Andrew Harrison

South Africa’s Champion Season starts officially at Hollywoodbets Greyville today with the running of the Gr2 IOS Drill Hall Stakes and the Gr2 WSB Guineas and WSB Fillies Guineas. The day also marks the march towards the Gr1 Hollywoodbets Durban July with trainers plotting their way into Africa’s greatest horserace with their lowest possible weight.

The WSB Guineas could best be described as a north vs south contest with a supporting cast. Eight On Eighteen, winner of the Gr1 Cape Met and the Gr1 Cape Derby with close-up finishes to One Stripe over a mile is the ‘boom’ horse and likely favourite. 

However, Fire Attack ran a cracker to win the Gr1 Champions Cup beating former Cup and Gr1 Betway Summer Cup winner Royal Victory. Both appear best over 10 furlongs so this is not a nailed-down contest that could leave the way for Sean Tarry’s runner Cosmic Speed who went down narrowly to champion Main Defender in the Gr2 Hawaii Stakes and is more than at home over this trip. 

Peter Muscutt took out the lightly raced Isivivane from his intended race last week and although way out of contention on handicap ratings, he could be the surprise in the race. 

Mike and Mathew de Kock could hold the key to the Gr2 WSB Fillies Guineas field with their combination of Oxalis Gold and Spumante Dolce. The former put a useful field of males to bed in the Gr3 Byerly Turk at Hollywoodbets Scottsville at her last start beating the high-class Cats Pajamas with third-placed O’Tenikwa franking that form last Sunday. 

Spumante Dolce has a big reputation and with a tongue-tie fitted last time out, showed her better form in the Gr1 Empress Club behind Cape Fillies Guineas winner Fatal Flaw. Mon Petit Cherie boasts smart Cape form for Brett and James Crawford and has a favourable draw while Give Me Anything  has pulled the widest gate as she goes for five on the bounce. A wide draw has been the downfall of many a champion on this course but Dean Kannemeyer likes his horses to come on late so maybe the draw may not be too much of a factor. Green Sapphire and VJ’S Angel are both in with chances. 

With the July just two months away – this year on Saturday 5 July – it is always intriguing to watch how trainers navigate the pitfalls for their charges but it is also an opportunity for punters to try and second-guess them and possibly land a lucrative ante-post bet on the race which always adds to heightened excitement on the big day.

That said, the Gr2 IOS Drill Hall Stake promises to be a cracking contest as it has attracted one of the strongest fields in many a year. Many of the runners are having a pipe-opener for the Hollywoodbets Durban July but class always comes to the fore. 

Those that are seemingly best suited to the 1400m trip and not July entries are Café Culture, last season’s Gr2 Post Merchants winner, and Questioning both over their preferred trip. The two last met with Lucinda Woodruff’s charge a length clear of his rival and also a winner over the distance so that from looks solid. 

Last year’s winner Royal Aussie looks held by these two given his last showing but has had been trying further in his previous starts and may now be back over a more suitable trip.

Stuart Ferrie is sure that the 2200m of the July is within Gladatorian’s compass although never being tested over the trip. Recently he has been giving away lumps of weight and although he takes a jump in class he is fully effective over this trip. 

Piet Botha’s gelding Montien is hardly ever out of the money and was a close-up third in the Gr1 Cape Met at lengthy odds. He is no slouch over this trip while Dean Kannemeyer’s charge The Real Prince is lightly raced but classy although he has a tricky draw to navigate along with Cousin Casey who has the widest gate.

RACE 1

5 HURRICANE CAT   2 HOLDS THE KEY   9 NO FILTER   6 DONQUERARI

Summary: Won and lost at the start. HURRICANE CAT (5) is quick and if her apprentice can get her out in terms she should go close with her light weight. HOLDS THE KEY (2) gets first time blinkers and looks the Miller stable elect. NO FILTER (9) is way better than her last effort in the Gr1 Computaform Sprint and gets first time blinkers. DONQUERARI (6) is seldom far off them and can feature. (Andrew Harrison: 5-2-9-6).

RACE 2

2 INTENSITY   3 BOURNE SUMPREMACY   1 FREEDOM FIGHTER   8 BOURBON’S BEAST

Summary: All first timers barring INTENSITY (2) who started at long odds on debut. Richard Fourie rides. Watch the betting on the rest. (Andrew Harrison: 2-3-1-3).

RACE 3

2 DARK MATTER   1 ROYAL KAILANI   9 CARTEL QUEEN   11 KIM KAY

Summary: Wide open where betting could be your best guide. Of those that have run, DARK MATTER (2) made a promising debut against males and that form could prove a lot better than what it appears given I’m A Fireball’s subsequent disappointing effort in the soft. ROYAL KAILANI (1) raced green on debut and likely to improve from the best of the draw. CARTEL QUEEN (9) and first timer KIM KAY (11) could be worth following in the market. (Andrew Harrison: 2-1-9-11).

RACE 4

7 MOCHA BLEND   8 FATAL GEM   12 SHE’S A BOMBER   2 HAT’S QUEEN

Summary: Tricky. MOCHA BLEND (7) has a touch of class and won her last two with plenty in hand. The form after her last win could be a little suspect but she does look to be out of the top drawer. FATAL GEM (8) comes with solid Cape form and gets first-time blinkers. SHE’S A BOMBER (12) is progressive and although taking on strong opposition she can finish in the money. HAT’S QUEEN (2) stays the trip well and was game in the Gr2 Wilgerbosdrift Oaks last time out. This could be a warm-up for the Gr2 Woolavington 2000. MASCHERINA (1) is now 1.5kg better off with TOMYRIS (11) in their Scarlet Lady showing and with a better draw, Peter Muscutt’s filly can turn the tables. (Andrew Harrison: 7-8-12-2).

