Graeme Hawkins

The R450 000 Western Cape Fillies Championship (Gr2) for three-year-old fillies over 1400m heads a well-filled 10-race programme at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth today with the first event, a Maiden Plate over 1600m, due off at 12:00.

Gimmie’s Countess, an impressive winner of the Diana Stakes (Gr3) at the end of September, lines up in tomorrow’s headliner and will be a popular choice to follow up, but the barrier draw has not been kind to the Dean Kannemeyer-trained daughter of Gimmethegreenlight. Gimmie’s Countess will jump out of Gate 12, the widest of all, and its likely that Craig Zackey, sporting the familiar Black and Yellow silks of Lady Laidlaw’s Khaya Stables, will opt to ride her patiently from a little way off the early speed. The Winter course at Kenilworth has a short home stretch but Gimmie’s Countess possesses a fine turn of acceleration which could carry her to victory.

Symphony In White is a classy filly and is much better drawn than Gimmie’s Countess. She steps up to 1400m for the first time in her career but being out of Snowdance, former winner of the 1600m Majorca Stakes (Gr1), Symphony In White should have no issues with seeing out the trip. From Gate 3, she should get the run of the race and is expected to make a bold bid for top honours.

Whistle The Tune won the Devon Air Stakes (Listed) as a juvenile and was somewhat unlucky in the Golden Slipper (Gr2) on July Day when finishing fifth behind Quid Pro Quo despite having to be checked at a crucial stage of the race. Nevertheless, Whistle The Tune finished a neck in front of Gimmie’s Countess and that brings the Glen Kotzen-trained daughter of Captain Of All bang into the reckoning. Unlike Gimmie’s Countess and Symphony In White, Whistle The Tune has not had the benefit of a recent run but is reported to have galloped well at home.

Kinda Wonderful won the Irridescence Stakes (Listed) in June beating Dixieland Band, who reopposes here, by a comfortable margin. She had a pipe opener over 1250m at Durbanville six weeks ago and will strip a much fitter filly tomorrow. Kinda Wonderful has certainly shown enough to get into the mix here and must be considered for Trifectas and Quartets.

There are several progressive and well-bred fillies that come into this race “under the radar” with plenty of scope and potential to rise to the occasion, including Cape Town Met-winning Oh Susanna’s daughter by Trippi, Little Suzie. She has cracked pole position, and this will be a true test of her potential going forward.

Tomorrow’s renewal of the Western Cape Fillies Championship (Gr2) will give us a much better idea as to what to expect in the forthcoming World Sports Betting Cape Fillies Guineas (Gr1) on 7 December. Despite her poor draw, I am happy to row in with Gimmie’s Countess to come home ahead of Symphony In White and Whistle The Tune, but I would not be surprised if one or more of those flying “under the radar” raise their game to Graded Stakes level.

Justin Snaith holds a very strong three-way coupling in the fifth race, the R225 000 Woolavington Stakes (Listed) over 2500m. Richard Fourie’s mount Future Swing is the ante-post favourite but he must concede 8kgs to his fast-improving stable mate Call To Unite who should not be troubled by stepping up the distance for the first time. He has won his last two starts over 1800m and 2000m but at the weights there is not much to choose between Call To Unite and Snaith’s third string to his bow, Daimyo, who has the postage stamp of 50kgs on his back.

Gareth Van Zyl-trained Vihaan’s Bomb is an interesting runner on his first appearance in the Western Cape. Marco Van Rensburg, who enjoyed a red-letter day at Turffontein last weekend, jets into town to partner Vihaan’s Bomb but it doesn’t help his cause that Van Rensburg has to put up 2kgs overweight. Future Swing is the class act in the race but with the wide spread of weights, it’s a competitive renewal of the Woolavington Stakes and, while the race is up for grabs, I am leaning towards Call To Unite and Daimyo to fly the flag for the Champion trainer.

The third Feature on the card is the R225 000 Laisserfaire Stakes (Listed) for fillies and mares over 1100m and there is every chance that the in-form Southern Skies will complete a four-timer. That this is her toughest test to date goes without saying, but she ever so slightly holds the early market leader Nordic Quest at the weights. Summer Lily steps back in trip but sports blinkers for the first time and she could be competitive in a quality field. Asiye Phambili has 63,5kgs to shoulder but she is a big strong and impressive looking mare, and she could make light of the heavy weight she has been set to carry. Earlier this year she was beaten just a neck in the Sceptre Stakes (Gr2) by subsequent Grade 1 winner October Morn, when giving away 3,5kgs and a repetition of that performance brings her into the race with solid claims at generous odds.

