Turf Talk Newsletter – 05 June, 2025

The Real Prince is avoiding the Gr 1 wfa Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge, despite the fact he would have had a great chance of winning it, and is going straight into the Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Durban July.  (Picture: Wayne Marks)

South African racings fans have been robbed of the best possible field in the Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge, because some are avoiding it due to the fear of a merit rating hike that will have an effect on the weight they have to carry in the Hollywoodbets Durban July.

Furthermore, will all of the runners be going all out because some would prefer it to be a nice come on run for the July with no merit rating increases?

There was no concern about either scenario back in 2007, when one of the best fields this millenium lined up for the Gold Challenge at Clairwood and it was a memorable race as the legendary Pocket Power was baulked twice at the top of the straight before winding up into his devastating finish and failing by the bob of the nose to fetch Succesful Bidder.

It was the first time Durban fans had seen Pocket Power in the flesh and that was likely the race in which they accepted he was everything they said he was.

All 15 of the horses in the Gold Challenge that year went all out to win the race and no quarter was given.

The difference was that in 2007 the Durban July weights were set before the Gold Challenge.

There are some obvious problems as some will say a proven top horse could then come in to the July unfairly well weighted.

But surely it is better for that to to happen than for the same horse to skip the race and come in potentially well weighted anyway?

Some will say it would be unfair on the Daily News 2000 horses, who will continue to be weighted on the result of that race, and unfair on the Daily News 2000 race itelf, because perhaps some top three-year-olds would avoid that race at the expense of the Gold Challenge. However, as was seen this year, the Daily News 2000’s top horses are never likely to get much of a raise as they are already proven and some of the less exposed three-year-olds find it a useful race to qualify themselves for the July over their right trip.

The obvious horse that is relevant to this discussion is The Real Prince.

After the Drill Hall he looked nailed on for the Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge as he is proven over a mile and was finishing like an express train over the Hollywoodbets Greyville 1400m trip and he was doing it in seemingly  effortless fashion after being dropped out from a wide draw.

After much thought and discussion the Dean Kannemeyer yard have decided the Khaya Stable homebred Gimmethegreenlight colt will go straight into the July as that will ensure he carries a reasonable weight of 56,5kg as things stand.

This is a huge risk, because the close up family of the Real Prince is full of speed.

He is a full brother to the Equus Champion Sprinter Gimme A Prince.

His full sister Gimmie’s Countess has won a from 1200m to 1400m, including a Gr 3 over 1400m.

His mother The Real Princess (Trippi) won from 1100m to 1400m, including the Gr 1 SA Fillies Sprint.

The Real Prince’s grand-dam Pagan Princess won once over a mile and produced three Graded winners, including Cape Guineas winner William Longsword (Captain Al), but none of them won beyond a mile.

However, Pagan Princess was by stamina influence Fort Wood, which gives some hope.

The Real Prince’s third dam Dancing Flower (Dancing Champ) also gives hope because although her three wins were from 1400 to 1600m she was a producer of stamina with her progeny including Victory Moon (Al Mufti) (who won the UAE 2000 Guineas, the UAE Derby, was third in the Dubai World Cup and was an unlucky loser in the Gr 1 Coral Eclipse), Champion stayer Kelly (Flaming Rock) and Listed winner Flame (Ethique), who won from 1600m to 2400m.

Future Pearl who won the unofficial stayers Triple Crown and was Equus Champion Stayer, also descends from Dancing Flower.

Furthermore, Dean Kannemeyer has a two-year-old full brother to The Real Prince in the yard, whom he says is shaping as one who will ‘go a trip’.”

So there is hope The Real Prince will stay the July trip, but if he doesn’t there will be the lament that he was denied a real chance of winning a Gr 1 wfa Mile. On the other hand there will be more opportunities for him to win wfa miles, but there will probably only be another opportunity for him to be as well weighted in the July.

Nevertheless, it would have been fantastic for the public if he had lined up in the Gold Challenge.

He is not the only one to be avoiding the race.

Another one could be Royal Victory, who is full of class and effective over a mile.

