Turf Talk Newsletter – 27 June, 2025

On My Honour put up a fine gallop under S’Manga Khumalo at the official Hollywoodbets Durban July Gallops at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Thursday (Candiese Lenferna Photography).

On My Honour looked to be the best value in the Hollywoodbets Durban July ante-post market at 40/1, as was pointed out by the below article in Turf Talk:

Click here to read the article

After the final field announcement the sponsor still had On My Honour out at 33/1, but he shortened into 25/1 on Hollywoodbets Durban July Gallops day and he shortened again into 20/1 today (Friday).

Another to shorten in the betting with the sponsor today was Pomodoro’s Jet from 50/1 into 40/1.

Meanwhile, See It Again, runner up two years ago and unlucky last year to not be in the first three, has drifted out slightly from 14/1  to 17/1. He was excused from galloping on Thursday due to a “slight temperature”,

Confederate also drifted from 25/1 to 33/1.

Rodeo Drive looked to be headed for big things at on stage and Saturday could be the day she shows her true colours. (JC Photos).

The highest rated race at the Turffontein Standside meeting on Saturday is a MR 102 Handicap over 1000m and the horse to beat could be Rodeo Drive.

Rodeo Drive is a talented sort who has not risen to the heights expected this season, but she should have come on from her last run which followed a layoff and can perhaps bounce back here. Chieftan is a talented and improving sort and could get it right here having gone close last time over this trip. Halbardier beat Chieftain by 1.1 lengths last time and is only 0,5kg worse off, although weight for age improvement must be taken into account for Chieftain. Cosmic Star enjoys this course and distance and if able to overcome the worst draw of one by trends then he can be right there. Sheldon is a talented sprinter and he showed signs of a form return last time when actually beating Cosmic Star.

In the first leg of the Pick 6 over 1160m Season’s Greetings improved second time out and has a nice high draw under Gavin Lerena. Wise Counsel ran a fair debut and should improve. Windsor Silk is by Act of War out of a Silvano mare and is a half sister to a three-time winner from 1400m to 1450m in just seven starts. Surreal Song is by Vercingetorix out of a three time-winning Duke Of Marmalade mare from 1250m to 1400m. Master’s Lady has run two fair races and should be in the shake up.

In the sixth race over 1000m, a MR 86 Handicap, Hemisphere is in good form and looks to be the one to beat from a middle draw. Rafa Bay should also be involved in the finish with Gavin Lerena up from high draw. John Wick is never far off them and has a chance here from a nice high draw. Bourbon Reserve disappointed last time but is better than that run. Nkandla Gold is unreliable but if jumping well and in the mood he has a chance.

In the seventh over 1400m Glamarous Lady is drawn in pole and has the form to go close. Ceuta won well last time and despite a seven point higher merit rating could earn again from a fair draw. Miss Hannigan is in good hard knocking form but does have a tricky draw. Queen Of Love disappointed last time, but is much better than that start and Piere Strydom now rides. Blind Ambition blotted his copybook last time but on his previous form he will be a big runner and looks likely to enjoy the step down to 1400m.

In the eighth over 1400m Princess Iliara is in fine hard knocking form and from a pole position draw is the one to beat. Quantum is usually thereabouts but does have a tricky draw to overcome. Godspeed is never far off them and from a fair draw off a lowered merit rating might be in the shake up. Cape Saffron won well in the maidens last time and starts off handicapping on a reasonable 73 merit rating. Boom Boom is in good form and is a contender if producing her best.

In the ninth over 1160m Phala Millions is in fine form and deserves a win, although his low draw could be tricky. Prized Platinum is never far off them and could earn again.Gimme A Storm is capable of finishing in the money. Tokyo Medaglia should be thereabouts in this field. Ensuing is capable and from a nice high draw under Gavin Lerena and a continually lowering merit rating could bouce back to form.

In the first leg of the Bipot, the second race over 1160m, Jabari Thimba is by Pathfork and is a half-brother to the classy Garrix. Gavius Maximus is by the United States out of a Fastnet Rock mare and he is a half-brother to Champion Warrior, who won both of his first two starts. Detailed Forecast could improve on his debut when backed and not disgraced. The Last Duke could improve on his debut when not disgraced in a good field. Sassy Lassie’s debut race has worked out well and she could improve.

In the first leg of the PA over 1160m Fiery Rose looks hard to beat. The two first-timers could be the dangers. Titan Of The Turf is by William Longsword out of a Judpot mare and Craig Zackey rides and Lannyboy is by Lance and is a half-brother to the useful 101-rated Potberrie.