RACE 5

1 CAFÉ CULTURE   7 QUESTIONING   4 GLADATORIAN   8 MONTIEN

Summary: Cracking contest. Many are having a pipe-opener for the Hollywoodbets Durban July but it is a high class field. Those that are seemingly best suited to the 1400m trip are CAFÉ CULTURE (1) and QUESTIONING (7), both not entries for the July and over their preferred trip. The two last met with Lucinda Woodruff’s charge a length clear of his rival and also a winner over the distance. GLADATORIAN (4) has been giving away lumps of weight at recent starts and although he takes a jump in class he is fully effective over this trip. ROYAL AUSSIE (3) looks held by these two given his last showing but has had been trying further in his previous starts and may no be back over a better trip. MONTIEN (8) is hardly ever out of the money. A close-up third in the Cape Met, he is no slouch over this trip while THE REAL PRINCE (11) is lightly raced but classy. (Andrew Harrison: 1-7-4-8).

RACE 6

11 SPUMANTE DOLCE   2 MON PETIT CHERIE   14 GIVE ME EVERYTHING   7 OXALIS GOLD

Summary: Tremendous field. Mike and Mathew de Kock could hold the key to the Fillies Guineas with their combination of OXALIS GOLD (7) and SPUMANTE DOLCE (11). The former put a useful field of males to bed in the Byerly Turk at Hollywoodbets Scottsville at her last start. Cat’s Pajamas is a high-class winner and third-placed O’Tenikwa franked that form last Sunday. Spumante Dolce has a big reputation and with a tongue-tie fitted last time out, showed her better form in the Gr1 Empress Club behind Cape Fillies Guineas winner Fatal Flaw. MON PETIT CHERIE (2) boasts smart Cape form for Brett and James Crawford and has a favourable draw. GIVE ME EVERYTHING (14) has pulled the widest gate as she goes for five on the bounce. The draw has been the downfall of many a champion on this course but Dean Kannemeyer likes his horses to come on late so maybe the draw will not be too much of a factor. GREEN SAPPHIRE (12)  and VJ’S ANGEL (1) are both in with chances. (Andrew Harrison: 11-2-14-7).

RACE 7

3 COSMIC SPEED   5 EIGHT ON EIGHTEEN   4 FIRE ATTACK   7 ISIVIVANE

Summary: North vs South with a supporting cast could be the best way to describe this race. EIGHT ON EIGHTEEN (5) winner of the Gr1 Cape Met and the Gr1 Cape Derby with close-up finishes to One Stripe over a ‘mile’ is the ‘boom’ horse and likely favourite. However, FIRE ATTACK (4) ran a cracker to win the Gr1 Champions Cup beating Cup and Gr1 Betway Summer Cup winner Royal Victory. Both appear best over 10 furlongs so this is not a nailed-down contest. COSMIC SPEED (3) went down narrowly to champion Main Defender in the Hawaii Stakes and is more than at home over this trip. ISIVIVANE (7) was taken out of his intended race last week and although way out of contention on handicap ratings, he could be the surprise in the race. (Andrew Harrison: 3-5-4-7).

RACE 8

2 RODEO DRIVE   12 KHETHIWE’S DESTINY   11 LOCK AND KEY   3 THAT’S MY BABY

Summary:  RODEO DRIVE (2) comes with solid Highveld form and with the best of the draw she could be one of the better bets on the card. LOCK AND KEY (11) is a smart filly who showed up well first run back from a lengthy break but the draw is against her as is KHETHIWE’S DESTINY (12) who has her third run after break and should strip at her peak and can deny the draw. THAT’S MY BABY (3) is not take to her trip to the Cape and can make marked improvement. Keep an eye on the market here. (Andrew Harrison: 2-12-11-3).

RACE 9

13 RUN FOR COVER   7 FUTURENAIRE   4 SUPER FAST   10 BURNING MAN

Summary: RUN FOR COVER (13) will not have it easy from his wide draw but he does have Andrew Fortune in his favour.  FUTURENAIRE (7) made major improvement when shedding his maiden when fitted with a tongue-tie. He could be way under the handicappers radar. BURNING MAN (10) has been consistent sine joining his new yard but also has a deep draw to contend with. However he loves this distance. SUPER FAST (4) has a light weight and a much better draw this time around. (Andrew Harrison: 13-7-4-10).

Please note, all nine races at Saturday’s Newmarket (UK) meeting will be a WORLD POOL event and the Win, Place, Exacta, Quinella, Swinger and Trifecta bets will be commingled into the huge Hong Kong pools.

Customers are reminded that Hong Kong Place rules will apply: Less than 4 runners no PLACE betting; 4-6 declared runners payouts FIRST, SECOND; 7 to 20 declared runners payouts FIRST, SECOND, THIRD; 21 or more declared runners payouts FIRST, SECOND, THIRD, FOURTH.

The first race starts at 14:10.

Please note: Hollywoodbets Greyville Net Pick6 C/Over: R 500 000 – Estimated Pool: R 3 Million on Saturday, 3 May 2025 – Race 4 off at 13h25.

Please note: South African Quartet Pools with fractional betting offered at Newcastle and Newmarket (UK) – 2 May 2025.