Andrew Harrison

A major stakes increase and a revamp of the handicapping conditions has seen the numbers swell at Hollywoodbets Scottsville today. All races, barring a competitive top-liner with only six runners, are loaded with near maximum fields on the nine-race card which does not make easy pickings for punters but in turn, dividends should be attractive.

The smallest field on the card makes up the opening leg of the Bi-Pot and it turn into a match  race between Quasiforsure and Cats Pajamas. Peter Muscutt’s veteran was a close-up second behind the smart William Robertson last time out and although he has won over a sprint, he does seem to be more effective over slightly further with this race right up his alley. In contrast, Cats Pajamas is a smart sprinter and Frank Robinson could be testing his charge in useful company to see if he will stay any further. 

Of the balance, Diani was a smart third in the Christmas Handicap and that form has since been franked. He has a light weight and Dennis Bosch’s runner could upset the more fancied pair. 

Mike de Kock’s charge Tyroconnell could prove to be one of the better bets on a difficult card and open up the PA. He is relatively lightly raced and won well enough when getting the better of Capsaicin over course and distance last time out. Stuart Ferrie’s charge has since franked that form. With a light weight Tyrconnell looks capable in a tricky handicap. Mr Hotstepper takes another rise in class after a comfortable recent win and Frikkie Greyling’s charge boasts a record of two wins from four starts. He looks progressive and only has 52.5kg to shoulder. Mr Master Starter has been frustrating to follow and was again a beaten favourite last outing. However, he is never far back and should have a lively chance in this line-up. 

In the first leg of the Pick 6, Bevies Delight has come back well from setbacks early in her career and Peter Muscutt’s mare is versatile enough to make a big effort in a tricky handicap. She was not disgraced in the Flamboyant Stakes behind Mary’s Greenlight over a mile but some of her better form has been over sprints and she clearly enjoys some give in the ground which she is likely to get. Patants Heir is smart and although a narrow winner last time out she was finishing well and the little extra should suit although that form has been a little muddling since. 

Horses making their local debut after a spell in the Cape often win first time out for their new yards. King Of Spin makes his debut for Stuart Ferrie and comes off some useful Cape form. He has had a short break but looks the part in a competitive handicap in the fifth. Yannakis has had his issues but showed up well when coming off a lengthy break for Gary Rich. He has shown promise and on best form can be in the mix. Fanie Bronkhorst raids with veteran galloper Coming In Hot who boasts consistent Highveld form. The gelding has a 4kg claimer up who has won on him before. 

Happy Fortune has been brought on progressively by Darryl Moore and shed her maiden in good fashion when sent over ground. Her form has been franked where she is again up against Woza Nawe who could be her chief danger. She went on to win smartly after her defeat to Happy Fortune and was a beaten favourite last time out. She does have the best of the draw but could play second fiddle in a difficult handicap. Hodgepodge looks progressive and showed up well when second to The Ghost last time out. Muzi Yeni replaces Sean Veale who is now tied to Hollywood Racing as first call to their runners and he partners Woza Nawe. 

In the seventh, Famous Warrior has his third run after a break for Michael Roberts and looks primed for this race with Rachel Venniker’s allowance adding to the gelding’s appeal. Mvelelo was a beaten favourite last run for Mike de Kock and the blinkers go on. From a favourable draw he can make amends. Arverni King tried much further last time out but has not been far back at recent outings. He will certainly strip a fit horse and can get home for MJ Odendaal. Ralph The Rascal was the subject of a big gamble last time out with first time blinkers and his supporters only just failed to collect. However, he will need to repeat. 

The form behind One Irish Rover will be what puzzle’s form studiers in the eighth, as seven of the 12 runners finished behind MJ Odendaal’s gelding last time out. However, Top Gun was not in that race and was much improved when Paul Lafferty decided on blinkers and his charge won readily enough to suggest that he can follow up in this company with Rachel Venniker’s allowance. Sorting out the rest is tricky. Now I Got You was touched off by One Irish Rover and can turn the tables while there should be little separating stable companions El Draque and Whereverilaymyhat. It could pay to go wide in the exotics in this race. 

