Please note: South African Quartet Pools with fractional betting offered at Chester and Chelmsford City (UK) – 8 May 2025

Andrew Harrison

The new poly surface at Hollywoodbets Greyville was under scrutiny yesterday but by all accounts passed with flying colours.  After winning the first race run on the new surface, apprentice Mxolisi Mbuto commented that he was sat in behind runners and there was very little kick-back which was music to the ears of jockeys that had suffered the kick-back of the former aging surface, year’s past it’s sell-by date. 

Looking to be one of the better bets on the programme in the card opener, the Mathew and Mike de Kock-trained Cherry Oh Baby touched 1-5 in the market but took an ominous drift in the betting just prior to the start with plenty of 11-10 available as some money came for long-time battler Longstreet.

Halfway up the straight, Longstreet supporters looked to have done their money as Andrew Fortune appeared to be sitting with a handful on the favourite.

However, apprentice Mbuto extricated Longstreet from behind horses and produced a telling late run up the outside of the field. Cherry Oh Baby rallied to Fortune’s urgings but Longstreet had the momentum and an 8kg weight advantage, getting home by a short head.

Given the market drift and Fortune’s ride, the stipendiary stewards have opened an inquiry.  

When Cape Town trainers are in town for Champion Season it always pays to take note and include their horses in any plays. Glen Kotzen’s charge Master Bomber pulled the widest gate in the second but Chad Little had no hesitation as Master Bomber pinged the gate and was in front shortly after the start. He appeared to be a keen in the early exchanges with first time blinkers but once settled he had an easy lead.

Little got him to kick early in the straight and he pinched a winning break. Silver Platter was closing but was confined to the second box for the fourth time in succession. He is a horse with a huge, loping stride and a mile-and-a-half may be more to his liking.

Woza Nawe built on her comeback run behind One Smart Cookie to land the odds in the third. The judges were faced by a wall of horses approaching the final furlong but Sean Veale got his filly to kick out of the pack and hold off Faizah, this pair pulling clear. Green Valkyrie refused to jump.

The Middle Stakes over 2000m produced a thrilling finish with a short head separating the winner Trois Trois Quatre and Blackberry Malt with third placed Afropolitan a well beaten third. Crossing the subway the pair slowly pulled clear of the pack and they joined battle about a furlong out. Blackberry Malt was game in defeat with Cole Dicken hard at work but it was back-to-back wins for Hollywood Racing’s retained rider Sean Veale and Hollywood Racing after Woza Nawe.

It was three on the bounce for Hollywood Racing as Eventidor came with a telling late run to win the D Stakes over 1600m for trainer ‘Bo’ Ngcobo. It was not all easy going for the young apprentice Jacey Botes as he took the scenic route around the 1400 m mark and was in danger of running off the course. However, he managed to get it all under control and set off up the outside of the field, giving Eventidor a clear run at the line. The gelding responded with a sustained finish to win rather comfortably. Young Botes was brutally honest post-race, “I thought I had stuffed it up.” But if he ever gives up race-riding he can always get a job in a bakery as he ‘stirred’ up his mount using his reins rather than the stick.

 Front running tactics on the new poly surface paid dividends yesterday as Calvin Habib followed the script taking the Wendy Whitehead-trained Sundance Kid into an early lead, kicking for home at the top of the straight and holding on to his advantage. It was a close-run thing as Muzi Yeni drove hard on Bristol Hercules up the inside fence but Sundance Kid had just enough left to hold on by a diminishing head in the sixth.

Mxolisi Mbuto is not your usual apprentice being a lot older than the usual SAJA intake. From serving tables in a restaurant to riding winners on a big stage has been a dream as he rode his second winner of the afternoon on the Darryl Moore-trained Quentasia. Sitting in just off the pace, Quentasia made use of her light weight and a balanced ride to scythe through her field to win comfortably.

