The Durban July, internationally acknowledged as Africa’s Greatest Horseracing Event, has a new sponsor after the withdrawal of Vodacom. This year’s event will be sponsored by South Africa’s leading Sportsbook operator Hollywoodbets with effect from the 2022 renewal on Saturday 2 July.

The race also gets a 250% prize increase and will carry a stake of R5 million.

Hollywoodbets thus join Rothmans and Vodacom as only the third sponsor of the great race in
59 years.

The Hollywoodbets Durban July is the flagship event on the East Coast’s KZN Champion Season
roster, which will also be the recipient of a R13 million stakes injection. The increase in prize money for South Africa’s preeminent racing season will apply to both feature and minor races from 1 March to the end of the racing season.

In recognition of the vital role played by grooms in the racing industry, Hollywoodbets and Gold
Circle simultaneously announced an increase in the awards for the Grooms of winning horses
from R1 000 to R2 000 per race, for the months of March, April and May.

David Thiselton

Turffontein Inside stages a nine race meeting today and it is clear that three-and-half weeks into spring a better class of horse is being reintroduced. 

The highest rated race on the card is a MR 104 handicap over 1600m and Matterhorn is an interesting runner here. This Marchfield gelding gave the star filly She’s A Keeper 4kg and lost by just 0,90 lengths in the Grade 2 WSB 1900 but due to the conditions of the race he could not be raised so he is potentially well handicapped at present off a 101. He was good enough to be given a berth in the Vodacom Durban July and although this race will be on the sharp side he is well drawn, travels in a nice relaxed way in his races and has a good turn of foot so he could go close here running fresh. Ndlamu loves this course and distance and should also be involved in the finish, although he does have a tricky draw of six out of ten considering he is a handy type. Dr Doolittle has a fine record in handicaps with three wins and two seconds in five starts and his last win over 1800m was with 62kg on his back. He carries 62kg again here off a four point higher mark and has a tricky draw considering his handy style and the trip will be sharper than ideal too. However, his class might be telling and the Paul Peter yard are out in front in the championship so he is hard to ignore. Stablemate Green Haze is usually thereabouts but on jockey bookings looks to be the second choice. Full Mast has won once and finished second twice in five starts over this course and distance and showed a form return in his last two starts so he is a player from a plum draw with Khumalo up. Stone Cold is back to his winning mark and has snuck into the handicap with the minimum weight so is also a runner in this open contest. Kingsley’s Heart is better than his last run but has a tough draw. Leopold is capable over this trip but has a tough draw. Marchingontogether is off form but represents a new yard, although the trip will be on the sharp side. Alibi Guy won is first three starts but a one year layoff followed and he now returns from another one year layoff.             

A MR 94 handicap over 1200m is also full of interest and Grappler makes appeal having his third run after a layoff over a step up in trip he will relish. He has always struck as one who would come into his own with age so could have a good season. The talented Super Excited finished strongly last time to win over this course and distance and can overcome a six point raise but he does have a tougher draw this time. Topweight Captain Hindsight is in with a shout from a plum draw of two over a suitable trip. Three-year-old Prince Of Fire is unbeaten in two starts and although officially 1kg under sufferance he looks progressive so would not be a surprise winner from pole position. Sea Virescent is well regarded and has plenty of scope so is another who would not be a surprising winner and his number six draw should not be too much of a problem as he is capable of a strong finish. The form of his last win is not the greatest but he might have needed that run slightly. Bowie’s last win was over 1160m and this consistent sort can earn again although as a handy sort a wide draw makes it tough.

David Thiselton

The Turffontein Inside track has an interesting nine race meeting on today which has attracted one or two horses who will be looking to make a big impact this season. 

