Andrew Harrison

Cat’s Pajamas booked his ticket to Turffontein and the Gr2 Gauteng Guineas when getting the better of two smart older horses in the Bet With TabGold Class 2 Handicap over 1400m at a scorching Hollywoodbets Scottsville yesterday.

“This was the test whether to go for the Guineas,” Frank Robinson confirmed and added, “ I was very happy with the run.”

Jockey Championship log leader Craig Zackey added to his tally as he had Cats Pajamas settled in off the pace as Formagear set the pace with favourite Quasiforsure in close attendance. The stable companions were neck-and-neck up the straight but as Zackey angled out for daylight, Cats Pajamas quickened up nicely to catch his rivals close home.

Cats Pajamas was in receipt of 6kg from Quasiforsure but all the signs are that he will get a mile.

Kabelo Matsunyane has struck up a good relationship with Duncan Howells with some success. The Hollywoodbets Durban July winning jockey is always good for some insightful feedback on his rides, a trait particularly important for all trainers.

Matsunyane was quick to sum up the situation on Rooster Bradshaw in the first. With little pace on, the gelding pulled himself to the front and Matsunyane was content to lead. In the straight the son of Potala Palace kept finding and was never seriously challenged with Ragnar The King in the money.

Hollywood Racing had four runners line up in the opening leg of the PA and one would expect that newly appointed syndicate rider Sean Veale would be on the ‘right’ one. However, with so many rides to choose from, it will no doubt take time for Veale to get his head around the syndicate runners.

Matsunyane made the most of his opportunity for a double as he rode a copybook race on Mike de Kock’s charge Tyrconnell. Off the bit around the turn his chances of winning looked forlorn, but the gelding picked it up in the straight to go after long-time leader and favourite Mr Hotstepper and snaffle his younger rival who kept rolling long enough to hold off a late challenge from Imposing.

Everything went the way of 20-1 chance War Empress in the first leg of the Pick 6 as she just saw out the 1100m to hold off Captain’s Christy who came from last to not making it home in time. Louis Goosen has mostly kept War Empress to 1000m and he admitted post-race that his charge was “coming up for air” over the final 50m. Favourite Bevies Delight, with replacement rider Tristan Godden, aboard was ‘snookered’ at every turn.

While the majority of the field got in each other’s way up the inside of the track, those drawn on the outside made the most of the absence of traffic in the fifth. Soho Star, Magma Magic and All The Time, all drawn in the stand side gates, fought out the finish with apprentice Brevan Plaatjies making the most of his chance ride for Yogas Govender. Soho Star got the better of the bunched field on his inside approaching the final furlong and looked home-and-hosed before Rachel Venniker produced Magma Magic with a telling late run up the stand side rail to snatch second ahead of All The Time. 

Veale may have been on the ‘wrong one’ earlier in the day but he was on the ‘right one’ three races later as he made hay on Woza Nawe for Peter Muscutt. Clear with a furlong to run, she kept finding for a late charging Hodgepodge, the previous mount of Veale. It was the third runner-up effort from Muzi Yeni. 

The recent incentives for owners and trainers to run their horses, paid off at Hollywoodbets Scottsville yesterday where punters, who have been fed a recent diet of small fields, were faced with big fields and forced to do extra homework. 

Famous Warrior had as much chance as his 15 rivals but Rachel Venniker, a charging third on Imposing earlier, made it a good afternoon for owner Howard Schwegmann and Michael Roberts as she managed to thread Famous Warrior through the pack to get up late to catch Rodriguez with pacemaker Go Grayson Go holding on for third. 

Goosen produced a second outsider in Cotton Ron as Denis Schwarz made good use of his stand side gate to pull away from his rivals to win uncontested.

Goosen closed off the meeting with a treble along with Schwarz who extricated himself from gate one, switched to the outside of the track as the opposition bunched up the middle, and came home smoking. The ‘sheep’ will no doubt be heading to the stand side next meeting! 

David Thiselton

The Listed Betway Swallow Stakes over 1160m for three-year-old fillies was the headliner at Turffontein Standside on Saturday and it saw the Tony Peter-trained Almond Sea landing a second career Listed race under Gavin Lerena, although she might not have done it in the manner expected.

There were good horses running throughout the day, some of them promising youngsters who put their hands up for future feature success, and there was a touch of controversy too.

