Please be advised that the Turffontein race meeting originally scheduled for Sunday, 23 February 2025, has been postponed to Monday, 24 February 2025.

Following a track inspection this afternoon, it was found that certain sections of the track are inconsistent and waterlogged.

We are confident that, provided there is no further rainfall, the meeting will proceed on Monday.

However, it is important to note that the Inside Track at Turffontein and the Vaal Classic track have drained more effectively than the Standside Track.

In the event of additional rainfall tomorrow, an alternative option could be to move the meeting to one of these tracks on Monday.

New race times will be disseminated.

Please take note that as of the next Malaysia (Selangor) meeting scheduled for Sunday 23 February, the minimum bet amounts for the Exacta, Trio and Trifecta will change from a R6.00 minimum to a R10.00 minimum.

Episode # 3️⃣Visors & Pacifiers Join us as we check out Racing Gear, it’s role and how it can help a horse find the Winners Box. Barend Botes’ star filly, QUID PRO QUO, has worn visors in her last 3 starts winning 3. She’s entered in the Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic Gr1 on March the 1st. The ever-popular GARTH PULLER shares his valuable knowledge with us. We jump right in to find out more!

Graeme Hawkins

A R500 000 Carryover adds to the appeal of the Pick 6 at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday as does the prospect of two ready-made bankers in the form of Eight On Eighteen and Gimme A Prince. Eight on Eighteen takes on seven rivals in the R1,5-million Splashout Cape Derby (Gr1) over 2000m and, while many will remind you that there is no such thing as a “racing certainty”, there is no logical case to be made which suggests that the WSB Cape Town Met-winning 3yo son of Lancaster Bomber can be gunned down.

Yes, Eight On Eighteen does like to keep us on the edge of our seats with his tendency to come from far back, and yes he is seen to best advantage when accelerating off a solid pace – and such a pace may not be forthcoming in this year’s renewal of the Splashout Cape Derby – but top horses find a way of getting the job done and there is no doubting that Eight On Eighteen appears to be quite special.

The Politician Stakes (Gr3) over 1800m, the traditional Derby trial run on the same day as the WSB Cape Town Met, saw Zeitz register a commanding victory over Garrix, Native Ruler, Dawn Till Dusk and Sail The Seas, all of which have stood their ground for Saturday’s Derby. Garrix is now 3kgs better off with Zeitz and there is every chance that Piet Steyn’s charge can reverse the order with Andre Nel’s eye-catching grey. Sail The Seas is 4,5kgs better off with Zeitz but the latter was a little one-paced in the Politician Stakes and may once again be held by Zeitz and Garrix. Garrix, Zeitz and Sail The Seas are all sired by the in-form Vercingetorix and are fancied to follow Eight On Eighteen home in that order.

Gimme A Prince blew us all away, not to mention the opposition, when winning the Cape Flying Championship (Gr1) over 1000m by close on six lengths on WSB Met day. Like Eight On Eighteen, Gimme A Prince is quoted at 1/3 to win the Grade 2 R600 000 Khaya Stables Diadem Stakes over 1200m and while the 6yo son of Gimmethegreenlight has often been plagued by unsoundness, it appears that Dean Kannemeyer has Gimme A Prince in very good order and in the form of his life. He seems at his very best over 1200m and victory for Gimme A Prince in the Diadem seems as much a formality as it does for Eight On Eighteen in the Derby.

Questioning, Surjay and Royal Aussie are likely to fight out the minor placings, but Gimme A Prince should suffice for Pick 6 purposes. So, we have two bankers in the form of Eight On Eighteen and Gimme A Prince but, in a small perm taken multiple times, you may also wish to nail your colours to the mast with Roccapina in Race 6, the Splashout Prix du Cap (Gr 3) over 1400m, and See It Again in Race 5, the City of Cape Town Jet Master Stakes (Listed) over 1600m.

Roccapina ran terrific races in defeat recently when runner-up to Asiye Phambili in the Sceptre Stakes over 1200m on King’s Plate day and the 3yo daughter of One World built on that performance when finishing a good third behind Rascova and Double Grand Slam in the 1600m Majorca Stakes (Gr1) on “Met” day. This 1400m looks ideal and Candice Bass-Robinson’s filly should take a power of beating. Mon Petit Cherie, Bavarian Beauty and Gimmie’s Countess rate the obvious dangers but if Roccapina fluffs her lines, then this is the one leg of the Pick 6 that could produce a boil-over result.

