Please Note: South African Quartet Pools with fractional betting offered at Catterick and Taunton (UK) – 22 April 2026

David Thiselton

Craig Zackey reached the 200 wins mark for the season with a treble at Turffontein Standside on Sunday and he now has the national Jockeys Championship within reach.

He took the lead at the end of November, but Richard Fourie and him then went neck and neck for a couple of months and were both on 61 wins at the end of October.

However, Zackey then pulled clear and was 14 wins ahead at the end of November.

Richard Fourie showed good foresight at that stage by saying Craig should be the favourite for the title.

Hollywoodbets had Fourie at 9/10 and Zackey at 11/10 at that stage.

However, Fourie said, “I think they’ve got it all wrong, I think Craig Zackey should be 4/10. He’s working phenomenally well. He’s riding well. He’s travelling every day. I’ve made it very clear, I’ll go up and ride the feature race days, but I enjoy working in Cape Town and riding for Ridgemont.”

He added, “My aim is to ride as many winners as I can on the days that I ride. I’m concentrating on winning big races and working with my team.”

However, he did conclude by saying he might increase his travelling if he was within striking distance in the last couple of months of the season.

He said, “If I’m within reach of it, I’ll give it a full go.”

The gap had come down to 12 by the end of December.

However, a relatively bleak spell for Fourie was exacerbated by a couple of suspensions and he only had 38 wins in the next three months.

Zackey maintained a steady flow of wins and his 71 wins in that period saw him building up a big lead.

After Sunday’s treble he was 48 wins clear, although both riders have been in fine form this month with Zackey’s 20 wins coming at a strike rate of 27.03% and Fourie’s 17 wins coming at 26.56%.

Zackey’s confidence was buoyed by his win in South Africa’s traditional biggest race last season, the Hollywoodbets Durban July.

It was the career of the great Michael Roberts which illustrated the importance of winning the July. This race eluded him through the 70s, the 80s and much of the 90s until he finally won it in 1997 on the David Ferraris-trained Super Quality and he has shared since then how non-racing people in South Africa judge a jockey on one fact, whether he has won the July or not. It is only racing people who know about the championships and other big race wins.

So with that monkey off his back, Zackey was able to put behind him the disappointment of last season’s championship in which a late suspension put paid to his chances of a first title.

He has enjoyed a lot of feature race success too this season with four Gr 1 wins, including the prestigious L’Ormarins King’s Plate on July winner The Real Prince, four Gr 2 wins, two Gr 3 wins, five Listed wins and four Non-Black Type feature wins.

In all three of his wins on Sunday Zackey displayed his outstanding judgement of pace.

In his first win he was aboard the Candice and Tammy Dawson-trained two-year-old Master Of My Fate filly Doesyourmotherknow in a Maiden Juvenile Plate for fillies over 1400m. The filly had over-raced a bit in her previous start, but that did not stop Zackey from taking her to the front on Sunday. It was his first race ride on her and he had her nice and relaxed on a long rein. She looked in trouble, to some, when the market rival, the grey Erik The Red filly Impressive, who had also relaxed well in the running, swept past her at the 400m mark still in the hands. However, Craig had left plenty in reserve. Doesyourmotherknow fought back and in the end won going away by 1,75 lengths.

In the next race over the same course and distance Zackey relaxed the Lucky Houdalakis-trained Querari gelding Best Candidate from the off and had him moving comfortably on the rail near the back from draw three. It was his first run as a gelding and he had been backed in from 10/1 to 4/1. However, Zackey did not panic when Brave Waam stole a march with the fancied Quevano chasing him, which left Best Candidate with many lengths to make up. In fact Zackey only drew the stick at about the 300m mark. Quevano had caught Brave Waam by the 200m mark and looked like the winner with Best Candidate still having about three lengths to make up. However, Best Candidate ate up the ground in the last 100m, showing that Zackey had once again timed it to perfection, and he got up in the last stride to win by 0,30 lengths.

In the next race over 1600m Zackey found himself one out and one back without cover on Pressonregardless, but managed to relax him on a beautiful long rein in a Pinnacle Stakes race. The gelding had no cover in the straight either, but showed his class by stretching way from the fancied Kisshoten and then under strong urgings from Zackey followed by a deft change of whiphand he managed to repel the  challenge of Sunset Riot to win by 1,20 lengths. Zackey had made all the difference once again.

Craig will be a thoroughly deserving champion if everything goes smoothly enough in the final quarter of the season for him to hold on to his lead.

