Andrew Harrison

After a slow start to his riding career, apprentice Blaine Marx-Jacobson has burst onto the scene in recent months and currently heads the national Apprentice Championship. One of his early mentors was Louis Goosen and that combination came good with veteran galloper Donquerari in the B Stakes that headed the card on the poly at Hollywoodbets Greyville yesterday.

A touch unlucky at his previous start when checked at a crucial stage of the race, this win was a just reward for Donquerari as Marx-Jacobson rode a patient race. Content to take a hold in the early exchanges as Vanakkam and Pop Chart set a break-neck pace up front that saw both put up the white flag early in the straight. Marx-Jacobson slipped Donquerari up the inside of his field with Connery also in contention. It was left to the three apprentices in the race to fight out the finish with Jacey Botes, reunited with his favourite mount Connery, and Anaas Mosaheb chasing home for third aboard Kalahari Roller.

Hazel Green was sent out favourite for the second but after disputing the lead for much of the race with Magical Spring, both folded quickly as apprentice Dezahn Louw, who had sat in just off the pace on Wendy Whitehead’s filly, sent Dancing In Demark for home and she waltzed into the lead to win by and extended margin with the luckless Tipperary chasing home a well beaten second.

There was a desperate finish to the first leg of the Pick 6 with Nicholas Patel getting Last Ovation up in the shadow of the post for a dead-heat. Keagan de Melo made his move on Skipper O’Malley behind the Drill Hall to quicken up the pace and it looked to be a winning move as he pinched a lead in the straight. However, Gareth van Zyl’s filly gradually ate into the lead with Skipper O’Malley crying for the line and just managing to hang on to share the spoils, with Crimson Typhoon running on stoutly for the minor money.

Visiting Thoonsil won an excellent race in the Class 4 Handicap making all the running and holding off a strong challenge from Blizzard Boy in another tight finish.

Tristan Godden set a solid gallop aboard Mano Pandaram’s gelding and was in a race of his own until the last 200m as the field change places behind him every furlong or so. Serino Moodley made an early move on The Wolf but that came to nothing as Thoonsil kept galloping and it was Blizzard Boy that came out of the pack and looked to be going on by, but Thoonsil stuck to his guns as Blizzard Boy’s challenge faltered over the last 100m.

Apprentice Girish Dookhit took a leaf out of Tristan Godden’s book and made all the running on Alyson Wright’s seven-year-old Ultra Quick in the Class 5 Apprentice Handicap. Setting comfortable early fractions the gelding lasted just long enough to hold off challenges from Mountainsofthemoon and National Dream.

Godden employed the same tactics as he had earlier on Thoonsil, making all the running on outsider Little Cracker. Jumping from the widest draw, Godden had Tony Rivalland’s gelding out in a flash and was not for the catching. Challenges came from all sides but Little Cracker kept up a relentless gallop with Lunch Money and Paratrooper unable to get on terms.

Time In Paris looked set for a major upset in the last of the day as Anaas Mosaheb took Kom Naidoo’s mare to the lead, one she fought gamely to hold to. But it was in vain as Mxolisi Mbuto, hanging on to Marx-Jacobson’s tail in the Apprentice Championship, pulled one back as he got Lucinda Woodruff’s filly to respond gamely up the inside fence to eventually wear down the pacemaker with favourite Preacher Man a well-beaten third.

David Thiselton

 

A MR 96 Handicap over 2000m is the highest rated race at the Turffontein Inside track meeting today and it could be won by Robert Browning.

 

The Canford Cliffs gelding is 3kg better off with The Playboy Bomber for a 1,70 length beating over this trip on April 9 and last time out, following a below par run in between, he ran well over 1600m in a Middle Stakes event in which he was out at the weights. Back in a handicap and drawn one over a suitable course and distance he should be right there. Kudzu has blossomed into his big frame as a five-year-old and has a chance of recording a hat-trick despite being four points higher for his last win, but on the other hand he has a tough draw to overcome. The Playboy Bomber is well drawn over a suitable trip and should make his presence felt. Jordan is distance suited and well drawn and should be in the shake up. Open Highway should finish on top of Kudzu according to the form of their last meeting coupled with the weight turnaround, but he also has a tricky draw of eight.

