Sectional timing master class
PUBLISHED: February 4, 2026
David Thiselton The 2026 WSB Met run in 123 seconds was the fastest Met since One World’s 122.48 seconds of 2020. The race record of 122,1 seconds set by Bunter Barlow in 2001. Before analysing the 226 sectionals let’s just look at the running order. Okavango was the early pacemaker before The Equator took it […]
David Thiselton
The 2026 WSB Met run in 123 seconds was the fastest Met since One World’s 122.48 seconds of 2020.
The race record of 122,1 seconds set by Bunter Barlow in 2001.
Before analysing the 226 sectionals let’s just look at the running order.
Okavango was the early pacemaker before The Equator took it up just as they entered the first turn.
Next best was Legal Counsel and then Native Ruler who was caught wide.
Behind that was Sail The Seas and Eight On Eighteen was on the rail inside of the latter.
See It Again was three wide down the back straight, but fortunately Native Ruler had been kept wide and he was able to follow him.
When Native Ruler managed to get into a two wide position alongside Legal Counsel rounding the turn See It Again was not inconvenienced because Fortune managed to slot in behind Sail The Seas, although not without apparently inconveniencing Garrix slightly.
The stipendiary stewards read that incident differently and have the best view of things. Garrix was rousted when See It Again began moving across and he cramped Cosmic Speed on his inside before being snatched up to avoid See It Again.
The Stipendiary report simply read: At the 1000m COSMIC SPEED (G Lerena) took an awkward stride when tightened for galloping room between the inside running rail and GARRIX (K de Melo).
Behind Cosmic Speed was Gladatorian, who had jumped slowly and lost a length.
The Real Prince was sitting in last place and Craig Zackey had likely read it correctly, because the sectionals had been fast.
Using a sectional timing method of viewing each sectional as a percentage of the average speed for that section, Okavango did the first sectional in 116% and followed with fast sectionals of 90%, 90% and 91%, which took him to the 1200m mark.
With The Equator in front it slowed down either by accident or design as Okovango’s next three sectionals were 96%, 98% and 96%, which took them to the 600m mark.
If Callan Murray’s role on Okavango had been to set a pace for See It Again and Eight On Eighteen, who are from the same Snaith yard and under the same Nick Jonsson ownership, then he had done a fine job as he had gone fast enough early to ensure that stamina was going to be one of the chief credentials required in the run in, and he had not gone so fast that any of the others could afford to ignore him and dictate their own pace.
This was unlike the Hollywoodbets Durban July in which they had gone at a crawl, and had thus favoured a horse who stayed but who also had speed, which was better for The Real Prince than Eight On Eighteen, especially at the weights.
It was also unlike the L’Ormarins King’s Plate in which the pacemaker Dave The King had gone so fast that he and those who had followed him, like Jan Van Goyen and Legal Counsel, were sitting ducks for the class acts in the field.
Kamchatka ready to erupt
PUBLISHED: February 4, 2026
Alistair Cohen There is nothing anti-climatic about the card at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth today. Often the calm after the storm with so many big names going around just a few days earlier, there is nothing shallow about the 10-race programme. The card is headed by the Non Black-Type Clapham Stakes over 1600m which is race 8. […]
Alistair Cohen
There is nothing anti-climatic about the card at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth today. Often the calm after the storm with so many big names going around just a few days earlier, there is nothing shallow about the 10-race programme.
The card is headed by the Non Black-Type Clapham Stakes over 1600m which is race 8. Kamchatka plummets in class after tasting high-race stakes in her last two efforts. Despite top weight of 60kg, she could take victory under Serino Moodley who is in town for Andre Nel.
Kamchatka ran against World Sports Betting Cape Town Met participant Legal Counsel in her penultimate start when she finished 1,5 lengths behind over this course and distance in November. She followed up with an admirable 4,55 lengths behind in the One Voucher Victress Stakes over 1800m off level weights. The form of that race has not been well franked but just ahead of Kamchatka was Rainbow Lorikeet who is among the best of the fairer sex around.
Interestingly, she is the only runner in the race older than three-years-old. Although the three-year-old filly form has taken the spotlight over the last two months, they seem to be far off the levels brought by Wish List and Gimme What I Want.
Beach Verse is improving with every start and she could be worth considering. Despite racing against weak opposition, she has not done much wrong and not been out of the top four. She is brilliantly bred by Vercingetorix out of the star mare Beach Beauty. Her siblings include the USA-based Beach Bomb who is Grade 1 won and Graded-race competed abroad. She has a bit to do to reach those heights but she is steadily upwardly mobile so she remains of interest.
