GRAEME HAWKINS

Malmesbury Missile, named by Drakenstein Stud in honour of Springbok and two-time World Rugby Player of the Year, Pieter-Steph du Toit, was the popular choice in the opening event, a Maiden Juvenile Plate over 1200m, and the 2yo son of Gimmethegreenlight duly obliged with a comfortable victory. Ridden by Chad Little and trained by Glen Kotzen, Malmesbury Missile (11/10) was always in the firing line, and he stayed on well to hold out One Stripe’s half-brother Vapour Trail by a length. 

The second race, a Maiden Plate (F&M) over 1400m, looked a match race between Diamond Bomber and Catch A Penny and so it turned out to be. Night In Japan made the early running but soon came under pressure in the straight and Catch A Penny moved through with Diamond Bomber poised to strike. Catch A Penny (2/1) tried gamely to maintain her advantage, but Diamond Bomber (8/10) responded well under Aldo Domeyer and gained the upper hand to score by half-a-length.

Tenpenny, bred by Brett Van Laun’s KZN-based Camargue Stud, was all the rage to win the third race, a Maiden plate over 1600m, and the progressive son of What A Winter had the race safely won 400m out. At that stage Tenpenny (9/10), trained by Patrick Kruyer for Greg Bortz and Gina Goldsmith, was travelling well within himself, and the favourite drew clear to put daylight between himself and runner-up War Hawk.

JP van der Merwe completed a race-to-race double when Ahead Of The Facts stormed home from the rear of the field to take out the fourth race, a Maiden Plate over 2000m. The pace was frenetic throughout with Jet A One setting a brisk gallop ahead of a well-stretched out field. The odds-on favourite Future Frequency was in trouble a long way from home, and it was left to Ahead Of The Facts (6/1) to score at the expense of Umfula and Wood World.

Double Dash attracted solid on-course support from 11/2 into 15/10 and the money proved spot on as the temperamental daughter of Master Of My Fate landed top honours in the fifth race, a Maiden Plate (F&M) over 1800m, under a good ride by Grant Van Niekerk. Double Dash turned for home in front and maintained a resolute gallop to hold off the cavalry charge headed by Greenlight Skye and Tuscan Romance.

Red Dawn made light of 62,kgs on his handicap debut scoring an emphatic win in the sixth race, a Class 5 over 1800m, to give Aldo Domeyer and Candice Bass-Robinson their second winner of the afternoon. The 3yo son of Horizon has improved significantly since being fitted with blinkers and he could complete a hattrick in Class 4 next time.

Give Me Everything is clearly a filly heading in the right direction. Trained by Dean Kannemeyer for Owner-Breeders Varsfontein Stud, the 3yo daughter of Gimmethegreenlight had won a modest maiden last time but she stepped into Class 4 company in the seventh race over 1600m yesterday and blew the opposition away. Craig Zackey was content to sit midfield one off the fence and when he called for an effort approaching the final 200m, Give Me Everything (14/1) lived up to her name and forged ahead to win comfortably with Pentolina (14/1) and My Only Weakness (28/10) completing the Trifecta.

Easy Money, a three times winner over 1000m, dispelled any doubts about her ability over 1200m with a fluent victory in the eighth race, a Class 5 Handicap (F&M), when leading from start to finish and holding off the favourite Royal Lytham by the best part of a length. Why Not Jackie made some late progress from well off the pace to claim the third spot.

Patrick Kruyer signed off in the ninth race at Kenilworth yesterday with his second winner of the afternoon, and JP van der Merwe’s third, when First Masterpiece (10/1) put a disappointing last effort behind her with an exciting victory over Tanneron. Palo Queen ensured the race was run at a blistering pace but the swoopers closed quickly over the final 200m and First Masterpiece, coming from near last, just edged out Tanneron (9/2), with the well-backed Lucy Rocket and Love Shack making up the frame. 

David Thiselton

The Turffontein Inside track hosts an eight race meeting today and the exotics should pay reewarding dividends on  a day of competitive racing.

