David Thiselton

 A Conditions Plate for fillies and mares over 1600m and a Middle Stakes event over 1400m head the eight race meeting at Turffontein  Standside on Saturday. 

In the Conditions Plate Let’s Go Now has always struck as a filly who would get better and better with age and she has run two good races in her last two starts and now has her third run after a layoff over an ideal trip with Gavin Lerena up, although she does have a tricky draw. She was a 0,7 length 3rd in the Grade 2 Mike de Kock Ipi Tombe Challenge over course and distance last time out, albeit from a pole position draw. She is officially best in at the weights and is in fact 2,5kg better off with any other runner. Lerena was up for her last start and stays aboard. Beating Wings has shown glimpses of class this season and from a good draw should be right there over a distance on the sharp side, although she would have been freshened up. This is her first run since disappointing in the Summer Cup but she should run well fresh over a trip that is on the sharp side for her. Willy Meet Again has a tough task at the weights with Let’s Go Now and is in fact fact 9,5kg under sufferance with her. However, she is in fine form and can continue to progress. She has a has a tricky draw of seven, but Richard Fourie makes a rare foray to Turffontein and is aboard.

The William Longsword filly tried the trip for the first time last time out and was beaten only by two class fillies, World of Alice and Fiery Pegasus, and she actually finished ahead of the Group 1-winning filly, VJ’s Angel, too. 

Beating Wings had a fine win over the top class filly Francis Ethel over this trip back in October. Key Element has run some good races over this trip and could place despite being well under sufferance. Tried And True and Happy Mo have tough tasks at the weights.

In the Middle Stakes event over 1400m Potberrie has turned the corner and after some good displays in good company, including finishing just 3.7 lengths back in fourth to Greaterix in the Gr 3 Got The Greenlight Stakes over 1400m, he easily won a handicap last time off a 95 merit rating. He runs over that same trip with Muzi Yeni up and should be right there. Star Coin is having his second run after a layoff of nearly a year and has a fair draw. Ikigai showed glimpses of his old self last time out and can be included. Francine is an honest type who is in fine form and she should make her presence felt although she has a tricky draw over 8.

In the first leg of the Pick 6 over 1600m Mountain High flew up too late last time and should handle the step up in trip. The Mightiest has good form from 1400m up to 1800m and should be in the shake up. Up The Ante should relish the step up in trip and has a fine chance if able to overcome a wide draw. 

In the second leg Apache Chief had some fair Cape Town form and can come on from his second place on his Highveld debut over this same trip. Spy Story is always thereabouts and should be in the shake up.Sovereign Crown improved when stepped up in trip last time and can be involved. Chieftain’s Shield has a form chance here from a fair draw. Spirito Selvaggio has a tough draw but has the form to be involved.

In the fifth race over 2400m Battleground has a lovely big action, so is ideally suited to staying races from good draws at this galloping track. Marauding Horde is capable of winning here and the best might not have been seen of him yet. Crimson King is a useful stayer and has his third run after a rest. Raiseahallelujah is a reliable stayer and should be right there. Zeus goes for Gavin Lerena and has a fine chance if bouncing back to his best, but he hasn’t won for a year now.

In the last race over 1160m The Navy Lark is quick and stays on so has a shout over this quick course and distance. Sakhala Is’Cathulo is not too reliable and probably prefers 1000m but over this quick course and distance he can be considered. Pretty Precious starts off handicapping on a competitive mark and although a low draw is against her Fourie is up. 

In the first leg of the Bipot Easy Tiger impressed on debut and is taken to beat Caroline Island and Glastonbury, but is could be a thriller between those three.

In the first leg of the PA Winds Of Change should be too good and can be chased home by Kia Kaha and Grand Crescendo. 

Graeme Hawkins

Strap yourself in, it could be a bumpy ride at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday as the competitive 8-race programme includes five R200 000 Summer Country Championship Finals over distances varying from 1000m to 1800m and all for horses with a nett merit rating of 82 and below. But bumpy rides can also be exhilarating and the prospect of decent dividends in the respective exotic bets is enticing.

