Andrew Harrison

Field Marshal has always struck as a horse with a feature race in him, especially after his close-up second in the Fever Tree Stakes at Hollywoodbets Scottsville two runs back behind surprise winner African Skyline but with some solid handicappers behind him.

So, his next start appeared to be below par as he battled home behind I Salute You but Frank Robinson put that run into perspective. “He was above himself that day with his head up in the air.”

This was largely a consequence of the rain which has plagued all training programmes at Summerveld but Field Marshal was back on track at Hollywoodbets Greyville yesterday.

Always within striking distance of the pace in the B Stakes over 1800m Craig Zackey, hunting a double on the day, got Field Marshal to quicken out of the pack and was complimentary of his mounts victory, commenting post-race that Field Marshal still had some improvement to come.

Trois Trois Quatre and Johnny The Thief came from off the pace to fill the shallow end of the purse.

Kannemeyer made it four-on the bounce after his three winners at Hollywoodbets Scottsville last Wednesday as Gurkha lived up to his billing as favourite, making short work of the opposition in the card opener. Sitting off the pace in the early exchanges as is the want of Kannemeyer-trained horses, Gurkha came into the straight with some work to do. However, like a slow revving engine with plenty of ‘grunt’, when Zackey asked his mount to put it in, he upped a gear and won as he liked, sweeping past Firelighter and Shesha Ntombi.

The Kannemeyer run of winners snapped in the opening leg of the PA as Plaza Accord finished too strongly for favourite Golden Destiny. Zackey had Golden Destiny well placed for his challenge as he tracked the pace and went into the lead crossing the subway but ran out of gas the last furlong. Jabu Jacobs, who is enjoying a new lease on his career, got Peter Muscutt’s charge to respond up the outside of the field and Plaza Accord went back-to-back, comfortably putting the favourite to bed who was labouring the last bit.

Favourite Rich Folks Hoax denied Zackey a treble and Kannemeyer another win as S’Manga Khumalo extracted the best out of the under-achieving Quandary who recently has been threatening but never quite getting there. Khumalo threw everything, including the reins, at Gareth van Zyl’s gelding.  

Andrew Harrison

After a string of four runner-up finishes, Kudzu finally broke the ice last time out as Muzi Yeni drove him home with a strong finish to win over the Turffontein inner mile.

Johan Janse van Vuuren’s gelding goes an extra furlong on the same course today when he runs in the MR 96 Handicap that heads the card. Like most handicaps, it is a competitive affair but now that Kudzu has finally got his head in front again, he can build on that confidence in spite of a four-point rise in the handicap.

A point to ponder is that Yeni has preferred the ride on Fabian Habib’s runner King’s Express who was a winner over course and distance last time out. That was his second run after a break and if he still has more improvement to come then Yeni will have made the correct choice.

Seasoned trainer Tyrone Zackey holds a strong hand with La Moohal and Flashy Apache, both in with strong chances. Both were in the money last time out and the very much in form Gavin Lerena takes the ride on La Moohal.

However, the list of possible winners does not stop there. Star Coin and Player are both in good form while Two Miles West is 1.5kg better off with King’s Express on their last meeting and Craig Zackey, fresh from a treble at Hollywoodbets Scottsville midweek is back in the irons.

Without much confidence Kudzu is taken to get home ahead of Two Miles West and King’s Express.

 It is a nine-race card so the Pick 6 kicks off with a Graduation Plate over 1450m in the fourth.

Best weighted is Alec Lairds charge Aristotle who battled gamely last time out over a mile on the standside track. His two wins in the Cape came over 1200m and 1400m respectively but was jumped up in trip on his arrival on the Highveld. He appears to be back over what could be a more suitable trip.

Gimmeanotherchance is not the most reliable of customers but can get it together on his day. It was not his day in the Hawaii Stakes last weekend where he finished tailed off. It was a well below par performance and the fact that Mike and Mathew de Kock have backed him up in a week suggests that there was nothing physically amiss. The blinkers come off that could lead to a much improved performance. However, his well being and mindset must be taken on trust.