The Paul Peter-trained Reunion is one such horse and this Flower Alley gelding runs in one of the highest rated races on the day, a MR 96 Handicap over 1800m. This big bay had tongues wagging after his debut last November when powering home by 10,25 lengths from the front over 1600m on this track. He then lost his way and was at one stage looking to be yet another overhyped horse who was amounting to little. However, he bounced back three runs ago with an unlucky second and then showed class in his next two outings, winning both of them in fine style. Having dropped from an initial 98 merit rating down to 85 he is now back to a 99 and he should not stop there. The tall long-striding horse proved last time, when winning easing up by 2,25 lengths over this trip, he can relax well enough in the front and possesses a tremendous kick. In his previous start he had come from well off the pace to win by 5,30 lengths over 2000m, so the excellent schooling given him by the Peter yard has made him into a versatile horse who can win from anywhere. Therefore his tricky draw of seven should not be a problem and Gavin Lerena can play it by ear. Reunion now just has to prove he is the real deal which he has always been believed to be and if he is he should get past this first hurdle despite having to carry topweight of 60.5kg. Prince Evlanoff, also by Flower Alley, also has some class and can progress beyond his current 87 rating. He won well last time in his first attempt at this trip and now has his third run after a layoff. He comes from off the pace so a draw of eight should not be of much concern. Trend Master beat Reunion three runs ago at level weights over this trip and now receives 3.5kg. However, Reunion was unlucky in that race and according to the weight for age scale should have made 2.5kg improvement since then, so he should reverse the form. Trend Master is a decent type and he followed that win with another good win over 2000m before running on over the too sharp 1450m last time for a good one length third. He is going to be a threat from pole position. Some might want to include Willow’s Wish too as he was still green last time when winning over 1750m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville in just his third career start. A 2.5kg claimer up alleviates some of the eight point raise he was given but he does have a tough draw of ten. Twin Turbo is yet another son of Flower Alley who has a chance. He stayed on well from the front last time over this trip to win by half-a-length and drawn well off just a three point higher mark can go close carrying the minimum weight of 52kg, which off an 81 merit rating puts him just half-a-kilogram under sufferance. Category Four has not enjoyed much lucky lately but if it pans out well from a wide draw he is capable of staying on well and could earn. Our Coys also has the ability to be a contender but returns from a five month layoff and was given six points for winning last time. Western Fort is an unreliable sort but is capable and has a 4kg claimer up from a good draw over a suitable trip. Zeal And Zest is off form and his best days are likely behind him. Watusi is always an interesting runner because he won well in his only good performance to date. He lost ground at the start that day and ran on so if they try that tactic again and he settles, instead of him burning himself out in the front as he has been doing, he could be a surprise earner. 

The eighth race is a Pinnacle Stakes event over 2600m and Captain Chorus looks the part. He ran third over course and distance last time and is now 7.5kg better off with Afraad for a 5,60 length beating. He was a touch unlucky not to get second that day as he was bumped late by Barak. He carries just 52kg from a good draw and Kennedy is up. The topweight Out Of Your League has to give 8kg and more to the entire field so it won’t be easy although he is fact the best weighted horse according to official merit ratings. He is also drawn in pole and has his SA Derby-winning pilot Raymond Danielson on for the third time in succession. White Fang is officially 6.5kg under sufferance with Out Of Your League but is on the way up and it would be no surprise to see him making it four wins on the trot as he has a lot of scope. Afraad has to come into it too despite being officially 7kg under sufferance with Out Of Your League as he has relished the step up to staying trips and might have more to come. Barak can also be right there as he is 3.5kg better off with Afraad for a 5,25 length beating and he has always struck as being an out and out stayer. Apollo Robins is 4kg better off with White Fang for a 4,10 length beating over this trip but White Fang would have made 1kg of weight for age improvement over Apollo Robins since then on paper and White Fang also strikes as the one with more scope.   

Andrew Harrison

If those outside of Kingsmead cricket ground – headline sponsor Hollywoodbets – didn’t know who Krystl was, they know now. “Hollywoodbets Dolphins players can identify with ‘Kingsmeads Krystl’ named after a bubbly staff member,” confirmed Hollywoodbets’ Brand and Communications Manager Devin Heffer.

And the name could be in lights for a little longer as the Alyson Wright-trained filly scored a comfortable victory under Anton Marcus in the first at Hollywoodbets Greyville yesterday.

