David Thiselton

The Eric Sands-trained Rainbow Bridge put himself in line for the Equus Horse Of The Year award when winning the Grade 1 weight-for-age Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge over 1600m at Hollywoodbets Greyville yesterday under Luke Ferraris.

Sands will be wondering how he will ever replace Ferraris when the latter leaves for his contract riding position in Hong Kong as the six-year-old Rainbow Bridge has never been in better form since being partnered by the 19-year-old. 

In five rides together they have now finished narrow seconds in both the Grade 2 WSB Greenpoint Stakes and Grade 1 WFA L’Ormarin’s Queen’s Plate and then rattled off wins in the Grade 2 IOS Drill Hall Stakes, the Grade 1 Cape Town Met and the Grade 1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge.  

Seeking The Stars was expected to lead but started tardily. However, Grant van Niekerk surprisingly did not make more effort to keep Cirillo out. Instead he hung back and Seeking The Stars, not able to use his stride, raced too strongly in second.

The strapping Jet Dark, having his first run since winning the Queen’s Plate five months ago, found the box seat on the rail but was tending to over-race.

WSB Dingaans winner Catch Twentytwo managed to slot in front of him at the 900m mark, which posed a problem for Rainbow Bridge who was now left one wide without cover. 

However, Rainbow Bridge remained beautifully relaxed and sauntered up to Seeking The Stars, who had moved past Cirillo at the top of the straight.

Catch Twentytwo was posing a threat on the inside but Ferraris got to work at the 200m mark and Rainbow Bridge lengthened his stride to beat the former by a cosy 0,30 lengths.

Chimichuri Run, who had sat behind Rainbow Bridge in the running, ran on strongly to deny Seeking The Stars third place. Belgarion and Jet Dark both proved in need it, finishing fifth and sixth respectively. 

Rainbow Bridge, an Ideal World gelding owned by Mike and Norma Rattray and bred by Wilgerbosdrift and Mauritzfontein Stud, has now won eleven of his 23 starts, including five Grade 1s.

Hollywoodbets recognised their business partners in the Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge meeting at Hollywoodbets Greyville yesterday and the supporting features provided some thrilling finishes.

In the Grade 3 Hollywoodbets Dolphins Cup Trial over 1800m the Justin Snaith-trained Crown Towers took up his favourite front-running role and in his normal courageous fashion kept going to narrowly defeat fellow VDJ entrants Tristful and Nexus.

In the Grade 2 East Coast Radio Tibouchina Stakes over 1400m, the Glen Kotzen-trained Caya Coco, the only horse to have ever beaten star filly Captain’s Ransom, burst through from a handy position to beat pacemaker Wisteria Walk by 1,50 lengths with the outsider Zimbaba running on well for third. 

In the Listed Cell C Sharks Gatecrasher Stakes the favourite, the Dean Kannemeyer-trained Cosmic Highway, produced a late surge under Keagan de Melo to get up by a long-head from long-time leader Party Time with Waterberry Lane in third. 

In the Listed Lighthouse Foundation Devon Air Stakes over 1400m the Sean Tarry-trained Twice The Trip ran on resolutely to keep the fast-finishing Kailene at bay and win by a quarter-of-a-length with Miss Putin staying on for third.

The Rising Sun Durban Dash was won by  the Kumaran Naidoo-trained outsider Ziva La Winter under Calvin Habib.

Andrew Harrison

Rainbow Bridge will defend his title in the 50^th renewal of the R1 million Hollywoodbets Gr1 Gold Challenge at Hollywoodbets Greyville today and will be out to turn the tables on Gr1 L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate winner Jet Dark.

South Africa’s joint second richest race is the final Vodacom Durban July ‘golden ticket’ event and promises to be a thriller with five big race entries lining up.

Although only nine runners are due to face starter Solly Ngcobo, there is plenty of intrigue with runners like Rainbow Bridge and Belgarion warming up for the VDJ against star miler’s whose main target will have been this race.

The Gold Challenge is the last leg of the unofficial ‘Mile’ WFA races, along with the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate and the HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes.

In context, this is the more important of the three given that horses from all three of the major racing centres meet on a level playing field.

The Eric Sands-trained Rainbow Bridge fluffed his lines in last year’s VDJ but is on track to remedy that. He scorched home in the Drill Hall Stakes over 1400m, a distance seemingly short of his best, and he is out to defend his Gold Challenge title where he looks more than capable.

