Turf Talk Newsletter – 12 June, 2025

S’Manga Khumalo takes advantage of the fresh air on Sparkling Water’s inside, created by the wheels of the starting stalls, to make a bee-line for the rail in the 2022 Hollywodbets Durban July, which his mount won by three lengths.(Picture: Gallop TV) 

It is something that has never been mentioned before, but it eventually becomes noticeable after watching a number of Hollywoodbets Durban July replays –  the best draw in the race must surely be number eleven.

Sparkling Water jumped from draw 12 when winning the first Hollywoodbets sponsored July in 2022 and S’Manga Khumalo was able to effectively enjoy the advantage that draw eleven provides because the eleven drawn Belgarion jumped slowly.

Draw eleven is the first barrier position in the second bank of stalls and instead of having draw ten right next to you on your right you have a few yards of fresh air created by the wheels of the stalls sticking out from underneath.

When the stalls are pushed together the wheels are the first points that touch and there is a significant gap between stall ten and eleven.

When Sparkling Water immediately cleared Belgarion inside of him in 2022, Khumalo was able to run at an angle for the front because he had yards of fresh air to his right and it was a winning move because he reached the rail within about 200m of the start and then took a sit until the straight, having allowed Puerto Manzano and Asterix to come around him and give him a tow.

Sparkling Water had plenty in reserve by the time of the straight and had one of the biggest margins of victory in July history, three lengths.

Had she jumped from a normal position she would have at least had to have a bit of luck to get an early split and luck to avoid the infamous jostling that the early stages of the Hollywoodbets Durban July is known for.

It was the same advantage Oriental Charm, a front-runner, enjoyed last year when jumping from the ideal draw of eleven.

Well it is at least an advantageous draw for a front-runner.

JP van der Merwe had yards of space to his right last year after jumping well and he did his mathematics well.

Garth Puller, on a walk around Greyville years ago discussing what jockeys are doing and thinking for every yard of the July, pointed out that going inward immediately from a wide draw is wasteful … mathematically the shortest route to the first bend is an ever so slight angle.

That is the path JP took.

He calculated it perfectly as he got to the bend just before the other front-runner Purple Pitcher and the horse was thus able to assume his favourite front-running role witout having expended any unnecessary energy.

Puerto Manzano, who finished third last, beaten over 17 lengths, when going to the front in 2022, was drawn eleven in 2023. He used that fresh air to his right to his advantage as the jockey held him up and could then rein him in while moving at an angle to the right, easier than holding a horse on a straight line and then slotting in to the right.

So it is probably an advantageus draw for a hold up horse too and Puerto did have a much improved July that year, finishing a 6,20 length eighth.

The one scenario where draw eleven might not be an advantage is a horse who needs cover in a handy position. However, a draw on the high side is difficult for such a horse in any circumstance and having some room in the early stages might make it a touch easier than normal, although such a horse would likely prefer  to be drawn lower. The 2023 winner Winchester Mansion was such a horse and draw four suited him better than draw eleen would have.

Luck in running plays a part in the Hollywoodbets Durban July’s outcome, but a suitable draw does play a part in helping to avoid trouble.

A study of which draws are favourabe by percentage hasn’t been done but it is known that the widest draw of all has been successful eight times since 1917.

They were Kipling in 1940, who was drawn 22, St Pauls in 1946, who was drawn at position 20, Beau Art who overcame barrier position 17, Flaming Rock started from stall gate 20, Classic Flag in 1998 from stall gate 18, the great Dynasty broke from the extreme outside draw at 20 in 2003, in 2012 Pomodoro got up from draw 20 with Piere Strydom up and in 2016 Strydom repeated the feat on The Conglomerate from draw 18.

Sugar Mountain ridden by Aldo Domeyer beats Magic Verse in the Cape Mile at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth today. (Picture: Chase Liebenberg)

Among the thirty horses still standing their ground in the Hollywoodbets Durban July is the Justin Snaith-trained Magic Verse and he ran a good preparation today at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth over 1600m in the Non-Black Type Winter Mile, although as his name does not appear in the top 20 on the final log he will likely need scratchings to get into the big race.

In today’s race the four-year-old Vercingetorix gelding jumped from draw five and sat in about fifth place one wide with cover most the way.

The eventual winner, the 118-rated Candice Bass-Robinson-trained Silvano gelding Sugar Mountain, was providing him with cover.