The highest rated race on the card is the 7th, a MR 93 Handicap for fillies and mares, which has had two scratchings leaving eight runners going to post. Andi’s girl was unlucky to not win the Listed Summer Pudding Handicap last time as the jockey left her run just a little too late, and she failed by 0.75 lengths to catch them. She will be just as comfortable over this trip, and has a fair draw with Muzi Yeni now in the irons. Ceuta has been in fine form from 1400m up to 1800m, except for last time when not striding out and finishing fatigued. She has a chance from draw three if able to bounce back. Hierkommiebokkie is a dangerous front running sort who is ideally course and distance suited here. Her last run can be ignored as the saddle slipped, and she has an ideal pole position draw for her style of racing. Cape Lights can never be ignored, and has Gavin Lerena aboard over a suitable trip, albeit from a wide draw. Blue Horizon is a capable sort, as she proved last time, but she has been given a four point raise for that victory and has a wide draw to overcome. 

In the first leg of the Pick 6 over 1800m, Destiny of Fire is on the up, and Gavin Lerena stays aboard after a good win last time over 1600m. She should enjoy the step up and trip here, but does have a seven point raise to overcome. Gerbera won her maiden at the third time of asking, but had faced some useful sorts before that without being disgraced. She starts handicapping off a reasonable 85 merit rating, but does have a tricky draw. She should enjoy the step up to 1800m on pedigree. VisionOfPeace will enjoy the step up in trip and has a pole position draw, so should be a runner here. Tuscan Star has 4.5 lengths to make up on Vision of Peace, but is likely better than her last start, so can’t be totally ignored. Streisand has been disappointing since cheekpieces were fitted, but they remain on. 

In the second leg of the Pick 6 over 3000m To The Rescue always gave the impression he would improve with age and he now looks to be coming into his own, so can follow up on his last win over 2400m. Royal Mazarin has a good draw, and has proven ability over stamina trips, so should not mind going over 3000m for the first time. Only a Poet has done well up to 2400m, so should get this trip, and as a consistent sort he should be in this shake up. Damova is a consistent stayer too and can put her last run behind her as she now jumps from pole position. Afraad and Arlington Action are not out of it on form.

In the fifth race over 1600m, King of Numbers has been knocking on the door. He ran a fine race last time, despite having been given a 6 point raise, and with Lerena now up from pole position, he looks the one to beat. Ombudsman has not been disgraced lately, as he has faced some decent sorts, and he now has an easier task, so should be in the shake up, but he does have to overcome a tricky draw of 7. Pressonregardless is consistent and has a good draw over an ideal trip. MK’s Dreams is capable and has a fair draw over a suitable trip with Muzi Yeni up. He looks to be off a reasonable merit rating at present. Lava Fire ran a cracker last time over 1450m, and should stay this trip with a 4kg claimer up, but a wide draw makes it difficult.

In the sixth race over 1450m, Fast Duty is distance suited and has a fair draw and with Lerena up he should go close. Great Notion looks to be improving and won her maiden easily over 1400m. She is distance suited, and has a fine draw off a reasonable looking 78 merit rating. Written In Stone is an evergreen sort, and very consistent, and Jason Gates extracted a rare win out of him last time. He stays aboard the nine-year-old and from a good draw he has a chance even off a five point higher mark as he is a horse who always rises to the occasion and seldom misses a cheque. Legendary is on the up, and starts handicapping off a reasonable mark after a good maiden win over this distance. Kottinos ran a good third last time, beating Fast Duty by a head, but he is now 1kg worse off, although he does have a plum draw so might be right there again.

In the last race over 1450m, Accept Cookies has shown plenty of ability, and Lerena is now up over an ideal trip from a good draw. Boom Boom finished well to win her penultimate start with Zackey up after he had brought her wide away from other horses. Zackey is now back on and might know how to get the best out of this filly. Perini Palace is another one who could be right there if producing her best, but she has a wide draw to overcome.

In the first race over 1000m Pacific looks to have been well placed as he is knocking on the door and this is not an inspiring field. He jumps from draw five out of eight with Yeni up and can beat Dancing Dora, who has Zackey up. Oriental Bouquet looked to be going places early in her career and she could perhaps start earning again having dropped from a 99 merit rating down to 58.