In the first race Stone Of Scone has standout form of those to have run. First-timer Sistership is by Rafeef and is a half-sister to the 119 rated Sprinter Rulership.

Corne Spies learned his outstanding horsemanship skills from his father Tobie and together they became a formidable force at the thoroughbred Sales around the country.

As they honed their collective skills they adopted a points scoring system they invented by themselves.

They look at every conformational aspect of a yearling or two-year-old and give it a score out of ten.

Pedigree doesn’t play a role when looking at the horse, but it does confirm whether or not the horse will be expensive or not.

So in summery, they do not look at the pedigree at all, they look at the physical specimen and decide afterwards whether it’s worth buying or not.

When horses score high points on their system, they have had a good strike rate of attaining black type.

A recent example is the Gr 3 Tote Godolphin Barb Stakes winner Elegantrix, to whom they gave a score of eight, and she now runs against the boys in the Gr 2 Omoda Golden Horseshoe over 1400m on Hollywoodbets Durban July day.

Another good example is the prolific winner William Robertson, who landed the Gr 1 he so richly deserved when winning this season’s TAB Computaform Sprint. He sored a seven on their system.

An interesting point to note is that American trainer legend D Wayne Lukas also had a points scoring system to analyse horses at the Sales, although the Lukas and Spies models are totally independent of each other.

There are many who have a good eye for a horse on the training track or the race track. But to have an eye for a Sales horse takes a specialised eye and it takes years and years of experience, because unlike racing the Sales do not happen everyday.

Spies Racing can help with the selection process and they have decades of experience in training horses to fulfill their potential.

Corne’s son Xander adds a third dimension to the team, not only due to the horsemanship skills he has learnt, but he is also something of a whizzkid.

You need and ultra sharp mind at the Sales to do quick expense and budget calculations before the bidding starts and epecially during the bidding.

See the advertisement above if you wish to contact Spies Racing ahead of the 2025 BSA KZN Yearling Sale, which takes place on July 3. They will be in attendance and offering their expert service.

Two-year-old Captain’s Pride has been tipped to win the sixth race at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Sunday. (Candiese Lenferna Photography). 

Andrew Harrison (Race Coast)

Punters face a competitive card at Hollywoodbets Scottsville and it may pay to keep a weather eye on the betting market as in most of the races one can make out a case for many of the runners.

In the first race Duncan Howells sends out Perfume Power who has come on nicely in her three starts and was a touch unlucky when beaten a nod of the heads over course and distance last time out. Glen Kotzen holds a strong hand with Flying South, who has improved with every run and looks primed, and Third Winter who raced very green on debut on the poly and likely to improve. What A Passion found some market support on debut and likely to improve but keep an eye on the betting on the two well-bred Dean Kannemeyer pair of Princess Of Gaul and Light Of Gabriel.

Clinton Binda raids with Chapbook who has shown up well in both starts and with Fourie up, looks the part in the second. Grand Force has ability and was a close-up third on the poly last outing. He has run well on this course. Boardwalk Breeze showed good pace before tiring the last bit. He has 100m less to travel and can go all the way for Paul Lafferty. Darryl Moore’s gelding Bomber Stream is a struggling maiden but has shown some improvement in blinkers at his last two on this course.

In the third, Soho Star is in good form for Yogas Govender and was narrowly beaten at his last two. He faces Vihaan’s Pride on 4kg better terms and should be able to turn the tables. Licence To Thrill is seldom far back but is 1.5kg worse off with Soho Star on their last meetings. Mike and Mathew de Kock have two runners. Judged on jockey bookings Mojo Man may be the stable elect but current stable rider Callan Murray would have been hard-pressed to ride 54.5kg so Craig Zackey does duty on Cold Shine who has first time blinkers.

Abaddon could open the Pick 6 for Mike Miller as he is down in class with a big weight but does get 4kg relief from the saddle. Tony Rivalland saddles Mar Del Plata was touched off with first time blinkers last run. He has been consistent and is due a change of fortune. Gorgeous Guy has been knocking on the door for some time now. He goes well this trip and should be competitive again.

Miller has a chance of a double as he sends out Soldier Boy in the fifth. He is a two-year-old who won on debut at long odds. He got a hefty rating for that effort but gets 4kg off his back and could run up to his rating with apprentice Jacey Botes having ridden many in this field. Beach Palace has run well for this apprentice and has steady form over course and distance. Lake Como has come good of late and the Doug Campbell stable has also come well. Lake Como goes well over course and distance but has the widest draw to contend with in an apprentice race. Querari’s Dream needed his last run. He is lightly raced but is useful on his day.

