RACE 1

2 CHERRYBLOSSOMPINK    4 ANUSHKA    13 QUERARISTINYFERARI    7 ROYAL CREST

Summary: A number of first timers but many with experience. Of those that have run, CHERRYBLOSSOMPINK (2) found some market support on debut and was staying on behind Japura beaten a neck. The extra furlong and the benefit of experience could see her go one better. ANUSHKA (4) was a length behind on that occasion and has finished third in both starts. She can make further improvement with Gavin Lerena aboard. QUERARISTINYFERARI (13) was well fancied las time out and improved nicely. Craig Zackey replaced Keagan de Melo who has opted for Cherryblossompink. ROYAL CREST (7) made good improvement second time out behind stable companion and short-priced favourite Global Trend. (Andrew Harrison: 2-4-13-7).

RACE 2

3 PEACH MELBA   4 SIYABAMELELA   8 LUTHANDO   9 TIPPERARY

Summary: PEACH MELBA (3) comes from a very much in form stable. She has improved with each outing and looks primed for this race. SIYABAMELELA (4) was nearly two lengths behind Peach Melba when last they met but is a lightly raced four-year-old who is slowly coming to hand. WARRIOR ROSE (5) is another lightly raced four-year-old who obviously has issues as she has only had two starts months apart. She returns from another break so one can assume that she is close to her best. LUTHANDO (8) has put in two promising efforts to date and can show further improvement. TIPPERARY (9) is a long-time battler but has improved in this stable and has Fourie up. (Andrew Harrison: 3-4-8-9).

RACE 3

9 FLEUR DE LING   1 HIGHVELD STORM   3 SNOW QUEEN   4 BRIGHTSUNNYDAY

Summary: FLEUR DE LING (9) made a pleasing course and distance debut and regular rider Rachel Venniker is in mustard form of late and they look the part. HIGHVELD STORM (1) showed up well first time back from a lengthy break and first time blinkers. He gets a claiming apprentice aboard and should feature. SNOW QUEEN (3) didn’t feature first run on the poly. She is back on turf in her peak run. BRIGHTSUNNYDAY (4) made sudden improvement at long odds last time out. A repeat effort could see her into the money again. (Andrew Harrison: 9-1-3-4).

RACE 4

5 QUERARI ROSE   11 PAST IS PROLOGUE   2 BLUE HORIZON   3 SNEEUWITJIE

Summary: Tough start to the Pick 6 with many in with chances. QUERARI ROSE (5) is lightly raced and needed her last run. She drops in class with a big weight but has a 4kg claimer aboard. At best she should at least go close. PAST IS PROLOGUE (11) was a recent maiden winner at only her third start and her second after a long break. She does appear to be capable of further improvement. BLUE HORIZON (2) has been dropping in the handicap and may now be off a more competitive mark. SNEEUWITJIE (3) is always difficult to catch ‘right’ but did show improvement last run with the blinkers removed. GORGEOUS GIRL (9) surprised at long odds last start but has shown recent improvement. Richard Fourie takes the ride. (Andrew Harrison: 5-11-2-3-9).

RACE 5

11 GO GRAYSON GO   8 PLUM PUDDING   7 ACTOR   9 BRUH

Summary: Wide open handicap. GO GRAYSON GO (11) tried to make all over course and distance last time out and made the smart King Pelles work for victory. He shoulders top weight but a repeat effort can see him go one better. PLUM PUDDING (8) is hardly ever out of the money she was a winner last time out and has won on this course. ACTOR (7) and FRENCH TRIP (2) meet at level weights again. Garth Puller’s runner gets Richard Fourie up who could turn the tables on his apprentice rival. Actor is long overdue. BRUH (9) has always been well thought of by the stable and showed up well first run back from a recent break. (Andrew Harrison: 11-8-7-9-2).

RACE 6

9 MASTER DU ROUVRAY    2 NEXT OF KIN   7 MISTER NIBBLES   3 JAZZ FESTIVAL

Summary: Tough handicap. Mark Dixon has two lively runners in MASTER DU ROUVRAY (9) and JAZZ FESTIVAL (3). Both have chances but the former looks the more likely. He has done little wrong since his maiden win and is back over what looks to be his optimum trip. NEXT OF KIN (2) would appear to be the pick of Mike and Mathew de Kock’s two runners judged on jockey bookings. The gelding has been a little disappointing since his maiden win where he should plenty of promise. MISTER NIBBLES (7) has been knocking at the door and Richard Fourie replaces the apprentice in the saddle. (Andrew Harrison: 9-2-7-3).