The fillies are up next in a competitive Graduation Plate. Pointer showed signs of a return to form when three lengths back third to Oxalis Gold last time out. The De Kock’s filly has since smashed a useful field of males in last week’s Gr3 Byerley Turk coming home in a canter so that form could hold up for Pointer.

Scars Of War returns from a lengthy break but she had cracking juvenile form behind the likes of Fiery Pegasus and Quid Pro Quo. If Tony Peter has her anywhere near her best she will be a dangerous customer. Frozen Fantasy and Golden Moment can also get into the scrum.

Plus Four reiterated the strength of the Cape form when making a winning debut for Candice Dawson with Lerena aboard. Plus Four got a hefty six-point rise in the handicap but given her last showing, she could still be under the radar.

Just Var is in mustard form of late as he bids for a hattrick of wins but he is 2kg worse off with Theres A Light with the latter also having the best of the draw. 

DJ Junior could prove the pick in a competitive field in the eighth. The six-year-old is lightly raced but seldom out of the money and the form of his last race has panned out well. 

Dark Silver and Dance King are others to consider.

Gregarious and One Party  are progressive three-year-olds, both in good form while top weight Exceedingly Glam could round up a boxed trifecta.

Durban, South Africa – The countdown has begun! The 129th edition of Africa’s premier horse racing and social spectacular, the Hollywoodbets Durban July (HDJ), is set to take place on Saturday, 5th July 2025, at the iconic Hollywoodbets Greyville Racecourse. As the most anticipated fixture on South Africa’s racing calendar, the event seamlessly blends world-class horse racing with high fashion, entertainment, and a memorable social experience.

Staying true to the theme of “Marvels of Mzansi,” this year’s racing extravaganza promises an iconic line-up of South African talent, featuring a diverse array of artists set to captivate all attendees throughout the day. The national anthem will be beautifully performed by one of the country’s leading songstresses – look out for the reveal in May. With these performances, the thousands of attendees expected at Hollywoodbets Greyville will have a memorable experience. Stay tuned for the full artist line-up. All ticket holders can look forward to a day filled with live entertainment that will be talked about for years to come, as this year’s HDJ celebrates Mzansi’s vibrant spirit. 

Tickets for this outstanding event are now officially on sale via Ticketpro (www.ticketpro.co.za). Priced at R230 for general admission, your ticket grants access to a day of thrilling racing action, live entertainment, fashion showcases, gourmet food experiences, and an array of engaging activations from event partners. For added convenience, onsite parking is available for R170 per vehicle.

For those seeking an elevated experience, the VIP hospitality packages provide exclusive access to luxurious enclosures, premium viewing areas, and top-tier catering. These options can be explored on the official event website (www.hollywoodbetsdurbanjuly.co.za). Please note that VIP hospitality packages do not include general admission tickets, which must be purchased separately via Ticketpro.

This year’s theme, “Marvels Of Mzansi”, was unveiled in late February, marking the official commencement of the Hollywoodbets Durban July Fashion Experience, presented by Durban Fashion Fair. The fashion programme includes the much-anticipated HDJ Young Designer Award, showcasing the best up-and-coming talents from KwaZulu-Natal. The winners will share the spotlight with the HDJ Invited Designers and DFF Rising Stars at the HDJ Fashion Preview Gala, set to take place at Gateway Theatre of Shopping in late June.

Racing enthusiasts can also look forward to the announcement of the first official entrants on Wednesday, 23 April 2025. With last year’s champion, Oriental Charm, emerging as the early ante-post favourite, excitement is already building. 

Secure your tickets today and experience Africa’s greatest horse racing and social event, the Hollywoodbets Durban July!

Please Note: From December, Unit cost of all Soccer10 Pools closing on Wednesdays will be R3.

The R3 unit cost on Wednesdays is on a trial basis only & follows requests from many customers to increase the Soccer10 Unit.

The unit cost of Soccer10 Pools on all other days remains R2.

All systems go on 1 January 2025

Horseracing in KwaZulu-Natal took the next step to the dawn of a new era with the publication on Thursday of a revitalized racing programme and the news of the introduction of incentives and stakes adjustments that will align the province with the status quo in the Cape.