There could be others too.

So as it happens some connections are avoiding the Gold Challenge to come into the July well weighted, but would it not be preferable to allow them to run in the Gold Challenge without their July weight being affected – in both scenarios they will come into the July well weighted but in scenario two Champions Season fans will have a Gr 1 weight for age mile that would probably be a better quality race than the L’Ormarins King’s Plate to look forward to.

Setting the weights for the Hollywoodbets Durban July before the Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge is something the administrators should consider.

The successful Captain Al sire Captain Of All moved from the Cape to Camargue Stud in the KZN midlands last season and has been a fine boost for KZN breeding.

As a racehorse the imposing three times Gr 1-winning Captain Of All was at one stage rated the second best sprinter in the world and yet he throws classic horses among the speed horses, with three examples being the Vaughan Marshall-trained Linebacker, who after being very unlucky to not win the Gr 1 Cape Guineas won the Gr 1 Cape Derby and the Gr 1 Daily News 2000, and he finished second in all of the Durban July, the Met and the Gold Challenge, the current top filly Fiery Pegasus, who has won the Gr 1 SA Fillies Classic over 1800m and Gr 2 SA Oaks over 2450m, and Shango, who won the Gr 2 Dingaans as well as the Gr 3 Hollywoodbets 2200 and the Gr 3 Lonsdale Stirrup Cup over 2400m.

However, Captain of All also throws precocious speed, and has produced a Gr 2 SA Fillies Nursery winner, the Paul Peter-trained Springs Of Carmel.

This precociouness can be witnessed in his two-year-old runners this season.

The Sean Tarry-trained Klawervlei Stud-bred two-year-old Captain Al filly Alta Capitana runs in the colours of big owner Laurence Wernars and after a good winning debut over 1160m she lines up in the Highveld Juvenile Winter Fillies Stakes over 1400m on Sunday.

Another promising Captain Of All juvenile is the Weiho Marwing-trained Sister Golden Hair, who after not being disgraced in her first two starts behind the smart peformers Elegantrix and Tenjiku respectively has reeled off two wins and a second in her next three starts.

The Candice Bass-Robinson-trained two-year-old Captain Of All filly Du Maurier has finished second in both starts and should win soon.

Captain Of All is also sire of the Tony Peter-trained two-year-old Captain Selvie, who has a win and a second in three starts and his formlines have been working out well. He also runs in the colours of a big owner, Kenneth Pillay’s Kestorm Investments.

In fact that is something noticeable about the Captain Of Alls at the Sales … not only do they fetch decent prices but they are sought after by big owners.

At the last BSA National Yearling Sale he had two lots, a colt and a filly, and they went for R325,000 and R400,000 respectively and the colt was bought by a big yard, Bass Racing.

Mark Bass also bought a Captain Of All colt at the Cape Racing Sales March Sale Day 1 for R100,000 and the other two Captain Of Alls on that Sale went for R250,000 and R450,000 respectively.

That Sale would have come hard on the heels of some good perfomances by his Piet Steyn-trained gelding Meu Capitano, who beat Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas winner Snow Pilot by two lengths over 1400m on WSB Met day when receiving just 4,5kg and he went on to finish third in the Listed Jet Master Stakes behind one of the most exciting horses in the country, The Real Prince.

At last year’s BSA Cape Yearling Sale Bass Racing bought a Captain Of All filly for R320,000. He only had five on that Sale and one did not reach his reserve of R500,000, while three of them went for R300,000 or more.

Captain Of All sold eight at last year’s BSA Yearling Sale for an average of R326,825 and among the notable buyers were Hollywood Racing, who bought two of them, Justin Vermaak, , Grant Knowles, Kestorm Investments, Andy Williams and Garth Puller.

At Last year’s Cape Racing Sales Premier Yearling Sale Captain Of All’s five lots averaged R260,000 and one of them which went for R450,000 was purchased by big owner Greg Bortz. The other buyers were Justin Vermaak, Gulf Racing Club, Andrew Brand and Vaughan Marshall.