 

In the first leg of the Pick 6, a Maiden over 1600m, Winding Power has the best form here and should take a power of beating from a good draw. Royale Jacket has been knocking on the door and has an opportunity go one better than his run last time on the Hollywoodbets Greyville poly as he is drawn in pole here. Master Buddy has been beaten by Royale Jacket before, but improved last time out to beat him narrowly, although he does now have a wide draw.

 

In the next race over 1600m Late Bloomer ran a couple of fair sprints in the strong centre of Cape Town and on pedigree will relish the step up in trip being by Querari out of Gold Cup winner Dynasty’s Blossom. Flying World improved last time in her second run after the blinkers were removed and could be a threat. Trex On Fire made a fair debut and can improve.

 

In the sixth race over 1450m Oklahoma Smokeshow was used up to go to the front last time in what turned out to be a fast-paced race and was not surprisingly unable to maintain it. He now has a good draw and can bounce back. Major Arcana starts off handicapping off a reasonable merit rating, but does not have an easy draw. Ubermensch has improved in the context of this race and from a plum draw can be involved under leading jockey Craig Zackey.

 

In the seventh race over 1450m Warm Reception ran a fair race in the Secretariat Stakes against the boys last time and was two lengths clear of Ovation Star and three lengths clear of Kensal Green, so can confirm the form here. Ovation Star was disappointing in the Secretariat Stakes last time but before that ran a fine second in the Gr 3 TAB Starling Stakes over 1400m. Now back in an ordinary handicap against her own gender, she could make her presence felt from a fair draw. Kensal Green was behind Warm Reception and Ovation Star in the Secretariat , but on previous form is not out of it here. A Bit Of Class has plenty of class, but will likely need this, although she could still make her presence felt from a good draw. Warning Sound is capable of earning here.

 

In the eighth race over 1450m Winds Of Grace is a fair sort and back against her own gender has a big chance over a suitable trip from a good draw. Lady Elliot is a fair sort if things go her way and from pole position she has a shout. Wise Counsel beat Winds Of Grace in the maidens over course and distance by 2,60 lengths last July and if weight for age improvement is taken into account she should not be at a weight disadvantage on paper and this is also her third run after a layoff, so she is an interesting runner, although she does have a wide draw.

 

In the first race Periodic Table will be hard to beat having made an eye-catching debut and then being beaten at odds of 5/10 in a small field second time out in a workriders race.

 

In the second over 1200m Artifact comes out well on collateral formlines and is well drawn, so could represent fair value because at time of writing she is quoted at odds of 6/1 by Hollywoodbets.

Race 1

PERIODIC TABLE and NIGHTSHINE will be winning sooner rather than later after finishing 2nd in both their starts. The former was close-up over 1000m last time and that recent race fitness should give him the edge over the 2yo latter who returns from a layoff. TIME HONORED has the form and experience to trouble the principals but less scope for improvement. ALL ON RED, returning SURREAL SONG and newcomer MADSUMMER complete the shortlist. (Brendan Gaillard 5-9-2-4)

 

Race 2

BRIGITTE ANNE sets the standard on the strength and consistency of her form. However, she’s carded to run at an earlier meeting in KZN so her participation isn’t guaranteed. MISS RIVER DANCER finished an improved 4th over this trip last time and will have a role to play if building on that improvement in first-time blinkers. DESTINY’S DREAM and ARTIFACT have a bit to find on the form of that race but could get into the picture. The latter was particularly unlucky on that occasion and from a good draw should make her presence felt. STAR MAGNOLIA and newcomer KNOCKIN’ BOOTS are also respected. (Brendan Gaillard 2-3-5-10)

 