The third race, and opening leg of the Pick 6, is the “1600” Final and it may pay to follow the hard-knocking Kebonalesedi, a recent winner over track and trip. Grant Van Niekerk retains the ride for Eric Sands and the 4-time winning 5yo son of Pomodoro should again give us a good run for our money. Iconic Destination has bounced back from throat surgery with two very good efforts over 1400m and the extra 200m should be well within his range. He was rated 96 earlier in his career but comes in here off the handy mark of 81 and Andre Nel’s charge is definitely one for the short-list. Rich Folks Hoax has the advantage of pole position and the 3yo son of Danon Platina appears to have scope for further improvement. Strictly on paper he is held by Kebonalesedi, but last time Rich Folks Hoax raced from the worst of the draw when beaten two lengths by Kebonalesedi and they could finish much closer together here. The consistent Master Of Paris and his stable companions Okavango and Bounceback should be considered for Quartet permutations in a tricky contest.

The fourth race is the “1800” Final and the Snaith pair Kwite A King (Zackey) and Groovejet (JP van der Merwe) both have strong winning claims. JP has opted to ride Groovejet but at the weights there should not be much to choose between them. La Pulga is an interesting runner as he steps up to 1800m for the first time. His recent form is encouraging, and Candice Bass-Robinson has often spoken highly of the 3yo son of Pomodoro. Tothemoonandback has been priced up as one of the longshots in the ante-post market but in receipt of 7kgs from Groovejet, he could certainly upset the applecart. The only filly in the race, Green Isle, appears well-handicapped and is ideally distance suited while neither Aladdin’s Lamp nor Gentleman Joe would be winning out of turn. Happy Days seems held by Groovejet but will get the run of the race from the inside gate.

Race 5 is the “1400” Final and the in-form Family Power, trained by Greg Ennion and partnered by Grant Van Niekerk, gets the nod to confirm her superiority over the promising Swiatek. Golden Ideal should not be too far behind Swiatek on the evidence of their last run and cannot be lightly discarded. Industrial Strength has not enjoyed much luck in recent starts, and he leaves the impression there is still more to come from the lightly raced 4yo son of Gimmethegreenlight. Devil A Saint has drawn widest of all and is not the most consistent around but on best form he could surprise.

The “1000” Final has been billed as the sixth race on the card and the evergreen 6yo Bluff On Bluff could register his seventh career victory. Ashton Arries gets a good tune out of the Piet Steyn inmate and the pair were seen to good advantage when scoring at the end of December. There has never been much to choose between Bluff On Bluff and the 7yo All About Al and Craig Zackey’s fine record on the Adam Marcus-trained son of Captain Al is a plus factor. The veterans could well be upstaged by the 3yo Un Bel Di who will be ridden by Aldo Domeyer for the Justin Snaith team. Un Bel Di has his third run back from a lengthy spell on the sidelines and should be cherry ripe, but he does have the steadier of 62,5kgs to shoulder. Another “old-timer” Barney McGrew is holding form nicely while Dame Of Trix has only had the one start since February ’24 and could improve markedly on that performance last month.

Race 7 is the “1200” Final and the race appears ultra-competitive. I am leaning towards the Vaughan Marshall-trained Captain’s Destiny who has not put a foot wrong in her last eight starts. She only has 53kgs on her back and is in receipt of 9,5kgs from Tough Terrain and 7,5kgs from last start course and distance winner Golden Destiny. The unexposed Elsinore who finished a creditable fourth on her handicap debut appears to be on an upward curve and can get into the mix. Prince of Tibet is holding form nicely since being fitted with blinkers and rates a threat off a low mass. Sooty who was heavily backed to win last month was not disgraced when runner-up behind Kelp Forest and is another to consider. The enigmatic Fort Red has not won for 462 days but he is quite capable of popping up when least expected.

Soccer13 on Saturday, 8 February 2025. Guaranteed Jackpot: R 16.5 Million. (if only one 13 of 13 Winner). Pool Closes at 16h15. Sport 10 and Pool 1.

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Soccer10 on Saturday, 8 February 2025. ADD-IN R 150 000 Estimated Pool: R 1.8 Million. Pool Closes at 15h00. Sport 12 and Pool 1

Soccer ANY 13Xtra on Saturday, 8 February 2025. C/Over R 200 000 Estimated Pool: R 600 000. Pool Closes at 14h30. Sport 13 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.

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.