Icy Lancaster could round off the card at decent odds. She ran well below par in two Kenilworth starts and is now back in her original Summerveld yard of Gareth van Zyl. She had excellent form before her move to the Cape and if finding her best form she should make a bold bid. Amafort found strong market support after finishing second at long odds behind Blowin In The Wind who has since franked that form. There should not be much between the two again and both need to be included in all permutations as should Jeanne Darc who has also franked the Amafort/Blowin In The Wind form with an easy maiden win last time out and is another to add to a list of possible winners. 

RACE 1

5 TREND MAKER   6 ROOSTER BRADSHAW   7 RAGNAR THE KING   2 PRINCE FLORIAN

Summary: The Doug Campbell-trained gelding TREND MAKER (5) found some market support on debut and ran a smart second behind Top Gun who made improvement in first time blinkers. That run will have brought him on and the extra furlong should suit. ROOSTER BRADSHAW (6) was a little disappointing last run after finishing close-up at his previous start. Duncan Howells has been building a winning relationship with Kabelo Matsunyane and he takes over the irons. RAGNAR THE KING (7) has improved with every outing for Wendy Whitehead and with Calvin Habib on the injured list, Muzi Yeni takes over in the saddle. PRINCE FLORIAN (2) has yet to run a bad race but was second best last run. He has a favourable draw and the trip suits. (Andrew Harrison: 5-6-7-2).

RACE 2

1 QUASIFORSURE    3 CATS PAJAMAS   4 DIANI   5 DONQUERARI

 Summary: This could turn into a match between QUASIFORSURE (1) and the progressive CATS PAJAMAS (3). Peter Muscutt’s veteran was a close-up second behind the smart William Robertson last time out and although he has won over a sprint, he does seem to be more effective over slightly further with this race right up his alley. In contrast, Cats Pajamas is a smart sprinter and Frank Robinson could be testing his charge in useful company to see if he will stay further. DIANI (4) was a smart third in the Christmas Handicap and that form has since been franked. He has a light weight and Dennis Bosch’s runner could upset the more fancied pair. DONQUERARI (5) has been in good form over sprints and could surprise with a step up in distance. Likewise, FORMAGEAR (2) gives Muscutt a second string to his bow but although capable on his day, he will need to step up on recent performances. (Andrew Harrison: 1-3-4-2).

RACE 3

5 TYRCONNELL   8 MR HOTSTEPPER   10 MR MASTER STARTER   13 MEXICAN PETE

Summary: Mike de Kock’s charge TYRCONNEL (5) is relatively lightly raced and won well enough when getting the better of Capsaicin over course and distance last time out. Stuart Ferrie’s charge has since franked that form. With a light weight Tyrconnell looks capable in a tricky handicap. MR HOTSTEPPER (8) takes another rise in class after a comfortable recent win and Frikkie Greyling’s charge not boast a record of two wins from four starts. He looks progressive and only has 52.5kg to shoulder. MR MASTER STARTER (10) has been frustration to follow and was again a beaten favourite last outing. However, he is never far back and should have a lively chance in this line-up. Sean Veale starts his job as first call rider to Hollywood Racing aboard SHAMPOMPO SHAMPIZI (12) for Alyson Wright but has a deep draw to contend with as does top weight MEXICAN PETE (13) who drops back to what looks to be a more suitable trip. (Andrew Harrison: 5-8-10-13).

RACE 4

4 BEVIES DELIGHT   1 PATANTS HEIR   8 CAPTAIN’S CHRISTY   6 RED ROSES TOO

 Summary: BEVIES DELIGHT (4) has come back well from setbacks early in her career and Peter Muscutt’s mare is versatile enough to make a big effort in a tricky handicap. She was not disgraced in the Flamboyant Stakes behind Mary’s Greenlight over a mile but some of her better form has been over sprints and she clearly enjoys some give in the ground which she is likely to get. PATANT’S HEIR (1) is smart and although a narrow winner last time out she was finishing well and the little extra should suit although that form has been a little muddling since. CAPTAIN’S CHRISTY (8) was well beaten by Patants Heir when last they met but won well next time out with a number of the opposition behind her. RED ROSES TOO (6) has some patchy form but on her day is quite capable in this line-up although any soft ground could be her Achillies heel. (Andrew Harrison: 4-1-8-6).