It was probably asking a little too much of Kingsmeads Krystl to take on winners in her first three starts, including two group races, but yesterday confirmed what Wright thought all along with a convincing win that suggests that she has more to offer.

Kingsmeads Krystl was far from disgraced in any of her first three outings and in spite of finishing over a dozen lengths back to Desert Miracle in the Gr2 Golden Slipper, she was in the pack with the rest of them as Mike de Kock’s filly sauntered to an eight-length victory.

Kingsmeads Krystl is definitely a name to go into the notebook.

Nathan Kotzen has mined a rich vein of form over the past week, with a treble at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Sunday, and followed up with Noble Nova landing the odds in a small field in the second.

It was a three-way contest entering the final furlong but S’Manga Khumalo extracted the best out of his mount to get home by a neck from Bijoux who fought back gamely to edge out Claudina.

It was no quarters asked or given in the third over 1400m, with some modest maidens going hard in what would have been a testing pace over five furlongs.

A long way off the pace turning for home, Tristan Godden sent Magic In Motion up the inside rail with a storming run to collar a bunched field with Bay Breeze and Indomavel in the shallow end of the purse. It was a 36-1 winner for the brother and sister combination of Wayne Badenhorst and Barbara Kennedy.

Weiho Marwing launched a lightning raid, his first two strikes missing, but he was on the money in the fourth as Craig Zackey led the field a merry dance on Midnight Caller. Opening up early which had much of the field off the bit, Zackey kicked for home at the top of the straight and just kept his mount’s nose in front as Pink Floyd and Naval Secret got going late – too late!

A small field lined up in the fifth where Keep The Lights on reverted to Graduation company. Her feature race form panned out and the result was never in doubt as Marcus aimed straight for the wire and had the race wrapped up at the top of the straight.

Maria Corolina completed a Wright double, and back-to-back wins, when making short work of the opposition in the sixth. She took the step up in trip in her stride and unfortunately for her, the handicappers will also be impressed!

It’s never easy for horses to win more than two or three races under the current handicapping rules, so it takes some clever placing by the trainer and a favourable programme to stretch beyond. However, seven-year-old Gentleman’s Wager bucked the trend and is seemingly getting better as he gets older when in the winner’s enclosure for the eighth time. Leading for most of the way under Donovan Dillon, Peter Muscutt’s charge was never under threat.

Rise and Twice The Quality went at it hammer-and-tongs over the final 100m in the last with the Khumalo ‘rising’ to the occasion.

David Thiselton

The Vaal Classic track has an eight-race meeting and exotic punters might be able to afford fairly low cost permutations.

In the first race over 1800m, Monsoon Kenny looks to be a Bi-Pot banker. He finished second when stepped up to this trip last time and looks to have scope for improvement. He does have a tricky draw of six out of six but the good and experienced workrider Joe Gwingwizha should be able to work out a winning strategy. Invincible Wall plodded on last time and finished third, just 1,50 lengths behind Monsoon Kenny, and there is now a reversal in draw fortunes so the risk averse might want to include him too. 

In the second race over the same trip, Ontheverge ran on well over 1500m last time and she should enjoy the trip. She is by Where’s That Tiger who has produced some useful stayers and her dam, who is by Toreador and was a sprinter, is a half-sister to SA Derby winner Irish Flame. She does have a tricky draw of five out of six though, so might have to be dropped out. Shikuru has scope and from a fair draw of three out of six can confirm form with Stunning Kitten and After Me. Hewitson takes over the ride from apprentice Kyle Strydom and Shikuru could be one to include for the risk averse. 

In the third race over 1450, Gilda Gray should relish the step back down to 1450m and has very little to beat so from a fair draw will only have to repeat the form of her penultimate start over 1400m. The first-timer English Primrose is well drawn and this Flower Alley filly is a half-sister to Magogo, an Ideal World filly who won first time out over this same trip, although she has never placed in any of her subsequent nine starts. English Primrose could nevertheless be her chief danger in this uninspiring contest.