Louise Goosen could have the key to a tough handicap in the sixth with Captain’s Pride who takes on older runners but was not far back first up in handicap company. Gavin Lerena stays with the ride. Nellie Melba showed up well over the trip on the poly last run. She appears to be coming to hand. Copacabana has smart recent poly form but does go on the turf. She has the best of the draw. Noodsberg has run two fair races on the poly. She should come on from those two runs. My Tue Love has been knocking at the door and is worth including in all exotics.

Visiting Corrie Lensley saddles Sonic Jet, his only runner on the day. She started at long odds behind the smart Green Sapphire last time out and although she carries a big weight she does have a touch of class. One Smart Cookie has lived up to her name and tries for her fourth win on the bounce. She is up in class with a wide draw but Richard Fourie stays with the ride and Tienie Prinsloo’s filly can follow up. Ice Rain has a better draw and is in mustard form and from an in-form stable. She went up six points in the handicap after her last win.

Mike Miller has another chance with Skytrix in the eighth. The filly doesn’t appear to like the poly and failed narrowly over course and distance three runs back. She has a good draw and could oblige a decent odds. Rugger Lover steps up in trip from a good draw. She has consistent sprint form and Richard Fourie is back in the irons. Rani Tarabi showed up well first run out of the maidens. This trip suits and she should be competitive. Greenhouse has been knocking at the door and has gone close over course and distance beaten by One Smart Cookie. West Side Story made no show on the poly last run but had steady form before that. She has a wide draw but a handy weight and is not out of it.

It could be a long weight for Terminator in the last who could prove to be the best bet on the card. He is long overdue after three runners-up berths over course and distance but has the best of the draw and should put in another forward effort. White Seahorse has drawn a little wide but has shown up well since shedding his maiden. He gets 4kg relief this time around which could make all the difference. El Rey Viene is another that is overdue a change of luck. He has drawn wide but should be competitive along with French Flame who is down in class but was a beaten favourite last run in first time blinkers. He should improve on the run from a plum draw.

Imaginable (William Longsword) clinches a four-timer for the Zackey/Smith combination at Fairview on Friday. (Pauline Herman Photography).

Craig Zackey’s four-timer for Gavin Smith on the Fairview turf today (Friday) put him just four behind Richard Fourie and three behind Gavin Lerena in a national jockey’s championship race which is developing into a thrilling battle.

Lerena went one ahead of Fourie on Thursday when scoring a treble at Turffontein Inside, but Fourie levelled matters in today’s third race when scoring on Juan Nel’s Henry’s Hedge (Louis The King) and he reclaimed the lead when winning the next race on the Alan Greeff-trained Zinovi (Heavenly Blue).

Zackey had won the first on the Smith-trained odds-on shot Ready (Red Ray) and he then won the last three races for Smith on Family Power (Louis The King), Kingdundee (TheUnited States) and Imaginable (William Longsword).

Fourie is now on 238 wins at a strike rate of 25.11%, Lerena is on 237 at 24.97% and Zackey is on 234 at 17.58%.

Smith is on 110 wins at 12.22%.

All of his wins have been in the East Cape and he has no chance of catching arch rival Alan Greeff, who has had 156 wins countrywide at 17.77% and 153 of them have been in the East Cape.

Greeff is chasing his own record of 176 wins in an East Cape season, so he has six meetings let in which to score 24 wins. That is an average of four wins per meeting, a tall order, but not imposible for the prolific operation.

This Saturday sees a competitive 11-race card from Sha Tin on both the turf and All-Weather tracks getting underway at 10 a.m. SA Time.

The feature of the meeting is race 8, the Class 1 Pearce Memorial Challenge Cup over 5f, offering more than £372,000 in prize-money.

Click here to get comprehensive formguides and selections.

Hollie Doyle looks ahead to five rides at Doncaster on Saturday evening and reflects on her Listed win in France on Tuesday.

Click here to get insight from Hollie Doyle

What is the biggest number of years between a trainers first July win and his last July win?

The picture gives a clue to the answer.

Syd Garrett rode successive July winners in 1919 and 1920 and trained his first July winner in 1930 (Full Dress). The second July winner he trained was Sadri II in 1941 and his last was 30 years after his first in 1960 (Left Wing). The picture above is of the formidable Roamer Lodge team in 1930, Stanley Amos, Cookie Amos, Sys Garrett and Freddie Heyman (Photo: Form Organisation).