RACE 1

4 MC DAZZLER   5 FUTURE FLO   6 WARRIOR OF ROYALTY   3 IBHELE

Summary: MC DAZZLER (4) took an age to shed his maiden and in some quarters was in danger of being labeled a ‘thief’. That all changed last time out as Craig Zackey took Dean Kannemeyer’s runner to the front at a solid gallop and he was not for the catching. He takes on a much stronger field here but if the ratings are correct he looks well in with apprentice Brevan Plaatjies taking 2.5kg off his back and a postage stamp of 50kg. FUTURE FLO (5) was in a similar position to Mc Dazzler until Michael Roberts cut him to a sprint where he is unbeaten in two and nicely weighted with Rachel Venniker’s allowance. WARRIOR OF ROYALTY (6) will be a threat given his current form and was a close-up second when favourite last time out. IBHELE (3) had a difficult draw to contend with in his comeback run after a lengthy break but starting at 50-1 not was expected by Louis Goosen. With that run under his girth in a small field from a good draw, he will be a contender if anywhere near his best. (Andrew Harrison: 4-5-6-3).

RACE 2

7 KING BAVARIAN   3 DUKE OF AFRICA   2 BLAZING LIGHT   4 RAINWATER

Summary: KING BAVARIAN (7) has obviously recovered from a bout of asotorea which saw him scratched from last weeks card. Alyson Wright’s charge has been battling for his second win but with only 53.5kg to shoulder he must have a strong chance in this line-up in spite of being near the bottom of the handicap. DUKE OF AFRICA (3) is another struggling for his second win but has been paying his way for Frank Robinson with a string of placed runs. He was not behind promising stable companion Field Marshal at his penultimate start and a repeat can see him close. Top weight BLAZING LIGHT (2) has patchy form but was staying on behind Allaroundtheworld last time out and Rachel Venniker stays with the ride. RAINWATER (4) is still a maiden but appeared to enjoy the trip om the poly last time out and the lightly raced son of Futura is one to watch in the betting. (Andrew Harrison: 7-3-2-4).

RACE 3

1 BEL GIOCATORE   7 TWILIGHT BAY   2 SANBEENEE   5 YELLOW JACKET

Summary: Mike Miller has set punters a puzzle in the opening leg of the Pick 6 with his two runners BEL GIOCATORE (1) and TWILIGHT BAY (7). The latter has shown promise and was a beaten favourite last run when tried in blinkers for the first time. However, stable first call rider Tristan Godden has jumped ship to partner Bel Giocatore who has improved at her last two and she could be the pick of the pair. YELLOW JACKET (5) is seldom far off and although seemingly well held by Twilight Bay on their last meeting, the step up in trip may now what Kom Naidoo’s filly is looking for. SANBEENEE (2) was on offer at 150-1 at her last start but major improvement when stepped up in trip. Garth Puller’s yard is in good form of late and the filly can build on that last showing. (Andrew Harrison: 1-7-2-5).

RACE 4

7 FAIRE ADVANTAGE   1 BRAVE BOMBER   6 WAVE WARRIOR   2 FOREST JUMP

Summary: FAIRE ADVANTAGE (7) ran out a comfortable winner when making his poly debut. Rachel Venniker take the ride on the top weight and he can follow up. BRAVE BOMBER (1) has improved with every outing and was a comfortable maiden winner last time out. He got a hefty rating for his handicap debut but does look progressive. FOREST JUMP (2) has been a soldier for Darryl Moore  and his last win was not out of turn. However, he did get a four-point rise in the handicap and back in a bracket where he has been struggling. WAVE WARRIOR (6) was in contention all the way to the line behind Lucretius last Wednesday where the blinkers came off and replaced by cheek pieces. He has steady form over course and distance and should be up there again. (Andrew Harrison: 7-1-6-2).

RACE 5

8 GINGER DELIGHT   4 ETHEREAL VIEW   3 SAFE AND SOUND   1 POURSOMESUGARONME

Summary: GINGER DELIGHT (8) comes in with joint top weight but the daughter of Canford Cliffs won well first time out on the poly when making her debut for Dean Kannemeyer. She has won two of her four starts and the manner of her last win suggests that she can follow up. ETHEREAL VIEW (4) has come on nicely at recent outings and was a comfortable winner over course and distance last run. Mike Miller’s filly looks progressive and she must have a good chance of following up. SAFE AND SOUND (3) is another lightly raced filly who is at home over course and distance. Kabelo Matsunyane stays with the ride for Duncan Howells. POURSOMESUGARONME (1) is never far back but most of her recent form has been over 1400m. However, she is a five-year-old and the extra furlong may now suit. REGENERATION (5) win on debut for Robbie Hill but she was due to run on Sunday. (Andrew Harrison: 8-4-3-1).