Jet Dark beat Rainbow Bridge in the Queen’s Plate but has not been out since barring a Greyville gallop. This has been his Champions Season target so he should be fully primed but the Justin Snaith stable has been quiet this winter season which is a concern.

In contrast, Vaughan Marshall is having a stellar Champions Season and he saddles Seeking The Stars who set a solid gallop for stable companion and joint ante-post VDJ favourite, Linebacker in the KZN Guineas. Linebacker followed up with an equally impressive win in the Gr1 Daily News 2000 and just how Seeking The Stars fares here will be watched with more than just passing interest.

Belgarion has only once finished out of the money in a dozen starts and is at home over the trip. He barrelled home from last when beating Rainbow Bridge in the Gr2 Greenpoint Stakes but his current efforts have not mirrored that performance.

Needless to say, last year’s VDJ winner will be a big factor.

Catch Twentytwo was clearly second best behind Rainbow Bridge in the Drill Hall and seems unlikely to turn the tables while the balance of this small field will need to catch their better performed rivals on an off day.

There are a host of feature races on the day headed by the Gr2 East Coast Radio Tibouchina Stakes and the Gr3 Hollywoodbets Dolphins Cup Trial.

The Gr3 Hollywoodbets Dolphins Cup Trial is something of a ‘last chance saloon’ for VDJ hopefuls and punters are faced with a tricky puzzle. African Night Sky has not been the same horse that he was before injury and a lengthy lay-off but he showed signs of a form return last time out. He has dropped 13 pounds in the handicap and if he can win this, his chances of making the VDJ field will be very much enhanced.

Stable companion Nexus was supplemented into the VDJ and was 13^th on the last published July log so is assured of a gate in the big one. He has not been out since January so this could be a warm-up.

Tree Tambo, Tristful and Azores are all borderline VDJ entrants and will be going hard for victory. Tree Tambo was a winner last time out having improved in blinkers and can follow up while Tristful was unlucky in the July consolation last year. He ran well below par last start but one can expect a much better showing this time around.

The Tibouchina Stakes is a difficult race with any number of runners in with chances.

Wisteria Walk was not far behind last Sunday’s Golden Horse winner Battle Force after they met and in a recent handicap, giving the winner 7.5kg. She was only three lengths off Summer Pudding in the Empress Club Stakes and is over her ideal trip.

Favorita has drawn a touch wide but made a smart local debut in the Poinsetia Stakes and the extra furlong should not trouble her. Dennis Drier sends out Free State Star who although not having the best of draws, caught the eye at her last two and should strip at her peak.

Michael Azzie saddles Wylie Wench, who although not well in at the weights, has the best of the draw and has been in good form of late and should have every chance.

David Thiselton

It is Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge day at Hollywoodbets Greyville today and the Jackpot will consist of three Graded races and a Non-Black type event so should be well supported. 

The first leg is the Grade 3 Hollywoodbets Dolphins Cup Trial over 1800m.

 Crown Towers could bounce back to his best over an ideal course and distance. This horse needs to get to the front to produce his best as he can then use his big action and he is able to keep up a good tempo all the way to the line.

Last time his chances of reaching the front were scuppered by the horse drawn inside of him, Share Holder, who had the same idea and he not surprisingly did not run to his best form.

He is drawn seven out of eight this time and none of the horses inside of him are types who will want the lead so it could pan out perfectly for him and he should make a bold bid.

Tree Tumbo is drawn well in two and should be running on strongly at a course he has won at and over a suitable trip. Tristful ran second in the Grade 2 WSB 1900 last year and off a competitive merit rating from a good draw he should go close as he this will be his third run after a layoff.

In the Grade 2 East Coast Radio Tibouchina Stakes over 1400m, Zarina will have benefited from her last start when finishing strongly from a wide draw for fourth and she has a reversal of draw fortune with the horse who beat her by 0,30 lengths in the WSB Guineas, Freestate Star.

Wisteria Walk has class and this looks to be an ideal trip as she does have plenty of pace too. She looks to be the chief threat to Zarina.

Wylie Wench will be an interesting contender from pole position as she has pace and a kick and could well be better than her 99-merit rating.

Freestate Star ran on fluently in the WSB Guineas and can also be considered for wider permutations. Two others who warrant consideration are Zimbaba, who if producing her best is capable of mowing this field down. Rio’s Winter is drawn two and comes off a good fifth in the Grade 1 SA Fillies Sprint and this trip should be ideal as she was runner-up in last year’s Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas. 

