Andrew Harrison

Rainbow Bridge will defend his title in the 50th renewal of the R1 million Hollywoodbets Gr1 Gold Challenge at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday 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 Eric Sands-trained Rainbow Bridge could not have been more impressive when winning the Gr2 Drill Hall Stakes over 1400m beating Catch Twentytwo and the pair will face up again come Saturday.

Rainbow Bridge will renew his partnership with jockey Luke Ferraris who has landed a six-month contract to ride in Hong Kong from mid-September.

Jet Dark, the highest rated three-year-old in the country after his defeat of Rainbow Bridge in the Queen’s Plate, has not had an outing since that victory which may be a worry for some. Stable first-call Richard Fourie rides with Grant van Niekerk switching to Seeking The Stars.

Justin Snaith scratched Jet Dark from the original July entry but the colt is sure to be primed come Saturday.

Vaughan Marshall has had a stellar Champions Season to date and will saddle Seeking The Stars who set a solid gallop for stable companion Linebacker in the WSB KZN Guineas. He stayed on well enough for second which will make him a factor on Saturday.

Snaith also saddles last year’s VDJ winner Belgarion who missed his intended warm-up race in the Drill Hall with an abnormal blood picture. He is already assured of a place in the VDJ but this will be a testing warm-up. S’Manga Khumalo rides what will probably be his VDJ mount.

Sovereign Spirit and Cirillo are assured of a July gate while Trip To Africa is 18th on the latest VDJ log and a top showing here will push him further up the table.

Supporting features on the card are the Gr2 East Coast Radio Tibouchina Stakes, the Gr3 Hollywoodbets Dolphin’s Cup Trial,  the Listed Cell C Sharks Gatecrasher Stakes and the (Non-Black Type) Rising Sun Durban Dash.

R1 000 000 1600m

1st R625000, 2nd R200000, 3rd R100000, 4th R50000, 5th R25000

Hollywoodbets GOLD CHALLENGE (Grade 1)

Weight-For-Age

WFA: 2yrs-10.5kgs 3yrs-1.5kgs

No Apprentice Allowance

1          Jet Dark                       58.5     130      A         Richard Fourie  Justin Snaith

2          Seeking The Stars         58.5     121      BA       Grant van Niekerk        Vaughan Marshall

3          Rainbow Bridge            60        134      A         Luke Ferraris    Eric Sands

4          Chimichuri Run 60        125      TBA     Raymond Danielson     Sean Tarry

5          Cirillo                           60        120      T A      Lyle Hewitson   Sean Tarry

6          Trip To Africa              60        114      BA       *Thabiso Gumede        Duncan Howells

7          Belgarion                      60        130      A         S’manga Khumalo        Justin Snaith

8          Sovereign Spirit            60        124      BA       Keagan de Melo           Candice Bass-Robinson

9          Catch Twentytwo         58.5     123      A         Gavin Lerena    Paul Peter

David Thiselton

The Paul Matchett-trained three-year-old Act Of War gelding Battle Force became the first bottom weight for 15 years to win the Grade 1 Golden Horse Sprint on Sunday at Hollywoodbets Scottsville when just getting up under Craig Zackey to beat Eden Roc by 0,25 lengths and he is only the second horse in the merit rating era to win this handicap while racing under sufferance.

 The last bottom weight to win was also trained by Matchett, the Zimbabwean-bred three-year-old Muhtafal colt Let’s Rock’n Roll, who carried 50kg to victory at odds of 50/1 under Randall Simons in 2006, winning by a cosy 1,25 lengths.

However, Let’s Rock ‘N Roll had snuck into the handicap whereas Battle Force was officially 2.5kg under sufferance carrying 52kg off his 106 merit rating.

To put that in layman’s terms, if it had been a true long handicap Battle Force would have carried only 49.5kg, so was carrying 2.5kg more than he should have been.

There is a minimum weight rule in most parts of the world and in South Africa it was changed in recent times from 50kg to 52kg.    

