Andrew Harrison

 

Punters face a competitive card in the first KZN meeting of the New Year with some tricky maidens and competitive handicaps.

In the first leg of the Pick 6 Fortress Of Fire won well last start and is now running up to early promise. However he will need to keep Maphaka at bay who started favourite that afternoon and is now 2.5kg better off on that encounter. Beamonesque is way better than his last run behind Fortress Of Fire and Maphaka and can finish a lot closer while Music Is Life was beaten by the weight last run when starting favourite and can make amends.

The fourth sees plenty in with chances but Double Causeway shed his maiden at second time of asking and S’Manga Khumalo will need to waste to make the weight which may be an indication of the colt’s chances. Run To Rio has been consistent of late and has a handy galloping weight with a claiming apprentice up. He could oblige at good odds. Master Du Rouvray may prefer it a touch further but has useful recent form and should contest the finish. 

The fifth is wide open but Actor has consistent recent form and should be competitive from the best of the draw. Red Bomber was not far back in the 21-runner Grand Heritage. He is Johan Janse van Vuuren’s only runner on the day and the gelding should be a factor. Mohave Prince took on a useful field over shorter last run and can do better over this trip while Rooster Bradshaw has patchy form but shows pace and will be dangerous if allowed to get away.

Sonata Samaritan could be one of the better bets on the card but it will not be easy going but Paul Gadsby’s filly was touched off by the highly rated Ladyofdistinction last time out. The latter runs on Boxing Day so one can get another line of form. Princess Goldie is never far back and goes well this course and distance while Siberian Winter had her consistency rewarded last run and is 1kg better off with Ubukhwebezana on their last meeting with the latter carrying a big weight but going for her fourth win in her last five starts.

Grand Appeal has a big weight in the seventh but meets little of note and should go one better. Main danger could be Gorgeous Dude who has shown consistent recent form and has a handy weight. He should at least be in the firing line. Dricus found his best with the blinkers removed and gets some relief from the saddle.

In the last, Trippi’s Silk comes with some solid recent Cape form. He is up in trip but could prove too good in this line-up. Heaven’s Will is down in class and has a 2.5kg claimer aboard. He has drawn widest but can go close. Town Crier is lightly raced and gets first time blinkers and is one to watch in the betting. 

The first leg of the Bi-Pot is a tricky maiden field. Sargasso Sea made good improvement at her second start from a wide draw and should come on further. Captain Ventura shows good pace, her last two on the poly. She gets cheek pieces for the first time and is likely to improve. Sovereign Gem starts over shorter but has been steadily supported in the betting at each start and can still improve while Winter Blessing is seldom out of the money. She is distance suited she rates a winning chance. 

Punters face a similar dilemma in the first leg of the Place Accumulator where Hey Diddle Diddle takes on males and although well beaten on debut she did race green and is likely to improve. War Emperor was a well beaten third at just his second start but the winner won by a street. He can finish closer here. Cape form is generally stronger than local and although the form behind Nebulous is not strong, it could be strong enough to land the honours. 

RACE 1

(8) ENDIZAYO ran a cracker in the last start and gets a much better draw so needs respect in this competitive race. (7) TIMELINE shows speed and has Richard Fourie aboard so needs to be respected. (6) CHAMPAGNE PROBLEMS represents KZN form which generally stands up strong here, she has been consistent so will have a big chance. (5) SOMBREUIL is another holding consistent form and will have a chance. (Devonne Govender 8-7-6-5).

RACE 2

(1) NORTH STAR ran well in the last start and gets a decent draw with Richard Fourie aboard, big chance. (8) CITY OF DREAMS ran a cracker in the last starts and will be a big challenger. (6) GENOVEFA is another who ran well in her last start and if repeating that will be dangerous. (7) JET SET RUN won impressively in the last start and will be a contender so needs respect. (Devonne Govender 1-8-6-7).

RACE 3

(9) BAHAMIAN BEAT ran a much improved race in his last start and will be a big contender for the top spot. (6) AETHELWULF is holding consistent form and rates a winning chance with the claiming apprentice up. (2) FROM THE HIP ran well on provincial debut and can build on that. (8) KLEIN JAN is lightly raced and has scope to improve and get closer. (Devonne Govender 9-6-2-8).

