Race 7 – 15:50

Soccer13 Thursday 17 July 2025. Carryover R2 592 148.
(All-13-Correct Pool) likely Jackpot R4 Million. Sport 20 Pool 1. Pool Closes at 18h30.

Graeme Hawkins

Sugar Mountain demolished his rivals in yesterday’s R165 000 Perfectly Placed A Stakes over 1500m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth . The only real surprise was that he drifted sharply in the betting as race time approached, touching 2/1 at one stage before settling at 18/10. The race itself beggars description. Always travelling well under Aldo Domeyer, some five lengths off the pace set by San Pedro, Sugar Mountain was already being hailed the winner 300m from the line as he moved through smoothly to win cosily by a wide margin.

Prometerre emerged from the pack to chase Sugar Mountain home, but he never got a blow in and was more than two lengths in arrears of Candice Bass-Robinson’s charge at the winning post. Sugar Mountain, a stable favourite, completed a hat-trick of “winter” victories and has now won 11 races from 36 starts for earnings of R1,1-million. The talented and evergreen 6yo son of Silvano was bred at Moutonshoek and his winning ways are far from done.

Better Man got punters off to a flying start when going start-to-finish in the opening event, a Maiden Juvenile Plate over 1600m. Ridden by Championship-seeking Gavin Lerena for the Vaughan Marshall stable, Better Man (2/1) found another gear inside the final 200m when challenged by Yamakazi (8/1) and New World (28/10) and drew clear to score comfortably by more than a length.

Stormwatch (77/100) was a warm order favourite for the second race, a Maiden Juvenile Plate (Fillies) over 1000m, and the 2yo daughter of Vercingetorix proved too strong for Call Of The Karoo (15/2). Call Of The Karoo matched strides with Stormwatch for 800m but when Richard Fourie got busy in the irons, Stormwatch responded well to land the odds by a widening margin. Trained by Eric Sands, Stormwatch is clearly progressive and worth following through the higher divisions.

On paper the third race, a Maiden Plate over 1000m, looked a match between African Memoir (2/1) and Nightrain (67/100) and so it turned out to be, with the pair forging well clear of the chasing pack. But try as he might, Nightrain failed to match the pace of African Memoir and the promising Andre Nel-trained 2yo son of Canford Cliffs came home 1,5 lengths ahead of Nightrain, with the newcomer Pomp It Up a distant third.

United Front was all the rage in the fourth race, a Maiden Plate over 1400m, but unfortunately the 2yo son of One World compounded badly in the stretch and finished at the tail of the field. Clearly something was seriously amiss as United Front had run second on debut behind Star Major in a stronger race. The Marshall stable scratched a number of runners from this meeting with a “nasal discharge” and perhaps United Front was harbouring a virus of some sort without showing outward symptoms. Sporting blinkers for the first time, Dricus (8/1) gave the Andre Nel/Corne Orffer partnership a quick race-to-race double as the 3yo gelded son of Vercingetorix plugged on gamely to ward off Sierra Sagrada (11/2) by half-a-length.

Fourie struck for a second time when steering the well supported Greg Ennion inmate Apricity (18/10) to a comfortable victory in the fifth race, a Maiden Plate (F&M) over 1400m, while apprentice Champion-elect, Brevan Plaatjies, was seen to good advantage when driving Escarpment (9/2) to a hard fought victory over Major Apollo (25/1) and Churchillian (28/10) in the sixth race, a Class 4 Handicap over 1000m. Escarpment had shown improvement last time over track and trip and the 4yo son of Canford Cliffs relished the heavy going to register his fourth career success.

Callan Murray flew into Cape Town to deputise for the indisposed Louis Mxothwa and he hit the board in the seventh race, a Middle Stakes (F&M) over 1200m. Sent off as the rank outsider of the six-horse party the James Crawford-trained Festival Chic (10/1) recovered smartly from interference approaching the final 200m and rallied strongly to get the verdict going away from I’m So Pritti and Miss World.

What A Fortune was a notable “draw strike” in the ninth race, a Class 4 Handicap over 1400m, and Aldo Domeyer made the best of it for trainer Candice Bass-Robinson, producing the 3yo son of What A Winter with a storming finish to gun down Happy Days and Boogiefied over the last 150 metres. Easy to back at 10/1 in the ante-post market, What A Fortune was not scoring out of turn and he should not retire a two-time winner.

