David Thiselton

The Hollywoodbets Scottsville meeting yesterday was run in soft conditions with a penetrometer reading of 28.

In the first race over 1200m the Tienie Prinsloo-trained Quickstepgal (Vercingetorix) had not been disgraced on debut considering she was only just behind Belle Of Angelus, who was not far off Mystic Dancer and Berrington Blew on debut and the latter pair were priced up at 4/10 and 5/1 in yesterday’s race. Mystic Dancer found nothing from an inside draw and could only manage an 11,30 length fourth, as Quickstepgal, jumping from high draw of eight at odds of 25/2 under Kabelo Matsunyane, sped past the prominent Berrington Blew and beat her by 5,90 lengths. Limitless Sky was third and first-timer Willow Gem was fifth.

In the second over 1200m the odds-on favourite Greenlight Queen also enjoyed a relatively high draw of seven out of eleven and swept through from off the pace under Craig Zackey to beat the second gavourite Lucienne by 1,90 lengths, with outsiders Your Ladyship and Austrian Beauty next best ahead of KMV Retrofit.

In the third over 1400m Corne Spies’ fine raiding record of Hollywoodbets Scottsville was further bolstered when the odds-on favourite Messalina led from the off and won by 4,80 length to give Matsunyane a double. The market rival was the Dean Kannemeyer-trained first timer Dancing On A Cloud (Lancaster Bomber), but she was extremely green and ran off the course in the early stages to be tailed off by 20 lengths. She ran on in fine style in the straight to be beaten just 5,50 lengths into third so bears following. Apache Ag finished in second place.

In the next over 1600m, the Paul Lafferty-trained Beach Palace was dropped out to last from the widest draw of all in the seven horse field, but Muzi Yeni, after hitting a flat spot, extracted a strong late from this Tinus Gericke homebred Potala Palace gelding to win by 0,30 lengths at 9/2 odds from market rivals Whispers Of War and Future Saint.

In the fifth race over 1600m the Trippi gelding Terminator brought some fine Cape form to KZN, so had been most disappointing in his first two starts here, both over 1400m, well beaten into third first time out and beaten out of sight next time. However, the Andre Nel-trained four-year-old showed what he was made of yesterday. He was taken to the front by Serino Moodley and relished being allowed to stride out. He kept going well in the straight to convert 9/2 odds by 1,40 lengths from three big outsiders, Papa C, Mister Nibbles and Pongola, with the 10/1 shot Global Movement next best.

In the sixth race over 1400m The Wendy Whitehead-trained The Queen Bee stayed on well from a handy position to convert 7/2 odds by 1,70 lengths from outsider My True Love, with the favourite Princess Palace next best and the rest of the field in a different race.

In the seventh over 1200m Kabelo Matsunyane managed to shuffle One Smart Cookie (Lancaster Bomber) from draw 3 to the outside and she ran out an easy winner by 1,20 lengths at 2/1 odds to give Matsunyane a treble and Tienie Prinsloo a double. Happy Alania gave Prinsloo the exacta and Vision To Achieve was third.

In the last race over 1000m Kalahari Roller and Donquerari were drawn two and one and with the stalls placed off the inside rail they were competitive throughout down the inside-middle section and they got involved in a thrilling duel. Kalahari Roller prevailed under 2,5kg claimer Bevan Plaaitjies by half-a-length from Donquerari, who had Blaine Marx-Hamilton aboard. The fancied pair Luhamba Phambili and Captain’s Christy were next best with Ibhele fifth. The fancied Smorgasbord jumped awkwardly, took no interest and was not persevered with.

David Thiselton

The big Turffontein Standside meeting on Saturday was held in good to soft conditions which made the tough course testing and this led to some upset results.

