Andrew Harrison 

Punters face a nine-race card at Hollywoodbets Scottsville today where they will be tested.

The best bet could come in the card opener where Plumbago Park has shown up well in two Cape starts. Justin Snaith has made a good start to his Champions Season raid and the extra two furlongs should suit. Michael Roberts has been casting round for a regular jockey to replace the injured Rachel Venniker and Sipheslhle Hlengwa can take advantage of this opportunity as Roberts has him aboard most of his runners including Winter Blessing who made sudden improvement under Hlengwa last run and appears to have come to hand. Alannah has gone the trip and was a fair third at just her second outing while Wendy Whitehead saddles Mrsglittersparkles  improved last run behind easy winner Keukenhof and this trip should suit. 

In the second, Kimball O’Hara is in good form and over his optimum trip. He also has the best of the draw. Run To Rio won well last time out and only got a three-point raise in the handicap. He also has an experienced apprentice aboard. Future Saint is struggling for his next win but was a beaten favourite last run and can make amends. 

Lucinda Woodruff, daughter of champion trainer Geoff Woodruff, had her first runner in KZN this season with Mai Sensation winning the Gr3 Poinsettia Stakes last Sunday. She can get the PA off to a winning start with Wing Walker. The gelding has made steady recent improvement  in the Cape and makes his local debut. He should feature. Yippee Kiyay makes his debut but boasts a smart pedigree and comes from top yard of Mike and Mathew de Kock. 

The opening leg of the Pick 6 is wide open. Whitehead saddles Limitless Sky who has come on with each run and found some market support last outing over course and distance. Louis Goosen has engaged Andrew Fortune to partner Kali Bwana who was second best behind promising Keukenhof last outing and making good improvement. She should be in the mix. Midnight Hour raced green on debut and should come on from that showing while the four-year-old Fine Wine is a late starter and was not far back on debut. She could be worth following. 

Goosen could have a double in the fifth with veteran Cotton Ron who has dropped to a more competitive mark and has been in good form. With a 4kg claimer aboard he should be competitive. Now I Got You landed the odds when favourite last time out. That form has been franked by Double Olympic and he can go in again. One Irish Rover has come good of late beating the luckless Purple Powahouse last time out. With a 4kg claimer aboard he has a good chance of following up. Double Olympic finished two lengths behind Now I Got You when last they met and won next time out. They meet on similar weight terms. 

Snaith could hold the key to the sixth, another competitive handicap with Un Bel Di. The gelding was narrowly beaten by the smart Gem King last time out and his Hollywoodbets Kenilworth form is solid. Riverstone also comes with some useful Cape form and was also not far behind Gem King last time out in a different race. Dean Kannemeyer saddles Golden Destiny who was a beaten favourite when stepping up in trip last run. Back over what looks to be a more suitable distance he can make amends. Good Traveler runs well on this course and was only a length back to the useful Teflon Man last run.  He has been consistent of late. Mar Del Plata is useful on his day and with only 50kg to shoulder he could be a threat. 

The seventh is another wide open event. Gareth van Zyl has two strong contenders in Wissa’s On Fire and Rafa’s Boy. Wissa’s On Fire ran well below form when starting favourite last time out and could prove the pick. He was narrowly beaten over course and distant at his previous start and a repeat should see him close again. Blue Holly is a smart filly but has a big weight to shoulder. However, she could prove a little too classy for this line-up. Agrado is progressive and got a hefty six-point shunt up the handicap for his last win over course and distance. Andrew Fortune rides. Ibhele has been knocking on the door for some time now but has been dropping in the handicap. He could be off a more competitive mark now and win at good odds.

Duncan Howells send out Dapper in the eighth. Dapper showed up well on debut for his new stable and steps up to a more suitable trip although he does have a tricky draw to contend with. Ingwele improved nicely when stepping up in trip last time out and the extra furlong should suit. The Ghost is down in class and was not far back from a tough draw last time out. She has a much more favourite gate here although taking on males. Gurkha was a recent maiden winner but won well enough to suggest that he has more improvement to come from the best of the draw. 

