David Thiselton

 

A Graduation Plate over 1160m and a MR96 Handicap over 1160m are the highlights of the eight race Turffontein Standside meeting today.

 

In the Graduation Plate the Mike Azzie-trained Winds Of Change has a lot of speed and class, but lost his way a bit in his last three runs. However, he now has his second run after gelding and can bounce back, especially considering he is slung in at the weights according to official merit ratings. One Fine Winter has a lot of speed and class too. She finished just 1,40 lengths back in the Gr 1 SA Fillies Sprint and can make an impact over this trip in her first appearance since July 27 when third in the Gr 1 Douglas Whyte Stakes over 1600m at Hollywoodbets Greyville. Bjorn Ironside is third best in at the weights and is officially 6,5kg under sufferance with Winds Of Change but is talented and can make his presence felt. Yippee Kiyay is on the way up and can rise above his merit rating and defy the weights in which he is 12,5kg under sufferance with Winds Of Change. King Harald is officially second best in at the weights and should finish on top of Yippee Kiyay according to the form of their last meeting.

 

In the MR96 handicap over 1160m One Eye On Vegas looks to have speed and class and as he finished just two lengths behind Trust over 1200m he should be the one to beat here.  Gimmethegoodlife won well over 1000m last time, putting his previous start when going out too fast behind him. He is four points higher in the ratings but goes well for Gavin Lerena and has a nice high draw over a suitable trip. Miami Mountain has plenty of ability and will enjoy the step down in trip, but does have the tricky number one draw to contend with. War Of Kingdoms has the form to earn and has a nice high draw. Rollwiththepunches could earn with a 4kg claimer up.

 

In  the first leg of the Pick 6 Oklahoma Sideshow ran second over 1500m last time and is interesting now dropped in trip in this uninspiring race, although her Philanthropist Dam’s only win was over 1800m. Underdog has shown fair ability before and is a big runner here. In The Willows has shown enough in his last two starts to be a contender in this uninspiring field and he is interesting with first time blinkers.  Sakura Hanami has run two fair races and can earn here. Special Al is by Rafeef and is a half-brother to the like of 96-rated Warrior Royale.

 

In the second leg over 1160m Blooming Lovely made a fine debut and should go close with expected improvement. Inspiration has been knocking on the door and should be right there. Power Of Pearls is a hard-knocking sort who should also be in the shake up. Gulf Of America will enjoy the step back to this trip. LA Flyer is by What A Winter and is a half-sister to Mexican Pete, who reached a merit rating of 100.

 

In the sixth race over 1600m Impact Investor disappointed last time but was consistent before that and can go close from a middle draw. Palace Attack ran a cracker last time behind a well regarded sort and should be thereabouts. Open Highway has been in fine form and can go close over a suitable trip. Jury’s Out has the form to earn here from a good draw with Lerena up. Sea Shanty pack a strong finish and has a chance if able to overcome a wide draw.

 

In the eight race over 1000m His Lordship has Lerena up and will enjoy the course and distance from a middle to high draw. Bumps Last Grind will relish the step back to the minimum trip and should be in the shake up. Old Fashioned won his maiden easily and has a chance off a 70 merit rating. Nkandla Gold bounced back to form last time and can earn with a repeat. In The Ether is capable of a strong late run.

 

In the first race over 800m  No Drama makes most appeal being by Erik The Red and a half-sister to a horse who won second time out.

 

In the second race over 800m Turn It Up ran on smartly on debut and will be hard to oppose here.

RACE 1

 

3 NO DRAMA 1 LANZAROTE 2 MISS DUTTON 5 RUBY WHISPER

 

Preview: 3 NO DRAMA is by Erik The Red and is a half-sister to a horse that won second time out. 1 LANZAROTE is by Erupt out of a Querari mare. 2 MISS DUTTON wasn’t disgraced on debut when nine lengths behind runaway winner Heath House. 5 RUBY WHISPER is by Captain Of All out of a five time-winning Lecture mare. (David Thiselton 3-1-2-5)

 

RACE 2

 

6 TURN IT UP 4 STATUS SYMBOL 7 IV GOT MY I ON YOU 5 TIME IS PRECIOUS

 

Preview: 6 TURN IT UP ran on smartly on debut and ill be hard to oppose here. 4 STATUS SYMBOL was only 1,55 lengths behind Turn It Up on debut and can go close in this line up. 7 IV GOT MY I ON YOU is by New Predator out of a Var mare. 5 TIME IS PRECIOUS is by Querari out of a Vercingetorix mare. (David Thiselton 6-4-7-5)

 

RACE 3

 

2 OKLAHOMA SMOKESHOW 6 UNDERDOG 5 IN THE WILLOWS 15 SAKURA HANAMI

 

Preview: 2 OKLAHOMA SMOKESHOW ran second over 1500m last time and is interesting now dropped in trip. 6 UNDERDOG has shown fair ability before and is a big runner here. 5 IN THE WILLOWS has shown enough in his last two starts to be a contender in this uninspiring field and he is interesting with first time blinkers.  15 SAKURA HANAMI has run two fair races and can earn here. (David Thiselton 2-6-5-15)

 

RACE 4

 

7 BLOOMING LOVELY 1 INSPIRATION 2 POWER OF PEARLS 9 GULF OF AMERICA

 