In the fourth over 1450m, the filly Golden Aspen takes on the boys but gets 3kg and is the one to beat. She is enjoying the current fast conditions, as she has good gate speed and runs from the front before staying on, and this looks to be her optimum trip. Timbavati River should stay on resolutely like he did last time and can place again. With Pleasure has faced good fields over sprints and should enjoy the step up in trip on pedigree so is an interesting runner. The first-timer Corapi is by Elusive Fort and is a half-brother to twice winner Fromheretoeternity. Lincoln County is by Call To Combat and is a half-brother to four-time winner Lad and comes from the yard of Chris Jonker whose small string earn cheques consistently.

In the fifth race over 1000m, the consistent Sweet Sensation is the best in at the weights under the Graduation Plate conditions and will take a lot of beating having won twice and placed eight times in 12 starts over this trip. Alabama Anna will be a threat as among the vanquished in her easy maiden win over 1200m was Mike’s Chick, who recently bolted in by 7,75 lengths over 1600m. Naarah won her first two starts over this 800m and 1000m respectively before stepping up to feature company and now in this class she could be a contender.

In the sixth race over 1000m, Master Archie will take a power of beating as he beat the classy Dyce last time by a comfortable 2,50 lengths over this trip. Retallick looks to have scope for further improvement and this big horse could be the chief danger. Captain Morisco has ability and could earn. The filly Captain’s Run is second best in at the weights and can also be considered. Phinda Mzala has a lot of pace and will enjoy being back on the Highveld on this fast ground.

In the seventh race over 1600m, Ballet Shoes returns from a layoff of six months but is 6.5kg better off than any other horse and has returned from such a layoff before to run well. Eliud also returns from a layoff and has always struck as one who will come on as a four-year-old and he has already displayed class so it will be no surprise to see him winning. Paton’s Tears has plenty of ability and can also win if not losing many lengths at the start like he did last time. 

The last race is a Classified Stakes event over 1200m and looks wide open so as many as possible must be included. Flower Of Scotland is only half-a-kilogram under sufferance with the best weighted Midnight Gem and should have benefited from her decent comeback run last time so is the one to beat from a fair draw.       

GOLD CIRCLE is extremely proud to announce that it has achieved the first-place award as the best managed company in the Top 500 Gaming and Leisure sector. To be nominated as a Top 500 company, a business has to excel in three key spheres, financial performance, people management which includes the development of staff and commitment to social transformation as well as policy or accreditation.

“The Horseracing Industry has been faced with many serious challenges in the recent past which have resulted in the need to focus on ensuring that we can sustain the future of our sport in KwaZulu-Natal and in South Africa.  Gold Circle is grateful to have been considered for this award, and we are honoured to be recognised as the leader in our industry.” Said Michel Nairac, Gold Circle CEO.

Top 500 is a professional publication directory of South African companies that encourages business-to-business exchanges. The Topco Research Unit closely monitors the business performance of over 3800 companies annually.  Companies are scored against defined criteria in order to identify the top five organisations across 100 business sectors; credible businesses that are good at what they do; and the major companies that are the driving force of the South African economy.

To read the latest edition of Top 500 please click on the following link: https://issuu.com/topcomedia/docs/top500_11th_edition

David Thiselton

KZN Champion Owners the Hollywood Syndicate have some interestingly named horses and Hollywoodbets’ Brand and Communications Manager Devin Heffer explained there is real purpose behind these names.  

A recent example is the Dean Kannemeyer-trained William Longsword colt Khuluma Nathi, who has been discussed at length during the morning show on East Coast Radio (ECR), and the video and commentary of his debut were also downloaded on to the ECR website.

ECR are not part of the Hollywood Syndicate but are a Hollywoodbets business partner and Khulumu Nathi was named in recognition of presenter Sky Tshabalala’s live on-the-air Zulu lessons.

ECR thus have an attachment to the horse and view him as their own.

Consequently, they are are not only following his career but sharing the experience with thousands of listeners.