If Gurkha wins, Kannemeyer and round off the meeting with Dancing On A Cloud who was a recent maiden winner at just second time of asking. He has a difficult draw to overcome but looks to have a touch of class. Terminator was a comfortable winner over course and distance at his penultimate start and narrowly beaten next time out. He has drawn well and can get the better of Dancing On A Cloud. Papa C has shown up well in his last two starts from tricky draws and has a better gate here. 

RACE 1

6 PLUMBAGO PARK   4 MRSGLITTERSPARKLES   2 ALANNAH   8 WINTER BLESSING

Summary: PLUMBAGO PARK (6) has shown up well in two Cape starts and the extra should suit. WINTER BLESSING (8) made sudden improvement last run and appears to have come to hand. ALANNAH (2) has gone the trip and was a fair third at just her second outing. MRSGLITTERSPARKLES (4) improved last run behind easy winner Keukenhof. This trip should suit. (Andrew Harrison: 6-4-2-8).

RACE 2

1 KIMBLE O’HARA   2 RUN TO RIO   5 FUTURE SAINT   8 BEACH PALACE

Summary: KIMBALL O’HARA (1) is in good form and over his optimum trip. He also has the best of the draw. RUN TO RIO (2) won well last time out and only got a three-point raise in the handicap. He also has an experienced apprentice aboard. FUTURE SAINT (5) is struggling for his next win but was a beaten favourite last run and can make amends. BEACH PALACE (8) goes well over course and distance and has an experienced apprentice aboard. (Andrew Harrison: 1-2-5-8).

RACE 3

8 WING WALKER   7 YIPPEE KIYAY   SOVEREIGN COMMAND   2 GRAND FORCE

Summary: WING WALKER (8) has made steady recent improvement  in the Cape and makes his local debut. He should feature. YIPPEE KIYAY (7) makes his debut but boasts a smart pedigree and comes from a top yard. SOVEREIGN FORCE (4) is finally showing signs of his earlier promise  and can go close in this line-up. GRAND FORCE (2) showed up well on this course last time out and appears to be coming to hand. (Andrew Harrison: 8-7-4-2).

RACE 4

11 LIMITLESS SKY   10 KALI BWANA   6 MIDNIGHT HOUR   13 FINE WINE

Summary: Wide open. LIMITLESS SKY (11) has come on with each run and found some market support last outing over course and distance. KALI BWANA (10) was second best behind Keukenhof last outing making good improvement. She should be in the mix. MIDNIGHT HOUR (6) raced green on debut and should come on from that showing. Four-year-old FINE WINE (13) is a late starter and was not far back on debut. She could be worth following. (Andrew Harrison: 11-10-6-13).

RACE 5

6 COTTON RON   5 NOW I GOT YOU   4 ONE IRISH ROVER   8 DOUBLE OLYMPIC

Summary:  COTTON RUN (6) has dropped toa more competitive mark and has been in good form. With a 4kg claimer aboard he should be competitive. NOW I GOT YOU (5) landed the odds when favourite last time out. That form has been franked and he can go in again. ONE IRISH ROVER (4) has come good of late beating the luckless Purple Powahouse last time out. With a 4kg claimer aboard he has a good chance of following up. DOUBLE OLYMPIC (8) finished two lengths behind Now I Got You when last they met and won next time out. They meet on similar weight terms. (Andrew Harrison: 6-5-4-8).

RACE 6

10 UN BEL DI   12 RIVERSTONE   9 GOLDEN DESTINY   7 GOOD TRAVELLER   

Summary: Competitive handicap. 10 UN BEL DI (10) was narrowly beaten by the smart Gem King last time out. His Hollywoodbets Kenilworth is solid and he should make a bold bid. RIVERSTONE (12) also comes with some useful Cape form and was also not far behind Gem King last time out. GOLDEN DESTINY (9) was a beaten favourite when stepping up in trip last run. Back over what looks to be a more suitable distance and can make amends. GOOD TRAVELLER (7) runs well on this course and was only a length back to the useful Teflon Man last run.  He has been consistent of late. MAR DEL PLATA (8) is useful on his day and with only 50kg to shoulder he will be a threat. (Andrew Harrison: 10-12-9-7-8).