Dennis Drier was the trainer of Captain Of All and he won the Gr 1 Gold Medallion as a two-year-old, the Gr 1 Golden Horse Sprint as a four-year-old and the Gr 1 wfa Mercury Sprint in his final career start as a four-year-old.

He also finished a 0,30 length third in the Gr 1 Golden Horseshoe over 1400m as a two-year-old, was a shorthead runner up in the Gr 1 wfa Cape Flying Championship as a four-year-old and he was also third in the Gr 1 wfa Computaform Sprint that season.

His Mercury Sprint win was one of the finest sprint performances ever seen on a South African racecourse as he beat the five-times Gr 1-winning sprinter and subsequent Equus Champion Sprinter Carry On Alice by 4,50 lengths. That earned him the title of second best sprinter in the world as well as the Equus Champion Sprinter award.

Captain Of All has producd plenty of good sprinters or sprint-milers, including the stakes performers Captain Hindsight, Cartel Captain, What You Are, Captain’s Run, Kiss Me Captain, Trompie, Captain’s Christy, SA Nursery runner up Jerusaleema Rain, Meu Capitano, Ibhele, and more.

It has been something of a mystery how the Riverton Stud-bred Captain Of All has thrown so many who stay classic distances and staying trips, but John Koster of Klawervlei Stud, which was where Captain Of All peviously stood, reckoned it was the influence of the Engliash breeding close up in his female line as he revealed that many of the Captain Of Alls have the rangy conformation of an English thoroughbred as oppposed to Captain Of All’s short-coupled, strongly built conformation.

Captain Of All arrived at Camargue Stud halfway through last season and will have first class care from one of racing’s most passionate industryman, Brett van Laun.

Brett said the handsome bay stallion had settled into his job well and he is looking forward to the new career of the only son of Captain Al to be standing in the renowned KZN Midlands breeding region.

Who Blinked is a must include in the firt leg of the Pick 6. (Candiese Lenferna Photography).

The Pick 6 will be a big attraction for the Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge meeting on Saturday at Hollywoodbet Greyville.

In the first leg over 1200m Vibe SA makes appeal as a perennial bridesmaid who found his feet with two wins and a narow second. He could still be ahead of the handicapper off an 84 and his last run can be ignored as he was all over them but could not find a way through in an 1100m event at Turffontein Standside. He has gone close around the turn over this trip before at Turffontein Inside and he is now drawn in pole with Gavin Lerena up, so should be right there. Who Blinked flew home over course and distance last time despite being caught wide early from a wide draw and overracing. If able to find a better position from a tricky draw of eight he will be a big runner. Position Of Power produced a late surge to win on debut over 1000m and will appreciate the step up in trip and off reasonable opening handicap mark of 79 he can be included. Those three can be the sole selections for the risk takers. However, for the risk averse more can be included. African Prince was backed on his KZN debut over 1200 on the poly and is better than that unplaced run based on his Cape Town form so should be in the shake up back on the turf with the man who knows him best, JP van der Merwe, now aboard. Northern Warrior has a lot of ability and can never be ignored. Isikwishikwishi went close over course and distance last time and looks to be improving, but has a tricky draw.

In the second leg over 1400m Educator won well on debut over this trip and is drawn in pole. Vanakkam has done well against useful opposition and gets a handy 2kg from the winners. Quickstepgal and Captain’s Envy fought out a finish over 1100m last time and should both enjoy the step up in trip. Littlemisssplendid has useful form and also has to be considered.

In the third leg over 1400m Tenjiku looks useful and is on the up, so should make a bold bid from pole position over an ideal trip. Malmesbury Missile brings strong Cape form and the form of his KZN debut is ultra strong, so he can go close over what should be an ideal step up in trip. Whispering Death was beaten by Tenjiku on debut but has improved since and looks full of class, although he does have a tricky draw.