RACE 6

6 ROYAL SWAN MASTER   2 IRISH LUCK   1 FORCE DE DIEU   7 KING’S ISLAND

Summary: ROYAL SWAN MASTER (6) is over due after a string of close-up finishes when tried in blinkers on the poly. Dean Kannemeyer’s gelding has been a beaten favourite at his last two but he is down in class and even top weight should not be enough to stop him. IRISH LUCK (2) was game in defeat when trying to chase down Benni In The Area. He was staying on stoutly in the finish and the step up to a mile could bring out the best. Robyn Klaasen travels from the Highveld with FORCE DE DIEU (1) who was close up on the Turffontein inner track last time out. He makes his poly debut. KING’S ISLAND (7) is way better than his last run and gets some relief in the ratings which should help his cause. (Andrew Harrison: 6-2-1-7).

RACE 7

3 OCEAN PALACE   7 THESUPERNOVASTAR   6 DRIVE BY   5 PERFECT TRUST

Summary: OCEAN PALACE (3) was well beaten by THESUPERNOVASTAR (7) when last they met but Kom Naidoo’s filly got a hefty seven-point ride in the handicap for her efforts. Naidoo has booked a 4kg claimer to mitigate but Dennis Bosch has booked Rachel Venniker and it remains to be seen if the swing in the weights will see Ocean Palace turn the tables. DRIVE BY (6) is always game and steps up to 1400m. The daughter of Rafeef is a five-time winner and should be competitive in this line-up. PERFECT TRUST (5) is consistent and did find some market support last outing. (Andrew Harrison: 3-7-6-5).

RACE 8

8 AMOR FATI   3 SOVEREIGN COMMAND   5 CATAVAR   7 GRAND OASIS

Summary: Not many runners with any form to commend them in this Maiden Handicap but AMOR FATI (8) can make amends for his disappointing showing last time out when starting favourite. He was reported to be fatigued after the race with Craig Zackey easing him out of the contest. He is back over a more suitable trip and likely to start favourite. SOVEREIGN COMMAND (3) was a well beaten favourite when Amor Fati finished second at their previous meeting. However, he gets first time blinkers and should have a strong chance in this line-up. CATAVAR (5) is a struggling maiden but has shown some recent improvement and Tony Rivalland has booked a 4kg claimer which could make him competitive. GRAND OASIS (7) arrives from the Highveld with little form to commend him but could improve on the poly. (Andrew Harrison: 8-3-5-7).

Andrew Harrison

Small fields are the order of the day on the Hollywoodbets Greyville poly today but there is still some competitive racing that will keep punters on their toes.

Mc Dazzler can kick off proceedings. He took an age to shed his maiden and in some quarters was in danger of being labeled a ‘thief’. That all changed last time out as Craig Zackey took Dean Kannemeyer’s runner to the front at a solid gallop and he was not for the catching. He takes on a much stronger field here but if the ratings are correct he looks well in with apprentice Brevan Plaatjies taking 2.5kg off his back and a postage stamp of 50kg. 

Future Flo was in a similar position to Mc Dazzler until Michael Roberts dropped him to a sprint where he is unbeaten in two and nicely weighted with Rachel Venniker’s allowance. Warrior Of Royalty will be a threat given his current form and was a close-up second when favourite last time out. 

Ibhele could be the dark horse. He had a difficult draw to contend with in his comeback run after a lengthy break but starting at 50-1 it was obvious that nothing was expected by Louis Goosen. With that run under his girth in a small field from a good draw, he will be a contender if anywhere near his best. 

King Bavarian has obviously recovered from a bout of azoturia which saw him scratched from last week’s card and will be a fancied runner in the second. Alyson Wright’s charge has been battling for his second win but with only 53.5kg to shoulder he must have a strong chance in this line-up in spite of being near the bottom of the handicap. Duke Of Africa is another struggling for his second win but has been paying his way for Frank Robinson with a string of placed runs. He was behind promising stable companion Field Marshal at his penultimate start and a repeat can see him close. Top weight Blazing Light has patchy form but was staying on behind Allaroundtheworld last time out and Rachel Venniker stays with the ride. Rainwater is still a maiden but appeared to enjoy the trip on the poly last time out and the lightly raced son of Futura is one to watch in the betting. 