RACE 7

5 WISSA’S ON FIRE   11 BLUE HOLLY   4 AGRADO   8 IBHELE

Summary: WISSA’S ON FIRE (5) ran well below form when starting favourite last time out. He was narrowly beaten over course and distant at his previous start and a repeat should see him close again. BLUE HOLLY (11) is a smart filly but has a big weight to shoulder. However, she could prove a little too classy for this line-up. AGRADO (4) is progressive and got a hefty six-point shunt up the handicap for his last win over course and distance. Andrew Fortune rides. IBHELE (8) has been knocking on the door for some time now but has been dropping in the handicap. He could be off a more competitive mark now. (Andrew Harrison: 5-11-4-8).

RACE 8

9 DAPPER   4 INGQWELE   2 THE GHOST   1 GURKA

Summary: DAPPER (9) showed up well on debut for his new stable and steps up to a more suitable trip although he does have a tricky draw to contend with. INGQWELE (4) improved nicely when stepping up in trip last time out and the extra furlong should suit. THE GHOST (2) is down in class and was not far back from a tough draw last time out. She has a much more favourite gate here although taking on males. GURKHA (1) was a recent maiden winner but won well enough to suggest that he has more improvement to come from the best of the draw. (Andrew Harrison: 9-4-2-1).

RACE 9

12 DANCING ON A CLOUD   3 TERMINATOR   2 PAPA C   7 NUMZAAN

Summary: DANCING ON A CLOUD (12) was a recent maiden winner at just second time of asking. He has a difficult draw to overcome but looks to have a touch of class. TERMINATOR (3) was a comfortable winner over course and distance at his penultimate start and narrowly beaten next time out. He has drawn well and can go one better. PAPA C (2) has shown up well in his last two starts from tricky draws. He has a better gate here.  NUMZAAN (7) has been in good form for his new stable and has a handy weight. (Andrew Harrison: 12-3-2-7).

Durban – The R750 000 Independent On Saturday Drill Hall Stakes (Gr2) over 1400m at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday 3 May, the traditional curtain raiser to Champions Season in KwaZulu-Natal, has attracted a quality field of twelve horses, including last year’s winner Royal Aussie. Trained by Justin Snaith, Royal Aussie will be partnered by charismatic Andrew Fortune and from a decent draw, the 5yo son of Royal Mo will have every chance of defending his crown.

Cousin Casey, runner-up in last season’s Hollywoodbets Durban July (Gr1) and HKJC Champions Cup (Gr1), makes his first appearance since then but faces a tough challenge from the worst of the draw. He did also run second behind Royal Aussie in the 2024 IOS Drill Hall Stakes and is very much at home at the City track. Raymond Danielson has been announced as See It Again’s jockey for Champions Season and the pair will jump from a handy draw. Gladatorian also flies the flag for the local contingent and the classy Stuart Ferrie inmate should make a bold bid for top honours.

Lucinda Woodruff has made a flying start to her Champions Season campaign and Café Culture, winner of the 2024 Post Merchants, will be looking to take full advantage of pole position. The Real Prince, a fluent winner of the Jet Master Stakes, is highly regarded by Dean Kannemeyer and will be doing his best work late while the Vaughan Marshall-trained 4yo Questioning, who is very game and super consistent, is not without a chance of troubling his rivals here. It all adds up to a very competitive and exciting renewal of the IOS Drill Hall Stakes.

The R750 000 World Sports Betting Guineas (Gr2) over 1600m has attracted a small but brilliant line-up with dual Grade 1 winner Eight On Eighteen going head to head with Fire Attack and Cosmic Speed. Both Eight On Eighteen and Fire Attack may now prefer a tougher test of stamina which could open the door for Cosmic Speed to add to his excellent victory in the Grade 1 Horse Chestnut Stakes over 1600m in March. Eight On Eighteen is rated marginally ahead of Fire Attack and Cosmic Speed by the handicappers but Justin Snaith’s exciting 3yo son of Lancaster Bomber has bigger fish to fry in the coming months. Sail The Seas and Cats Pajamas are progressive 3yo’s and can get into the mix.

A full field lines up for the R500 000 WSB Fillies Guineas (Gr2) over 1600m and the race has a wide open appearance. Green Sapphire brings solid form into the race but has a tricky draw to overcome whereas the highly-rated VJ’s Angel will jump from pole position. VJ’s Angel will need to put an inexplicably bad run in the Empress Club Stakes (Gr1) behind her but, judged on her best form, she is certainly one of the leading lights and is very much course suited. Oxalis Gold has done no wrong recently and will appreciate stepping up in trip while sparingly-raced stable companion, Spumante Dolce, has the class and quality to be a major player here. 