Avernian Goddess has been costly to follow but she got it all together in the eighth as she got a dream run. The field bunched up the inside rail but stable rider to the Dean Kannemeyer yard picked a gap and his filly responded with a fine turn of foot to win well. With this confidence booster under her girth she can go on to win a few more. Not so lucky was stable companion Getoffofmycloud, who was the chief sufferer in the inside bunching, and is definitely a horse to follow.

Probably fitting with Hollywood having provided the means to revamp the poly track, Ibutho rounded off a fine day for Hollywood Racing with their fourth winner of the afternoon. In another close call, Alyson Wright’s veteran edged home ahead of Masterbling with Calvin Habib on the right end of another desperate finish.

RACE 1

(4) GULF OF AMERICA made a smart debut and is expected to go one better with Piere Striker Strydom aboard, she will relish the 1450m trip. (7) JAPANESE GARDEN wasn’t far on debut and is expected to get much closer. (2) BOLD ACTION has experience on her side and cannot be ruled out. (1) BACK FROM WAR Is another who is never far back and can make her presence felt. (Devonne Govender 4-7-2-1)

RACE 2

(1) CHRONICLE KING ran extremely well on debut and is the one to beat here. (8) SCARLETT HEART is making steady progress and will be in the firing line. (5) REDLIGHTGREENLIGHT is well bred and a close eye must be kept on the market, if he receives any betting support he should be taken seriously. (9) WINGS OF ICE Is capable of better and that last run is best ignored. (Devonne Govender 1-8-5-9)

RACE 3

(7) EIGHT HATS has made solid progress in her last start and will take some beating here. (10) RACHEL WALL comes from a yard who do very well with unraced runners and must be respected. (2) GENOVEFA is never far back and can make progress with experience on her side. (6) RENDEVOUS IN RIO returns after a long break, she is extremely well bred and a close eye must be kept on the market for any support. She comes from a yard who know how to get them ready and must be taken seriously. (Devonne Govender 7-10-2-6)

RACE 4

(9) ETHICAL has made good progress in her last start and will be a major contender with 56kgs on her back, firm first selection. (1) ART NOUVEAU is always consistent and another honest run is expected. (6) EXPLOSIVE GIFT was fancied on debut, she was given a break and wasn’t far back on her return, there should be more to come from her as she may have needed the last run. (8) REFLECTIVE wasn’t beaten far on debut and will get much closer. (Devonne Govender 9-1-6-8)

RACE 5

(9) CLAW ran well in the last start despite the fact that he needed the run. He will have a big say here. (8) KUDZU is very capable and should be respected. (1) LA MOOHAL is capable of much better and that last run is best ignored. (13) JORDAN has always shown ability and it would be no surprise to see him run a big race. (Devonne Govender 9-8-1-13)

RACE 6

Open race. (9) NORTHERN KITTEN is never far back and is capable of winning here. She does have a wide draw but gets on well with Jason Gates and should be respected. (5) CALL ME MASTER is a very honest type, he has been racing well and will have a big chance with Gavin Lerena up. (4) SAIL THE SKY won easily in his last start and must go in again. (2) CALIDA returns after a break but is better than that last run so should be thrown in. (Devonne Govender 9-5-4-2)

RACE 7

(12) PLUS FOUR won impressively in the province and will be the firm first choice in an open looking contest. Although returning from a slight break he will be a big factor. (9) PRESSONREGARDLESS is holding consistent form and another huge run is expected. (2) NIGHT BOMBER is always in the mix, he is another who is holding form and will be in the firing line. (11) DECEPTION PASS is very capable on his day and ran well in the last start, deserves huge respect here. (Devonne Govender 12-9-2-11).