In the Gr 1 TAB SA Classic over 1800m the classy Fabian Habib-trained Moutonshoek-bred Confederate is a long-striding gelding out of a British-bred mare by the speedy Danehill Dancer and he was trying 1800m for the first time. Craig Zackey found himself in front after jumping well from pole position with nothing coming from wide to take it up. He held him together but that did not stop Confederate opening up a lead of about four lengths on the rest of the field by the time they had turned for home. He rolled on and then kicked when changing legs at the 400m mark, by which stage it was clear nothing was going to catch him. He ran out a winner by 0,70 lengths. The favourite Fire Attack looked to be in a good position on the rail in midfield, but that was with the expectation that the pacemaker would feel it late in the race and begin to tire. In fact the winner had gone a sensible pace as the race time was virtually identical to that of the Gr 1 Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic and was more than four seconds slower than last year’s time  by Purple Pitcher, which was in good going. Fire Attack ran on superbly under Gavin Lerena but had to settle for his third successive Graded runner up finish. Legend Of Arthur dwelt at the jump and had to come from last. He did well to stay on for a 4,10 length third, 0,40 lengths ahead of Grey Jet, who stayed on well from midfield. The Gr 2 TAB Gauteng Guineas winner Parisian Walkway was in second place in the running and chased gallantly in the straight, but became one paced late and was overtaken for third spot late in the race, finishing a five length fifth.

The small yard of Joe Soma has an incredible Gr 1 record and they added yet another when the filly Fiery Pegasus became the latest Captain Of All progeny to defy the stallion’s Equus Champion Sprinter title and prove good at middle distances. She won the Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic over 1800m, which was run in driving rain. Jumping from a tough draw of ten Richard Fourie dropped her in behind a clump of seven who had not wasted time getting on with it, led by Sensoria. The hotpot favourite, the unbeaten Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas winner Spumante Dolce, was at the back of this aforementioned clump, but did not settle too well in the early stages. Fiery Pegasus cut through the field like a hot knife through butter in the first part of the straight and overtook Willy Meet Again, who had sat in the box seat, at the 300m mark and galloped clear. Olivia’s Way and World Of Alice stayed on well, but were beaten 4,75 lengths and seven lengths respectively for second and third. The Gauteng Fillies Guineas runner up Vijay’s Angel turned for home together with Fiery Pegasus, but could not match her finishing speed and had to settle for a 7,50 length fourth, 3,75 lengths ahead of fifth-placed Gerbera. Fiery Pegasus was bred by Greenacres Trust (Nom: Mr N M Shirtliff) & Hemel ‘N Aarde Stud.

Dylan Chinsammy and E Naicker have shares in both Confederate and Fiery Pegasus, so it was a fine day for them.

In the Gr 1 Wilgerbosdrift HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes, the hot favourite Main Defender finished unplaced but to the relief of his backers was declared a non-runner.

The stipendiary steward report stated:”… as the start was effected, and this gelding launched itself from the starting stalls, its muzzle was caught in the grill of the left front gate as it opened, and its head was turned as a result. The Handler was slow to release the head of MAIN DEFENDER because of this …”

Frontrunner Texas Red set the fractions with the Sean Tarry-trained Cosmic Speed lying one out and one back alongside Barbaresco, who was in the box seat. It was clear at the top of the straight that Maine Chance Farms-bred Querari gelding Cosmic Speed had plenty in the tank and he shook off Greaterix, who had made good initial inroads, before passing Texas Red at the 300m mark. He ran out a 1,75 length winner from Texas Red with the KZN raider Imilenziyokududuma relishing the long Turffontein straight and staying in for a 2,50 length third at 50/1 odds, a head in front of Greaterix, with Barbaresco in fifth place.

The Gr 3 TAB JJ The Jet Plane Stakes over 1100m saw an easy victory for the magnificent Corne Spies-trained William Robertson (Rafeef), who for some reason was allowed to drift out to 10/1, despite being well weighted under Ryan Munger.

Rachel Venniker started the meeting with two Listed wins of the TAB Ruffian Stakes and TAB Storm Bird Stakes, both over 1000m, with the Paul Matchett-trained Glastonbury (Rafeef) and the Robyn Klaasen-trained Charming Cheetah (New Predator). Dylan Chinsammy also has a share in Charming Cheetah.