RACE 5

9 KING OF SPIN   5 YANNAKIS   12 COMING IN HOT   10 SOHO STAR

Summary: Horses making their local debut after a spell in the Cape often win first time out for their new yards. KING OF SPIN (9) makes his debut for Stuart Ferrie and comes off some useful Cape form. He has had a short break but looks the part in a competitive handicap. YANNAKIS (5) showed up well when coming off a lengthy break for Gary Rich. He has shown promise and on best form can be in the mix. Fanie Bronkhorst raids with veteran galloper COMING IN HOT (12) who boasts consistent Highveld form. The gelding has a 4kg claimer up who has won on the gelding before. Yogas Govender he also engaged a 4kg claimer to partner SOHO STAR (10) who was narrowly beaten over course and distance last time out and is another in with a winning chance in a wide open race. (Andrew Harrison: 9-5-12-10).

RACE 6

7 HAPPY FORTUNE   1 WOZA NAWE   4 HODGEPODGE   12 HONOURABLE MEMBER

Summary: HAPPY FORTUNE (7) was brought on progressively by Darryl Moore and she her maiden in good fashion when sent over ground. Her form has been franked and she could again be up against WOZA NAWE (1) as her chief danger who went on to win smartly after her defeat to Happy Fortune and was a beaten favourite last time out. She does have the best of the draw but could play second fiddle in a difficult handicap. HODGEPODGE (4) looks progressive and showed up well when second to The Ghost last time out. Muzi Yeni replaces Sean Veale who is now tried to Hollywood Racing and he partners Woza Nawe. HONORABLE MEMBER (12) has the widest draw to contend with but some with sound Highveld form and has a strong money chance. (Andrew Harrison: 7-1-4-12).

 RACE 7

7 FAMOUS WARRIOR   2 MVELELO   5 AVERNI KING   1 RALPH THE RASCAL

Summary: FAMOUS WARRIOR (7) has his third run after a break for Michael Roberts and looks primed for this race with Rachel Venniker’s allowance adding to the gelding’s appeal. MVELELO (2) was a beaten favourite last run for Mike de Kock and the blinkers go on. From a favourable draw he can make amends. ARVERNI KING (5) tried much further last time out but has not been far back at recent outings. He will certainly strip a fit horse and can get home for MJ Odendaal. RALPH THE RASCAL (1) was the subject of a big gamble last time out with first time blinkers and his supporters only just failed to collect. However, he will need to repeat. (Andrew Harrison: 7-2-5-1).

RACE 8

3 TOP GUN   11 NOW I GOT YOU   8 EL DRAQUE   9 WHEREVERILAYMYHAT

Summary: The form behind ONE IRISH ROVER (8) will be what puzzle’s form studiers as seven of the 12 runners finished behind MJ Odendaal’s gelding last time out. However, TOP GUN (3) was much improved when Paul Lafferty decided on blinkers and his charge won readily enough to suggest that he can follow up in this company with Rachel Venniker’s allowance. Sorting out the rest is tricky. NOW I GOT YOU (11) was touched off by One Irish Rover and can turn the tables while there should be little separating stable companions EL DRAQUE (8) and WHEREVERILAYMYHAT (9). It should pay to go wide in the exotics in this race. (Andrew Harrison: 3-11-8-9).

RACE 9

9 ICY LANCASTER   2 AMAFORT   12 BLOWIN IN THE WIND   14 JEANNE DARC

Summary: ICY LANCASTER (9) ran well below par in two Kenilworth starts and is now back in her original Summerveld yard of Gareth van Zyl. She had excellent form before her move to the Cape and if finding her best form she should make a bold bid. AMAFORT (2) found strong market support after finishing second at long odds behind BLOWIN IN THE WIND (12) who has since franked that form. There should not be much between the two again and both need to included in all permutations. JEANNE DARC (14) has also franked the Amafort/Blowin In The Wind form with an easy maiden win last time out and is another to add to a list of possible winners. (Andrew Harrison: 9-2-12-14).

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.

The unit cost of Soccer10 Pools on all other days remains R2.

All systems go on 1 January 2025

Horseracing in KwaZulu-Natal took the next step to the dawn of a new era with the publication on Thursday of a revitalized racing programme and the news of the introduction of incentives and stakes adjustments that will align the province with the status quo in the Cape.