There will also be a few opportunities for him to build on his Gr 1 record during the Champions Season.

RACE 1

(4) POWEROFPEACE ran well on debut and will go very close to winning with Craig Zackey aboard. (3) RULES OF CONDUCT made good progress in his second start and will be a huge contender. (1) FLYING SKITT is likely to improve after 2 runs and can go into the trifecta. (5) PRINCESS OF AJIAAL is capable of running into the quartets. (Devonne Govender 4-3-1-5)

RACE 2

(8) FONTE is making progress with every start and can get much closer, needs respect. (1) PERFECT IMPACT is holding form and will get much closer, needs respect. (7) TIMELINE is a horse that is capable of popping up here so include in larger perms. (4) FANTINE is a horse that can improve and run into the quartet. (6) SALOON GIRL represents Cape form and is another to keep a close eye on. (Devonne Govender 8-1-7-4-6)

RACE 3

(7) WITHOUT HESITATION is holding form and will be a serious contender here, massive chance. (3) XTINES PRINCESS is capable of making huge improvement here and can get into the actions, she represents strong Cape form and will be a challenger. (1) GALACTIC BEAUTY is capable of improving and getting into the money with Kyle Strydom aboard. (8) THE SCARLET CAT is capable of getting much closer. (Devonne Govender 7-3-1-8)

RACE 4

(4) GLOBAL ALLY ran extremely well in the last start and will be a strong contender. (1) BOURNEMOUTH is classy and ran a decent enough race so needs to be respected. (2) FIREALLEY is capable of getting into the mix and should be right there. (6) MAKHACHEV wasn’t beaten far in the last start and can go into the quartets. (Devonne Govender 4-1-2-6)

RACE 5

(3) LANA VIEW ran extremely well in her last start and has shown she is capable of a big finish on her day, she needs to be respected. (2) TERMINAL VELOCITY ran well after exiting the maiden and should run another decent race. (1) LEBOMBO GOLD has scope to go well, she gets a decent enough draw and should be in the mix. (9) PRESERVE FOREVER hasn’t been far and can get into the quartets. (Devonne Govender 3-2-1-9)

RACE 6

(3) ROYAL MERMAID is holding solid form and will be a massive contender here, she goes well on the poly and could be hard to beat. (2) OCEAN FLAME placed at huge odds in her last start and if repeating that performance she will be a challenger. (5) ROCKIE BLUE wasn’t beaten far in her last start and is capable of getting much closer. (7) ENDEARED gets the claimer up and could be a decent place inclusion here. (Devonne Govender 3-2-5-7)

RACE 7

(2) ICED MARMALADE was an impressive maiden winner and has plenty of scope to go well here, she needs to be respected. (1) AADEHYA can get closer on best form, he is speedy and will be in the mix. (3) WORLD PHAROAH is capable of much better and can get closer on best form. (5) TRAVEL MASTER is capable on his day and can pop up. (Devonne Govender 2-1-3-5)

RACE 8

(7) GENOVEFA ran a cracker in the last start and is holding solid form hence she is the firm first selection. (4) WHIRLYBIRD hasn’t been far in recent starts and should get closer. (1) BACK FOR MORE gets a decent draw this time and is capable of running a big race, include in everything. (9) DANCING IN WINTER is a very honest type, although she has a tough draw she can get into the mix on best form. (Devonne Govender 7-4-1-9)

David Thiselton

The eight race Vaal meeting on today should be a  good one for punters and starts off with Northumberland looking hard to beat in the first race.

The Visionaire gelding showed pace on debut and stayed on well for a 2,0 length third to Sherlock Holmes, who had just come off a close second to Prayersandpromises, who in turn has good formlines. Northumberland should improve and the threats come from the first-timers. Northumberland has been priced up at 14/10 by Hollywoodbets and this is due to the Robyn Klaasen-trained first-timer Cosmic Cap having been backed in from 28/10 to 18/10. The latter is a gelding by Captain Of All out of a two-time-winning 79-rated Master Of My Fate mare. His pedigree does not compare favourably to some of the other first-timers. Billion Stars is by William Longsword and is a half-brother to the like of Tail Of The Comet. Raptor KIng is by New Predator and is a half-brother to WSB Met runner up Legal Counsel. Sands Of Valhalla is by Erik The Red and is a half-brother to a couple of multiple winners. Those runners are 6/1, 7/1 and 6/1 respectively.