See It Again has been testing his supporters’ faith for a while now, but he drops to Listed race class on Saturday and is slung in at the weights. He again has a wide draw to overcome and 1600m is very much at the bottom of his range, but Piere Strydom will be hoping for a slice of good fortune for a change and the 5yo son of Twice Over should prove a touch too classy here. The obvious danger is Zapatillas who cracks a good draw this time and the 6yo son of Master Of My Fate should get the run of the race.

The opening leg of the carryover Pick 6, the Schweppes Cape Fillies Classic (Listed) over 1800m, has attracted a small but competitive field of seven runners and many will be including the field. Kinda Wonderful and Scarlet Macaw do stand out on ratings, but they tackle the trip for the first time and that raises a few question marks. Goodnessgraciousme, who is highly regarded by Justin Snaith, will appreciate stepping up in trip and she may be a lot better than her current mark of 88. The rapidly improving Give Me Everything goes for three on the bounce and could also be ahead of the handicapper.

The ninth race, a Class 4 Handicap (F&M) over 1400m, shapes up as a four-cornered contest between Golden Angel, My Only Weakness. Alltheboysiveloved and Miraculous – with some measure of respect also for the consistent Among The Clouds who has not won for 591 days – but depending on how you structure your Pick 6 perms, it may be prudent to ensure you have the field in your main perm. I would not normally dare to put forward suggestions for the Pick 6 but, given the circumstances, herewith some food for thought:

Pick 6 Perm (1): 1,3,5,6 x 1,10 x 6 x 2 x 6 x 2,4,5,6,10 (R40)

Pick 6 Perm (2): Field x 1,10 x 6 x 2 x 6 x Field (R140)

Pick 6 Perm (3): Field x 1,10 x Field x 2 x 6 x Field (R1400)

Pick 6 Perm (4): Field x Field x 6 x 2 x 6 x Field (R700)

RACE 1

Good race. 5 ABSOLUTELY YES won well on debut, he sat just off the speed early and then quickened up smartly to beat Music Of The Night by just over two lengths, he will improve tons from that performance and must be respected. 6 IRELAND FOREVER was heavily backed in the market on debut when winning exceptionally well, he is a lovely looking colt that looks to have a bright future, watch him closely, the sky could be the limit for this individual. 2 DIRECT HIT showed plenty speed on debut, she absolutely smashed the opposition winning her maiden by just over seven lengths, she looked super impressive and can only improve from that. 3 WILD WILD GREEN remains unbeaten after winning her most recent start with absolute ease, the yard thinks highly of this filly, again she must have a top winning chance. It’s a tricky race with lots of quality, go wide. (Brandon Bailey: 5 – 6 – 2 – 3)

RACE 2

7 REGULATION ran a fair race in the Grade 3 Politician Stakes behind Zeitz, he had one or two hard luck stories and managed to run just under five lengths behind the winner, he is undoubtedly looking for further than this trip of 1400m, but he is classy and will be finishing strongly late, include him into all bets. 1 HONOR OF KINGS comes back to the races after a rest and gelding, he won his maiden on the 7th of December 2024 really well, he is progressive and must be watched closely here. 6 SCOTTISH LINKS quickened up smartly to win a good race on the 1st of February, he is talented and should improve quite a bit with every start, include him into the play. 3 MASTEROFTHEDESERT ran a good race last time behind shock winner Diamond Rock, he is very consistent and should earn again from a good draw. (Brandon Bailey: 7 – 1 – 6 – 3)

RACE 3

1 TALK TO THE MASTER ran a lovely race behind Gem King on the 11th of January, he needed his first run back from a gelding and he was slightly unlucky in running as well, now that he steps up in trip and he gets a perfect draw, he will be very tough to beat in this Class 3 event. 6 GALLIC DREAM never runs a bad race, he ran a cracking third last time behind two very nice horses, this looks to be the perfect race for him to be competitive again. 10 POWERANDTHEGLORY comes back to the races from a rest and gelding, he is a beautiful looking horse with plenty ability, if he doesn’t need the run badly and he manages to get some luck in running from a tricky draw, he will go close. 5 CARRIACOU carries no weight on his back, he likes to be covered up early and then comes with a storming run late, he must have a good place chance on his best form. (Brandon Bailey: 1 – 6 – 10 – 5)