RACE 8

(5) GREGARIOUS ran well enough in the last start and she looks to have plenty more to come hence she will be the first selection. (2) QUANTUM ran extremely well behind Princess Ilaria and warrants respect here. (1) WARNING SOUND has scope to go well in this field, although returning from a break she must be respected. (9) GHOSTBUSTER wasn’t beaten far in the last start and could make the quartets pay. (Devonne Govender 5-2-1-9)

RACE 9

(2) SATYAGRAHA was an impressive maiden winner and looks to have plenty scope to progress further hence she is the top choice. (8) CARS BIG AS BARS disappointed in the last start but will bounce back so must be respected. (1) WILLOW EXPRESS is a very honest type and is capable on his day so needs to be respected. (4) KING OF NUMBERS won well in the last start and can be included in larger perms. (Devonne Govender 2-8-1-4)

Durban – Following the acquisition of Gold Circle (Pty) Ltd by Hollywood Racing Enterprises (Pty) Ltd (Hollywood), a shareholders meeting was held on 2 May 2025 at which the following Directors were appointed to the Board of Gold Circle:

Suren Rampersadh

Zandile Maseko

Morgan Shandu

Greg Bortz

Sadha Naidoo

Subsequently, at a meeting of Directors held on 7 May 2025, Mr Sadha Naidoo was appointed Chairman of Gold Circle, an office that he will hold until the conclusion of the Champions Season on 31 July 2025.

The Board requested Mr Naidoo to accept this position in recognition of the part that he has played throughout the transition.

At the same meeting, Mr Greg Bortz was appointed as the Chairman Designate, to take office on 1 August 2025. 

David Thiselton

The most interesting entry in the Hollywoodbets Durban July was the imported former Aidan O’Brien-trained Galileo colt, The Equator, but the Tony Peter yard are not sure whether they can get him ready in time for the big race.

Paul Peter said, “The quarantine was longer than we expected. He’s doing very well, but I’m not sure Tony will have him ready in time. He’s going to need two runs to qualify, but he is a big burly horse and this bloke can eat. He just wants to eat and he eats and gets big and chunky so quickly. So Tony doesn’t want to push him and damage him. But he is going to try and have him ready. He has an excellent temperament, you would never think he’s a colt, and he’s doing whatever we ask of him. We didn’t know anything about him, so we’re just learning every day. He’s a nice sound horse and we had to nominate him in case he gets there quicker than we think.”

Paul went over to a Tattersalls Sale with Willem Ackerman and Advocate Nigel Riley of Heversham Park stud last October and bought the Galileo colt for 55,000 Gns. His value increased significantly a month later when his three-parts sister by Frankel, Lake Victoria, won the Gr 1 Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf.

Lake Victoria started 9/4 for the 1000 Guineas on Saturday and finished a 2,50 length sixth.

The Equator himself has only won one race in six starts but has two seconds to his name and has performed well against some good opposition. He seems to need plenty of ground, despite being out of the European champion three-year-old sprinter Quiet Reflection (Showcasing), who won two Gr 1s.

The South African handicappers accorded The Equator a merit rating of 109, which will mean, as Paul Peter said, to do well in his next two races to qualify for the July.

Meanwhile, the yard were pleased with VJ’s Angel’s 2,35 length eighth in the Gr 2 WSB Fillies Guineas at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday.

Paul said, “She had a nice run. She came a little bit wide, but she stopped the antics. She didn’t really get left and she tried right to the line, so we were happy with the run.”

The Gr 1 Ridgemont Garden Province Stakes is on the agenda for VJ’s Angel, who won the Gr 1 Douglas Whyte Thekwini Stakes last season over the same course and distance.

VJ’s Angel was part of an intended sales package together with crack sprinter Golden Sickle. However, a price could not be agreed upon with her, although Golden Sickle was sold so is no longer in the yard.

Stable star Main Defender was scratched from the Gr 2 IOS Drill Hall Stakes only due to the wide draw he had landed.

He runs on Sunday in a Pinnacle Stakes event at Turffontein in preparation for the Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge, where he will hopefully crack a decent draw.

Pistol Pete is a possibility for the Gr 2 Golden Horse Sprint, but they will be avoiding that race with Buffalo Storm Cody, because they believe the latter is best around the turn. They said they might look at races around the turn for Buffalo Storm Cody like the Gr 2 Post Merchants and Gr 1 Mercury Sprint.