THe next leg is the Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge and last year’s winner and Equus Horse Of The Year Dave The King bounced back to his best last time out and will be hard to catch if his massive stride takes him to the front at around the 800m mark. See It Again is also back to his best and should be running on strongly from a good draw. Gladatorian beat See It Again narrowly in the Gr 2 IOS Drill Stakes over 1400m last time and they face each other on the same terms. The race might set up well for him as there looks to be a lot of pace and he has a fine turn of foot.

The fifth leg is the The Gr 2 HKJC World Pool Stakes over 1400m. Lucrative was on the up when winning over this trip in fluent style in January. She returns from a five month layoff, but trainer Dean Kannemeyer gets them fit and she is in pole over an ideal trip. The Gr 2 WSB Fillies Guineas did not pan out well for Oxalis Gold but she will appreciate the step down in trip. Bevie’s Delight has won the last three times she has run over this course and distance and beat Sohot Sowhat by a head last time and is now 3kg better off. Sohot Sowhat is officially way out at the weights, but her last start win showed her to be potentially top class. Green Sapphire was caught hopelessly wide in the Gr 2 WSB Fillies Guineas and can bounce back over this more suitable trip from a good draw. Sovereign Grant should be running on. Minogue has class so can’t be ignored from a wide draw with champion jockey Fourie up.

The last leg is the Gr 2 Hollywoodbets Dolphins Cup Trial over 1800m. Pomodoro’s Jet is well regarded and has proved why this season with three comfortable wins in succession from 1400m to 1600m. He can prove he stays this trip here from pole position. Pacaya is well weighted on his excellent WSB Met performance and has a plum draw. Madison Valley has had excuses for his last three runs and is capable of a strong finish from off the pace.
Wild Intent ran a cracking second in the Gr 1 SA Derby and can confirm his high position of 15 on the July log. Zeitz had a cracking win over this trip in a Gr 3 three-year-old event in Cape Town, but has the widest draw of all. Regulation is 4,5kg under sufferance, but is on the up and has a good draw. Underworld ran a cracking third in the WSB 1900 and if it pans out as well this time he could be in the shake up, but he has a tougher draw. Hotarubi is a frustrating sort but very capable on his day and is well drawn. On My Honour has not been disgraced against top drawer competition after three wins in succession. He should stay the trip on pedigree. Those are the ones that make most appeal

This is just a guide, because taking all of the horses mentiioned maing all of the horses mentioned will culminate in a huge permutation.

First Wish has been tipped to win the eighth race on the Fairview Turf tomorrow. (Pauline Herman Photography).

Jack Milner (Tab4Racing)

The Alan Greeff – Richard Fourie partnership continues to deliver strong performances, and they could well team up to win the final three races at Fairview on Friday.

My Best Shot, First Wish, and Luna Halo are all classy types and look the ones to beat in their respective races.

My Best Shot is the first of the trio, running in Race 7, a Pinnacle Stakes over 2000m. The Fire Away gelding has been in superb form, winning his last five starts and remaining unbeaten since being gelded (four wins). He saved his best performance for his latest outing in the East Cape Derby over 2400m four weeks ago, winning by an impressive 5.25 lengths.

Stable companion, filly Joy And Peace, is actually weighted to beat him. However, she has not been at her best recently. Joy And Peace did not stay 2800m last time out and regular jockey Fourie has opted to ride My Best Shot.

First Wish, who finished third in the East Cape Derby, lines up in Race 8, the Wedgewood Handicap over 2400m, alongside stablemate Lotus Island, who was fourth in that Derby. First Wish has been in fine form, winning three of her last five starts, and has improved notably since stepping up in distance. If she can repeat her last performance, she will take some beating – and there’s every chance she will.

Luna Halo has disappointed in her last two runs, so it comes as something of a surprise that Fourie has chosen to stick with her instead of Lady Silvano, another stablemate who has impressed in her last two outings under Fourie.

