Hi All

Please Note!

Soccer 10: SMM Sport 7 Pool 1 – 1 JANUARY 2025

Match 10 (M10): WIGAN vs HUDDERSFIELD.  Postponed Due to flooding in the area. 

All results (the field) will qualify for the above match.

In terms of TABGOLD rules, all choices (the field) will apply in determining results and payouts.

Soccer10 ADD-IN: R200 000 on Friday 3 January 2025 – Pool Closes at 19h00, Sport 12 Pool 1 – Estimated Pool: R2 Million

Rugby 8 Win Margin on Saturday, 4 January 2025 C/Over R 44 966 Pool Closes 15h30 Sport 65

Soccer10 ADD-IN: R200 000 on Saturday, 4 January 2025 – Pool Closes at 15h30, Sport 16 Pool 1 – Estimated Pool: R2 Million

Soccer Any 13Xtra C/Over: R200 000 on Saturday, 4 January 2025. Pool Closes at 14h30. Sport 13 and Pool 1. Estimated Pool: R500 000

Andrew Harrison

The stakes increase and incentives announced recently by Hollywoodbets in conjunction with Gold Circle will no doubt have a positive influence on racing in this province as an prompt to owners who were on the sidelines.

The Follow Gold Circle Facebook Class 4, seventh race on the New Year’s day card on the turf at Hollywoodbets Greyville, has a stake of R120k and has attracted a more than useful field.

The race could develop into a rematch of Future Flo and Twenty One May but in truth the form goes a little deeper.

Twenty One May  shows some promise and was narrowly beaten last time, just behind Future Flow, but does have to shoulder top weight for Duncan Howells. Kabelo Matsunyane stays aboard which is a positive indication. Future Flo has been a revelation since Michael Roberts put him back over sprints but he is now 1.5kg worse off with Twenty One May on their last meeting which should be enough to reverse the positions. Fine One caught the eye in that same race when racing in first time blinkers and could be a threat while Hurricane Cat takes on males but is super quick and with a 4kg claimer up can go one better in a tricky race. 

In the card opener, Abaddon is returning from a long injury break but the Mike Miller stable reports that he is in good order. He does show ability and meets a modest line-up. World Of Hope raced green when not too far back on debut and is sure to improve from a pole position draw while Catavar  has shown flashes of ability and the apprentice is replaced by Mathew Thackeray which could make the difference. Unraced stable companion to World Of Hope, Gorgeous Bomber has Gavin Lerena aboard and one to watch in the betting. 

The lightly raced Prince Florian is lightly raced but has been showing signs of improvement and could be one of the better bets on the card. He meets a modest field and Serino Moodley has jumped ship on Flying Hafla to partner Dean Kannemeyer’s gelding. Mike de Kock has pitted Flying Hafla against males but she has been in good form against her own sex and does not meet a strong field. She should be in the money. Lava Burst has shown recent improvement in blinkers for Garth Puller and can feature on his best effort. 

The first leg of the Pick 6 is a tricky handicap but Woza Nawe is a recent maiden winner where she started at 1-3 odds for Peter Muscutt and won convincingly with first time blinkers. She was not disgraced in top company early in her career and although she has drawn wide she does look progressive. Radu is drawn deepest of all but Wendy Whitehead’s filly was close-up behind the promising Ladyofdistinction last time out and if Rachel Venniker can overcome the draw she will be a big runner. Ethereal View has come good at recent starts albeit on the poly. She does have a handy draw which will help her cause. She’s A Machine started favourite over course and distance last time out but that run is best ignored and she will have a good chance on her previous showings. 

In the fourth, Bob has improved on his Highveld form since joining Gareth van Zyl’s yard and was finishing off nicely over 1400m last run. This trip should suit in spite of top weight. King Bavarian was a beaten favourite last run but has been super consistent of late. He goes well over course and distance and with a light weight he could finally reap his just rewards. Connoisseur has been coming to hand again and looks primed for this race while Galaxy Explorer  is struggling for his next win but has not been far back at recent outings and took on stronger last run. Gavin Lerena rides for Tony Rivalland. 

Roaming Spirit has been in the money in all four starts for Mike de Kock and a beaten favourite at her last two. She should enjoy the step up in trip and has a strong chance in what is a competitive maiden in the fifth. White Waters has her first outing for Mike Miller after showing some consistent Cape form which could prove a little bit stronger than the local equivalent. La Vida Loca found her last start beyond her compass and Glen Kotzen has brought her back to what looks to be a more suitable trip. 

The last two handicaps on the card could prove to be a punter’s nightmare. In the sixth, Iron Will has shown signs of coming to hand and the extra furlong will suit Alyson Wright’s gelding who does have good form on the turf. Kom Naidoo saddles Porfirio who has been knocking on the door for some time now. Most of his recent form has been on the poly but the switch in surface could bring out the best. Mac Hardy is another poly specialist given his recent form but he too could come well on the turf. He was narrowly beaten last start when doing his best work late and the extra furlong should suit. Gary Rich sends out Phaka Imali whose last run is best ignored given his previous form however, he too is something of a poly specialist. 

The last is wide open but Swiss Paradise has smart form on the poly and if she can carry that through onto the turf she will have a strong chance in this line-up.  Dawn Surprise has been consistent of late and has been dropping slowly in the ratings. She does go well on the turf. Darryl Moore sends out Quentasia who has been improving with every outing of late and looks primed for this. All three have deep draws to contend with. Copacabana has a more favourable draw and showed some improvement with a tongue-tie and blinkers and the extra furlong could suit but this race is something of a lottery.

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.