Educator has not been the luckiest horse around but she burst through to win her last start with ease. She was 1,25 lengths ahead of Boozy Suzie who she reopposes but she won with something in hand. If she has built her confidence, she could find even more as time goes on. Craig Zackey is aboard for Dean Kannemeyer.
A race earlier sees Empire State as the top choice. This will be his third run after a seven-month break and he has gradually worked towards his best form which was among some hard-hitters like One Stripe and All Out For Eight. He stepped up from sixth on return to finishing fourth behind the hugely impressive Demanding Dave last time out. He stuck around late showing that fitness must be ticking the right way.
Three Tigers, Gold Giboski and North Point are all young emerging sprinters who will be well tested. If any of those win, they could be headed to a lofty level.
Sweet Green and Hero’s Journey look set to fight out race 1 over 1000m. Both ran second on debut. Sweet Green looked a little more ready for her first run and that speed might catch Hero’s Journey on the back foot. Any further, Hero’s Journey would be fancied.
There are a few winning chances in race 2 over 1000m. A chance is taken on Swift Serenity who looks the most ready to shed her maiden tag. She finished second at her penultimate run which looks like the best form on offer. The filly who beat her, Black Erika seems to have some progress to come. Swift Serenity also looks well placed by Michelle Rix taking on male opposition and getting a weight concession. Gavin Lerena takes the ride.
Cantona was a shock runner-up on debut but he should take that improvement further and do the job in race 3 over 1000m. Sifiso Bungane is carded to take the ride and his reduced load of 53,5kg makes him an appealing proposition against some professional maidens.
Ferryman looks to have something to like about him in race 4 over 1400m on the back of his very encouraging debut. He finished second behind Wave Of Glory over shorter at this course. He was all at sea in the early part of the race before flashing up late and nearly running down the winner. He is possibly the best bred horse around being a half brother to Grade 1 winners, Golden Ducat, Rainbow Bridge and Hawwaam. He has many miles to cover to be in that same breath, but he started well enough.
Viva’s Liberte is held in extremely high regard. He returns from a break in race 5 over 1400m. He had a gallop at Hollywoodbets Durbanville before racing just over a week ago and he seemed to do everything as expected. He has bypassed all the big classic races in Cape Town this summer with the Lucky Fish Cape Derby still on the calendar. He could be an even bigger force in Durban this winter or in 12 months’ time. This is a no-pressure race but he could be up to the task.
Parental Guidance has not been the easiest to follow since a pleasing two-year-old campaign. He suffered a setback which compromised a fireworks as a Sophomore. He is peaking now with a few runs under the belt since his injury and every effort has been more encouraging.
Rattlesnake has been consistent and he rates as the main danger. He has been well placed by Candice Bass.
Supreme Fate ranks among the best bets on the card in race 9 over 1400m. She has held form for a while and she has taken on good opposition with aplomb. She seems versatile too and she has Andrew Fortune aboard. She simply looks to be in the right place at the right time to get into the winners’ box again.
There is not much direction in race 10 but a chance is taken on Flying South. She was collared late last time out at Hollywoodbets Durbanville but she seems to have the tools to kick on and relish this trip.
Hollywoodbets Kenilworth Summer Course Wednesday 4 February 2026 – Comments by Warren Lenferna
PUBLISHED: February 4, 2026
Race 1: Preview: SWEET GREEN (11) caught the eye on debut and can go one better. HERO’S JOURNEY (10) nearly won on debut and will be a huge danger to the first choice. PREACHER MAN (2) can improve to get way closer and ONE SPIRIT (12) could be absolutely anything – watch the betting. (Warren […]
Race 1: Preview: SWEET GREEN (11) caught the eye on debut and can go one better. HERO’S JOURNEY (10) nearly won on debut and will be a huge danger to the first choice. PREACHER MAN (2) can improve to get way closer and ONE SPIRIT (12) could be absolutely anything – watch the betting. (Warren Lenferna 11-10-2-12)