RACE 1

4 ZEITZ had no luck in running from a wide draw at Hollywoodbets Durbanville in his last start, the blinkers have been fitted and he gets a good draw here, he should be very hard to beat on his best form. 1 TUNGUSKA needed his last run badly, the step up in trip from a good draw should help his chances tremendously, include him into all bet types. 3 EXPRESS YOURSELF moved down to the start exceptionally well in his last start, he is still improving and should be right there in the finish now that he steps up to 1600m for the first time. 5 BOMBERS IN THE SKY ran a lovely race last time behind Gnarly, if he can improve on that performance, he could sneak into the Quartets. (Brandon Bailey: 4 – 1 – 3 – 5)

RACE 2

2 STATE CAPITOL has been very consistent since her maiden win on the 23rd of August, from a good draw in this race, she will have a solid winning chance. 10 OZARK had no luck in running in his last start, he unfortunately draws wide here, if the race works out for him, he could easily win a race like this. 1 SUMMER NIGHT CITY will need to improve on her recent form to be competitive, she gets the perfect draw, and she drops further in the ratings, watch for big improvement at a decent price. 12 DREAM SEARCHER ran a much better race over 1400m in her last start, she steps back up in trip to 1600m, if she can get some luck in running from a terrible draw, she could sneak into the places. (Brandon Bailey: 2 – 10 – 1 – 12)

RACE 3

5 HOODIA ran a super race in his last start behind Song To The Moon, he was forced to do some work early in the race which unfortunately cost him victory, he should have no excuses from a good draw here, watch him closely. 10 SAIL THE SEAS won impressively last time against older horses, the yard think highly of this colt, if he can beat the trick draw, he will go very close to winning again. 3 MASTER OF PARIS never runs a bad race, he has been consistent through his career, if he can produce a similar performance here, he will be amongst the places. 2 HAPPY DAYS won really well with the blinkers fitted, he quickened up smartly to beat Dubbelosix, the form has been franked, he could earn again from a good draw. (Brandon Bailey: 5 – 10 – 3 – 2)

RACE 4

7 NIGHT BOMBER really enjoys the sprint trips at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth, there is no doubt that he will be competitive in this tricky race. 3 BLACK EGRET needed his last run badly, on his best form at this level, despite the big weight on his back, he should have a good each way chance. 6 SILVER CROWN has been rested for a long time, his form is excellent, if he doesn’t need the run badly, he will be right there at the finish, include him into all bet types. 12 PIROSHKA is slowly starting to drop in the ratings, his last run was very good against some nice horses, watch him late at a decent price. (Brandon Bailey: 7 – 3 – 6 – 12)

RACE 5

1 CALL TO UNITE must have a huge winning chance with no weight on his back for this Listed event, he has won his last two starts very impressively, he now steps up in trip to 2500m, on his recent form, he will have a solid chance again. 9 FUTURE SWING would have needed his last run badly when finishing second, he is classy and he stays well, there is no doubt he will have a massive winning chance. 7 BARATHEON looked incredibly well moving to gates when beating Future Swing, Piet Botha and his team think highly of this individual, he must be included into all bets on his best form. 6 DAIMYO at the weights and on ratings will find it tough to win, he likes to race up on speed, he is still improving, and he is very gutsy, it would come as no surprise to see him in the places. (Brandon Bailey: 1 – 9 – 7 – 6)

RACE 6

12 BE MERRY has been super impressive to date, her last three wins have been nothing short of breathtaking, there is no doubt that she will need to improve even further to beat this field, she is speedy and very much progressive, watch her closely with no weight on her back. 7 NORDIC QUEST quickened up smartly to win well in her last start, her form is faultless, she will have a good winning chance again. 6 SOUTHERN SKIES never runs a bad race, her last three wins have been very good, the blinkers stay on, and she gets the services of champion Jockey Richard Fourie again, she will be right there at the finish. 8 SUMMER LILY drops in trip, and she gets the blinkers fitted, watch her late, she could sneak into the Quartets at a decent price. (Brandon Bailey: 12 – 7 – 6 – 8)