The introduction of the new-look programme and policies on the East Coast comes into play as a result of the proposed acquisition of Gold Circle by the Hollywood Sportsbook Holdings group, which now hinges on the required approval of the KZN Economic Regulatory Authority (KZNERA).

Whilst the outstanding approval of the KZNERA is critical to the transaction, and will be the final step in transferring ownership, Hollywoodbets and its appointed Chairman Designate of Gold Circle, Greg Bortz are in management and strategic decisions during the interim period, with Hollywoodbets investing funds at its own risk to ensure the continuity of horse racing in KZN, and the survival of Gold Circle.

Programme and related reading matter, click here.

Subject to the fulfillment of other outstanding conditions precedent, the deal effectively unlocks a R500 million rescue injection from Hollywoodbets, and a takeover of the sport in the holiday province, which is set to include track upgrades and other infrastructural and operational initiatives.

The new KZN programme covers the period 1 January to 28 February 2025 and introduces the stakes-boosted class racing structure to the province, while unveiling financial incentives via the RaceCoast incentive scheme with the ultimate aim of improving racehorse ownership in KZN and achieving enhanced field sizes with the knock-on vital lifeblood of increased betting turnovers.

Down South, the RaceCape incentive programme has proven a winner and has underscored the unprecedented turnaround in Cape horseracing by providing further opportunities for the local racing community and increased employment prospects for grooms and work riders, as well as raising the bar for all related and ancillary horse racing services.

“We are very excited about future plans for KZN racing,” Cape Racing Executive: Racing & Bloodstock Justin Vermaak told the Sporting Post on Thursday, as he outlined broad plans to revolutionise the appeal of the sport across the board for all stakeholders in KZN.

“We need to provide owners and trainers with an even and attractive playing field that makes them want to race. Stakes and rewards need to be meaningful. That ultimately leads to better field sizes, more exciting racing and improved betting turnovers. Punters are key to the success of the process. We are implementing a first world reform in terms of transparency when it comes to information. Items like horse weights, for example, will be published. They are, after all, a form assessment tool. Horses working at our training centres and tracks will all have easily identifiable bar-coded saddle-cloths. So, there are no secrets. If Oriental Charm or One Stripe is on track, the public will share in it,” added Vermaak, who confirmed that barrier draws after acceptance was another operational change which would be implemented on 1 January 2025.

Veteran KZN trainer Garth Puller, who attended a recent stakeholder’s meeting at Summerveld hosted by Greg Bortz, Justin Vermaak, Gold Circle and Hollywoodbets officials, enthused that he was thrilled by the news of the takeover by business-minded racing people who were brave and bold enough to step in and turn the ship around.

“This has come very late for me at my age, but it’s a lifechanger and the future is brighter than it was yesterday,” reflected a delighted Puller as he told the Sporting Post that the adjusted stakes and ‘very welcome’ incentives would boost cash-flows,  while also making it so much easier to help him and his colleagues market the basic ownership product.

“And we are getting draws after acceptances. Wonderful! I was calling for that 25 years ago at Hollywoodbets Durbanville. Bigger fields mean a faster pace, means better form, means better truer results. It’s an ecosystem of positivity. It all feeds on itself,” added the horseman who is never scared to pass an opinion.

Puller said the repair of the Polytrack at Hollywoodbets Greyville was ‘definitely quite overdue and welcome news’.

“That’s our stage. The track must be safe for horse and rider, be true and competitive, and have credibility with all role-players. That’s not a negotiable.”

On the ‘abolition’ of the committee structure to facilitate decision making and policy, Puller said that he was so pleased to hear that all reasonable suggestions will be considered by management.

“Wonderful! So there are no more long-winded committees to hide behind and to dither over. How refreshing.  I believe every stakeholder in this sport in KZN needs to doff a cap to Hollywoodbets and Mr Bortz. This investment and takeover is a brave move. But we know that with the passion for horse racing of the local population in this province, we can make it work. And by putting the structures in place they are making sure we have no excuses. Let’s look forward and get on with rebuilding KZN racing. I am absolutely thrilled. This is good news,” he concluded.