Magic Verse burst through a gap towards the inside in the straight and pulled clear of the rest but could not match the strong finish of Sugar Mountain, who made his run outside of the leaders.

Magic Verse is rated 113 but ran with the same 61,5kg weight as Sugar Mountain, so it was a good performance to be beaten just half-a-length and showed he would not be out  place in the Holywoodbets Durban July.

The race was watched with interest by many July build-up watchers, because Magic Verse represents the form of Garrix and Otto Luyken.

The latter pair finished first and second respectively in the Gr 3 Legal Eagle Stakes over 1800m, a head apart, and were a short-head apart when the form was reversed in the Listed Pocket Power Stakes over 1950m.

Magic Verse was a 1,70 length fourth in the Legal Eagle Stakes and a 1,80 length third in the Pocket Power.

Garrix, despite being a three-year-old, carrried level weights with the year older Otto Luyken in the Pocket Power and was only getting 1kg from the year older Magic Verse, so the question has been asked whether Garrix will be a late supplementary entry for the Hollywoodbets Durban July.

Garrrix, who is a gelding by Vercngetorix, was raised five points to 118 for his Pocket Power second and is thus easily up to the class of a July runner.

Will he be supplemented at the final supplementary stage on Tuesday 17 June?

NHRA Press Release

RONNIE NAPIER – 1935-10-23 TO 2025-06-11

It is with immense sadness that the NHA has learnt of the passing of Mr Ronnie Napier. Ronnie passed peacefully last night, at about 21h30, at the Donald Gordon Clinic in Parktown.

Ronnie made an enormous contribution to The Jockey Club (as it was then known) as the Chairman of the Local Executive Board as well as a Head Executive Steward. Ronnie also served as Chairman of The Jockey Club from 1990 to 1995 and up until recently served as a member of the Inquiry Review Board. Over many decades Ronnie served the thoroughbred horseracing industry, and particularly the regulatory authority, with great dedication and integrity. His valuable guidance and time that he dedicated to the National Horse Trust as its Chairman, demonstrated his great love for equines and the thoroughbred racehorse. His sound knowledge and understanding of the horseracing industry was formidable.

I would like to, on behalf of the National Board Directors, Management and Staff of The National Horseracing Authority, convey our sincere condolences to Ronnie’s wife, Bev and the Napier family.

Racing has lost a true gentleman. Ronnie Napier was an absolute stalwart of racing, and a true champion of its regulation and its integrity. After all his years of serving in regulation of racing, he remained available with his experience and wisdom to help the NHA team and regularly attended the NHA’s Annual General Meetings. On a personal note, I greatly appreciate his advice and support to me as NHA Chair.

Susan Rowett
Chairperson

Choisaanada with Callan Murray up ate away at Confederate’s lead in brave style at Turffontein Standside on Sunday and is beginning to show why he has always been so highly regarded. (JC Photos)

Cape Breeders

Maine Chance Farms’ top-class sire Querari had another memorable weekend this past week.

His Shadwell Stud bred three-year-old Choisaanada stands poised to sweep this season’s Highveld Winter Series, following his win in Sunday’s Egoli Mile (Non-Black Type) (1600m) at Turffontein.
The Erico Verdonese trained gelding had previously won the Listed Betway Secretariat Stakes.

Under Callan Murray, Choisaanada came with a strong burst to account for G1 TAB SA Classic winner Confederate by just under half a length.
Now a four time winner from 9 starts, Choisaanada is owned by Isabella Lombard and Mr Jossel.

Out of the Redoute’s Choice mare Musaanada, Choisaanada is bred on the same Querari/Redoute’s Choice cross as G3 World Pool Gold Cup hero Master Redoute.

The inform Querari had gone close to having more feature race success a day earlier when his son Underworld was beaten just 0.3 of a length when runner up in Saturday’s G3 Hollywoodbets Dolphins Cup Trial, while another son of Querari, Blizzard Quest, caught the eye when he won the first race at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday.

Querari is also broodmare sire of exciting two-year-old Tin Pan Alley, who made a big impression when winning Sunday’s Highveld Winter Juvenile Stakes at Turffontein by five and a quarter lengths.

A son of The United States, Tin Pan Alley, who has won two of four starts, is out of the Querari mare The Entertainer.

South Africa’s Leading Sire of 2YOs in 2018-2019, Querari has been responsible for more than 80 winners this season with his stock having amassed more than R15.275 million in stakes for the current season.

The champion son of Oasis Dream has 13 lots on offer at the KZN Yearling Sale.