In the second race over 1000m Longsword is capable of a strong finish and with Lerena up can overcome a three point raise. Dontshootthebarman beat a good field last time so could still be competitive carrying 64kg. Tchaikovsky is always capable of popping up and can’t be ignored. Heirloom is another who is capable of popping up can be involved. Virginia Beach is quick and from pole position with a 4kg claimer up could be dangerous. 

RACE 1     

7 PACIFIC 9 DANCING DORA 6 ORIENTAL BOUQUE 8 TOGETHER AGAIN

Preview: 7 PACIFIC could be the one to beata over a suitable course and distance although the draw is tricky. 9 DANCING DORA should make a bold bid. 6 ORIENTAL BOUQUET has lost her way but did have plenty of ability and is right down in the MR. 8 TOGETHER AGAIN is capable of popping up from an ideal draw over an ideal trip. (David Thiselton 7-9-6-8)

RACE 2     

4 LONGSWORD 1 DONTSHOOTTHEBARMAN 6 TCHAIKOVSKY 12 HEIRLOOM

Preview: 4 LONGSWORD is capable of a strong finish and with Lerena up can overcome a three point raise. 1 DONTSHOOTTHEBARMAN beat a good field last time so could still be competitive carrying 64kg 6 TCHAIKOVSKY is always capable of popping up and can’t be ignored. 12 HEIRLOOM is another who is capable of popping up can be involved. (David Thiselton 4-1-6-12)

RACE 3     

1 DESTINY OF FIRE 3 GERBERA 2 VISIONOFPEACE 5 TUSCAN STAR

Preview: 1 DESTINY OF FIRE is on the up and can record a double with Lerena up over a suitable trip. 3 GERBERA relished the step up in trip last time and could still be anything. 2 VISIONOFPEACE has decent form and can go close from pole. 5 TUSCAN STAR has 4,55 lengths on Visionofpeace but that was from a wide draw. (David Thiselton 1-3-2-5)

RACE 4     

1 TO THE RESCUE 4 ROYAL MAZARI 5 ONLY A POET 6 DAMOVA

Preview: 1 TO THE RESCUE is a progressive stayer who should be able to carry topweight. 4 ROYAL MAZARIN won well last time and is well drawn and four points higher. 5 ONLY A POET is consistent and should be in the shake up over a trip he could get. 6 DAMOVA is a consistent stayer and can put her last run behind her from pole position. (David Thiselton 1-4-5-6)

RACE 5     

6 KING OF NUMBERS 9 OMBUDSMAN 4 PRESSONREGARDLESS 1 MK’S DREAMS

Preview: 6 KING OF NUMBERS is knocking on the door and Lerena now takes the ride. 9 OMBUDSMAN was not disgraced last time and the form has been franked. 4 PRESSONREGARDLESS is consistent and has a good draw over an ideal trip. 1 MK’S DREAMS is capable and has a fair draw over a suitable trip with Yeni up. (David Thiselton 6-9-4-1)

RACE 6     

8 FAST DUTY 6 GREAT NOTION 10 WRITTEN IN STONE 3 LEGENDARY

Preview: 8 FAST DUTY is distances suited and has a fair draw with Lerena up. 6 GREAT NOTION looks progressive an could go close. 10 WRITTEN IN STONE is an evergreen sort who is still competitive and is reliable. 3 LEGENDARY is on the up and starts handicapping off a reasonable mark. (David Thiselton 8-6-10-3)

RACE 7     

4 ANDI’S GIRL 6 CEUTA 1 HIERKOMMIEBOKKIE 7 BLUE HORIZON

Preview: 4 ANDI’S GIRL has class and over an ideal distance and with Yeni up can make amends for jockey leaving it too late in a Listed event in November. 6 CEUTA disappointed last time over 1600m but will appreciate coming back to this trip and has a plum draw. 1 HIERKOMMIEBOKKIE is capable of leading from start to finish over this course and distance and pole position will aid her cause. 7 BLUE HORIZON proved her ability last time but has a four point raise and a wide draw to overcome over this ideal trip, albeit now on the Inside track. (David Thiselton 4-6-1-7) 