Devin said, “We love to name our horses after our business partners and sponsored entities. We want people to resonate with them. The Khulumu Nathi segment Sky hosted on the morning show really brought KZN together and bridged the gap between cultures so we thought what a beautiful name for a horse.” 

He continued, “Hollywoodbets Dolphins Players can identify with ‘Kingsmead Krystal’ named after their bubbly staff member and we have also included our own staff in naming horses, for example Bhakka, who has recently won three races at Fairview, is named after our long-time tipster Peter Barker and Imbejeje was named by our jovial housekeeping team (a fun name referring to “love handles”).” 

However, the concept does not end with the names. The relevant business partner or Hollywoodbets department associated with the horse are then exposed to every aspect of the sport. They are taken to Summerveld or Randjesfontein where they first enjoy breakfast in the clubhouse before visiting both the training rings and the stables where they can get close to the horses, including their “own” horse, and can speak to the trainers and jockeys. They are also taken to the parade ring on racedays. These groups thus get an overall horseracing experience that is usually reserved for owners and they become genuinely attached to “their” horse. This has a knock on effect when they share the experience with family and friends.

Heffer said, “People who have never been exposed to the sport are thus sitting up and saying ‘wow, this looks like an interesting and fun sport’, so it is generating interest and might hopefully lead to a buy in. Even if just one of them buys a horse the experience will reach all of their family and friends, so the knock on effect is potentially great.”

The concept works two ways as jockeys, trainers and owners are also getting to meet sporting legends like Springbok captain Siya Kholisi. 

The naming drive, and knock on effect, is thus in line with another of Hollywoodbets’ goals of uniting various mainstream sports like football, rugby, cricket, netball and horseracing which will increase the support they currently each have.  

Heffer pointed out that commentators and presenters are never left guessing but are instead contacted and not only taught the correct pronunciation of the names, but also the meaning behind them. He praised commentators Craig and Sheldon Peters and Alistair Cohen as well as the Gold Circle TV and Tellytrack presenters for buying in to the concept. 

Imilenzeyokududuma, for example, is named after Hollywoodbets brand ambassador, Jerry Sikhosana, an Orlando Pirates legend who scored the winning goal in the 1995 African Cup of Champions Clubs Final. Sikhosana’s nickname during his playing career was “Legs Of Thunder”, but Hollywoodbets felt the Xhosa translation “Imilenzeyokududuma” would have more impact.

Heffer explained, “Not enough has been done to expose blacks to horseracing and giving a horse a Xhosa name could ignite interest among a community who generally know little about the sport.”

Ironically, Sikhosana was nicknamed after a racehorse called “Legs Of Thunder” who featured in a 1990’s TV program. The nickname was coined by the late football journalist Sibusiso Mseleku due to Sikhosana’s running action which resembled a galloping horse.

The Duncan Howells-trained Spydas Corner is named after another Hollywoodbets football-famous brand ambassador, the Kaizer Chiefs and Bafana Bafana goalkeeping legend Brian Baloyi, who was nicknamed “Spiderman”.

Hollywoodbets asked brand ambassador Odwa Ndungane, a stalwart winger for the Sharks rugby team, for name ideas and stuck with his suggestion of “Isivunguvungu” which is the Zulu word for “storm”. Odwa said the name given to a Muscutt-trained gelding related to the feeling he had when running on to a rugby field. 

Brand Ambassador and cricketing legend Mike Procter named the Muscutt-trained Might Mashona. Procter played for Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) in the Currie Cup while living in Mashonaland from 1970 to 1976 and during this spell he not only joined Sir Donald Bradman and CB Fry as one of the only players in history to record six successive first class centuries but he also recorded his best bowling figures of 9 for 71.  

Some of the names might be a mouthful but promoting horseracing is the purpose behind them.

Andrew Harrison

It was probably asking a little too much of Kingsmeads Krystl to take on winners in her first three starts, including two group races. She takes on maidens for the first time in the card opener on the turf at Hollywoodbets Greyville today and barring any springers amongst the first timers, she should take a lot of beating.