RACE 4

6 SCARLET MACAW ran a fair race in the Grade 1 Majorca Stakes behind Rascova on the 25th of January, she is a talented filly, if she stays the 1800m trip, she will be very hard to beat in this Listed event. 3 GOODNESSGRACIOUSME fought hard all the way to the line last time when finishing second in the Clapham Stakes against older fillies, she is a big filly that will love the step up in trip to 1800m, on her best form she will go very close to winning. 1 GIVE ME EVERYTHING has won her last two races super impressively, this is undoubtedly a big step up in class for her, but she is progressive and will enjoy the step up in trip. 7 LADY SPRINGFIELD had no luck in running last time, she was taken up for a few strides in the home straight, she is still improving and will be hitting the line hard. (Brandon Bailey: 6 – 3 – 1 – 7)

RACE 5

9 MEU CAPITANO finished like a train to beat Snow Pilot really well on the 25th of January, he thoroughly enjoyed the step up in trip to 1400m last time and based on the way he finished, he should have no problems with the extra 200m on Saturday afternoon, if he gets some luck in running from a wide draw, he will be right there in the finish again. 10 SEE IT AGAIN ran a terrific race in the Grade 1 Cape Town Met on the 25th of January, he ran on powerfully to finish just over one length behind the winner, on ratings and on form he will be a tough horse to beat. 5 THE REAL PRINCE made up good ground late from a wide draw in his last start, he has a striking turn of foot late and should love this 1600m trip, include him into the play at a decent price. 1 ZAPATILLAS is much better than his recent run behind Eight On Eighteen, he is packed with class and should love the drop in trip, he could be the value in a tricky looking race. (Brandon Bailey: 9 – 10 – 5 – 1)

RACE 6

6 ROCCAPINA moved up full of running in her last start behind Rascova, she relaxed beautifully in that Grade 1 event and ran on powerfully to run a nice third, the drop in trip to 1400m is the key for this gorgeous looking filly, she will be very hard to beat here. 10 GIMMIE’S COUNTESS stayed on well behind Asiye Phambili in the Grade 2 Cartier Sceptre Stakes on the 4th of January, she will be switched off early from a wide draw, and she will be low flying late, include her into all bet types. 1 MON PETIT CHERIE has been rested for 77 days, she is much better than her last run behind Fatal Flaw, there is no doubt she is talented and must be respected from a good draw. 7 GIMMETHATPEARL will need to improve to win a race like this, but the drop in trip should help her chances, she could earn and make the Quartet pay at her best. (Brandon Bailey: 6 – 10 – 1 – 7)

RACE 7

2 EIGHT ON EIGHTEEN quickened up like a really smart colt to win the World Sports Betting Cape Town Met on the 25th of January, he is undoubtedly the best horse in the race, he will be very hard to beat in this Grade 1 event. 1 GARRIX had absolutely no luck in the Grade 3 Politician Stakes last time, the race didn’t work out for him, and he still managed to run a good second behind Zeitz, there should be no excuses for him on Saturday from a good draw, it’s a small field and he should be right there in the money again. 6 ZEITZ won super impressively on the 25th of January, he will love the step up in trip to 2000m, he is improving with every start and must be respected. 7 NATIVE RULER should be running on late, he is very consistent and must have a money chance again. (Brandon Bailey: 2 – 1 – 6 – 7)

RACE 8

6 GIMME A PRINCE stormed home to win the Grade 1 Cape Flying Championship very impressively on the 25th of January, he looks to be the best sprinter in South Africa at the moment, he should win a race like this quite comfortably, this is easily the best bet on the card. 4 SURJAY is as honest as they come, he ran a good second behind Gimme A Prince last time, he tries hard and should be able to earn again for the connections. 1 QUESTIONING will appreciate the 1200m trip on Saturday afternoon, he has done really well in the sprinting ranks, he will be running on strongly late. 2 ROYAL AUSSIE drops in trip and he gets the blinkers fitted, he could have a good place chance at a decent price. (Brandon Bailey: 6 – 4 – 1 – 2)

RACE 9

6 ALLTHEBOYSIVELOVED ran on well from the back of the field to win a good race on the 18th of January, she loved the step up in trip to 1400m, if she relaxes early in this Class 4 event, she will be hard to beat again. 2 GOLDEN ANGEL finished just over two lengths behind Alltheboysiveloved in her penultimate start, she is now 3.5kgs better off at the weights which should give her a massive chance on paper, she is nicely drawn and she gets the services of champion jockey Richard Fourie, include her into all bets. 5 MY ONLY WEAKNESS never runs a bad race, she is consistent, and the blinkers have been fitted, she must have a good place chance here. 4 AMONG THE CLOUDS drops in trip on Saturday, she is honest, and she tries really hard, she must be included into the places. (Brandon Bailey: 6 – 2 – 5 – 4)