The only previous horse in the merit rating era to have won the Golden Horse Sprint while under sufferance was the Charles Laird-trained Hinterland, who was 3kg under sufferance when carrying 50kg to victory as a three-year-old in 2002. He started at odds of 8/1 and won by the same 0,25 length margin that Battle Force did.

Battle Force is highly progressive and on Sunday proved himself ahead of the handicappers again.

He has now won his last six sprint starts, his only recent defeat being over 1400m.

He has duly been raised to a 113 merit rating.

Battle Force was initially fancied in the betting at around 8/1 but drifted all the way out to 16/1.

Pulling a shoe probably aided the betting drift.

The start was delayed for a long time by the re-shoeing process and it was eventually announced he would race unshod behind.

Owner Roy Wentzel said afterwards, “Paul, to his credit, knows the horse well and suggested he run without the shoes.”  

Nevertheless, his supporters’ confidence must have dropped to a new level of pessimism.

However, Matchett was correct and the rangy bay strode out well throughout from his Standside 16 draw and ran all the way to the line.

It was Matchett’s third Grade 1 win at Hollywoodbets Scottsville in all as he also won the Allan Robertson Championship with Brave Mary in 2017.

Zackey has to be given a lot of credit for Sunday’s win as he had to shed 5kg in a week to make the weight.

It has been a halcyon week for all of Matchett, owners Roy Wentzel and Rose Waterman-Wentzel and sire Act Of War.

Wilgerbosdrift Triple Tiara heroine War Of Athena had won the Grade 1 Woolavington 2000 for Matchett and the Wentzels just eight days earlier.

Fittingly, Battle Force carries Roy’s colours (yellow, green maltese cross, white sleeves, gold and green quartered cap), because War Of Athena carries Rose’s colours (Pale pink, black stars and collar, white sleeves, black stars, black cap, white star).

Summerhill Stud-based sire Act Of War now has two Grade 1 winners in his first crop. He has a good 41.3% winners to runners ratio and his AEPR (average earnings per runner) of R76,997 is the highest of the top 50 sires on the SA national log.

Battle Force was another horse who “spoke to” Rose Waterman-Wentzel at the Sales. She and Roy duly purchased him for R130,000 at the KZN Yearling Sale.

Both War Of Athena and Battle Force were bred by Summerhill Stud.

David Thiselton

Vaughan Marshall, having won Sunday’s Gold Medallion with Ambiorix, has now landed Hollywoodbets Scottsville Grade 1’s in four different decades.

The Vercingetorix colt gave 19-year-old Luke Ferraris his career fifth Grade 1 victory.

Marshall’s Hollywoodbets Scottsville Grade 1 run started in 1994 when Taban won what is today called the Golden Horse Sprint under Anton Marcus at odds of 8/1.

He won that same race in 1996 with Bold Thatch, win converted 20/1 odds under Felix Coetzee.

He also won the SA Fillies Sprint on 1996 with Wonderful World who was ridden by Robbie Fradd and at 20/1 odds she downed the top class sprinter Harry’s Charm.

In 1997 the Gallic League filly Readallaboutit won the Allan Robertson Championship for him at 10/1 odds under Robbie Fradd.

His next Hollywoodbets Scottsville Grade 1 win was in the 2009 Gold Medallion with the Var colt Villandry, who was brought home by Felix Coetzee at odds of 9/1.

Marshall was particularly proud of his next Grade 1 win at the Pietermaritzburg track, All Is Secret, who won the Allan Robertson Championship in 2012, as he trained both of her parents Captain Al and Secret Of Victoria. All Is Secret was ridden by Anton Marcus and converted odds of 38/10.

The following year he won the Allan Robertson again with Happy Valentine, who converted 7/2 odds under Sean Veale.

In 2016 Marshall scored a Grade 1 double at the Festival Of Speed meeting. All Is Secret’s full-sister The Secret Is Out won the Allan Robertson under MJ Byleveld at odds of 14/10. The Captain Al colt Always In Charge, ridden by Anton Marcus, then converted 5/2 odds in the Gold Medallion.