RACE 7

12 GIMMIE’S COUNTESS won the Grade 3 Diana Stakes impressively, she is a filly that likes to be held up and then comes with a storming finish late, she is very classy and should take a power of beating with some luck in running. 3 SYMPHONY IN WHITE needed her last run badly over 1250m at Hollywoodbets Durbanville when running on beautifully for third, she now steps up in trip to 1400m which should help her chances, include her into all bets. 7 MAI SENSATION ran a super race behind Beware The Bomb last time, she unfortunately found some traffic problems up the lane on that occasion, she is improving nicely and could sneak into the places in this very competitive field. 4 BEWARE THE BOMB could be anything, her last two wins have been excellent, she is improving with every start and must be included into the play once again. (Brandon Bailey: 12 – 3 – 7 – 4)

RACE 8

6 SCARLET MACAW ran a great race against decent fillies in her last start, if she can produce a similar performance in this Class 4 event, she will go very close to winning. 1 SWIATEK won on debut at a huge price, she finished powerfully from a long way back and she was very green, with natural improvement, good draw, and stepping up in trip, she could go very close again. 8 PINK PIGEON went down to the start beautifully when she won her maiden last time, she is a nice big filly that will keep getting better and stronger with more racing, include her into all bets. 3 SPOIL YOURSELF is much better than her last run, she was drawn poorly on that occasion and never really got into the race, from a good draw here, she could easily bounce back to best. (Brandon Bailey: 6 – 1 – 8 – 3)

RACE 9

20 TRIPPI’S SILK is much better than his last start over 1600m at Hollywoodbets Durbanville, he now drops back in trip, if he jumps on terms, he could be right there in the finish at a decent price. 17 LUNCH MONEY has run some fair races over 1400m from wide draws, now that he races back up the straight at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth over 1200m, he could find his best form and be competitive. 10 PARATROOPER has had no luck in running in his last few races, if the race works out for him in this big field, he could sneak into the places late. 11 KELP FOREST is not a straightforward ride, he needs things to work out for him, if the gaps open up at the right time, he could have a good place chance on his best form. (Brandon Bailey: 20 – 17 – 10 – 11)

RACE 10          

12 CHAMPAGNE MAC ran a lovely race last time from a wide draw at Hollywoodbets Durbanville when finishing second, the blinkers go on, he is currently racing off a very competitive rating which will give him a huge winning chance. 2 AUGUSTA BLUE ran a much better race over 1400m in his most recent start, he drops back in trip, and he gets the blinkers fitted, at this level he will always have a good each way chance. 11 PRINCE OF TIBET improved in a big way to win well, he enjoys the sprint trips with the blinkers fitted, watch him closely. 5 ISCHYRO was heavily backed in the market in his last start behind Prince Of Tibet, he is not a big individual and he needs a particular ride, at his best he could have a Quartet chance. (Brandon Bailey: 12 – 2 – 11 – 5)

RUGBY 8 WIN MARGIN C/Over R 30 724 on Friday, 8 November 2024. Pool Closes at 22h10.

Soccer10 ADD-IN R 150 000 Estimated Pool: R 2 Million on Friday, 8 November 2024. Pool Closes at 21h00. Sport 8 and Pool 1

Soccer13 Guaranteed Jackpot:  R 21 MILLION (13 of 13) on Saturday, 9 November 2024. Pool Closes at 16h15. Sport 10 and Pool 1

Soccer10 ADD-IN R 150 000 Estimated Pool: R 2 Million on Saturday, 9 November 2024. Pool Closes at 15h00. Sport 14 and Pool 1

Soccer ANY 13Xtra C/Over R 100 000 Estimated Pool: R 600 000 on Saturday, 9 November 2024. Pool Closes at 15h00. Sport 13 and Pool 1

Soccer6 ADD-IN R 75 000 Estimated Pool: R 500 000 on Saturday, 9 November 2024. Pool Closes at 15h00. Sport 1 and Pool 2

Soccer4 ADD-IN R 25 000 Estimated Pool: R 100 000 on Saturday, 9 November 2024. Pool Closes at 17h00. Sport 19 and Pool 2

Andrew Harrison

Piere Strydom has put retirement off in the same vein as Frankie Dettori who, after a farewell tour of the UK, moved to the United States and is enjoying a new lease on his career. To be fair, Strydom, in spite of his age, still rides most of the current crop of his weighing room colleagues to sleep and is ‘striking’ at a remarkable 28%. As I see it, if his body holds out, one of the most talented riders to ever grace a pigskin will keep rolling.