Captain Of All filly Azaleas For All is the first leg of a double for her sire at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Wednesday and the stallion also had success at the Hollywoodbets Kenilworth meeting on Thursday. (Candiese Lenferna Photography) 

Captain Of All, who is now based at Camargue Stud in the KZN Midlands,  displayed his versatility as a sire at Hollywoodbets Greyville’s polytrack meeting on Wednesday as his progeny won two of the nine races, one over 2000m and one over 1200m, the first of them a four-year-old filly and the second a three-year-old gelding.

He also had a winner at the Hollywoodbets Kenilworth meeting on Thursday.

Azaleas For All is a Fanie Bronkhorst-trained Nadeson Park Stud-bred filly out of Redoute’s Choice Australian-bred mare Red Azalea, who won easily on debut over 1160m at Turffontein Standside at 4/1 odds, but never won again in four further starts.

Azaleas For All has kept the stakes-winning cheques coming consistently throughout her career and as this was her first start on the polytrack she could have more to come, although she was raiding from the Highveld.

Her first ten starts were in the maidens and she accumulated four seconds, a third, a fourth and two fifths before winning her eleventh start over 1800m at the Vaal Classic track, beating the decent filly Forgiveness, who is today rated 94, by 1,25 lengths under Muzi Yeni.

She started off on a 79 merit rating and was always thereabouts, including running a 1,70 length fifth to the crack filly Frances Ethel in the Listed Ormond Ferraris Oaks Trial over 2000m. She did not fare as well in the Gr 2 Bridget Oppenheimer Wilgerbodrift SA Oaks over 2450m behind the same filly.

She gained her second win in her 21st start when romping home by 3,25 lengths over 2000m at the Vaal Classic track under Gavin Lerena off a 71 merit rating.

She seems to have come into her own, because she won two starts later on Wednesday on the Hollywoodbets Greyville poly off a 77 merit rating, despte having to lug 61,5kg.

She took an awkward step after jumping from gate four but then settled nicely in midfield in the eleven horse field in a one out position with cover.

As the pack was shuffled she got into fourth position and was in second spot on the train that was one off the rail.

She was traveling like a winner a log way out as she was relaxed and in a nice rhythm.

She switched out at the top of the straight and showed s fine turn of foot to strike the front at the 200m mark, before finding the necessary extra to repel Ideal Gift, who challenged on the inside.

Gavin Lerena said, “It is never easy to carry 61,5kg, but she has done it in fine style.”

She converted 18/10 odds and should have more to come.

The Clinton Binda-trained Kwagga Blitz is out of a Silvano mare, who ran one place over 1600m in five starts.

However, this Black Swan Stud-bred Hollywood Racing-owned gelding is a speedster.

He is a half-brother to the six time-winning What A Winter sprinter What A Honey, who won her last start off a 95 merit rating.

On the other hand Kwagga Blitz is also a half-brother to the four time-winning East Cape middle distance horse, Slainte Mhath.

Kwagga Blitz had four seconds, a third, two fourths and a fifth in his first eleven starts befoe winning his twelfth start over 1400m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville.

He did not fare well in his next three starts over 1600m, 1160m and 1400m respectively, but enjoyed traveling down from the Highveld again and is now unbeaten in two starts in KZN.

In the 1200m Class 4 event event he started at 40/1 running off a 75 merit rating carrying 56.5kg and jumped from a tricky draw of six out of ten.

However, Chase Maujean got him into a nice handy position with cover and after creeping up on the outside he extracted a good finish from him under a strong drive.

It was also Kwgga Blitz’s first start on the poly, so there could be more fun to look forward to for the connections.

At Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Thursday, the hard knocking Vaughan Marshall-trained two-year-old filly Paralegal, who is out of a Dynasty mare, found a late surge to win at the fifth time of asking over 1200m under Brevan Plaaitjies.

That was Captain Of All’s fifth two-year-old winner this season.

It all goes to show that Captain Of All can throw hardy handicap types, who will have long careers, he can throw Gr 1 winners and he can throw precocious speed – a truly versatile stallion who will be a great assett to KZN Breeding.

• Captain Of All’s last five runners have yielded three wins and two seconds.

Strata has been tipped to win the 6th race (Pauline Herman Photography). 