In the big one, The Grade 1 weight for age Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge, Seeking The Stars could cause an upset. He is capable of setting a high tempo from start to finish and should be cherry-ripe. His draw of two and Grant van Niekerk aboard will help too.

Rainbow Bridge has tended to run a relatively flat race in his second run after a layoff but has found the perfect partner in Luke Ferraris and it will be no surprise to see him fetching Seeking The Stars considering his outstanding Drill Hall win over a trip short of his best.

Jet Dark is full of class and although he hasn’t run since his L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate win he did put up a fine gallop at Hollywoodbets Greyville recently.

 Belgarion proved when winning the WSB Green Point Stakes he enjoys this trip running fresh so is also one to consider.

In the Rising Sun Durban Dash over 1100m, Spyda’s Corner has a wide draw but is on the up and is capable of running on from off the pace so should be right there.

Speed Machine has class and will also be a big runner in his third run after a layoff. 

Slalom Queen is well drawn and if bouncing back to her best also has a shout having dropped to a competitive merit rating. Captain Oupie has been disappointing in his last two starts but has a fair draw and enjoys this course so can be in the shake-up. Ziva La Winter has a far draw and is one from one over this course and distance so can also be considered. 

The recent Daily News 2000 race meeting marked the first time South African horseplayers were able to bet into Hong Kong’s mega tote pools on a race meeting in this country and the turnover generated in just a few hours was astonishing.

The Hong Kong Jockey Club classified the 29 May Daily News 2000 meeting as a World Pool event, resulting in punters in Hong Kong being able to take the normal range of Hong Kong tote bets on races two to nine.

Four South African tote pools on the same races were commingled into Hong Kong pools – Win, Place, Swinger and Quinella – with local TAB pools on all other bet types.

Total gross turnover on the eight races was R486 million, comprising R405 million bet by Hong Kong punters with South Africa and other international sources contributing R81 million.

The amount bet must be viewed against the background that it was a stand-alone televised event in Hong Kong and took place in a timeframe from 18:25 to 22:35 in the Far East.

The average pool totals on the four commingled bet types are striking to say the least. Win pools averaged R9.4 million gross, Place pools R10.1 million and the Swinger (Quinella Place in Hong Kong) R13.5 million.

The Quinella (first two any order and the equivalent of the Dupla that was once offered in South Africa) was by far the most popular bet on the meeting with eight pools averaging R15.1 million gross.

Lance Smith, who manages Tellytrack and Phumelela’s international operations, said: “Betting into pools of that size on local races was a first for South African punters and the horseracing industry in this country earned a substantial commission from the undertaking.

“The event was generally well received in Hong Kong and there’s good news ahead because the Gold Cup race meeting at the end of July will also be classified as a World Pool event by the Hong Kong Jockey Club,” continued Smith. “But there are issues to be resolved before then including the length of time taken to declare official results.”

A full breakdown of the tote betting on the eight races is below (four commingled bet types highlighted in yellow). Please note these are gross pools.

Bet Type	Race 2	Race 3	Race 4	Race 5
Win	R 5 563 659	R 9 114 119	R 9 397 854	R 10 348 854
Place	R 7 103 578	R 7 958 481	R 8 853 368	R 9 699 499
Quinella	R 9 932 640	R 13 058 479	R 13 832 424	R 14 388 063
Swinger	R 11 683 397	R 13 744 700	R 15 521 431	R 14 944 776
Forecast/Trio	R 2 689 832	R 3 145 159	R 3 720 257	R 3 275 691
Tierce	R 1 630 903	R 2 098 889	R 2 525 565	R 2 180 767
Quartet	R 3 145 851	R 3 469 156	R 4 520 222	R 4 002 811
Double Trio	R 0	R 1 208 252	R 0	R 0
Treble	R 0	R 0	R 0	R 0
Total	R 41 749 859	R 53 797 235	R 58 371 122	R 58 840 460
Bet Type	Race 6	Race 7	Race 8	Race 9	Total Races 2-9
Win	R 10 920 819	R 12 041 487	R 10 121 757	R 11 186 639	R 78 695 188
Place	R 11 451 597	R 11 907 317	R 12 063 327	R 11 721 029	R 80 758 197
Quinella	R 13 554 441	R 18 733 425	R 18 840 262	R 18 318 314	R 120 658 049
Swinger	R 0	R 17 468 942	R 18 465 394	R 16 267 383	R 108 096 022
Forecast/Trio	R 5 438 721	R 5 090 007	R 4 601 288	R 4 759 856	R 32 720 811
Tierce	R 4 480 396	R 3 677 901	R 2 709 590	R 3 178 642	R 22 482 653
Quartet	R 5 674 870	R 6 613 092	R 5 308 272	R 5 088 982	R 37 823 256
Double Trio	R 1 517 132	R 0	R 0	R 0	R 2 725 384
Treble	R 0	R 2 129 935	R 0	R 0	R 2 129 935
Total	R 53 037 976	R 77 662 106	R 72 109 892	R 70 520 844	R 486 089 494