Andrew Harrison

There look to be some good bets on the card for today’s meeting on the poly at Hollywoodbets Greyville starting in the first where Mike and Mathew de Kock saddle Gotta Go Eddie who has earned a cheque in all three starts and meets modest opposition. An unknown is raider Bingo who has some useful Highveld form. He has drawn well and the switch to the poly may suit. Vencedor has been dropping in the ratings and looks competitive while Sovereign Command has been disappointing but has a money chance. 

Glen Kotzen’s filly Act Of Grace takes on males in the second but has run well on the poly and should stay the trip from a good draw. The Green Mile is lightly raced and goes well this trip. He has drawn well on the poly and should be a big runner. Carnarvon is something of an unknown as he steps up in trip for the first time. He may be worth following in the betting while Gripen  is seldom far off and had a taste of the poly last run. 

In the first leg of the Pick 6 Quinn’s Time holds an entry for a Gr1 on Gold Cup day. He was a comfortable maiden winner when stepped up in trip and with only 52kg to shoulder he will be a contender. Lexican Point was much improved last run with the blinkers removed. He makes his poly debut for Frikkie Greyling. Duncan Howells finally got out of second box with El Rey Viene on Sunday and saddles Papa C who enjoyed the poly last run when caught late. The shorter trip can see him home. Eventidor has won his last two on the poly but is up a further three points in the handicap and that form has not held up well. 

In the fourth, Afropolitan could be one of the better bets on the card as Gareth van Zyl’s runner is showing signs of a form return. He has improved every run since his break and looks primed for this with a 4kg claimer aboard. Danger could be Moola Man who was not far back in his first start for his new stable. He steps up to a more suitable trip and championship leader Gavin Lerena stays with the ride. My Boy Lollipop found some market support first up on the poly. This shorter trip could suit. Blazing Light is a big horse with a light weight and was not far back on the poly last time out. 

The fifth is an open handicap but Whereverilaymyhat has been consistent of late and the switch to poly should bring out the best from his inside draw. Mask On has drawn at the other end of the barrier but has showed up well in his last two and has obviously taken a liking to the poly. Catavar  took an age to shed his maiden but was an eye-catching second over course and distance last time out and has a 4kg claimer aboard. Victor Rail may have found his last outing a touch far but has useful form this trip and the poly will suit. 

In the sixth, Twenty One May has been knocking at the door for some time now and was 2.5kg better off with Thisiswhatitmeans who was an easy winner on Sunday and scratched from this contest.

Biggest threat could now be Future Flo who seldom runs a bad race. He has only missed a cheque four times in 24 outings and those four were over ground. Blue Holly has been a touch disappointing since arriving in KZN but has a light weight from a good draw and can surprise. 

Wing Walker cruised home for Lucinda Woodruff when winning his maiden over course and distance. He meets much stronger in the seventh but can follow up. Fate Of Fortune is lightly raced but made a winning return after a lengthy break. He has a handy weight and can follow up. Master Bling is way better than his last run and has a more experienced rider aboard. Preemptive Strike is always dangerous and loves the poly.

In the last, Gimmethegoodlife is Tony Peter’s only runner on the day and his charge won well over the distance last start and he has done well on the poly. He should be a big contender. Super Fast was narrowly beaten over course and distance last run and has been in good form. He has a 4kg claimer aboard and should put in another good run. Hippocrates is always game and was touched off last run. He loves the poly. Ibhele is never far back but struggling for his second win. He has dropped further in the ratings and could now be competitive.

RACE 1

6 GOTTA GO EDDIE   2 BINGO   7 VENCEDOR   8 SOVEREIGN COMMAND

Summary: GOTTA GO EDDIE (6) has earned a cheque in all three starts and meets some modest opposition. BINGO (2) has some useful Highveld form. He has drawn well and the switch to the poly may suit. VENCEDOR (7) has been dropping in the ratings but looks competitive while SOVEREIGN COMMAND (8) has been disappointing but has a money chance. (Andrew Harrison: 6-2-7-8).