Preview: 7 BLOOMING LOVELY made a fine debut and should go close with expected improvement. 1 INSPIRATION has been knocking on the door and should go close. 2 POWER OF PEARLS is a hard-knocking sort who should be right there. 9 GULF OF AMERICA will enjoy the step back to this trip. (David Thiselton 7-1-2-9)

 

RACE 5

 

3 WINDS OF CHANGE 4 ONE FINE WINTER 1 BJORN IRONSIDE 8 VAMANO

 

Preview: 3 WINDS OF CHANGE lost his way a bit but has now been gelded and can make the most of being slung in at the weights here. 4 ONE FINE WINTER has speed and class and although officially 8kg under sufferance with Winds Of Change she should be right there. 1 BJORN IRONSIDE has a touch of class and should make a bold bid. 8 VAMANOS has fine form behind good sorts and although a whopping 17kg under sufferance with Winds Of Change the time and form of her last race reads well , although she was due to run again on Thursday at the Vaal Classic track meeting. (David Thiselton 3-4-1-8)

 

RACE 6

 

6 IMPACT INVESTOR 5 PALACE ATTACK 3 OPEN HIGHWAY 1 JURY’S OUT

 

Preview: 6 IMPACT INVESTOR disappointed last time but was consistent before that and and  can go close from a middle draw. 5 PALACE ATTACK ran a cracker last time behind a well regarded sort and should be thereabouts. 3 OPEN HIGHWAY has been in fine fprm and can go close over a suitable trip. 1 JURY’S OUT has the form to earn here from a good draw with Lerena up. (David Thiselton 6-5-3-1)

 

RACE 7

 

1 GIMMETHEGOODLIFE 10 ONE EYE ON VEGAS 11 MIAMI MOUNTAIN 15 WAR OF KINGDOMS

 

Preview: 1 GIMMETHEGOODLIFE will enjoy the step up in trip and with Lerena up can overcome a four point raise. 10 ONE EYE ON VEGAS has plenty of ability and can be right there if able to overcome a tricky number one draw. 11 MIAMI MOUNTAIN has class and will enjoy the step back in trip. 15 WAR OF KINGDOMS has the form to earn here. (David Thiselton 1-10-11-15)

 

RACE 8

 

3 HIS LORDSHIP 1 BUMPS LAST GRIND 6 OLD FASHIONED 8 NKANDLA GOLD

 

Preview: 3 HIS LORDSHIP will enjoy this course and distance from a nice middle to high draw with Lerena up.1 BUMPS LAST GRIND will relish the step back to the minimum trip and has a chance. 6 OLD FASHIONED won easily in the maidens last time and starts handicapping off a reasonable mark. 8 NKANDLA GOLD had a return to form last time and could earn with a repeat. (David Thiselton 3-1-6-8

Warren Lenferna

There will be plenty of thoroughbred talent on show at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth tomorrow and plenty of betting opportunities await. The summer season is well on its way and the Cape is the place to be. 

The headliner is the Grade 1 World Sports Betting Fillies Guineas over 1600m and if this line-up doesn’t get you salivating, nothing will. Princess Of Gaul has won three from four, is a quality filly, and is a huge runner once again. Golden Palm, with Keagan de Melo aboard, is top class and comes into this having won her last five. It is her second run after a layoff, and she is an obvious winning contender. Reet Petite has been nothing short of scintillating. She is progressive, possesses serious gears, and her last run when stretched to 1600m was particularly impressive. She will have no shortage of supporters and is clearly on the path to becoming a top-class filly.

An interesting runner is Quickstepgal from the KZN yard of Tienie Prinsloo. Gavin Lerena retains the ride, which is a major plus. Her local debut was eye-catching, she is sure to have tightened up from that outing, and she can be respected for the places.

The fifth on the card is the first of the features, the Cape Summer Stayers Handicap over 2500m, and the form of Ahead Of The Facts was given a boost during the week. The son of Futura, from the Justin Snaith yard, will be ridden by Juan-Paul van der Merwe and carries a light weight. He stays all day, should be cherry-ripe, and has strong winning claims. It is never that straightforward, though, as there are several others with chances. Holding Thumbs is consistent and won this race last year. Congressman is slightly better off at the weights with Ahead Of The Facts on their latest meeting and should go close. Home Reef is in mustard form, travelling from the Eastern Cape, and could make his presence felt. Umfula does jump in class but has caught the eye since the layoff. His last run behind Regulation was good, and he could well be up to the task. Ahead Of The Facts, however, remains the suggested first choice.

The sixth is the Grade 3 World Sports Betting Southern Cross Stakes over 1000m, and what a line-up of talented, quality fillies and mares it is. The scintillating, unbeaten Eastern Cape queen, Direct Hit, should take an absolute power of beating with regular rider Richard Fourie aboard. Asiye Phambili returns from a 27 July break but is classy and capable of going very close; she cannot be excluded from any bets. Green Diamond arrives from the Highveld with tip-top form and was last seen 22 weeks ago in KZN during their Champions Season. She is an excellent filly who merits huge respect, with Craig Zackey riding for Sean Tarry. It promises to be a superb spectacle at Grade 3 level, but they might all need to find a bit extra to deny Direct Hit from keeping her unbeaten record intact.

Please Note: South African Quartet Pools with fractional betting offered at Sandown and Wolverhampton (UK) – 6 December 2025

Soccer4 Saturday 6 December 2025. ADD-IN R25 000. Estimated Pool: R 100 000. Pool Closes at 17h00. Sport 18 Pool 2.