Mike Miller has set punters a puzzle in the opening leg of the Pick 6 with his two runners Bel Giocatore and Twilight Bay. The latter has shown promise and was a beaten favourite last run when tried in blinkers for the first time. However, stable first call rider Tristan Godden has jumped ship to partner Bel Giocatore who has improved at her last two and she could be the pick of the pair. Yellow Jacket is seldom far off and although seemingly well held by Twilight Bay on their last meeting, the step up in trip may now be what Kom Naidoo’s filly is looking for. Sanbeenee was on offer at 150-1 at her last start but major improvement when stepped up in trip. Garth Puller’s yard is in good form of late and the filly can build on that last showing

Faire Advantage ran out a comfortable winner when making his poly debut. Rachel Venniker takes the ride on the top weight and he can follow up in the fourth. Brave Bomber has improved with every outing and was a comfortable maiden winner last time out. He got a hefty rating for his handicap debut but does look progressive. Forest Jump has been a soldier for Darryl Moore  and his last win was not out of turn. However, he did get a four-point rise in the handicap and back in a bracket where he has been struggling. Wave Warrior was in contention all the way to the line behind Lucretius last Wednesday where the blinkers came off and replaced by cheek pieces. He has steady form over course and distance and should be up there again. 

Ginger Delight could be one of the better bets in the fifth. She comes in with joint top weight but the daughter of Canford Cliffs won well first time out on the poly when making her debut for Dean Kannemeyer. She has won two of her four starts and the manner of her last win suggests that she can follow up. Ethereal View has come on nicely at recent outings and was a comfortable winner over course and distance last run. Mike Miller’s filly looks progressive and she must have a good chance of following up. Safe And Sound is another lightly raced filly who is at home over course and distance. Kabelo Matsunyane stays with the ride for Duncan Howells. 

Royal Swan Master is overdue after a string of close-up finishes when tried in blinkers on the poly. Kannemeyer’s gelding has been a beaten favourite at his last two but he is down in class and even top weight should not be enough to stop him in the sixth. Biggest threat should be Irish Luck who was game in defeat when trying to chase down Benni In The Area. He was staying on stoutly in the finish and the step up to a mile could bring out the best. 

The seventh could be a toss-up between Ocean Palace and Thesupernovastar. Ocean Palace was well beaten by Thesupernovastar when last they met but Kom Naidoo’s filly got a hefty seven-point rise in the handicap for her efforts. Naidoo has booked a 4kg claimer to mitigate but Dennis Bosch has booked Rachel Venniker and it remains to be seen if the swing in the weights will see Ocean Palace turn the tables. Drive By is always game and steps up to 1400m. The daughter of Rafeef is a five-time winner and should be competitive in this line-up. 

There are not many runners with form to commend them in this Maiden Handicap but Amor Fati can make amends for his disappointing showing last time out when starting favourite. He was reported to be fatigued after the race with Craig Zackey easing him out of the contest. He is back over a more suitable trip and likely to start favourite. Sovereign Command was a well beaten favourite when Amor Fati finished second at their previous meeting. However, he gets first time blinkers and should have a strong chance in this line-up. Catavar is a struggling maiden but has shown some recent improvement and Tony Rivalland has booked a 4kg claimer which could make him competitive. 

David Thiselton

The final field of 20 for the Gr 1 R6 million Betway Summer Cup will be announced live on channel 240 at 19H00 today.

The declarations are due in by 11H00.

There were 31 horses still standing their ground yesterday morning and the panellists had one or two difficult decisions to make.

Dave The King was the only one from the final log’s top 20 to have been scratched.

That left a top 19 of See It Again, Royal Victory, Winchester Mansion, Main Defender, Purple Pitcher, Barbaresco, Frances Ethel, Silver Sanctuary, Beating Wings, Hotarubi, Atticus Finch, Puerto Manzano, Pure Predator, My Soul Mate, Future Pearl, Madison Valley, Safe Passage, Zeus and Litigation.