The Listed Wilgerbosdrift Acacia Stakes over 1600m was won by the Mike and Adam Azzie-trained Gimmefabulous (Gimmethegreenlight) under Kabelo Matsunyane. 

ANDREW HARRISON

Punters face a competitive card at Hollywoodbets Scottsville today, but as always in adversity there is money to be made.

The first leg of the Pick 6 could throw up a surprise result with the majority of the field showing very little ability. Messalina is by far the best performed of those that have raced and rates the one to beat. However, she is having her 19^th bite at the cherry. The first timer Dancing On A Cloud is regally bred and if only half decent, should make a bold debut in this line-up and the same goes for Apache AG but is a four-year-old making his debut. Both first timers should be closely monitored in the market. The balance have desperate form.

The fourth is a competitive handicap but Future Saint has been making steady improvement since changing stables and now looks primed. However, there are plenty in with chances. Beach Palace has the widest draw but has been knocking on the door while Run To Rio has run his best recent race over course and distance with a first time tongue-tie and a 4kg claimer up. He gets more help from the saddle this time around. Visiting Whispers Of War has been dropping in the handicap and although a well-beaten favourite over further last run he can do a lot better in this company.

The fifth is another open handicap but Parmenion has been knocking on the door at recent outings. He is down in class and has a good draw to help his cause. World Of Our Own has a wide draw to contend with but has not been out of the money in four starts leading to his recent maiden win. He does look progressive which could see him challenge his more exposed rivals. Record High has come down in the handicap and now looks to be off a more competitive mark while Festival Of Magic needed his last run over a sprint. Back over a more suitable trip from a good draw he is one to watch in the market.

Duncan Howells sends out Princess Palace in the sixth who could be one of the better bets on the card as she improved in first time blinkers last start on the poly but still got a two-point drop in the handicap. Rachel Venniker’s 1.5kg allowance will help her cause and she should go well in a tricky contest. Head Girl finally shed her maiden last run but has never been far back. She must have a chance of following up in this field while Stuart Ferrie’s runner Firecracker gets first time blinkers with a big drop in the ratings and can make an impact.

Former Kimberley-based trainer Tienie Prinsloo learned well how to back up his charges in short order and One Smart Cookie can do better than her last start on Monday. She should do well in this field. Tequila Sky returns from a lengthy break but was well supported in all of her starts. She has dropped in the ratings and if Byron Forster has her anywhere near racing fit she could be hard to beat. Chelsea Flower is something of a poly specialist  but has her first run for a new stable.

In the last, Louis Goosen’s runner Ibhele was desperately unlucky with the inexperience rider trying to get there before the line. He now has a more experienced apprentice up and can do much better. Twenty One May was touched off last run and can go one better. If holding form he is the horse to beat. Northern Warrior is over his best course and distance and his recent form has worked out well while Kalahari Roller is way better than his last effort and with a more experienced apprentice aboard would not be a surprise winner.

There are many first timers in the card opener but Mystic Dancer made a smart debut at long odds on this course and with Andrew Fortune up she should be the one to beat. Berrington Blew was just over a length behind that afternoon and with expected improvement could finish a lot closer. Quickstep Gal raced green on debut and is sure to have come on from that effort.

In the opening leg of the Place Accumulator, Lucienne made a promising debut at long odds. She raced in heavy ground that day and given some improvement and a firmer surface she could be the one to be with. Greenlight Queen will have her supporters given that she was touched off when reverting to a sprint and was a narrowly beaten favourite. She can go one better. KMV Retrofit was just over a length back in the same race so there should not be much between them again.

Soccer13 on Sunday, 2 March 2025 C/Over R 2 371 956 – Estimated Jackpot: R 7 Million (13 of 13). Pool Closes at 15h30. Sport 11 and Pool 1.

Soccer4 on Sunday, 2 March 2025. ADD-IN R 25 000 – Estimated Pool: R 100 000. Pool Closes at 18h30. Sport 17 and Pool 2.

Soccer6 on Sunday, 2 March 2025 ADD-IN R 75 000 – Estimated Pool: R 500 000. Pool Closes at 15h00. Sport 5 and Pool 1.

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.