RACE 8     

5 ACCEPT COOKIES 1 BOOM BOOM 11 PERINI PALACE 9 ARCTIC VIXEN 

Preview: 5 ACCEPT COOKIES has shown plenty of ability and Lerena is now up over an ideal trip from a good draw.    1 BOOM BOOM finished well to win her penultimate with Zackey up and the latter is now back on after a disappointing run last time. 11 PERINI PALACE could earn if producing her best. 9 ARCTIC VIXEN is capable of better than last time. (David Thiselton 5-1-11-9)

RUGBY 8 WIN MARGIN on Friday, 7 February 2025, C/Over R 50 894 – Pool Closes at 21h30.

Soccer10 on Friday, 7 February 2025. ADD-IN R 150 000 Estimated Pool: R 1.8 Million. Pool Closes at 19h30. Sport 7 and Pool 1.

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.

Soccer4 on Saturday, 8 February 2025 ADD-IN R 25 000 Estimated Pool: R 100 000. Pool Closes at 19h30. Sport 19 and Pool 3.

Soccer6 on Saturday, 8 February 2025. ADD-IN R 75 000 Estimated Pool: R 500 000. Pool Closes at 15h00. Sport 1 and Pool 1

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

David Thiselton

Justin Snaith is on track to have a crack at the record number of wins in a South African season although he would have to improve his win rate per day as the season enters its second half.

Paul Peter holds the record of 221 in a season set in the 2021/2022 season, but interestingly he was only on 104 wins at close of play on February 3, 2022, whereas Justin Snaith was on 101 wins at the same stage, just three behind.

Jonathan Snaith said about a record chase, “It is definitely on Justin’s radar. He’s not actively chasing the record right now, but if he’s in the hunt come May, then he’ll push hard.”

He then revealed  that, “Justin will be opening a permanent yard in KZN this April now that Hollywoodbets and Greg Bortz are managing the Durban franchise. This will help in the record attempt.”

Snaith has had 634 runs and 101 wins this season for a strike rate of 15.93%.

That means if he keeps up the same number of runners per day rate and same strike rate as he had at the close of play on Monday this week, he will end the season on 197 wins.

That is some way short of 221, so he is going to have to probably increase both his number of runners per calendar day rate of 3.39 and his strike rate of 15.93%.

Snaith’s 208 wins in the 2020/2021 season has been his best ever return but Paul Peter broke the record of 215 set by Sean Tarry in the 2016/2017 season.

However, Snaith is a racing certainty to win the championship this year.

It looks highly unlikely there will be any late charges like those Sean Tarry mounted in the last two seasons, which saw him coming within one feature race result on Gold Cup day of landing the championship in the 2022/2023 season and of creeping within about R1,5 million of Snaith before Gold Cup day last year.

Snaith is close to R10 million ahead at the halfway mark this season.

His stakes earnings of R16,638,019 before yesterday’s racing at Fairview had started were well clear of Vaughan Marshall on R6,785,675, Alec Laird on R6,501,500,  Alan Greeff on 6,285,963, Tony Peter on R5,907,875, Gavin Smith on R5,585,513 and Candice Bass-Robinson on R5,406,188.

Sean Tarry is enduring his worst season for some time and just sneaks into the top ten on R4,654,013, but he does usually pick up significantly from February onward as he generally does well in Jo’Burg’s main season and in the Champions Season. His Gr 1 record at Hollywoodbets Scottsville is of course unmatched.

Brett Crawford was in 8^th place on R4,765,156, while many-times champion Mike de Kock was in ninth place on R4,682,575, but their stakes earnings will not increase as they are now in official partnerships with their respective sons James and Mathew. 

Snaith is also well clear in the number of wins column. In second place, 23 behind him, was Alan Greeff on 78 wins. Next best are Gavin Smith on 63, Tony Peter on 50 and Candice Bass-Robinson on 40.

These stats would likely have changed slightly by the close of play yesterday.