RUGBY 8 WIN MARGIN C/Over R 30 724 on Friday, 8 November 2024. Pool Closes at 22h10.

Soccer10 ADD-IN R 150 000 Estimated Pool: R 2 Million on Friday, 8 November 2024. Pool Closes at 21h00. Sport 8 and Pool 1

Soccer13 Guaranteed Jackpot:  R 21 MILLION (13 of 13) on Saturday, 9 November 2024. Pool Closes at 16h15. Sport 10 and Pool 1

Soccer10 ADD-IN R 150 000 Estimated Pool: R 2 Million on Saturday, 9 November 2024. Pool Closes at 15h00. Sport 14 and Pool 1

Soccer ANY 13Xtra C/Over R 100 000 Estimated Pool: R 600 000 on Saturday, 9 November 2024. Pool Closes at 15h00. Sport 13 and Pool 1

Soccer6 ADD-IN R 75 000 Estimated Pool: R 500 000 on Saturday, 9 November 2024. Pool Closes at 15h00. Sport 1 and Pool 2

Soccer4 ADD-IN R 25 000 Estimated Pool: R 100 000 on Saturday, 9 November 2024. Pool Closes at 17h00. Sport 19 and Pool 2

Andrew Harrison

Kom Naidoo made a welcome return to the winner’s enclosure in the card opener at Hollywoodbets Greyville yesterday as Thesupernovastar made all the running to win the first by the proverbial street. With the race moved to the poly, the field cut up to just five runners with Dean Kannemeyer’s filly Meritorious mostly in the red after an eye-catching debut victory. But Thesupernovastar, down from a rating high of 82 to yesterday’s 54 and apprentice Nirvan Nastili giving a further 2.5kg relief in the handicap, made all the running and was not for the catching as she accelerated away to win as she liked.

Meritorious on the other hand, never looked comfortable and Craig Zackey was at her a long way out. Zackey was critical of the surface in a later interview claiming that the favourite was never comfortable with the kick-back which he said was mostly responsible for her disappointing effort. “Ten furlongs on the grass,” he said would bring out the best in the filly.

Imperial Power got a hefty shunt up the ratings after his last win but the handicappers got this one right as he powered to a comfortable victory in the second. Stepped up to a mile by Garth Puller, Rachel Venniker was hard at work a long way from home as Fish Eagle and One Irish Rover led the procession at a brisk pace. But once in the straight, Imperial Power picked them off as the early pace found the pacemakers treading water and Imperial Power quickened past to win as he liked.

“I was probably the only trainer that was happy when I got the call,” quipped Stuart Ferrie post-race with the third race intended for the turf before the rain intervened. Stable stalwart Preemptive Strike had recorded four of his five previous wins on the poly and it was a sixth yesterday. The first two races were won by big margins but it was a case if heads-up-and-down as Sean Veale got Preemptive Strike’s nose in front of a hard battling Rhythm. The official margin was 0.05 but it looked a little closer than that in spite of commentator Sheldon Peters getting it right and making a confident call.

Mc Dazzler was one of the first victims of the dreaded CTO2 testing which almost caused a riot as he was a short-priced favourite for the race. That was five races back and he only just made it past a second test yesterday before finally shedding is maiden ticket.

Dean Kannemeyer prefers his runners to be given a chance and run on at the finish but MC Dazzler has given the impression that he lacks intestinal fortitude given those tactics as he has been run down late in his last two starts. Zackey took no prisoners as he bounced Mc Dazzler out of the widest gate, took up the lead and was not for the catching. Assistant Nicolette Roscoe confirmed that the gelding had been a frustrating horse as he shows good work at home, but a change of tactics may be the answer.

It is always nice to have a little ‘insider’ information – which I may add can be very misleading – but Gallop TV presenter Paul Lafferty gave notice of his conversation with Paul Gadsby on the morning gallops where Gadsby explained that he had been disappointed with the showing of Princess Hannah at her previous start as she was not ridden to instructions. But Gadsby kept faith in Sean Veale and the title-chasing rider made amends as the filly left the favourite and pacemaker Ladybug for dead.

Kom Naidoo was back in the winner’s box as Hoodwinked held on gamely to edge out Rainwater as the pair battled it out in a tight finish to the sixth. Rollo The Viking ran out of steam after threatening halfway up the straight to finish a well-beaten third.