David Thiselton

The Candice Bass-Robinson-trained Zarina is the favourite for the Grade 2 East Coast Radio Tibouchina Stakes at the Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge meeting at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday but it looks to be a highly competitive field.

Master Of My Fate filly Zarina finished a 4,60 length fifth in a strong renewal of the Grade 1 WSB Cape Fillies Guineas and followed up by winning the Grade 3 Prix du Cap over 1400m at Kenilworth. She finished a 2,40 length fourth in he Grade 2 WSB Fillies Guineas and assistant trainer Trevor Brown said, “She’s well and she’s well in at the weights so she’s got a big chance.”

She was 0,30 lengths by another Master Of My Fate filly in the WSB Guineas, the Dennis Drier-trained Freestate Star, and assistant trainer Stuart Ferrie, said, “Freestate Star is well and 1400m is probably her best trip. She is working well and on her Guineas run she must have a chance.”

Glen Kotzen runs Caya Coco, the only horse to have ever beaten Captain’s Ransom, and he said, “She has been a bit unlucky. In her first KZN start she pulled up sore behind, we sorted her out and then in her next start when we thought she had a big chance in the WSB Fillies Guineas she pulled up coughing her lungs out. So it’s now her third time lucky and she’s cracked a decent draw for a change and she’s very, very well. She’s fit and there is no sign of coughing and she is very classy.” 

He also runs Point Of Sale and said, “She ran an absolute peach of a race last time ridden differently, held up for a run. She’s got a very short run in and she took off. It was a cracking run, she had to give the winner 7kg. She’s got it in her to win a big win, it’s just a matter of everything going her way. She’s got a top jock on (Gavin Lerena), so we’re very happy.”

The pole position drawn Wylie Wench broke the Vaal Classic course record over 1600m in her penultimate start when winning the Grade 3 Acacia Handicap and last time out, also over 1600m in the Listed Syringa Handicap, she was waited with for too long in the straight on the back of a slow pace and couldn’t catch the leader Way Of The World when the latter kicked well. She will be effective over this course and distance as she has good pace and a good turn of foot and might well be better than her 99 merit rating.

The classy Wisteria Walk looks ideally course and distance suited and has a fair draw of five so has a shout.

Keep The Lights on was ahead of Freestate Star when third to Princess Calla and Caya Coco in the Grade 3 Umzimkhulu Stakes over 1400m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville and followed up with a third in the Grade 3 Poinsettia Stakes over 1200m so should be cherry ripe. 

Favorita was second in the Poinsettia and being by Gimmethegreenlight out of an unraced Var mare who was a half-sister to Master Of My Fate she should get this trip. 

Hugs Accepted is well regarded and wasn’t disgraced in the WSB Guineas from a wide draw so is interesting from a fair draw of seven here having won three races from 1000m to 1200m.  

Rio’s Winter finished a 4,45 length fifth in the Grade 1 SA Fillies Sprint and is an interesting runner here as a former Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas runner up. 

Zimbaba was a 4,10 length fifth in the Poinsettia and being by Legislate should love this course and distance so if she brings her ‘A’ game she is a dark horse.  

Love Bomb won the Grade 2 Zulu Kingdom Golden Explorer Golden Slipper over this course and distance last year but has a tough draw this time although she does have Luke Ferraris up and won her penultimate start here over 1200m carrying topweight before finishing downfield in last Sunday’s SA Fillies Sprint. 

Mount Laurel showed signs of a form return last time but also has a tough draw. 

In The Dance went close in this race two years ago but has lost her way a touch and has a tough draw.