Fairview Poly Friday Formguides And Selections

R1 (6) WISHES AND DREAMS wasn’t far on debut and will get much closer having that run under the belt. (4) MAKE BELIEVE is another who ran well on debut and will be right there. (5) MONEY GALORE ran well on debut and will be a lively challenger here. (1) AMIOK gets an eye-catching jockey booking in the form of Craig Zackey, she should get much closer. (Devonne Govender 6-4-5-1).

R2 (8) MASTER WIZARD hasn’t been far in recent starts, he has the best draw and plenty scope to get much closer hence he is the value selection. (2) GREEN OKRA ran well on provincial debut and will be a strong contender for top honours, he will go close so respect. (1) GRAND ALLEGRO has been knocking on the door and will have a big chance here. (3) BROOKSIDER is never far back and can get into the placings. (Devonne Govender 8-2-1-3)

R3 (4) HAT MONTERA is capable of much and will be the firm first choice. She had a wide draw to negotiate in her last start and that run is best ignored. She has performed well on the turf and with the in-form claiming apprentice she represents value. (5) BATTLE OF BRITAIN has plenty scope to improve and must be respected in this contest. (3) FANTASY GIRL is never far back and steps up in distance so could get much closer. (7) CHEAP THRILLS ran a cracker in the last start and if repeating that will be a huge runner. (Devonne Govender 4-5-3-7)

R4 (1) JACK IN THE GREEN has been holding solid form. He won a gutsy race in the last start and despite the fact that he has a tough draw he will be in the firing line. (9) RED WILLIAM is knocking on the door for another career win, his recent form has been good and he will have a big chance. (5) SLAINTE MHATH was an impressive winner in the last start, he has a decent draw and will be a huge contender. (6) ROLL OF THE DICE is never far back, he is a very honest type and he will be in the mix. (Devonne Govender 1-9-5-6)

R5 (4) DARLING HARBOUR is holding solid form and will have a strong winning chance, she seems to go well on poly however she has had some tough draws in recent turf starts so will have to be respected. (1) LADY ZULTANITE has a good draw with solid form, she also gets an in-form apprentice aboard so there’s plenty to like about her chances. (9) TAKE YOUR TIME has been racing consistently and another bold showing is expected. (5) THREE CHEERS is very capable on her day and must go into everything. (Devonne Govender 4-1-9-5)

R6 (4) STRATA is holding solid form and is capable of a big finish on her day, she is the firm first choice. (5) SHARAPOVA is holding consistent form and must be included in all bets. (7) JAMBO SANA is very capable on her day, some of her better form has been on the poly so she will be a huge runner. (9) THREAD OF LIFE has never been far back and can run into the placings. (Devonne Govender 4-5-7-9)

R7 (8) FINAL EDITION is holding form and was unlucky in the last start. He could be tough to beat here. (9) HOLOCENE is another who is in great form and rates a winning chance, he will be the main danger to the top selection. (11) BOSNAY is very capable on her day and can make the placings. (4) WAZ WOUTER won a gutsy racing in the last start and can make the frame again. (Devonne Govender 8-9-11-4)

R8 (11) BRETTY ran a cracker in the last start coming from well back in the field, a repeat of that will see her go close. (6) ICE CAP is holding consistent form and will be in the firing line in an open looking race. (1) COURAGEOUS is never far back and can go very close on best form. (8) CITY OF DREAMS has run extremely well in the province and is another with a big wining chance. (13) PERFECT TRUST is a game front runner and can fill in the placings. (Devonne Govender 11-6-1-8-13)

Firingonallengines (William Longsword) gives Gavin Lerena a treble and the Harold Crawford and MIchelle Rix yard a double (Picture: Wayne Marks)

Gavin Lerena rode a treble at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth today (Thursday), two of them for Harold Crawford and Michelle Rix, while national log leader Richard Fourie had a rare blank and the other title contender Craig Zackey had a double.

Muzi Yeni rode a double for Greg Ennion.

Richard Fourie leads the championship with 229 wins achieved at a strike rate of 25.90%.

Lerena is on 223 wins at 25.25%.

Zackey is within striking distance too on 220 wins at 17.53%.

Yeni is on 134 wins at 12.98%.

Greg Ennion is on 14 wins at 7.04%.

Harold Crawford and MIchelle Rix are on 14 wins at 10.45%.

Which horse was leading North American sire four times and leading North American broodmare sire a record 12 times.

The picture is of the subject

Sir Gallahad (1920–1949) was a French Thoroughbred racehorse and an important sire in the United States.

Click here to read wikipedia about Sir Gallahad