Ambiorix made it a tenth Hollywoodbets Scottsville Grade 1 win for Marshall on Sunday, winning at odds of 25/3.

It is fitting that he has had such success at this track as he was a pupil at Maritzburg College where he excelled at sport, particularly cricket. for which he represented Natal Schools.

Ambiorix gave Marshall his second Grade 1 win in the space of eight days and his third of the season. His stalwart three-year-old gelding Linebacker has won both the Jonsson Workwear Cape Derby and the Daily News 2000 this season and is 4/1 with Hollywoodbets to give Marshall his first Vodacom Durban July win.

Ambiorix gave David Allan’s UK-based syndicate Burns Racing a first Grade 1 winner. Allan bought the Oldlands Stud-bred colt for R250,000 at the CTS Premier Yearling Sale.

Marshall has for a long time been known for his expertise with two-year-olds, although he is certainly not one-dimensional as his CV also contains three MET wins, five Cape Guineas wins and two Cape Derby wins among other big race success.

Sunday’s win was a particularly impressive training feat as the colt had not raced since the 27th of February when finishing a 2,50 length second in the Grade 3 Cape Of Good Hope Nursery.

Ferraris showed his fine race-riding intuition once again, revealing afterwards he had possibly made a mistake in the Cape Nursery by having him in behind horses. He said, “I asked Mr Marshall if I could ride him like in his first race. He has a very relaxed running style. He pinged the gate and just kept rolling.”

Vercingetorix is by multiple champion sire Silvano and the latter’s blood had already provided success in this family as Ambiorix’s dam Darling Moon (Indigo Magic) is a half-sister to the dual Grade 3 winning Silvano gelding Astro News.

Vercingetorix is proving to be a producer of speed and precocity, unlike Silvano, and this might be due to the influence of his National Assembly dam National Vixen. Both of Vercingetorix’s Grade 1 winners to date have achieved their single Grade 1 success in two-year-old sprints at Hollywoodbets Scottsville, the first being Vernichey in last year’s Allan Robertson.

However, Vercingetorix has produced stakes winners up to 1800m and is sire of the Marshall-trained Rascallion, who was a fast finishing second in the Daily News 2000.

Therefore Ambiorix, whose dam won a Listed race over 1400m, should get the 1400m of the Grade 2 Durban Golden Horseshoe on Vodacom Durban July day.

* Pick 6 carryover Leg 1 Race 4 @ 13:35 = R1,000,000 (likely pool R5,000,000)

* Jackpot carryover Leg 1 Race 5 @ 14:10 = R250,000 (likely pool R1,000,000)

* Trifecta carryover Race 6 (Tibouchina Stakes) = R200,000 (likely pool R350,000)

David Thiselton

The Vaal straight course hosts an eight race meeting today which offers both on-the-nose and exotic punters a chance to make a profit.

In the first race Master Archie has plenty of natural speed and has been in the mix in three strong sprint races in Cape Town so if he brings his ‘A game’ in his first run on the Highveld he will go close. Lulu’s Boy has improved and also has some pace so looks to be the main danger. Swingthewillow has champion workrider Joe Gingwizha up and should also be in the shake up. Jet Cat is a log time maiden who places often and he can earn again too. The first-timer French Rebel is by Rebel King out of an Australian-bred Danehill Dancer mare who won easily over this course and distance second time out as a juvenile but never won again and has not produced a winner yet from two runners. However, Paul Peter-trained first-timers appearing in workriders’ events always have to be respected. 

The second race over 1200m could fall to the William Longsword colt Dyce who made a good debut when finishing just 1,10 lengths behind the decent Pyromaniac over this trip. He was a head behind William Robertson in that race but has a nice high draw here and Lucky Houdalakis yard horses usually come on from their first runs. William Robertson was a bit short of room in the aforementioned race and can do even better so it should be an intriguing duel. 