Alyson Wright’s filly was far from disgraced in any of those starts and in spite of finishing over a dozen lengths back to Desert Miracle in the Gr2 Golden Slipper, she was in the pack with the rest of them as Mike de Kock’s filly sauntered to an eight-length victory.

She makes her seasonal debut here coming off a 74-day break, and could prove a little too classy.

The scrap for the minor placings could be close. Sea Of Tranquility has come to hand of late and with the blinkers off she rates a strong chance in this line-up. Winter Journey has shown some recent improvement and was a beaten favourite last run. Fateful Mistress and Fearless Kitty are others to consider.

Duquesne Whistle finished runner-up on Monday but was still a runner here at time of writing. However, it would be a little surprising if she does make the start in the second and her defection would make it slightly easier for stable companion Claudina who has improved with every run. She is lightly raced and can bring some relief to the MJ Odendaal stable that has been finding the winner’s enclosure a little elusive in recent weeks.

Duncan Howells has opened the stable doors this afternoon and saddles 11 runners, starting with Sea Of Tranquility in the first. Next up is Shield Maiden in the opening leg of the Pick 6. The daughter of William Longsword is not half as talented as her half-sister Via Africa but she is lightly raced and appears to be improving with each outing. This step up in trip may be what she’s looking for. Indomavel may have found her last run too short and from a good draw will be a threat while New Orleans has not been far back in two sprints and should enjoy the extra furlong.

Howells saddles Naval Secret in the fourth and the gelding has come good for his new stable. He had a tough draw on the poly last time out and has pulled a better marble here although he will not be short of opposition in a race where most of the runners are in with a winning chance. Master ToBe has been much improved in blinkers and had tough draws at his last. Fromheretoeternity comes with some smart Highveld form over the trip but took a big jump in the handicap for her last win. Euphotic and Pink Floyd are others to consider.

A small field lines up in the fifth where Keep The Lights on reverts to Graduation company and looks the part. Sofia Erin is talented but has developed an aversion to the starting stalls. If the starter’s assistants manage to load her and she jumps she could be a threat. Mark Dixon sends out Vivid Jet who returns from a break. She is way better than her last two but may just need this outing.

Gavin van Zyl saddles River Doon in the sixth and it should pay to keep close tabs on the betting. She showed early ability and a promising return from a lengthy ten-month break after her maiden win. Roha has been taking on stronger on the Highveld and she was second best in a strong line-up last start and should make a bold bid here. Quepid has some useful form in strong company and Maris Corolina won well against weaker last start and although she steps up in class she is in good form and has another handy galloping weight.

Paul Peter has sent down a strong raiding party and Astrix can give a good account after running out a comfortable winner last time out. The blinkers seemed to have helped and from a good draw must have a strong chance. Native Tongue has smart form in good company. His last win was over this course and distance in a feature and at best should go close. Tristful is the best weighted runner and featured strongly in top company in Champions Season. He is likely to start favourite.

The Tony Nassif-trained Consol Queen is likely to start at long odds for the last where she faces a useful field. However, she has been showing steady recent improvement and off a light weight looks primed for this. Silver Maria is long overdue and has been costly to follow but she goes well over course and distance and must have a change of luck anytime soon. Princess Anastasia has threatened but yet to deliver but the blinkers come off and she steps up to what may be a more suitable trip and Aquae Sulis has come good of late and switches to what looks to be her preferred surface.

RACE 1: 3 KINGSMEADS KRYSTL   10 SEA OF TRANQUILITY   2 WINTER JOURNEY   6 FEARLESS KITTY

Preview: KINGSMEADS KRYSTL (3) contested two features last season. Her last run is best ignored and should go well if judged on her earlier form. SEA OF TRANQUILITY (10) has come to hand of late. The blinkers come off and she rates a strong chance in this line-up. WINTER JOURNEY (2) has shown some recent improvement and was a beaten favourite last run. FATEFUL MISTRESS (1) is a battling maiden but her recent form has been consistent and from a good draw can feature. FEARLESS KITTY (6) returns from a break but took on winners in her first two outings and was not too far back last run. (Andrew Harrison: 3-10-2-1-6).