Racing gets under way at 11:40 on Saturday with the running of the annual World Sports Betting “Dash” over 400m which always proves a hit amongst on-course fans. Ten runners will face the starter and another thrilling display of pure speed is anticipated.

Andrew Harrison

If Sunday’s three-year-old features at Hollywoodbets Scottsville  were a dress rehearsal for Saturday, May 31, they were more like scattering the pieces of a thousand piece puzzle than providing any solid pointers to the possible outcomes of the Gr1 Gold Medallion or the Gr1 Allan Robertson Championship.

Some mitigation was that the going was posted as soft and the usual ‘highway’ up the inside rail appeared to be a touch softer than the rest of the track.

When Corne Spies raids Hollywoodbets Scottsville it is always worth taking notice and the fact that he decided to let Elegantrix take on what looked to be a strong contingent of males in the Gr3 Tote Godolphin Barb Stakes should have rung some warning bells.

Spies has always rated his filly in spite of drawing blanks in two Highveld features but on Sunday she showed plenty of pace under Gavin Lerena and kept finding to the line to hold off a determined challenge from Good For You with the blinkered Malmesbury Missile a well-beaten third.

Favourite Military Command showed early pace before dropping back while both I’m A Fireball and Fortress Of Fire seemed to show an aversion to the ground on the inside rail. All three runners were subject to veterinary scrutiny but nothing untoward was detected.

Quickstepgal is a filly with a lot of class about her. She was all over the place on debut, finishing down the field behind Polar Light, but smashed them second time out, strolling home by nearly six lengths. That transformed into an excellent victory in the Gr3 Tote Strelitzia Stakes and Tienie Prinsloo will surely have her sights set for the Allan Robertson. 

Game in defeat was the strapping Mike Miller-trained grey Captain’s Envy who pushed the winner all the way to the line and the extra 100m of the Allan Robertson will be right up her alley. 

Disappointments in the race were Wild Wild Green and Keukenhof. Dean Kannemeyer’s filly showed early pace before fading out of it and Wild Wild Green, who went off favourite, never got in a blow. Both fillies raced up the inside rail and both jockey’s reporting something amiss and not persevering. The course vets found nothing out of the ordinary.

Mai Sensation rounded off the afternoon features as JP van der Merwe threaded Lucinda Woodruff’s filly through the traffic to catch the smart Asiye Phambili a few jumps before the line. It was an excellent win by Mai Sensation as she had it all to do getting past horses with the field bunching up the centre of the track as they shifted away from the inside going. It was also a superb effort from Asiye Phambili, back with Duncan Howells after a successful Cape raid, who gave the winner all of 8.5kg and Sean Veale getting this reins tangled. The two will possibly meet again in the Gr1 SA Fillies Sprint which is run at WFA so there will be a big turn around in the weights. 

Earlier in the day a gamble on the Andre Nel-trained O’Tenikwa was landed, albeit by the narrowest of margins. Supported in from an opening call of 16-1 to start 33-10, it was a three-way dash to the line with O’Tenikwa squeaking home a nose ahead of the tremendously game and consistent Fastnet Filly with Luhamba Phambili a further short-head back in third.

Favourite Teflon Man may well have been another victim of the going as he failed to quicken with stable companion Outlaw King finishing fourth. A runner who may be worth following is fifth-placed King Of The Gauls  who showed vast improvement on his Cape form. With this run under his girth a crack at the Gr2 Golden Horse must be on the cards. 

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!

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.

Johannesburg, 15 October 2024 – 4Racing in conjunction with the Handicappers have published the first log for the 2024 R6 million Gr1 Betway Summer Cup to be run at Turffontein on Saturday 30 November.

Second entries close at 11am on Tuesday 05 November, and final entries at 9am on Monday, 18 November 2024, after which weights will be announced. Declarations must be in by 11am on Wednesday, 20 November 2024 and barrier draws will be conducted at a Betway event on 20 November 2024. The final log will be published on Tuesday 05 November 2024.