In the second race over 1200m, the Sean Tarry-trained Alice B Toklas looks difficult to oppose. She dwelt at the start on debut, losing two lengths, but ran on strongly late with a good action, finishing 2,75 lengths ahead of Platinum Shay. Malesela Katjedi has been kept aboard, while Keagan de Melo is aboard the first-timer for the Tarry yard Storm Avalanche, who runs for the successful owner Kenneth Pillay of Kestorm Investments. Storm Avalanche is by Rafeef out of a moderate one-time-winning Dynasty mare and she has been backed in to 4/1 second favourite. Platinum Shay finished nearly five lengths ahead of Tax Free when the latter made her debut but Tax Free looks to have scope for improvement. Pista Resistance is by Chimichuri Run and is a half-sister to a Bezrin filly who won on debut before following with four poor runs.

In the third over 1800m Twelfth Or Never is the one to beat if her last run in a workriders maiden is ignored. Before, that she looked to be on the up and looked likely to relish this 1800m trip so a line can just be drawn through that run and she is chosen to win this uninspiring event. Royale Jacket did well to stay on for a three length second last time over 1700m considering he had to be used up early to overcome a wide draw. The winner of that race, Sand Script,  started favourite in a race over 2000m on Sunday but did Royale Jacket’s form no favours as she was beaten ten lengths, albeit from a wide draw. However, Royale Jacket does now have a better draw of four and should go close. Asiah’s Tiara beat Royal Jacket by four lengths when they last met, but that was a below par run by the latter as he had previously lost to the winner of that race, Terrence, by 1,20 lengths as opposed to 6,60 lengths and he had beaten Samuel Sharpe, who then beat him by 3,70 lengths. Royal Jacket can bounce back, as there is not much between him and Asiah’s Tiara if that last run is ignored. Greenside Giel has shown some ability and can earn here.  Emerald City can be in the shake up if producing her best.

In the fourth race over 1800m Gimmesuluv looks set to come into her own over a suitable trip with De Melo up.  Cool Reggae ran a cracker over 2000m last time and could be right there. Vixeninthevineyard should also be in the shake up.

In the fifth over 2400m Battleground is a useful stayer on his day and in form Marx-Jacobson should suit him. One More Star enjoyed the trip last time and has a fine chance. Damova is in good form and goes well for this jockey. Futurewolff won well over this trip last time and has a chance off a three point higher mark with Yeni up from pole position. Diesel’s Showdown needs to improve on his recent form. Romeo’s Magic needs to bounce back to form.

In the sixth over 1400m King Harald has some class and should go close over a trip which looks ideal. Golden Operator won well last time and the progressive sort should be right there again. Wild Intent is the best weighted but returns from a layoff since the Summer Cup, so will likely need the run.

In the seventh over 1200m Green Flash has speed and can stay on too and although she has not run for three months she won the last time she ran fresh. Roaming  Spirit has the form to be a contender. Blizzard Snow is capable of popping up and can’t be ignored.

In the eighth over 1200m Lovable looks to be on the up and after a good run last time against a fair sort she can go one better. Miss Novax has been knocking on the door and should be right there. Wise Counsel is the one best fancied of the rest as she beat a fair sort easily in the maidens last July over 1450m and could run well fresh over this trip after a long layoff.

Soccer13 Wednesday 22 April 2026. Carryover R2 499 702. R5.5 Million (All-13-Correct Jackpot Pool). Pool Closes at 18h30. Sport 11 Pool 1.

Soccer10 Friday 24 April 2026. Carryover R200 000. Estimated Pool: R2 Million. Pool Closes at 19h30. Sport 16 and Pool 1.

Soccer4 Saturday 25 April 2026. ADD-IN R25 000. Estimated Pool: R 150 000. Pool Closes at 16h00. Sport 18 Pool 2.

Soccer10 Saturday 25 April 2026. Carryover R200 000. Estimated Pool: R2 Million. Pool Closes at 15h00. Sport 12 and Pool 1.

Soccer Any 13Xtra Saturday 25 April 2026. Carryover R200 000. Estimated Pool: R500 000. Pool Closes at 15h00. Sport 13 and Pool 1.

Soccer13 GUARANTEED JACKPOT Saturday 25 April 2026. R23 Million (If only One 13 of 13 Winner). Pool Closes at 15h30. Sport 10 Pool 1.

Soccer6 Sunday 26 April 2026. ADD-IN R75 000. Estimated Pool: R500 000. Pool Closes at 15h00. Sport 3 Pool 1.

Soccer10 Sunday 26 April 2026. Carryover R200 000. Estimated Pool: R2 Million. Pool Closes at 15h00. Sport 15 and Pool 1.