The introduction of the new-look programme and policies on the East Coast comes into play as a result of the proposed acquisition of Gold Circle by the Hollywood Sportsbook Holdings group, which now hinges on the required approval of the KZN Economic Regulatory Authority (KZNERA).

Whilst the outstanding approval of the KZNERA is critical to the transaction, and will be the final step in transferring ownership, Hollywoodbets and its appointed Chairman Designate of Gold Circle, Greg Bortz are in management and strategic decisions during the interim period, with Hollywoodbets investing funds at its own risk to ensure the continuity of horse racing in KZN, and the survival of Gold Circle.

Programme and related reading matter, click here.

Subject to the fulfillment of other outstanding conditions precedent, the deal effectively unlocks a R500 million rescue injection from Hollywoodbets, and a takeover of the sport in the holiday province, which is set to include track upgrades and other infrastructural and operational initiatives.

The new KZN programme covers the period 1 January to 28 February 2025 and introduces the stakes-boosted class racing structure to the province, while unveiling financial incentives via the RaceCoast incentive scheme with the ultimate aim of improving racehorse ownership in KZN and achieving enhanced field sizes with the knock-on vital lifeblood of increased betting turnovers.

Down South, the RaceCape incentive programme has proven a winner and has underscored the unprecedented turnaround in Cape horseracing by providing further opportunities for the local racing community and increased employment prospects for grooms and work riders, as well as raising the bar for all related and ancillary horse racing services.

“We are very excited about future plans for KZN racing,” Cape Racing Executive: Racing & Bloodstock Justin Vermaak told the Sporting Post on Thursday, as he outlined broad plans to revolutionise the appeal of the sport across the board for all stakeholders in KZN.

“We need to provide owners and trainers with an even and attractive playing field that makes them want to race. Stakes and rewards need to be meaningful. That ultimately leads to better field sizes, more exciting racing and improved betting turnovers. Punters are key to the success of the process. We are implementing a first world reform in terms of transparency when it comes to information. Items like horse weights, for example, will be published. They are, after all, a form assessment tool. Horses working at our training centres and tracks will all have easily identifiable bar-coded saddle-cloths. So, there are no secrets. If Oriental Charm or One Stripe is on track, the public will share in it,” added Vermaak, who confirmed that barrier draws after acceptance was another operational change which would be implemented on 1 January 2025.

Veteran KZN trainer Garth Puller, who attended a recent stakeholder’s meeting at Summerveld hosted by Greg Bortz, Justin Vermaak, Gold Circle and Hollywoodbets officials, enthused that he was thrilled by the news of the takeover by business-minded racing people who were brave and bold enough to step in and turn the ship around.

“This has come very late for me at my age, but it’s a lifechanger and the future is brighter than it was yesterday,” reflected a delighted Puller as he told the Sporting Post that the adjusted stakes and ‘very welcome’ incentives would boost cash-flows,  while also making it so much easier to help him and his colleagues market the basic ownership product.

“And we are getting draws after acceptances. Wonderful! I was calling for that 25 years ago at Hollywoodbets Durbanville. Bigger fields mean a faster pace, means better form, means better truer results. It’s an ecosystem of positivity. It all feeds on itself,” added the horseman who is never scared to pass an opinion.

Puller said the repair of the Polytrack at Hollywoodbets Greyville was ‘definitely quite overdue and welcome news’.

“That’s our stage. The track must be safe for horse and rider, be true and competitive, and have credibility with all role-players. That’s not a negotiable.”

On the ‘abolition’ of the committee structure to facilitate decision making and policy, Puller said that he was so pleased to hear that all reasonable suggestions will be considered by management.

“Wonderful! So there are no more long-winded committees to hide behind and to dither over. How refreshing.  I believe every stakeholder in this sport in KZN needs to doff a cap to Hollywoodbets and Mr Bortz. This investment and takeover is a brave move. But we know that with the passion for horse racing of the local population in this province, we can make it work. And by putting the structures in place they are making sure we have no excuses. Let’s look forward and get on with rebuilding KZN racing. I am absolutely thrilled. This is good news,” he concluded.