RACE 4

(5) SPOIL YOURSELF ran a cracker in the last start with the claimer up, the apprentice knows her well and with a light mass she will have a big chance over this 2200m trip. (7) TAKE YOUR TIME gets a much better draw this time and won’t be far. (6) ARIVIDICIO placed at big odds and it could pay to follow him. (8) WELSH STARLET won impressively at big odds and can repeat that here. (Devonne Govender 5-7-6-8).

RACE 5

(4) DYNALLEY is knocking on the door and could get rewarded for consistency. (5) MAKHACHEV gets an eye catching jockey booking so that must be taken into account, he is capable on his day and will be a big player. (7) DOWNING SEVEN ran well in his last start and can get much closer, winning chance. (1) RED WILLIAM is capable on his day and can get into the placings. (Devonne Govender 4-5-7-1).

RACE 6

(6) GINGER DELIGHT is holding her form well, she won a good race in her last start and can follow up in this field respectfully. (2) VIHAAN’S QUEEN is always in the mix and gets the claiming apprentice up which makes her a big runner here. (5) WALKONTHEWILDSIDE is holding solid form overall, she is much better than that last start and she can feature here. (3) EPIKLEROS is capable on her day and should go into larger perms. (Devonne Govender 6-2-5-3).

RACE 7

(2) GLOBETONIC is knocking on the door for another win and will have a big chance here. (6) IMOKELLY ran a cracker first run out the maidens, if he reproduces that he will have a big say. (10) TEEREX won a gutsy race in the last start but he has a tough draw. (8) KING RAHUL is capable of much better and that last run is best ignored. (Devonne Govender 2-6-10-8).

RACE 8

(9) WILD FIG is holding solid form and rates a big winning chance, he has been running second in his last three starts and could be hard to beat. (2) TRIPPING THUNDER hasn’t been far in recent runs and looks to be the main danger to the top selection. (6) KING VISERYS is capable of much better, he can make his presence felt. (11) FLIGHT ENGINEER can get into the quartets after running a decent fifth in his last start, place chance. (Devonne Govender 9-2-6-11).

Soccer10 Friday 2 January 2026. ADD-IN R150 000. Estimated Pool: R1.5 Million. Pool Closes at 19h30.Sport 20 and Pool 1.

Soccer10 Saturday 3 January 2026. ADD-IN R150 000. Estimated Pool: R1.5 Million Pool Closes at 14h30.Sport 14 and Pool 1.

Soccer Any 13Xtra Saturday 3 January 2026. C/Over: R150 000. Estimated Pool: R400 000. Pool Closes at 14h30. Sport 13 and Pool 1

Soccer13 Guaranteed Jackpot on Sunday, 4 January 2026  Pool Closes at 16h30. Sport 10 Pool 1 – All 13 Correct Jackpot Pool: R18 Million (if only One 13 of 13 Winner)

Soccer10 Sunday 4 January 2026. ADD-IN R150 000. Estimated Pool: R1.5 Million. Pool Closes at 14h00.Sport 7 and Pool 1.

Soccer SCORES C/Over: R 103 557. Sunday 4 January 2026. Pool Closes at 14h30. Sport 72.

Soccer CORNERS C/Over: R 1 271. Sunday 4 January 2026. Pool Closes at 17h15. Sport 71.

Please note: South African Quartet Pools with fractional betting offered at Cheltenham and Newcastle (UK) – 1 January 2026

David Thiselton

Last week’s feature article was about the centenary July and how fitting it was that this season’s milestone R10 million Hollywoodbets Durban July falls on the 30th anniversary of that great victory by the Alec Laird-trained legend London News.

Just as fitting is that it will be the 50th anniversary of the July victory of one of South Africa’s most loved horses, the Ralph Rixon-trained Jamaican Music, a grey of astonishing intelligence.

Jamaican Music is also central to one of the July’s most controversial incidents as he had started second favourite as a three-year-old in 1974, but much to the bitter disappointment of the connections and punters jockey Tom Rattley fell off shortly after the start.

The incident was exacerbated by a shock result.

The 20/1 outsider Riboville romped to the easiest victory in July history, beating 33/1 outsider Sea Patrol, ridden by 15 year-old apprentice Dave Byrnes, by 4,50 lengths.

For Rixon the nightmare was erased when five-year-old Jamaican Music won the 1976 July at odds of 8-1.