He partners Miss Hannigan in the Tab Telebet Handicap on the Turffontein inner today and in spite of Fabian Habib’s runner being the class filly in the race, Strydom will need all his tactical nouse to get her home under her welter burden of 62kg. She is a filly that likes to stretch the arms but Strydom is a master judge of pace and takes over in the saddle from the indisposed S’Manga Khumalo who is recovering from knee surgery.

At the bottom of the handicap are the Lucky Houdalakis pairing of Alabama Anna and Willy Meet Again. Craig Zackey usually does duty for the stable but 52kg is beyond his dietary target and Marco van Rensburg, fresh from his win on Winchester Mansion last Saturday, does duty.

The lightly raced daughter of William Longsword has won two of her four starts and was a winner over course and distance last time out. Second placed Doitwithdiamonds franked that form, winning in good company.

Willy Meet Again takes a big jump in class but does have 10kg in hand over Miss Hannigan which could make the difference between winning and losing.

The former Candice Bass-Robinson-trained Hammies Hero has been out of action since March and makes his Highveld debut for Brett Crawford. If the record of first-time runners from the Cape in KZN is any indication, it would be folly to ignore Hammies Hero in spite of him taking on some well exposed locals that include Nazare and Doitwithdiamonds.

Hammies Hero  has been confined to the Hollywoodbets Kenilworth straight at recent starts and arrives on the Highveld off a smart win over 1100m.  The lengthy break is a concern but Crawford and his son James are a polished outfit and I am expecting a big effort from the son of Twice Over who should relish the step up in trip from a favourable draw.

However, he does face stiff opposition from the locals. Candice Dawson sends out Nazare from gate six and the five-year-old was outpaced late when third, beaten less than a length, by Wolf Mountain last time out. On that showing he is cherry-ripe and the step  up in trip should be what he’s looking for.

Doitwithdiamonds was a winner over course and distance for Tony Peter last time out, just reward for a string of placed runs. He only got a three-point raise in the handicap for that effort and although he gives weight to both Hammies Hero and Nazare, he should still be competitive.

Mike de Kock’s filly Destiny Of Fire can round off the Pick 6 and the card. A narrow winner over the Hollywoodbets Scottsville 1200m on debut, De Kock stepped her up to a mile in the Non-Black Type Beach Beauty in a tough introduction to handicap company. She looked all over a winner before being collard late by Care Forgot. She looks well weighted, progressive and from a fair draw can convert.

Blinkers could see Ancient Wisdom finally realise her potential after making a smart debut as a two-year-old but she may have to first get past Rising Russian in the opening leg of the Pick 6. She made good improvement for Robbie Sage last time out and Philasande Mxoli is slowly make a name for himself.

The fourth is a competitive handicap but Fanie Bronkhorst has dropped Bregardt from an 80MR handicap to a 66MR and title-chasing Gavin Lerena has jumped ship from Call Me Master, who although returning from a break, has some consistent recent form. Ode To The Ocean has been struggling for her second win but had excuses last time out as she was reported to have had a mouth injury. She was narrowly beaten over course and distance at her previous outing and a drop in class could see her home at good odds.

Lerena and Bronkhorst join forces again with One Party in the fifth. She is another that takes a drop in the handicap and although she carries top weight she was running on well over five furlongs last time out after returning from a break. That run should have brought her on nicely and given her pedigree, should enjoy this step back to a more suitable trip.

Johannesburg, 15 October 2024 – 4Racing in conjunction with the Handicappers have published the first log for the 2024 R6 million Gr1 Betway Summer Cup to be run at Turffontein on Saturday 30 November.

Second entries close at 11am on Tuesday 05 November, and final entries at 9am on Monday, 18 November 2024, after which weights will be announced. Declarations must be in by 11am on Wednesday, 20 November 2024 and barrier draws will be conducted at a Betway event on 20 November 2024. The final log will be published on Tuesday 05 November 2024.