Race 2: Preview: SWIFT SERENITY (4) can do way better than the last run – her penultimate effort was good and she bumps a shallow field. FAST TRAIN (7) let his backers down last time but if bouncing back to the penultimate run, will go close. DIFFERENT WORLD (6) and MRS SHACKELTON (9) are non-negotiables for the quartet perms. (Warren Lenferna 4-7-6-9)
Race 3: Preview: CANTONA (8) despite going off at huge odds-on debut and nearly won – with natural progression, she should be hard to beat. FLEUR DE VILLE (1) is testing the patience and taking time to win but should do so soon – strong place chance. GALACTUS (10) can improve in this field and place. SECRET TACTIC (2) will not have to be too good to finish in the first four in this. Respect and include. (Warren Lenferna 8-1-10-2)
Race 4: Preview: FERRYMAN (11) caught the eye first up and should have tightened up from the run and the experience. If this is the case, he will be hard to beat. Stable companion BOURBON KING (7) has tons of scope to improve on debut run – place claims. CEDAR POINT (9) has each way claims and seems top have some ability – big chance. WHATWILLBEWILLBE (1) cannot be ignored – he has a first four chance. (Warren Lenferna 11-7-9-1)
Race 5: Preview: VIVA’S LIBERTE (7) has caught the eye and is clearly above average. He is the firm first choice. POMP IT UP (6) has won two from four and very progressive – can win. NORDIC CHIEF (3) ran an absolute cracker last time when nearly winning and will be competitive again. PLEASE BE TRUE (4) is never far off and has quartet claims. (Warren Lenferna 7-6-3-4)
Race 6: Preview: RATTLESNAKE (6) has solid form, nearly won last time and is the first suggestion. MOODY BLUE (7) is another whom nearly won last time and should be right there at the finish – big runner. PARENTAL GUIDANCE (8) gets Richard Fourie and a bright place chance. CATCH A PENNY (9) has run fourth in her last two and can be expected to get way closer today – chance. (Warren Lenferna 6-7-8-9)
Race 7: Preview: BLACK CHEETAH (2) has ability and is never far off the action. He could be the value here and is therefore the each way choice. GOLD GIBOSKI (8) boasts good and useful form and might well be the one they all have to fear the most. EMPIRE STATE (4) ran so well last time, he has to be considered for the shortlist and THREE TIGERS (6) should be in the first four. (Warren Lenferna 2-8-4-6)
Race 8: Preview: BEACH VERSE (1) has solid form and gets the best draw – bright winning chance. BOOZY SUSIE (2) is running well and threatening for the next win. She can go one more. KAMCHATKA (3) and ROSE WOOT (4) have huge place claims. (Warren Lenferna 1-2-3-4)
Race 9: Preview: ALLTHEBOYSIVELOVED (4) ran a much better race last time and could be the lurker and value in this. GIRL LIKE US (9) is holding form and can be given serious each way claims. RIKKITIKKITAVI (6) can be expected to serve up way better than last time. Place chance. SUPREME FATE (5) is a natural inclusion for the quartet. (Warren Lenferna 4-9-6-5)
Race 10: Preview: MONEY EXTRACTOR (11) has a bright chance based on her good penultimate run. MIGHTY MARY (10) now gets the services of Richard Fourie and she can surely do way better than she has in her last two? LA LANDONNE (6) is the place value selection and MEG’S LEGACY (7) can pop up and earn – quartet value. (Warren Lenferna 11-10-6-7)
Ends
South African Quartet Pools with fractional betting offered at Kempton and Newcastle (UK) 4 February 2026
PUBLISHED: February 4, 2026
Soccer Updates and Carryovers – Friday 6 , Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 February 2026
PUBLISHED: February 3, 2026
Soccer10 Friday 6 February 2026. Carryover R150 000. Estimated Pool: R1.7 Million. Pool Closes at 19h00. Sport 12 and Pool 1. Soccer6 Saturday 7 February 2026. Carryover R50 000. Estimated Pool: R 400 000. Pool Closes at 17h00. Sport 2 and Pool 2. Soccer10 Saturday 7 February 2026. Carryover R150 000. Estimated Pool: R 1.7 Million. Pool […]
Soccer10 Friday 6 February 2026. Carryover R150 000. Estimated Pool: R1.7 Million. Pool Closes at 19h00. Sport 12 and Pool 1.
Soccer6 Saturday 7 February 2026. Carryover R50 000. Estimated Pool: R 400 000. Pool Closes at 17h00. Sport 2 and Pool 2.
Soccer10 Saturday 7 February 2026. Carryover R150 000. Estimated Pool: R 1.7 Million. Pool Closes at 17h00. Sport 15 and Pool 1.
Soccer Any 13Xtra Saturday 7 February 2026. Carryover R100 000. Estimated Pool: R400 000. Pool Closes at 14h30. Sport 13 and Pool 1.
Soccer13 Saturday 7 February 2026.ALL 13 CORRECT JACKPOT POOL: R 18 Million (If only One 13 of 13 Winner). Pool Closes at 16h30. Sport 10 Pool 1.
Soccer10 Sunday 8 February 2026. Carryover R150 000. Estimated Pool: R 1.7 Million. Pool Closes at 15h00. Sport 7 and Pool 1.