Those who were outside of the top 20 who were still standing their ground yesterday were (in merit rating order) Son Of Raj, Meridius, Aragosta, Shoemaker, Cape Eagle, Indian Ocean, Rule By Force, The Futurist, Marauding Horde, River Romeo, Atarime, Thunee Playa.  

The question will be whether any horses will drop out of their incumbent top 20 on the log slots. If the answer is yes, who will take their places, and if the answer is no then which one of the 12 on the outside looking in will get into the field.

Thunee Playa finished a 3,40 length fourth in the Gr 3 Betway Victory Moon Stakes over 1800m last time out and the connections must have opted to take the full merit rated raise of ten points in an effort to get into the Summer Cup, because placed horses in that race only have to take four points maximum. However, a 103 performance might not be enough to warrant a place.

This is particularly in light of Rule By Force winning a Mr 106 Handicap over 1800m by a comfortable two lengths on the same day and being raised to 112. Rule By Force looks to be the favourite to get in.

None of the other outside looking in horses have done enough to warrant a leap upward into the final field.

There have been some mediocre performances among the top 20 incumbents, with Future Pearl for example being beaten over 18 lengths in the Victory Moon and Safe Passage continuing to disappoint. Puerto Manzano also looks to be past his best, while Litigation and Pure Predator have not excelled this season.

Could Thunee Playa be given a place at the expense of one of those horses?

The final field panellists might be reluctant to do so due to the potential of those five, with Safe Passage for example going for a third runner up finish in the Summer Cup, Puerto Manzano being a past winner, Future Pearl having run a cracker in the Hollywoodbets Durban July, Pure Predator having performed well at Gr 1 level and Litigation having run a three length fifth in the Summer Cup two years ago.

So, the prediction for the final field is See It Again, Royal Victory, Winchester Mansion, Main Defender, Purple Pitcher, Barbaresco, Frances Ethel, Silver Sanctuary, Beating Wings, Hotarubi, Atticus Finch, Puerto Manzano, Pure Predator, My Soul Mate, Future Pearl, Madison Valley, Safe Passage, Zeus, Litigation and Rule By Force.

Graeme Hawkins

The buoyant team of Adam Marcus and Grant Van Niekerk continued their healthy strike rate as Hampstead Heath ran out a comfortable and popular winner of the fifth race, a Class 4 Handicap (F&M) over 1600m, at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth yesterday. Kamchatka (3/1) retained her position at the top of the betting boards, but Hampstead Heath shortened from 5/1 to 33/10 and proved far too good for the favourite, forging ahead over the last 200m to win with more than a length to spare.

Enchanting Choice finished the race off well from some way back turning for home and only just failed to snare Kamchatka for the runner-up berth. Omikami rounded off the Quartet and is certainly one for the notebook. The daughter of Global View was hampered leaving the starting gates and was a lot further back than Richard Fourie would have wanted, but she was gaining quickly at the line and with only three runs under the belt, there is plenty more to come with added racing experience.

Andre Nel and Corne Orffer may have been a trifle disappointed that Kamchatka came up second best, but the combination were on the mark in the previous race when Lavender Bay ran out a pillar-to-post winner of the fourth race, a Maiden Plate (F&M) over 1600m. Orffer took no prisoners leaving the gates and Lavender Bay (7/2) was four lengths clear turning into the home stretch. The 4yo daughter of Twice Over kept on resolutely into a strong Southeasterly headwind and try as she might, Diamond Bomber (9/4f) was unable to bridge the gap.

Orffer was also seen to good advantage in the second race, a Cape D Stakes over 1000m, when sitting quietly and holding Casino Ace (33/10) together in the closing stages to thwart the late effort from Mrs Shackleton by half-a-length.

What A Fortune (3/1) looked one of the better bets on the card and he duly delivered in the sixth race, a Class 5 Handicap over 1400m, to win readily under Aldo Domeyer for trainer Candice Bass-Robinson. The favourite Unsolved Riddle had every chance but faded tamely over the final 200m and it was left to Solartrip (7/1) and Naushon (12/1) to chase What A Fortune home.

Senhora Victoria (11/10) ended a 616-day absence from the winner’s circle, scoring a workmanlike victory over Tres Chic (11/2) in the seventh race, a Class 5 Handicap (F&M) over 1400m, under a driving ride from Richard Fourie. Although shifting about in the closing stages, the Eric Sands-trained 6yo daughter of Master Of My Fate dug down deep to land the odds.