RACE 7

4 JP’S PALACE   6 IMPOSING   8 FIELD MARSHAL   6 KING PELLES

Summary: Weight could be the most telling factor in a high class contest. There are a number of big guns warming up for Champions Season and could consequently leave the way clear for current lessor lights like JP’S PALACE (4) Darryl Moore’s gelding is hardly ever out of the money but faces an acid test. His current form is hard to fault but he does ride in class. However, he takes a corresponding drop in the weights and with joint bottom weight over a suitable trip he will be a factor. KING PELLES (6) was hard-pressed to win over a more suitable trip last time out but Gareth van Zyl was wary of pressing his champion stayer too hard before the season and stable companion IMPOSING (5) could be the better option although he is 3kg worse of with JP’S Palace on their last meeting. Nathan Kotzen saddles three top class runners, best of which could be FIELD MARSHAL (8) who appears to be most at home over this trip. (Andrew Harrison: 4-5-8-6).

RACE 8

5 CALL ME JANE   2 VISION TO ACHIEVE   7 MYSTIC DANCER   4 MILLION VOICES

Summary: Wide open handicap. VISION TO ACHIEVE (2) is overdue another win and was only run out of it late over course and distance last time out. She meets many of the same rivals and there should be very little separating them all. However, she meets CALL ME JANE (5) on 1.5kg worse terms with Rachel Venniker being replaced by Gavin Lerena. Call Me Jane was running on well from an outside gate before finishing up the inside. MYSTIC DANCER (7) has smart recent poly form but has run well on the turf. She has yet to finish out of the money in six starts. MILLION VOICES (4) improved on the poly last run with the blinkers removed and she can feature on her best effort. (Andrew Harrison: 5-2-7-4).

RACE 9

2 MAJOR TOMMY   10 SERENGETTI SUN   3 CITY OF LOVE   8 CIRCUMBENDIBUS

  Summary: MAJOR TOMMIE (2) is back over his best trip. He has only once been out of the money and he should put in another good shift. SERENGETTI SUN (10) is a promising filly and made a cracking comeback after a lengthy break last time out. This trip will suit and she should feature prominently. CITY OF LOVE (3) won well over course and distance last run. He took a hefty six-point rise in the handicap but still looks progressive and carries bottom weight. CIRCUMBENDIBUS (8) meets City Of Love on much better weight terms with his 4kg claimer aboard and can turn the tables.  (Andrew Harrison: 2-10-3-8).

RACE 10

11 NIGHT TIGER   2 ARVERNI PRINCESS   6 IN THE BAG   8 CAPPELLINO

Summary: NIGHT TIGER (11) started favourite last time out but something went amiss and he was not persevered with. He had promising form prior to that and can make amends. IN THE BAG (6) must surely have a change of fortune soon having finished runner-up in four of his last five starts. ARVERNI PRINCESS (2) contested a highveld feature last run and was not far back considering the quality of the opposition. Her previous form was solid and she gets 2.5kg relief from the saddle. CAPPELLINO (8) comes from a much in-form stable but there are a few in here that could have her number. (Andrew Harrison: 11-2-6-8)

Andrew Harrison

Weight could be the most telling factor in the Kings Cup (Listed) that heads the card at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Sunday. It is a high class contest over 1600m with a number of big guns warming up for Champions Season and could consequently leave the way clear for current lessor lights like JP’s Palace. Darryl Moore’s gelding is hardly ever out of the money but faces an acid test in this company. His current form is hard to fault but he does rise in class. However, he takes a corresponding drop in the weights and with joint bottom weight over a suitable trip he should be a factor.

King Pelles was the star of last Champions Season staying race but he was hard-pressed to win over a more suitable trip than this race last time out. But Gareth van Zyl is wary of pressing his champion stayer too hard before the season starts and this may just be an outing to keep him ticking over. A better option may be stable companion Imposing who, although 3kg worse off with JP’S Palace on their last meeting, seldom puts in a below par performance. Nathan Kotzen saddles three top class runners who also appear to be warming up for the season. Best of them could be Field Marshal who appears to be most at home over this trip but Madison Valley can be forgiven his disappointing Betway Summer Cup run and is no slouch over these shorter trips.

It is a ten-race programme and punters form skills will be tested to the full with no obvious exotic bet bankers.