RACE 2: 5 CLAUDINA   8 NOBLE NOVA   3 DUQUESNE WHISTLE   2 NATASHA ROSTOV

Preview: CLAUDINA (5) has improved with every run. Lightly raced and can make further improvement. Stable companion DUQUESNE WHISTLE (3) is long overdue. Consistent form and a 4kg claimer up should enhance her chances. NOBLE NOVA (8) has been holding form and stays the trip well. She must have a chance in this line-up, NATASHA ROSTOV (2) looks held by the first selection but is lightly raced and is up in trip for the first time. The stable is in form so cannot be written off. (Andrew Harrison: 5-3-8-2).

RACE 3: 5 SHIELD MAIDEN   4 INDOMAVEL   2 NEW ORLEANS   14 CASHEW

Preview: SHIELD MAIDEN (5) is coming along slowly and the step up in trip may be what she’s looking for. INDOMAVEL (4) may have found her last run too short. Better this trip from a good draw. NEW ORLEANS (2) has not been far back in two sprints and should enjoy the extra furlong. CASHEW (14) has a difficult draw but was narrowly beaten over course and distance last start and must have a decent chance on that showing. (Andrew Harrison: 5-4-2-14).

RACE 4: 6 NAVAL SECRET   3 MASTER TO BE   7 FROMHERETOETERNITY   13 EUPHORIC

Preview: Tricky handicap. NAVAL SECRET (6) has comes good for his new stable and had a tough draw on the poly last time out. He has pulled a better marble here. MASTER TO BE (3) has been much improved in blinkers. Tough draws for his last two and has a much better gate here. FROMHERETOETERNITY (7) comes with some smart Highveld form over the trip. Took a big jump in the handicap for her last win but looks capable of following up. EUPHORIC (13) has drawn wide and was never in the hunt from a similarly wide draw on the poly last outing. He has smart form in blinkers other than his last run and has a money chance. (Andrew Harrison: 6-3-7-13).

RACE 5: 4 KEEP THE LIGHTS ON   1 SOFIA ERIN   5 VIVID JET   6 FINDING FREEDOM

Preview: KEEP THE LIGHTS ON (4) has been rested but has some useful form in the best company. She may just need it but at best should go close. SOFIA ERIN (1) is not the easiest at the gate but is smart on her day. Will go close if she loads. VIVID JET (5) returns from a break. She is way better than her last two but may just need this outing. FINDING FREEDOM (6) contested two features before taking on maidens. Narrow winner but does looks promising. (Andrew Harrison: 4-1-5-6).

RACE 6: 3 RIVER DOON   6 ROHA   8 QUEPID   4 MARIA COROLINA

Preview: RIVER DOON (3) showed early promise. Made a promising return from a lengthy break and extra will suit. ROHA (6) has been taking on stronger on the Highveld. She was second best in a a strong line-up last start and should make a bold bid here. QUEPID (8) has some useful form in strong company. Stable has come out in force today. MARIA COROLINA (4) won well against weaker last start but although she steps up in class she is in good form and has another handy galloping weight. (Andrew Harrison: 3-6-8-4).

RACE 7: 2 ASTRIX   4 NATIVE TONGUE   10 GURU’S PRIDE   3 CALIENTE

Preview: ASTRIX (2) is the best weighted here and was a comfortable winner last time out. The blinkers seemed to have helped and from a good draw must have a strong chance. NATIVE TONGUE (4) has smart form in good company. Last win this course and distance in a feature and at best should go close. GURU’S PRIDE (10) has been off form of late but caught the eye behind Captain Fontane last start and with a 4kg claimer up must have a shout. CALIENTE (3) is seldom far back on the poly. Switches to the turf from a good draw. Should be right there. (Andrew Harrison: 2-4-10-3).