RACE 2

3 ACT OF GRACE   1 THE GREEN MILE   2 CARNARVON   9 GRIPEN

Summary: ACT OF GRACE (3) takes on males but has run well on the poly and should stay the trip from a good draw. THE GREEN MILE (1) is lightly raced and goes well this trip. Drawn well on the poly he should be a big runner. CARNARVON (2) is something of an unknown as he steps up in trip for the first time. He may be worth following in the betting. GRIPEN (9) is seldom far off and has a taste of the poly last run. (Andrew Harrison: 3-1-2-9).

RACE 3

3 QUINN’S TIME   6 LEXICAN POINT   8 PAPA C   1 EVENTIDOR

Summary: QUINN’S TIME (3) holds an entry for the Gr1 on Gold Cup day. He was a comfortable maiden winner when stepped up in trip and with only 52kg to shoulder he should be a contender. LEXICAN POINT (6) was much improved last run with the blinkers removed. He makes his poly debut. PAPA C (8) enjoyed the poly last run when caught late. The shorter trip can see him home. EVENTIDOR (1) has won his last two on the poly but is up a further three points in the handicap and that form has not held up well. (Andrew Harrison: 3-6-8-1).

RACE 4

3 AFROPOLITAN   4 MOOLA MAN   6 MY BOY LOLLIPOP   8 BLAZING LIGHT

Summary: AFROPOLITAN (3) is showing signs of a form return. He has improved every run since his break and looks primed for this with a 4kg claimer aboard. MOOLA MAN (4) was not far back in his first start for his new stable. He steps up to a more suitable trip and Gavin Lerena stays with the ride. MY BOY LOLLIPOP (6) found some market support first up on the poly. Tis shorter trip could suit. BLAZING LIGHT (8) is a big horse with a light weight and was not far back on the poly last time out. (Andrew Harrison: 3-4-6-8).

RACE 5

1 WHEREVERILAYMYHAT   8 MASK ON   5 VICTOR RAIL   2 CATAVAR

Summary: Open handicap. WHEREVERILAYMYHAT (1) has been consistent of late and the switch to poly could bring out the best from his inside draw. MASK ON (8) has drawn at the other end of the barrier but has showing up well in his last two and has obviously taken a liking to the poly. CATAVAR (2) took an age to shed his maiden but was an eye-catching second over course and distance last time out and has a 4kg claimer aboard. VICTOR RAIL (5) may have found his last outing a touch far but has useful form this trip and the poly will suit. (Andrew Harrison: 1-8-5-2).

RACE 6

7 TWENTY ONE MAY   6 THISISWHATITMEANS   1 FUTURE FLO   2 BLUE HOLLY

Summary: TWENTY ONE MAY (7) has been knocking at the door for some time now. He is now 2.5kg better of with THISISWHATITMEANS (6) and should be able to turn the tables back over his preferred trip. Thisiswhatitmeans has come well on the poly and a fourth win on the bounce is on the cards. FUTURE FLO (1) seldom runs a bad race and only missed a cheque four times in 24 outings and those four were over ground. BLUE HOLLY (2) has been a touch disappointing since arriving in KZN but has a light weight from a good draw and can surprise. (Andrew Harrison: 7-6-1-2).

RACE 7

1 WING WALKER   2 FATE OF FORTUNE   6 MASTERBLING   3 PREEMPTIVE STRIKE

Summary: WING WALKER (1) cruised home when winning his maiden over course and distance. He meets much stronger here but can follow up. FATE OF FORTUNE (2) is lightly raced but made a winning return after a lengthy break. He has a handy weight and can follow up. MASTERBLING (6) is way better than his last run and has a more experienced rider aboard. PREEMPTIVE STRIKE (3) is always dangerous. He loves the poly and is not out of it. (Andrew Harrison: 1-2-6-3).

RACE 8

2 GIMMETHEGOODLIFE   5 SUPER FAST   6 HIPPOCRATES   9 IBHELE

Summary: GIMMETHEGOODLIFE (2) won well over the distance last start and he has done well on the poly. He should be a big contender. SUPER FAST (5) was narrowly beaten over curse and distance last run and has been in good form. He has a 4kg claimer aboard and should put in another good run. HIPPOCRATES (6) is always game and was touched off last run. He loves the poly. IBHELE (9) is never far back but struggling for his second win. He has dropped further in the ratings and could now be competitive. (Andrew Harrison: 2-5-6-9).