Devonne Govender

Michael Miller saddles Bell Of Angelus in the opener at Hollywoodbets Scottsville today and she looks a to be a strong contender for victory.

Her debut effort was decent and with natural improvement to come she will be bang in the firing line. 

Respect must be given to the Robbie Hill charge Hollywood Heiress. She is another who will progress from having a run under the belt and is expected to get much closer with Calvin Habib aboard. Punters are urged to keep a close eye on the market as there are a few unraced runners that line up, any market support must be respected.

Holds The Key looks a stand out on form in the second race and could give trainer Michael Miller a quick double on the card if things go to plan. He looked all out a winner in the last start before being beaten narrowly on the line.

Sonata Samaritan in Race 5 ran an absolute cracker in her last start when narrowly being beaten by Amafort. She goes over the extended 1600m trip which could suit her well so a huge performance is expected. 

This race is a highly competitive contest and a case can be made for many. Greenlight Queen is a very interesting runner. She didn’t get away on terms in her last start however was running on. She did receive some betting support on that occasion and she will be a factor here. 

Masterbling from the Garth Puller yard looks hard to oppose on current form. His recent runs have been outstanding so will be a massive contender especially with a light mass on his back. Although he takes on stronger in this contest, he will make his presence felt in a big way.

Jet Legacy is another who has been in top form recently. The Alyson Wright trained son of Divine Jet ran a cracker in the last start when narrowly being beaten by Connery. He gets regular rider Athandiwe Mgudlwa aboard and will be involved in the finish. 

Other challengers could come in the form of Hope Is Power and License To Thrill. They both seem to be holding form and are certainly not out of this contest. 

RACE 1

5 COMIC RELIEF      6 HOLLYWOOD HEIRESS      4 BELL OF ANGELUS      8 MALSHANA MOU 

Preview: COMIC RELIEF (5) is clearly the stable elect judging by the riding arrangements and is selected to win. HOLLYWOOD HEIRESS (6) has scope to build on debut effort and can place. BELL OF ANGELUS (4) showed pace on debut and should have come on a ton from that – go close. MALSHANA MOU (8) is beautifully bred and could threaten first up. (Warren Lenferna 5-6-4-8) 

RACE 2

7 TREATY OF PARIS       5 HOLDS THE KEY      1 ATLANTIC BREEZE      4 GEORGE’S MAGIC 

Preview: TREATY OF PARIS (7) might not be the stable elect looking at the rider arrangements but is by an exciting new stallion. Watch the betting as race time looms. HOLDS THE KEY (5) is the one they all have to set their sights on and Tristan Godden will be looking to set the record straight. ATLANTIC BREEZE (1) caught the eye when making a pleasing start to his career and can go very close. GEORGE’S MAGIC (4) can improve. (Warren Lenferna 7-5-1-4) 

3

8 RUBY RISING       12 QUEEN FENN      5 WINGS OF JOSEPHINE      13 ARE YOU SURE 

Preview: RUBY RISING (8) is improving with racing and looks cherry ripe and ready for the win. She is the firm first choice. QUEEN FENN (12) was far from disgraced on debut and with natural progression, can get a lot closer now. Bright chance. WINGS OF JOSEPHINE (5) again, gets weight off her back and it would be no shock at all, if, she was to go one better. ARE YOU SURE (13) can finish in the first four, Expect a good effort. (Warren Lenferna 8-12-5-13) 

RACE 4

1 UNCLE LUCKY      6 FUTURARIUS       3 BLACK PLATINA      2 LIGHTNINGFORK 

Preview: This is not the strongest maiden field ever assembled and an upset would be no shock at all! If you can include the field, do so! UNCLE LUCKY (1) is trying for the 39^th time to get it all right – today could be his day! FUTURARIUS (6) might be the one to cause the upset as he takes on not much opposition – place value. BLACK PLATINA (3) and LIGHTNINGFORK (2) must be included in trifectas and quartets. (Warren Lenferna 1-6-3-2) 

RACE 5

2 ROYAL MERMAID      1 NAUTICAL LANDING      8 SONATA SAMARITAN   6 TERMINAL VELOCITY 

Preview: ROYAL MERMAID (2) could be the value in the race and is given each way claims. She was on the poly on debut and far from disgraced. She now gets an increase in the distance and the grass. Watch. NAUTICAL LANDING (1) has run second in the last two and should get it all right soon – obvious bright win claims. SONATA SAMARITAN (8) is improving and improving quickly. She went close last time and has a huge chance today – big runner. TERMINAL VELOCITY (6) is a must for all bets. (Warren Lenferna 2-1-8-6) 

RACE 6

7 BURNING MAN       3 TERMINATOR      4 MISTER NIBBLES      5 TEATIME TIPPLE 

Preview: BURNING MAN (7) is slowly sliding down the ratings and has always had some ability. He is the strong each way value suggestion. TERMINATOR (3) boasts and brings some solid Cape Town form into the race and might be too strong for the opposition – bright winning chance. MISTER NIBBLES (4) has a strong place chance and TEATIME TIPPLE (5) is testing our patience for the next win. (Warren Lenferna 7-3-4-5) 