In the Swallow Stakes Almond Sea was known in her early days as one who used her early pace to dominate fields. However, she has never had the gate speed to match her pace and this had left her having to make up ground in her last couple of starts. It was the same again on Saturday as she did her normal of going down on her back legs before springing out which sees her exiting the stalls fast but late. On this occasion from draw two in the seven horse field she was the meat in the sandwich early between You Bring Me Joy and Sorceress Supreme. This forced Lerena to take a hold and drop the speedy filly into last place. She got a tow from classy Rodeo Drive, who appeared to be travelling well in the slipstream of the leader Poblano. Rodeo Drive got a tow for as long as she could, but perhaps for too long, because by the time she had been switched for a clear run Almond Sea was alongside her as a gap had opened on Rodeo Drive’s inside. Rodeo Drive could not match Almond Sea’s pace and Almond Sea was left to fight it out with Poblano, whose odds of 25/2 did not match the esteem in which she is held by trainer Robbie Sage. The 72/100 shot Almond Sea fought courageously and won by 0,30 lengths with Rodeo Drive beaten 3,10 lengths into third. The fourth, fifth and sixth horses, Simply Majestic, Pointer and Sorceress Supreme, were beaten 13,50, 13,70 and 14 lengths respectively. You Bring Me Joy was beaten 24,25 lengths. With such a small field so spread out, it suggests it was a decent performance by Almond Sea. She is in the mould of Via Africa in not being big and powerful, but rather athletic and nimble. However, her lack of gate speed will make it hard for her to get to the very top. She was bred by Peter de Beyer and is owned by Johnny Peter. She cost R200,000 and has had eight runs for five wins, one second and two thirds for earnings of R418,125. The runner up Poblano has only had fives starts for a win on debut and only one unplaced run and she could progress into a useful sort, while this race was perhaps a signal that Rodeo Drive prefers further.

Earlier, one of the highest rated maidens in SA History, the Mike and Adam Azzie-trained 107-rated Winds Of Change (What A Winter), had only his second start in a maiden and cruised in by 6,25 lengths under Gavin Lerena in the 1160m event. He has previously had two runner up finishes in Gr 3s and a third place in a Gr 1.

The third race was controversially abandoned by the operator, because there were too many scratchings, leaving a field of just three. It is not clear why this meant it had to be abandoned as there are many two-horse races in the UK, for example, and it is not clear yet which rule allowed the race to be abandoned or whether the operator is allowed to override NHA racing rules in such a case.

In the fourth race over 1600m, Spumante Dolce made it two from two. Raymond Danielson was patient on her, being quite far back in the field with cover and one out, before producing her. The Vercingetorix half-sister to Hollywoodbets Durban July winner Sparkling Water accelerated superbly and powered in by 3,50 lengths. Runner up Kudzu has now finished second in his last four starts. Mike de Kock said Spumante Dolce would have to win convincingly to convince him she was ready to take in the Gr 2 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guiness and she looked to have past the test.

In the next race over 1800m De Kok made it a quick double as Silvano filly Forgiveness cruised in by 2,25 lengths to give Gavin Lerena a treble. That was despite it being the filly’s first outing for two-and-a-half months. The 88-rated four-year-old should progress further.

In the sixth over 1160m Sean Tarry and Piere Strydom made it a double together on the day when Green Sapphire (Gimmethegreenlight) followed up on her contemptuous maiden win by winning by an easy 2.10 lengths off an 81 merit rating. They had won race one together with Exceedingly Glam (What A Winter).

The last race of the day over 1000m saw Raymond Danielson clinching a double as the Clinton Binda-trained Dontshootthebarman (Visionaire) made a mockery of a betting drift from 10/1 to 25/1, cruising in by 1,20 lengths.

Soft was the official going on the day.

Lerena’s treble put him on 115 wins for the season at a strike rate of 26.74%, meaning he was four wins behind Craig Zackey on the national log at Saturday’s close of play and one ahead of Richard Fourie. The situation changed yesterday though as Zackey rode in the Hollywoodbets Scottsville meeting and had one winner.

Graeme Hawkins

Promettere turned in a career best performance when storming to victory in Saturday’s headliner at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth, the “Buy Tickets to WSB Cape Town Met on Quicket” Class 3 Handicap over 1600m. Ridden by Richard Fourie for trainer Vaughan Marshall, the 5yo son of Pomodoro accelerated smartly over the final 200m from some way off the early speed and drew clear to beat Future Turn by more than three lengths.

Future Turn (28/10) stayed on gamely from a handy position but was simply no match for Promettere (5/1) in the closing stages. Hat’s Pride (11/2) moved up threateningly approaching the final 200m but failed to sustain his effort and at the line was a neck adrift of Future Turn in third spot. Promettere was the second leg of a double for Fourie on a day when current log-leader Craig Zackey drew a rare blank. With Gavin Lerena riding a treble at Turffontein, the title chase looks as follows by the close of business on Saturday – Craig Zackey 119; Gavin Lerena 115 and Richard Fourie 114. With Fourie and Zackey getting the plum rides for trainers Alan Greeff and Gavin Smith in the Eastern Cape,  Lerena faces an uphill battle to maintain his momentum and stay in touch.

Fourie’s first winner came aboard Okavango in the second race, a Class 5 Handicap over 1600m, for the Justin Snaith team, their sole winner over the 10-race programme. Okavango was backed to the exclusion of the field and justified odds of 7/10 with a bloodless 4-length victory over Cosmic Rhythm. Owner Nick Jonsson was on hand to lead in his 3yo son of Master Of Fate who was winning at only the fourth time of asking and may yet have scope for further progress.