RACE 8: 9 CONSOL QUEEN   3 SILVER MARIA   1 PRINCESS ANASTASIA   10 AQUAE SULIS

Preview: CONSOL QUEEN (9) has been showing steady recent improvement. Light weight and looks primed for this. SILVER MARIA (3) is long overdue and has been costly to follow but she goes well over course and distance and must have a change of luck anytime soon. PRINCESS ANASTASIA (1) has threatened but yet to deliver but the blinkers come off and she steps up to what may be a more suitable trip. AQUAE SULIS (10) has come good of late. Switches back to what looks to be her preferred surface. (Andrew Harrison: 9-3-1-10)

Andrew Harrison

APPRENTICE RACHEL VENNIKER had an afternoon to remember as she booted home a treble for Michael Roberts at Hollywoodbets Greyville yesterday. Hardly more than three months into her professional career and she has tongues wagging and barring misfortune could well emulate the likes of Hollie Doyle and other outstanding internationally proven female riders that are easily holding their own in what used to be a male dominated profession.

Venniker still has to add polish and punch to her riding and her left hand but she does all the basics, placing her mounts and keeping her balance in the finish. It has worked for her so far and she hardly had to revert to the stick on the Roberts-trained Hatta, the first of her winners yesterday, as she went to the line basically hands-and-heels.

The combination was back in front of the microphone a race latter as Venniker produced another mature ride on the Roberts-trained Tupelo Honey.  It was Venniker’s third win in succession on the grey but instead of making all the running as in her two previous races, she was content to sit in off the pace as Philisande Mxoli set a good pace on Paul Peter’s runner Sacred Lotus.

The Highveld visitor looked to hang tough in the straight but Venniker always had the pacemaker in her sights as she moved off the inside rail on the turn, picked her spot and fired home.

Any doubts that Venniker was a one-trick pony where firmly put to bed two races later as she turned in another pearler for Roberts as she got Patronage to respond positively to her encouragement. No flailing whip needed even in the heat of the moment. Seemingly in trouble with challengers on all sides, Venniker kept her mount balanced and a few gentle right-handed reminders saw the gelding give of his best. 

In stark contrast to Venniker, Thabiso Gumede, soon out of his time, is equally talented but is all hustle, bustle and muscle and rarely gets beaten in a tight finish. He rammed it home on Not No Pussycat for Gary Rich as the filly looked to run in under pressure, winning in commanding fashion.

There is a hard truth in racing that a horse does not know its pedigree or its price. Tales Of Us has a blue-blood pedigree and cost a pretty penny at the sales but it took him four years to win his maiden and the prospects of another success seem limited going on the post-race comments of his connections.

Often a handful at home, the most damning indictment came from Keagan de Melo; “He doesn’t try too hard.”

That said, Byron Forster does a sterling job as Andre Nel’s KZN assistant for Sabine Plattner and does not often get the cream of the crop.

Ask any jockey who has been laid off for a length of time and they will tell you that it’s not easy getting back to full race-riding fitness.

Anton Marcus has still managed eight winners from just 45 rides this season and he showed that he was back in the groove on Bend The Rules in the second. In a ding-dong battle over the final furlong, Serino Moodley appeared to have got his measure as Royal Monarch edged ahead, but in one final desperate lunge, Marcus got Bend The Rules to respond one last time to get his nose in front.

Soft and still all leg according to Lorenzo Kariem who does a lot of the work for owner Mario Ferreira although Gareth van Zyl is carded as the trainer.

I’m not aufait with the rules regarding equipment changes but surely trainers should have it all in hand at declarations, well before the morning of the race. Rain Wear was carded to race in blinkers but yesterday at 8.16 am to be exact, race control was informed that the blinkers were coming off.

In the same race, although notified the day before, Roy’s Rocker was declared in blinkers. Roy’s Rocker improved to run third while Rain Wear was hesitant to go through a tight gap and finished out of the money. One cannot blame a trainer for playing by the rules, but surely the rules regarding late equipment changes should be tightened. It’s just not fair on the punter who does not have access to the late changes.