“I was very confident that year,” recalled the late Rixon a few years ago.

“Jamaican Music always came from near the back and then flew up but he always got there in time. With Bert Abercrombie up, a jockey who also liked to ride that way, I knew he would win. The owner (Dr CC Crohin) decided to retire him to stud immediately but I think he still had a year’s racing in him and was a certainty for the Gold Cup as he stayed all day.”

The 1976 July was an immensely popular result as the athletic grey had won many new fans after the 1974 running due to his quite astonishing intelligence.

It had not escaped the notice of many, including the press, that after losing Rattley, Jamaican Music had run as if being guided by a top professional jockey.

“He worked his way through the field very cleverly without causing any interference,” confirms Rixon. “Whenever a gap appeared he surged through it and would then sit and wait. Even when they came into the straight he sat behind the leader for a while before  running away in the last furlong.

“He was a horse who knew what to do from the first day he raced. He had a wonderful temperament and never put a foot wrong. He was just a champion.”

However, punters did not take kindly to the 1974 result and it was not long before conspiracy theories surfaced with some claiming Rattley had deliberately jumped off.

These theories snowballed over the years, but have fortunately been thoroughly debunked by men who were close to the action, two of whom are still prominent in South African racing today.

Garth Puller, who was riding Bon Vista, said a few years ago that he would stake his life and reputation it was a genuine fall.

“Shortly after the jump Jamaican Music clipped the heels of a horse in front of him and pecked. This is like a catapult to the rider as the bit pulls the rein like an elastic.

“I was directly behind Jamaican Music and Tom went over the side of his neck. Normally in this circumstance you would just fall off and roll away but if you’re on the July favourite you try and cling on and from my angle he looked to be clinging on to the rein.

“However, it would be like hanging onto the side of a bus and he had no chance of getting back up. Luckily Jamaican Music had not reached the rail yet and Tom fell to the left so the horses behind him were able to avoid him.”

Michael Roberts was on the horse drawn next to Jamaican Music, Kings Palace, and was right alongside when Rattley fell.

He echoed Puller’s sentiments, although he remembered Rattley clinging onto the stirrup leather in his desperate effort to stay aboard.

The late Dave Cave was on Castaway and recalled speaking to Tom Rattley on the way to the start and warning him of the mad rush in the first 400m before the horses start coming across just before the Drill Hall turn.

“It was Tom’s first ride in the big race,” said Cave, “and I think he panicked when he saw the horses coming across as he thought he was going to lose his position and rushed Jamaican Music up onto the heels of the horses in front of him.”

Cave said Jamaican Music had actually pecked twice. Rattley had lost control after the first peck and Jamaican Music had then rushed forward and clipped heels again.

Over the years other mumblings surfaced around the George Azzie stable jockey, the late Martie Schoeman, riding second-string Riboville and winning whilst the late Roy Curling rode the favourite, Elevation, and finished fourth.

However, Curling’s son, Ray, quickly put that rumour to bed.

“Martie Schoeman had been fired by Azzie earlier in the season,” said Ray.

“However the two patched things up about ten days before the July. In the meantime my father had ridden Elevation to win the Gr 2 Johannesburg Champion Stakes and finish second in the Grade I Clairwood Champion Stakes so Martie was only given the spare ride on Riboville.

Ray added, “In the build up to the July Elevation went ‘over the top’ in his training whilst Riboville began working like a bomb and improved by lengths.”

The result came as no surprise to the yard and gave Dennis and Peggy Mosenthal, who also owned Elevation, a much deserved July victory 22 years after the heartbreak of their horse Radlington’s narrow and controversial loss to Mowgli in 1952, a result the judges took ten minutes to decide.

There is actually a permament reminder of the 1974 July result in Gauteng. Riboville’s unexpected victory provided a significant financial windfall for the Sinovich family, who later established the Riboville Boutique Hotel and Restaurant, a five-star attraction which is still thriving in Midrand.

But to underline the popularity of Jamaican Music, the recently retired four-time July-winning jockey legend Piere Strydom had this to say about his earliest July memory,  “I heard about the July as a little kid, because my dad was a jockey and I used to look at the race card and was getting involved without really knowing it. I remember the first horse that caught my attention was Jamaican Music, this lovely grey horse, and when he won it in 1976 that was my first fond memory of the July.”