Glen Kotzen would have left Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday with a smile on his face. Over the past few months his Woodhill Racing Team, based near Paarl, have been fighting a lingering virus and generally the horses have been performing well below par. But his six runners on Saturday yielded two winners, one second and two thirds, including saddling the Exacta in the third race, a Maiden Plate over 1200m. The lesser fancied of the pair, Tripping Thunder (Chad Little), held a clear advantage with 200m left to race, but his more favoured stable companion Circumbendibus (JP van der Merwe) was now in full cry and got up in the shadow of the post to win going away.

Chad Little had his moment in the sun in the seventh race, a Maiden Plate over 1800m. Little confidently took Bombers In The Sky forward from the start and the 3yo son of Lancaster Bomber was never headed, reaching the finishing post with nearly two lengths to spare over Future Frequency and Landoftherisingsun.

The almost inevitable Pick 6 “bomb” landed in the fifth race, a Maiden Plate (F&M) over 1200m, when the formless Princessontherun (with an official merit rating of 41) fought off the attentions of Lhasa (7/1) to score by a head at odds of 100/1. Following the shock victories at similar odds by Gem King and It Is My Time at the previous two race meetings, this was the third consecutive race meeting at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth to deliver such a turn-up for the books. While the remaining five legs of the Pick 6 all delivered favourable results, Princessontherun’s complete reversal of form resulted in a Pick 6 dividend of more than R500 000.

One of the more impressive winners on the day was the Des McLachlan-trained Shesgotclass (9/2) who raced away to an easy victory in the fourth race, a Maiden Plate (F&M) over 1200m. Having only her second career start, the 3yo daughter of Querari was never in danger of defeat under Morne Winnaar and, as her name suggests, she could be a cut above the average. Keep an eye on the runner-up, Sugarbush, who ran on steadily from off the speed and the well-bred daughter of Trippi should not be long in shedding her maiden ticket.

Alltheboysiveloved attempted 1400m for the first time in her fledgeling career in the ninth race, a Class 4 Handicap (F&M), and the Lucinda Woodruff inmate passed the test with flying colours. Ridden patiently from a wide draw by Grant Van Niekerk, Alltheboysiveloved made rapid headway from the rear and drew clear of the favourite Swiatek to score by the better part of two lengths. Swiatek has now been runner-up in her last three outings and her next career victory cannot be too far away.

Graeme Hawkins

Oriental Charm, ante-post favourite for the R5-million World Sports Betting Cape Town Met at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday 25 January, cracked Gate 3 when the final field of seventeen runners was revealed on Wednesday evening. Oriental Charm who showed great courage when winning the 2024 Hollywoodbets Durban July (Gr1) will be partnered by regular pilot JP van der Merwe. Oriental Charm is one of two runners from the Crawford team, the other being Zapatillas who was less fortunate and has drawn the widest berth of all.

Champion Trainer Justin Snaith is bidding for his third consecutive “Met” victory and has five strings to his bow. Richard Fourie has been booked to partner the only three-year-old in the field, Eight On Eighteen, who will jump out of gate 10. The progressive Eight On Eighteen is currently the second choice in the betting market following his good second behind One Stripe in the Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas (Gr1). Rachel Venniker has been booked to ride the enigmatic Pacaya while Grant Van Niekerk will be aboard Future Swing. The Snaith quintet is completed by Royal Aussie (Kabelo Matsunyane) and Magic Verse (Aldo Domeyer).

Last year’s runner-up, Rascallion, comes into the race in very good form but no doubt trainer Vaughan Marshall will be disappointed that his veteran campaigner is drawn out wide in Gate 16. Sean Veale knows the 7yo son of Vercingetorix inside out and will likely attempt to go forward and find a position one off the fence not too far behind the pacesetters.

See It Again (Piere Strydom) and Green With Envy (Craig Zackey) come into the race having blotted their copybooks badly in their most recent outings but, aside from Oriental Charm and Eight On Eighteen, are the only other two runners quoted in single figures. Red Palace, the only filly in the race, will jump out of pole position and is to be partnered by high-flying Gavin Lerena.

The WSB Cape Town Met, due off at 16:05, has been billed as the eighth race on a bumper 12-race programme. Races 6 through 12 have been declared as World Pool events which will lead to massive tote pools and huge International interest for these races. The first race on Saturday 25 January, The R600 000 Heineken Sumer Juvenile Stakes (Listed) over 1100m is due off at 11:50 and gates open at 10:00.

Latest Betting from the Sponsors:-

33/10 Oriental Charm

9/2      Eight On Eighteen

5/1      See It Again

11/2   Green With Envy

12/1   Red Palace

14/1   Rascallion

20/1   Future Swing; Magic Verse; Montien

22/1   Atticus Finch; Royal Aussie

33/1   Litigation; Baratheon

55/1   Pacaya

66/1   Master Redoute; Zapatillas

75/1   Al Muthana.

Please Note: From December, Unit cost of all Soccer10 Pools closing on Wednesdays will be R3.

The R3 unit cost on Wednesdays is on a trial basis only & follows requests from many customers to increase the Soccer10 Unit.

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