There is a school of the uninitiated that think trainers and jockeys just run them and ride them whatever, but plenty of thought goes into each race by both. Pleasedtoseeyou was a lightly raced gelding sent up from Cape Town by Andre Nel to his KZN yard to have a try on the poly and it has worked out well. Third behind the promising Mr Hotstepper in his local debut and winning well yesterday beating favourite Go Grayson Go. 

Working out that Go Grayson Go may still be short of experience, having only his third start, Serino Moodley piled on the pressure early and it paid dividends with his younger rival still green and not getting to grips.

Gary Rich was hoping to claim the prize for the Hollywood Syndicates 600^th winner but was pipped on the post for the second time running, also missing out by a couple on their half-century but he has kept Benni In The Area fit and firing as Calvin Habib kept him rolling from his inside draw to hold off Irish Luck who had no luck from his outside draw, wide for most of the way and not able to finish off.

Andrew Harrison

Piere Strydom has put retirement off in the same vein as Frankie Dettori who, after a farewell tour of the UK, moved to the United States and is enjoying a new lease on his career. To be fair, Strydom, in spite of his age, still rides most of the current crop of his weighing room colleagues to sleep and is ‘striking’ at a remarkable 28%. As I see it, if his body holds out, one of the most talented riders to ever grace a pigskin will keep rolling.

He partners Miss Hannigan in the Tab Telebet Handicap on the Turffontein inner today and in spite of Fabian Habib’s runner being the class filly in the race, Strydom will need all his tactical nouse to get her home under her welter burden of 62kg. She is a filly that likes to stretch the arms but Strydom is a master judge of pace and takes over in the saddle from the indisposed S’Manga Khumalo who is recovering from knee surgery.

At the bottom of the handicap are the Lucky Houdalakis pairing of Alabama Anna and Willy Meet Again. Craig Zackey usually does duty for the stable but 52kg is beyond his dietary target and Marco van Rensburg, fresh from his win on Winchester Mansion last Saturday, does duty.

The lightly raced daughter of William Longsword has won two of her four starts and was a winner over course and distance last time out. Second placed Doitwithdiamonds franked that form, winning in good company.

Willy Meet Again takes a big jump in class but does have 10kg in hand over Miss Hannigan which could make the difference between winning and losing.

The former Candice Bass-Robinson-trained Hammies Hero has been out of action since March and makes his Highveld debut for Brett Crawford. If the record of first-time runners from the Cape in KZN is any indication, it would be folly to ignore Hammies Hero in spite of him taking on some well exposed locals that include Nazare and Doitwithdiamonds.

Hammies Hero  has been confined to the Hollywoodbets Kenilworth straight at recent starts and arrives on the Highveld off a smart win over 1100m.  The lengthy break is a concern but Crawford and his son James are a polished outfit and I am expecting a big effort from the son of Twice Over who should relish the step up in trip from a favourable draw.

However, he does face stiff opposition from the locals. Candice Dawson sends out Nazare from gate six and the five-year-old was outpaced late when third, beaten less than a length, by Wolf Mountain last time out. On that showing he is cherry-ripe and the step  up in trip should be what he’s looking for.

Doitwithdiamonds was a winner over course and distance for Tony Peter last time out, just reward for a string of placed runs. He only got a three-point raise in the handicap for that effort and although he gives weight to both Hammies Hero and Nazare, he should still be competitive.

Mike de Kock’s filly Destiny Of Fire can round off the Pick 6 and the card. A narrow winner over the Hollywoodbets Scottsville 1200m on debut, De Kock stepped her up to a mile in the Non-Black Type Beach Beauty in a tough introduction to handicap company. She looked all over a winner before being collard late by Care Forgot. She looks well weighted, progressive and from a fair draw can convert.

Blinkers could see Ancient Wisdom finally realise her potential after making a smart debut as a two-year-old but she may have to first get past Rising Russian in the opening leg of the Pick 6. She made good improvement for Robbie Sage last time out and Philasande Mxoli is slowly make a name for himself.

The fourth is a competitive handicap but Fanie Bronkhorst has dropped Bregardt from an 80MR handicap to a 66MR and title-chasing Gavin Lerena has jumped ship from Call Me Master, who although returning from a break, has some consistent recent form. Ode To The Ocean has been struggling for her second win but had excuses last time out as she was reported to have had a mouth injury. She was narrowly beaten over course and distance at her previous outing and a drop in class could see her home at good odds.

Lerena and Bronkhorst join forces again with One Party in the fifth. She is another that takes a drop in the handicap and although she carries top weight she was running on well over five furlongs last time out after returning from a break. That run should have brought her on nicely and given her pedigree, should enjoy this step back to a more suitable trip.