If all still well going into the ninth race and final leg of the Pick 6 and PA, Major Tommie could bring home the cash. Garth Puller has him back over what does appear to be his best trip and he has only once been out of the money. He should put in another good shift but faces a promising filly in Serengeti Sun who made a cracking comeback after a lengthy break last time out. This trip will suit and she should feature prominently. The grey City Of Love won well over course and distance last run and he took a hefty six-point rise in the handicap but still looks progressive and carries bottom weight. Circumbendibus meets City Of Love on much better weight terms with his 4kg claimer aboard and can turn the tables.

The fifth is a Middle Stakes over 1950m. Go Grayson Go tried to make all over course and distance last time out and made the smart King Pelles work for victory. He shoulders top weight but a repeat effort can see him go one better. Plum Pudding is hardly ever out of the money and was a winner last time out and has won on this course. Actor and French Trip meet at level weights again but Garth Puller’s runner gets Richard Fourie up who could turn the tables on his apprentice rival. Actor is long overdue. Bruh has always been well thought of by Paul Lafferty and showed up well first run back from a recent break.

In the first leg of the Bi-Pot Peach Melba comes from a very much in form stable and has improved with each outing. She looks primed for this race and a possible Bi-pot banker.

In the opening leg of the PA Fleur De Ling made a pleasing course and distance debut and regular rider Rachel Venniker is in mustard form of late and they look the part. Danger could be Highveld Storm who showed up well first time back from a lengthy break and first time blinkers. He gets a claiming apprentice aboard and should feature.

It is a tough start to the Pick 6 with many in with chances. Querari Rose is lightly raced and needed her last run. She drops in class with a big weight but has a 4kg claimer aboard. At best she should at least go close. Past Is Prologue was a recent maiden winner at only her third start and her second after a long break. She does appear to be capable of further improvement. Blue Horizon has been dropping in the handicap and may now be off a more competitive mark and could be a threat. Sneewitjie is always difficult to catch ‘right’ but did show improvement last run with the blinkers removed while Gorgeous Girl  surprised at long odds last start but has shown recent improvement. Richard Fourie takes the ride.

The sixth is another competitive handicap. Mark Dixon has two lively runners in Master De Rouvray and Jazz Festival. Both have chances but the former looks the more likely. He has done little wrong since his maiden win and is back over what looks to be his optimum trip. Next Of Kin would appear to be the pick of Mike and Mathew de Kock’s two runners judged on jockey bookings. The gelding has been a little disappointing since his maiden win where he showed plenty of promise. Mister Nibbles has been knocking at the door and Fourie replaces the apprentice in the saddle.

The eighth is another wide open handicap. Vision To Achieve is overdue another win and was only run out of it late over course and distance last time out. She meets many of the same rivals and there should be very little separating them all. However, she meets Call Me Jane on 1.5kg worse terms with Rachel Venniker being replaced by Gavin Lerena. Call Me Jane was running on well from an outside gate before finishing up the inside. Mystic Dancer has smart recent poly form but has run well on the turf. She has yet to finish out of the money in six starts. Million Voices improved on the poly last run with the blinkers removed and she can feature on her best effort.

Soccer4 Sunday 15 March 2026. ADD-IN R25 000. Estimated Pool: R 100 000. Pool Closes at 15h30. Sport 17 Pool 1.

Soccer6 Sunday 15 March 2026. ADD-IN R100 000. Estimated Pool: R 500 000. Pool Closes at 15h00. Sport 3 Pool 1.

• SPLITTHEEIGHTS: 109 to 116
• ONE EYE ON VEGAS: 106 to 115
• RADIO STAR: 95 to 107

• SCARLETT HEART (third): 91 to 108
• DAISY JONES (fourth): 106 to 108

David Thiselton

The Hollywoodbets Durban July conditions have been finalised and the final field panellists might be in for an interesting evening before the Final Field And Barrier Draw Ceremony, whilst the three-year-olds look to be on the back foot at present.

There will be a longer handicap this year with a 10kg spread in the weights from a topweight of 62kg down to a bottom weight of 52kg.

Furthermore, it will just be a straight handicap, unlike recent July conditions in which there was a maximum and minimum weight for certain age groups and genders.

If the final field happens to have a spread that is less than 10kg, the topweight will still be 62kg. If, for example, there is a weight spread of 7kg among the entries, then the bottom weight will be 55kg.

If the topweights are scratched after the setting of the weights, then the new topweight will be dragged up to 62kg. For example if the topweight after scratchings is 60,5kg, it will be dragged up to 62kg and after the rest of the field have been dragged up the bottom weight will become 53,5kg.

The final field will not necessarily be chosen by merit rating order.