Race 3

WINDING POWER has finished 2nd in both starts with this headgear so wouldn’t be winning out of turn. He is favourably positioned in gate 3 and his rider’s 2.5kg claim could make the difference. MASTER BUDDY and ROYALE JACKET are worse off at the weights but closely matched with that rival so should have a role to play. Returning KNOWMORE has shown enough to be competitive and is open to improvement returning from a layoff. Well-bred newcomer CLAIRWOOD BREEZE was a costly purchase and is worth a market check on debut – respect any betting support. (Brendan Gaillard 4-2-3-1)

 

Race 4

FLYING WORLD improved to finish 2nd over this trip last time and could go one better if building on that improvement in her peak outing. GIMMESUMLUV had legitimate excuses in her latest start but can pose a threat if bouncing back to earlier form. DEVIOUS LOOKS has scope to improve stretching out to this distance so must be respected. Youngster TREX ON FIRE fits a similar profile and will be wiser to the task after an encouraging debut 4th. Highveld newcomer LATE BLOOMER is bred to appreciate this step up in trip and her rider’s 2.5kg claim also helps. (Brendan Gaillard 4-2-8-1)

 

Race 5

Cases can be made for most but it could pay to side with OPEN HIGHWAY in his first go at 2000m. He was a staying-on 3rd last time over 1800m in a similar contest won by re-opposing KUDZU but is drawn better than his last-start conqueror and 1.5kg better off. IDEAL SUMMER is closely matched on that form but drawn wide too. THE PLAYBOY BOMBER and JORDAN are unbeaten over the track and trip. Both have the form to be competitive from favourable starting berths. ROYAL EDITION and ROBERT BROWNING are others with genuine eachway chances. (Brendan Gaillard 3-6-9-12)

 

Race 6

UNSOLVED RIDDLE hasn’t been beaten far in recent starts off his current mark and did win his only course-and-distance appearance. He should run well at long odds. OKLAHOMA SMOKESHOW is proven at this level and likely to feature prominently from an inside gate. Recent maiden winner QUEVANO has improved as a gelding and will be competitive on handicap debut with further progress expected off what could be a lenient opening mark. Lightly raced MAJOR ARCANA fits a similar profile and his rider’s 1.5kg allowance makes him dangerous to ignore. SPACE MISSION and stablemate UBERMENSCH have claims too. (Brendan Gaillard 3-2-6-4)

 

Race 7

Class-dropper WARM RECEPTION finished ahead of OVATION STAR and KENSAL GREEN last time so will likely pose the biggest threat. A BIT OF CLASS, WARNING SOUND and CAPE SAFFRON also have earning potential. (Brendan Gaillard 2-1-4-3)

 

Race 8

WINDS OF GRACE is finding it hard to win but deserves a reward for her consistency. The switch back to same-sex company off an unchanged mark under a 1.5kg claimer looks a shrewd move. Class-droppers WISE COUNSEL, FISH HAWK and REFLECTIVE have the means to be competitive but they are drawn wide, so a bigger threat will likely come from LADY ELLIOT and DELAWARE RIVER who have recent course-and-distance form. Last-start maiden winner ONCEINABLUEMOON can also get into the picture. (Brendan Gaillard 8-7-4-1)

Soccer10 Friday, 5 June 2026. ADD-IN: R200 000. Estimated Pool: R1 Million. Pool Closes at 19h00. Sport 16 Pool 1

Soccer10 Saturday, 6 June 2026. ADD-IN: R200 000. Estimated Pool: R1.8 Million. Pool Closes at 15h00. Sport 17 Pool 1

Soccer Any 13Xtra Saturday 6 June 2026. Carryover R100 000. Estimated Pool: R200 000. Pool Closes at 15h00. Sport 13 and Pool 1.

Soccer13 GUARANTEED JACKPOT Saturday 6 June 2026. R17.5 Million (If only One 13 of 13 Winner). Pool Closes at 15h30. Sport 10 Pool 1.

Hollywoodbets Greyville Saturday 6 June 2026.Net Pick 6 Carryover R500 000. Estimated Pool: R3 Million. Race 4 off at 15h25.

Please Note: South African Quartet Pools with fractional betting offered at Nottingham (UK) Ripon (UK) and Curragh (IRE) – 03 June 2026