RACE 1     

7 DWIGHT EISENHOWER 8 KWAGGA BLITZ 1 LETS PLAY POKER 9 DUCHESS OF SEVILLE

Preview: 7 DWIGHT EISENHOWER should be cherry ripe to strike from a good draw with a 2,5kg claimer up. 8 KWAGGA BLITZ  is drawn in pole and might appreciate the step up in trip but does have two lengths to find on Dwight Eisenhower on 1000m form. 1 LETS PLAY POKER beat Kwagga Blitz last time and will appreciate the step up in trip but does have a wide draw to overcome. 9 DUCHESS OF SEVILLE enjoyed the step down to this trip last time but has a tricky draw. (David Thiselton 7-8-1-9)

RACE 2     

5 YOJIMBO 6 SNOW MOON 4 ICHACHA 1 STORM AHEAD

Preview: 5 YOJIMBO went close when stepped up to 2000m and is well drawn with in form Gavin Lerena up over this suitable trip. 6 SNOW MOON disappointed last time but over this trip could earn on best form. 4 ICHACHA should go close if able to produce his best. 1 STORM AHEAD has a chance on best form. (David Thiselton 75-6-4-1)

RACE 3     

5 QUELLO CHE 7 RISING RUSSIAN 6 ANCIENT WISDOM 8 LUNAR RAINBOW

Preview: 5 QUELLO CHE will enjoy the step down in trip but does have a tricky draw. 7 RISING RUSSIAN beat Quello Che over 2000m but before that lost to her over 1600m. 6 ANCIENT WISDOM disappointed last time but is capable of better. 8 LUNAR RAINBOW is not far off the top two selections on form. (David Thiselton 75-7-6-8)

RACE 4     

4 ODE TO THE OCEAN 9 SMELTING 8 TWICE AS WILD 2 BREGARDT

Preview: 4 ODE TO THE OCEAN is unreliable but has the ability to win a race like this and has a good opportunity here from a good draw. 9 SMELTING has run well in her last two and from a fair draw could see it out. 8 TWICE AS WILD is in good form but has a wide draw to overcome. 2 BREGARDT is not out of it although a wide draw makes it tough. (David Thiselton 74-9-8-2)

RACE 5     

5 WRITTEN IN STONE 10 CAN’T CATCH ME 1 ONE PARTY 3 VAVA VEGAS

Preview: 5 WRITTEN IN STONE has been in fine form under Louis Nhlapo and can win this from a good draw. 10 CAN’T CATCH ME ran a cracker last time and a repeat from a good draw will see her go close. 1 ONE PARTY should appreciate the step up in trip and will have come on from her last start but has a tough draw. 3 VAVA VEGAS has the form to be a contender here. (David Thiselton 75-10-1-3)

RACE 6     

2 DOITWITHDIAMONDS 9 HAIR TRIGGER 7 HAMMIES HERO 1 AMPERSAND

Preview: 2 DOITWITHDIAMONDS is in good form and won going away last time so can overcome a three point raise from a better draw. 9 HAIR TRIGGER has some good form and Lerena is up although he is 1kg overweight and the horse has a tricky draw. 7 HAMMIES HERO has useful form in Cape Town but has not raced for over seven months. 1 AMPERSAND has the ability to be involved in the finish from a plum draw with a 2,5kg claimer up. (David Thiselton 72-9-7-1)

RACE 7     

8 WILLY MEET AGAIN 1 MISS HANNIGAN 2 BLUE HORIZON 7 SPIRITED GIRL

Preview: 8 WILLY MEET AGAIN looks promising and can progress again from a good draw over a suitable trip especially as she sneaks into the handicap with the minimum weight. 1 MISS HANNIGAN enjoys this trip and has Strydom up but does have a tricky draw. 2 BLUE HORIZON has ability and with a 2,5kg claimer up should go close albeit from a tricky draw. 7 SPIRITED GIRL could earn here from a good draw. (David Thiselton 78-1-2-7)

RACE 8     

8 DESTINY OF FIRE 3 RATTLE BAG 4 STREISAND 2 PRINCESS ILARIA

Preview: 8 DESTINY OF FIRE is promising and has a good opportunity to win for a second time in her third start. 3 RATTLE BAG ran a cracker last time and a repeat will see her right there. 4 STREISAND has shown some ability and could still improve. 2 PRINCESS ILARIA should be involved if able to overcome a wide draw. (David Thiselton 78-3-4-2)

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.