Dawn Till Dusk (9/2) scored a thrilling last-to-first victory for owners Greg Bortz and Gina Goldsmith in the eighth race, a Class 4 Handicap over 1400m. Ridden by JP van der Merwe for trainer Justin Snaith, the fast-improving 3yo son of Trippi relished the strong pace set by Firingonallengines and showed an impressive turn of foot to gun down Air Raid (11/2) who looked the likely winner approaching the last 200m.

David Thiselton

The Hong Kong international race day in December is fast approaching, as is the Longines International Jockeys Championship, and race fans got a foretaste of the former with two scintillating performances by Romantic Warrior and Ka Ying Rising at Sha Tin on Sunday.

Romantic Warrior is surprisingly only rated joint eleventh best racehorse in the world on a rating of 122, but perhaps that is because the ranking period happens to a northern hemisphere time scale and runs from January until December. This great Danny Shum-trained Acclamation gelding ended last season with five successive Gr 1 wins, starting with Australia’s most prestigious weight for age race, the Cox Plate and then including three prestigious Hong Kong races, the Longines Hong Kong Cup, the Hong Kong Gold Cup and the QE II Cup, and although all four of those races were over a mile and two furlongs (2000m) he then ended the season by winning the Gr 1 Yashuda Kinen in Japan over a mile.

On Sunday he was over his favourite 2000m trip in the Gr 2 Jockey Club Cup and despite giving the whole field five pounds he cruised in by 4,25 lengths under regular rider James McDonald.

This season he is likely to defend his titles in all of the Kong King Gr 1s mentioned above.

In one of them, the QE II Cup, he will be going for his fourth successive victory. He is the only horse to have won this prestigious international weight for age race three times.

Romantic Warrior could soon become the highest earning racehorse in history.

On Sunday he took his overall record to 16 wins and three seconds from 21 starts and boosted his prize money earnings to HK$154.92 million. He is now not far behind retired Golden Sixty’s world record haul of HK$167.17 million in earnings.

Earlier on Sunday the progressive David Hayes-trained New Zealand-bred Shamexpress gelding Ka Ying Rising smashed the Sha Tin course record set by Sacred Kingdom 17 years ago. Sacred King’s record was 68.35 seconds and Ka Ying Rising lowered it to an incredible 67.43 seconds.

Ka Ying Rising jumped from draw ten under Zac Purton and was being eased down at the line, which makes the record even more special.

When J J The Jet Plane won the Gr 1 Hong Kong Sprint over the course and distance in 2010, his time was 68.84 seconds.

Ka Ying Rising will be the one to beat in the latter race next month.

He has never won a Gr 1 before, but is unexposed as he only began his career in December last year, winning on debut before running two narrow seconds and since then he has won seven times on the trot. Ka Ying Rising’s record was the second notable course record lowered in the Far East recently.

Via Sistina lowered the Moonee Valley course record over 2000m in the Cox Plate a few weeks ago to 2:01.07, beating the previous mark of 2:02.07 set by the legendary four-times Cox Plate-winning mare Winx.

Meanwhile a top class line up has been announced for the Longines IJC, which is one of the world’s most prestigious Jockeys Challenges. Unfortunately, there are no South African riders, at least yet.

The two spots still to be determined for Hong Kong-based jockeys will go to Hugh Bowman and either Karis Teetan or Matthew Poon as things stand. The latter pair are both on 14 wins of the season, three ahead of Luke Ferraris and Matthew Chadwick and there is only Wednesday’s Happy Valley meeting remaining.

The Longines IJC is the most lucrative in the world for the winning rider. The four races are worth a combined HK$7.5 million in prize money. Furthermore, a total prize fund of HK$1 million in bonus money for the most successful riders will be split three ways, with the winner set to receive HK$600,000 with HK$250,000 for second and HK$150,000 for third, respectively.

The line up for the 2024 Longines IJC is: Vincent Ho (reigning IJC champion), Zac Purton (Hong Kong champion), Rachel King (Australia), Ryan Moore (Great Britain), Hollie Doyle (Great Britain), William Buick (Great Britain), Mickael Barzalona (France), Colin Keane (Ireland), Yuga Kawada (Japan), James McDonald (NZ), TBD (Hong Kong), TBD (Hong Kong).