Quartet permutations.

Apache Son, Go Grayson Go and Kaygee’s Delight complete the line-up but it would come as something of a surprise if the winner was to emerge from this trio. In summary, Cherry Ano looks to carry too many guns for the opposition and is a confident selection to provide Henning Pretorius’ Summerhill Equestrian Stud with a Champagne-popping victory.

The first race on Sunday, a Maiden Juvenile Plate over 1400m, is due off at 11:40 and the popular “Win-If-You-Lose” on-course competition will afford 10 Couples the opportunity to win entrance tickets to the 2025 R5-million Hollywoodbets Durban July on Saturday 5 July.

Please Note: FNB is currently Offline.