RACE 7

7 LUCRATIVE      2 PROM QUEEN      3 BEAUTIFUL RANIA      1 GET IN THE Q 

Preview: LUCRATIVE (7) is proving to be a fair filly whom reverts to 1200ms this time. He last run was encouraging; she is a two-time winner from only six starts and is the one they all have to fear the most. PROM QUEEN (2) ran a much better race last time and can get much closer – place value. BEAUTIFUL RANIA (3) has a bright chance of finishing in the first three and GET IN THE Q (1) is capable but taking time to find the winners box again but is earning. (Warren Lenferna 7-2-3-1) 

RACE 8

1 HOPE IS POWER      8 MASTERBLING      4 JET LEGACY      3 COLD SHINE 

Preview: HOPE IS POWER (1) was beaten in the shadow of the post last time under apprentice Damyan Pillay. He has been given the ride back and will be looking to go one better. He can, and is therefore, the firm first choice. MASTERBLING (8) is in tremendous form and earning and winning for his connections – he can’t be ignored. JET LEGACY (4) got close to the speedy Connery last time and should be in the shake-up again. Bright chance. COLD SHINE (3) has quartet claims. (Warren Lenferna 1-8-4-3) 

Graeme Hawkins

Song To The Moon looks set to complete a hattrick of victories when he takes on five rivals in the R135 000 Cape B Stakes over 1800m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth today. Billed as the second of nine races, Song To The Moon rates a confident Bipot banker for the in-form team of Justin Snaith and Richard Fourie. The 4yo son of What A Winter has matured into a very good-looking gelding with plenty of scope for further improvement. Given the lack of obvious pace in this small field, I would imagine that, if needs be, Fourie will allow Song To The Moon to use his big action and dictate matters from the front.

On form, he appears to have the measure of Chollima, Gimme More Time and Green Mandarin and the biggest threat could come from the lightly weighted 3yo daughter of Global View, Omikami, from the stable of Lucinda Woodruff. Set to carry just 50kgs, the improving Omikami will be partnered by Josh Solomons, and she could capitalise if the race is run at a false pace. Omikami is still relatively unexposed, having had only three starts to date, but she caught the eye when running on strongly over 1600m to finish fourth behind Hampstead Heath six weeks ago.

Fourie could strike for the Woodruff team in the fourth race, a Maiden Plate over 1400m. He has been engaged to ride My Archangel and the 3yo son of Soqrat was seen to good advantage when second recently behind Honor of Kings over 1200m. The step-up in trip should be ideal and from a handy barrier position, My Archangel could confirm the form with Gurkha who finished fourth in the same race. Superhero was a distant runner-up behind Scottish Kiss on debut, but the well-bred son of Futura will improve with racing experience and could make his presence felt.

The pick of Fourie’s full book of rides could be the Piet Botha-trained King Viserys in the sixth race, a Class 5 Handicap over 1400m. He is certainly no star, and labelling horses in low-grade handicaps is risky business, but to be frank, with the scratching of Boundless Love, the opposition looks decidedly limited and judged on his recent form, King Viserys looks hard to oppose. Trippi’s Silk drops into Class 5 company for the first time and may suddenly improve on his moderate last three efforts but I am going to take my chances with King Viserys.

Aldo Domeyer and Candice Bass-Robinson have lively chances with Sheets and Goggles (third race), Major Master (seventh race) and Babelicious in the eighth race. Best of these could be Sheets and Goggles in the opening leg of the Place Accumulator, a Maiden Plate (F&M) over 1400m. It is probably fair to say that Sheets and Goggles has under delivered since her promising debut, but she ran on nicely when third over track and trip last time and her maiden victory seems imminent.

Major Master bumps a competitive line-up in the seventh race, a Class 4 Handicap over 1400m, but his post-maiden effort when fourth behind Gentleman Joe over 1600m was encouraging and he jumps from pole position. Fourie rides the Eric Sands inmate, Carriacou, from an equally good draw and the 5yo son of Captain Of All has been placed in his last four starts. He meets Major Master on 2kgs better terms than weight-for-age and should again give a good account of himself. Commanding bounced back to best last time and on the form of their last run, there is not much to choose between Commanding and Carriacou. These three appear to be the principals, although an upset result cannot be ruled out.

Babelicious will sport blinkers for the first time when she takes on eight rivals in the penultimate race, a Class 4 Handicap (F&M) over 1200m. Babelicious is weighted to match strides with Festival Chic, but the former may just have the edge of this track and trip. Hope Chest cannot be lightly dismissed. Her run in the Grade 1 World Sports Betting Cape Fillies Guineas is best ignored and she rates a strong chance on her previous course and distance performances. Alltheboysiveloved is holding form well and should once again be in the mix while Ticket To Vegas appears well treated at the weights and the 4yo daughter of William Longsword is a must-inclusion. Recent maiden winner Back At The George may have scope for further improvement.

The first race, a Maiden Juvenile Plate over 1000m, is due off at 12:35 – keep an eye on the betting with regards the newcomers Absolutely Yes and New World.

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.