In the third race over 1200m Mama Tembu was tailed off on debut over 1160m when green but ran on well for a six length sixth in a relatively good time. The form has worked out well with three winners coming out of the race to date. She is a half-sister to the Listed winner Zimbaba so has a good chance in this uninspiring field. Escape Artist was beaten 11,50 lengths on debut on Saturday over 1160m but the winner Big Burn looks to be an exciting prospect and Escape Artist did make some good late progress so could place here. Golden Aspen was not far behind the like of Follow Me, Freed From Desire and Eternity Ring last time so could also be in the shake up.

In the fourth race over 1000m French Joy showed fair pace on debut and did not find much extra in the closing stages so being fitter for the run she should improve and go close in an uninspiring field. Miss Magician has run two places in two starts in uninspiring fields and could be the chief danger. Smelting and Quick Run have shown some ability but the first-timers might represent bigger threats. Moonshingthrough is the more fancied of the first-timers in the market. She is by Rafeef and is a half-sister to twice-winning 86 rated KZN-based filly Purple Moon’s Up (What A Winter). However, Queen Of The North makes more appeal on pedigree. She is by What A Winter and is a half-sister to the like of three-times stakes-winning Silvano mare Platinum Class.    

In the fifth race over 1000m Emerald Crest turned it on nicely over 1200m last time but shifted about and was demoted from second to third after an objection. If cheekpieces help her stay straight she can go close as they should also help her get into the race sooner over this shorter trip. Greens was raised six points for an easy win over this trip last time. However, that is alleviated by the 4kg claim of apprentice Xola Jacobs and she has the ability to go close. Glowtoria has a fine recod over this trip this season with an easy win last time following two close seconds. She has been given a six point raise but Gavin Lerena has stayed with her. Showdown Kid is an interesting runner as she has plenty of pace and could well have strengthened during her 131 day layoff being by Var out of a Fort Wood mare.  Nina Amelia can’t be ignored either. She spread a shoe last time and can do better. Zodiac Princess could still improve and could also be right there. 

In the sixth over 2000m Romeo’s Magic is in fine form and looks capable of landing a hattrick over this suitable trip. He was raised four points for his last win but the form has worked out well as three winners have come out of that race. Beyond him it is wide open. Tyrus Express has three wins, a second and a third in six starts over this trip and proved in an 1800m handicap last time he is up to his 94 merit rating. Nebraas went close from the front the last time he tried this course and distance and although he is equally effective coming from off the pace Hewitson might opt for those front-running tactics again from draw two as he will have an advantage if able to dictate in a small field like this. Trend Master won well over 1800m last time and is given a second attempt to prove he stays this trip after failing in his only attempt in the maidens last March. Heart Stwings has been running in much stronger company so would not be a surprise winner despite having to carry 60.5kg against the boys if the apprentice claim is included. 

In the seventh, a Classified Stakes event over 1200m Big City Girl produced a late burst when just failing to get up over course and distance last time and she can reverse a short-head beating by Fromheretoeternity on 1kg better weight terms. They look capable of fighting it out again. Fantasy Flower, Samoa, Putin’s Promise, Master Uletide, Perfect Angel, Midnight Gem and Sheltering Sky can be included for those wishing to go wide in this leg.

In the last race over 1200m East Brook should have benefited from his last run and if repeating his effort in December should go close despite being 3kg under sufferance with the  best weighted in this Classified Stakes event. The Makwakkers is also 3kg under sufferance with the best weighted but won fluently last time when coming from some way back and it could pan out better this time which puts him in with a shout. Pretty Jolly comes out fairly well on formlines so could be in the shake up too. Blue Eyes had a tough draw last time and is better than that. Informative can bounce back to form here and if he does he should beat East Brook at the weight turnaround from their meeting in December. Feather The Nest is the best weighted so can’t be ignored. Opening Gambit and Madame Patrice can also be considered.