Justin Vermaak, Executive Racing and Bloodstock of Race Coast, said, “There will be a final field selection panel like before and merit rating will be a leading aspect, but the panel will also take current form and distance suitability into account etc.”

In recent years the final field panellists have not had it too tough as the field was cut up before the final field announcement, with a lot of horses being scratched due to the recognition by the connections they do not have much chance, either due to the weights not favouring them or due to them being off form – the final declaration fee could have, in those cases, been considered a waste of money.

However, with the longer handicap, there are going to be more horses who still have form chances on paper.

Looking at last year’s July for example, third-placed Selukwe was rated 111 and had to carry 54kg due to the condition that the minimum weight for an older male was 54kg. He was thus 2kg under sufferance with the 127-rated topweights, both older horses, and he was 4kg under sufferance with the officially best weighted horse, the 129 rated (nett 125-rated) Eight On Eighteen, who was set to carry 57kg despite being the highest merit rated horse in the race due to a condition that three-year-old males could not carry more than 57kg.

In last year’s race Oriental Charm carried 60kg, Eight On Eighteen carried 57kg and Selukwe carried 54kg.

Under this year’s conditions the weights for those three horses would have been: Oriental Charm 62kg, Eight On Eighteen 61kg and Selukwe 54kg. Selukwe would have been 2kg and 4kg better off with Oriental Charm and Eight On Eighteen respectively under today’s conditions.

He would have been 2kg better off with the winner The Real Prince too and, on paper, would have been beaten 0,30 lengths instead of by 2,65 lengths.

There could theoretically have been a horse who would have been even more favoured by today’s conditions than the 111-rated Selukwe example.

Using last year’s race under today’s conditions, an older horse who had been rated 107 would sneak into the handicap under today’s conditions.

A 107-rated older horse last year would have had to carry 54kg, 6kg less than the topweight, but under today’s conditions it would have only had to carry 52kg, which would be 10kg less than the 62kg topweight.

Therefore, there are theoretically going be a lot more horses standing their ground at the time of the final field selection process this year, because a lot more of them will have chances of winning on paper than would have been the case under the old conditions.

Furthermore, with stakes of R10 million up for grabs there will be less cases of horses being scratched due to the  connections deeming them to be off form. They might still want to take their chances.

The difficulty for the panel will come in deciding whether a lower rated horse is deemed to have better recent form or better distance suitability than a higher rated horse.

For argument sakes let’s assume that we go back to last year and there are still many horses standing their ground until the bitter end. After the top 17 are selected, according to the last log and current form, let’s assume the next two horses are the 115-rated Madison Valley and the 120-rated The Real Prince.

The Real Prince is rated five points higher than Madison Valley, but he has never run a race beyond 1600m before.

Madison Valley on the other hand finished a close fourth in the Betway Summer Cup over 2000m and in his final run before the July he won the traditional July pointer, the Hollywoodbets Dolphins Cup Trial over 1800m.

Which one are they going to put in the all important 18th slot?

Such a scenario is going to have much more chance of happening this year.

Although it has been said that weight avoidance tactics are going to be used this year, those who do take that route are probably going to run a bigger risk of not qualifying than ever before.

Now on to the three-year-olds.

Eight On Eighteen was held in high regard last year and came into the race 2kg well-in, according to official merit ratings, and yet he was not able to win the race.

Under today’s conditions he would have had to carry 61kg, effectively 2kg more.

So it was tough last year for a top, top three-year-old who was favoured by the old conditions.

How tough will it be for good-but-not-great three-year-olds under the new conditions, considering there is no maximum weight for them and no minimum weight for older horses?

Likewise it will be tough for females.

Furthermore, this year’s three-year-old crop are arguably overrated off their current merit ratings.

For example, Gauteng Guineas runner up Grand Empire could not win the Wolf Power 1600 against older horses when 2kg under sufferance off a 102 merit rating (effectively a 106 merit rating), yet he is now rated 120. There will be cries of “but the handicapper is clueless” when looking at that, but those who do say that are clueless themselves, because the handicapper rates a race on that race, not on past races, and Tin Pan Alley had earned his 117 rating by beating older horses and Grand Empire had then beaten him. Furthermore, Grand Empire was likely not at his peak for the Wolf Power with the Triple crown series looming.

Nevertheless, the overall impression is the current three-year-old male crop is not shining and it is questionable whether any of them have properly earned a rating of 120 or above.

It could well be an older horse July, but on the other hand there is an impressive unexposed horse like Note To Self among the three-year-olds and more such types might emerge.

The build up to this year’s Hollywoodbets Durban July is going to be more intriguing than ever!