 

Jack Milner’s selections

Race 1: 11 You’re So Special, 2 Casino King, 9 Star Of Elena, 8 Wild Fig

Race 2: 6 North Star, 4 Ivy, 3 Haze And Smoke, 2 Focal Point

Race 3: 4 Indebe Mayibuye, 3 Articuno, 9 Sweetie Darling, 2 Basingstoke

Race 4: 3 Song Of Myself, 9 Guarding The Wall, 2 Masked Vigilante, 1 Abound

Race 5: 3 Umzolozolo, 1 Bezonder, 2 Midnight Music, 11 Blind Faith

Race 6: 6 Final Try, 5 Igugulethu, 8 Gold Gunner, 4 One Scotch

Race 7: 1 My Best Shot, 2 Zatara Magic, 3 Joy And Peace, 4 Electric Gold

Race 8: 4 First Wish, 8 Flight Display, 6 Greenlitealltheway, 2 Woman’s World

Race 9: 1 Luna Halo, 2 Lady Silvano, 4 Essential, 5 Honorable Member

 

BEST BET

Race 7: 1 My Best Shot

VALUE BET

Race 6: 6 Final Try

BEST SWINGER

Race 3 3×4

 

BIPOT

R192

Leg 1: 3, 4, 6

Leg 2: 3, 4

Leg 3: 3, 9

Leg 4: 1, 2, 3, 15

Leg 5: 5, 6, 8, 10

Leg 6: 1

 

PLACE ACCUMULATOR

R36

Leg 1: 3, 4

Leg 2: 3

Leg 3: 1, 2, 3

Leg 4: 5, 6, 8

Leg 5: 1

Leg 6: 4

Leg 7: 1, 2

 

PICK 6

R675

Leg 1: 2, 3, 9

Leg 2: 1, 2, 3, 11, 15

Leg 3: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

Leg 4: 1

Leg 5: 4, 6, 8

Leg 6: 1, 2, 4

 

JACKPOT 1

R75

Leg 1: 1, 2, 3, 11, 15

Leg 2: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

Leg 3: 1

Leg 4: 4, 6, 8

 

JACKPOT 2

R45

Leg 1: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

Leg 2: 1

Leg 3: 4, 6, 8

Leg 4: 1, 2, 4

Richard Fourie has opted to partner Luna Halo at the expense of Lady Silvano in the last race, a Pinnacle Stakes event over 1600m. (Pauline Herman Photography).

Fairview Friday Turf Formguides And Selections

R1 (9) STAR OF ELENA is holding form and will have a solid winning chance in this line up. (11) YOU’RE SO SPECIAL was unfancied in the betting market but ran extremely well, with plenty improvement to come she will be a big challenger to the top selection. (8) WILD FIG comes from a yard who have had outstanding stats with juveniles this season and the market may be the best guide. (10) WORLD OF DIAMONDS is well bred and should be respected if there is any market support. (Devonne Govender 9-11-8-10)

R2 (6) NORTH STAR is extremely well bred and will have a big chance based on the fact that there isn’t much depth of form to the raced runners respectfully. The yard have done extremely well with juveniles hence she will be the top selection ahead of the raced runners. (4) IVY has scope to go well after running a good third and should build on that effort. (1) AMIOK has scope to get much closer and should be respected with the claimer up. (2) FOCAL POINT is another with scope to progress so should be included. Watch the market as well as listen to trainer comments when making your final decision. (Devonne Govender 6-4-1-2)

R3 (3) ARTICUNO is holding good consistent form and will be a strong contender for top honours. (4) INDEBE MAYIBUYE won a gutsy race at big odds and another bold showing is expected. (5) PROJECT RUNWAY is never far back and can make the frame. (6) HAVANA GREY is capable of a big finish on her day and cannot be ignored. (Devonne Govender 3-4-5-6)

R4 (3) SONG OF MYSELF ran a cracker in the last start at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth and will be a massive runner in this line up. (1) ABOUND is much better than that last start, he is capable of blowing this field away and must be included into all bets. (9) GUARDING THE WALL takes on stronger but his last start was eye catching so he will be a factor here. (2) MASKED VIGILANTE is never far back and is capable of popping up here. (Devonne Govender 3-1-9-2)

R5 (15) OLIVE OYL has been racing well and will have an outstanding winning chance in this line up. She has the allowance so will only carry 56kgs which makes her a massive runner. (8) DANCING IN WINTER is holding solid form and could be rewarded for consistency but will have to lift to beat the top selection. (2) MIDNIGHT MUSIC is lightly raced and has scope to go very well, big chance. (3) UMZOLOZOLO represents Durban form and should be respected with Richard Fourie aboard. (Devonne Govender 15-8-2-3)

R6 (5) IGUGULETHU has been very impressive in his last two starts and will take some beating here. (10) RUN THE WORLD represents Cape form and must be respected, he wasn’t far in her last start and can fight this out on best form. (7) PEDRO is a very honest type and another big run is expected after a good 2nd behind the top choice. (6) FINAL TRY wasn’t far in the last start and can run into the money again. (Devonne Govender 5-10-7-6)

R7 (1) MY BEST SHOT packs plenty of class and will take a power of beating here, banker in all bets. (3) JOY AND PEACE is very capable on her day and will be in the frame, she is another who is loaded with ability and could fill the exacta spot. (2) ZATARA MAGIC is in top form and another decent run is expected. (5) GLOBAL ALLY has been holding consistent form and can make the quartets. (Devonne Govender 1-3-2-5)

R8 (4) FIRST WISH is holding solid form and rates a big winning chance. (3) LOTUS ISLAND is another who is capable of getting much closer after running in a feature so respect. (8) FLIGHT DISPLAY is always there and will be in the mix. (6) GREENLITEALLTHEWAY is back on turf and can get into the action on best form. (Devonne Govender 4-3-8-6)

R9 (1) LUNA HALO is classy and the choice of Richard Fourie speaks volumes hence she is the first selection. (2) LADY SILVANO is top form and is expected to fight this out with the top selection. (4) ESSENTIAL has been holding consistent form and can place here. (3) RED SASH is capable of much better and can make the quartets. (Devonne Govender 1-2-4-3)

Ka Ying Rising, who has been labelled the world’s best sprinter after winning 12 races in succession, including four Gr 1s and three Gr 2s, will be running in th world’s richest turf race in October, the Aus $20 million TAB Everest, which will be run over 1200m at Randwick racecourse in Sydney on Sunday, October 18.

Trained by the ex-pat Australian David Hayes, the Hong Kong Jockey Club acquired a slot (a slot costs a cool AUS$700,000) for the superstar as part of a two year agreement with the Austalian Turf Club.

Click here to read the full story

The Johan Janse van Vuuren-trained Gimmethegreenlight gelding Top Division on the first race today over 1000m in fine style under Gavin Lerena and it was the first leg of a double for Janse van Vuuren and owner Laurence Wernars (JC Photos).  

S’Manga Khumalo and Kobeli Lihaba both had doubles at the Turffontein Inside meeting today (Thursday) as Gavin Lerena and Craig Zackey both failed to make sigificant inroads into Richard Fourie’s lead in the jockey championship as they both just had one win apiece.

Johan Janse van Vuuren also had a double and the first one was of interest, the Gimmethegreenlight first-timer gelding Top Division, who was bred by Laurence Wernars and Bram Van Huysteen and is raced by them in partnership with Dayalan Chinsammy. This two-year-old is out of Janse Van Vuuren’s first ever Gr 1 winner, the Pathfork filly Mighty High, and he won by a comfortable 2,80 lengths under Gavin Lerena.

Janse van Vuuren is on 37 wins for the season and has achieved it at a strike rate of 14.02%.

Meanwhile, Fourie rides in his most Prolific centre on Friday, the East Cape, and is likely to widen the gap, although Craig Zackey will also be at the meeting and will be doing his level best to make up some of the leeway.

Fourie is on 224 wins achieved at a strike rate of 26.23%, Lerena is on 218 at 25.44% and Zackey is on 214 at 17.53%.

Khumalo is on 51 wins at 14.70%.

Lihaba is on 16 wins at 7.55%.

Who holds the course record for 2000m at Hollywoodbets Greyville?

The picture is of the subject