Turf Talk Newsletter – 1 August, 2025

Mount Pinatubo could become a force in the sprinting ranks this season (JC Photos)

The opening Highveld meeting of the new season is a nine race one at Turffontein Standside on Saturday and it is headlined by three Pinnacle Stakes events.

The third Pinnacle is the eighth race over 1000m and William Robertson is weighted to win, but this comes quckly after the Gr 1 Mercury Sprint a week ago and the ever improving Mount Pinatubo, who is officially 3kg under sufferance with William Robertson, could upset the applecart. Chocolate Soldier is very quick and will relish the fast winter conditions over the minimum trip. William Robertson should be lifting late and must be included in all bets. Ready To Charge should be cherry ripe and can earn. The consistent Quantum Theory has a fine form chance and should be right there from the usually favourable standside draw and his last win was in fact a year ago down the straight on this course, albeit over 1160m.

The first of the Pinnacles is over 1400m and forms the first leg of the Pick 6. Truth has the blinkers removed after a poor run in the Gr 2 Post Merchants at Hollywoodbets Greyville with first time blinkers and he should bounce back as he is effective over this course and distance with two victories in four starts. He has pole position which will give him the opportunity to dominate as he did the last time he won here. He is 1kg under sufferance with the best weighted horse Texas Red. Fire ‘N Flames is classy and is in good form and this is an ideal trip so he should be in the shake up from a fair draw. Texas Red won a Pinnacle Stakes event over course and distance in his last start, leading from pillar to post, and that confirmed that his runner up finish in the Gr 1 wfa Wilgerbosdrift HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes over 1600m and his third place finish in the Gr 2 TAB Hawaii Stakes over this course and distance were no flukes. It won’t be easy to get to the front with Truth in the line up and he has a wide draw so Callan Murray has his work cut out. Melech has the class to be right there over a distance which is ideal considering his speed coupled with the fact he beat Main Defender over 1500m this season. He and Fire ‘N Flames are 1,5kg under sufferance with Texas Red. Bacchus and Chestnut Bomber are both only half-a-kilogram under sufferance and could be contenders, although the latter returns from a 126 day layoff.

The second Pinnacle is over 1800m and is the third leg of the Pick 6. The Equator was rumoured to have been working the lights out before his disappointing run in the Gr 3 Magical Zulu Kingdom 2200 on Hollywoodbets Durban July day. He seemed lost in that race, but he could bounce back at his home course and if repeating his best runs in the UK, the Galileo entire is the one to beat under Gavin Lerena, although his draw of five out of seven is tricky. King’s Express is the joint best weighted together with Hotarubi and from a good draw over a suitable trip should be right there. Royal Edition is an honest sort who could do well in this race from a good draw, although he is a massive 6kg under sufferance with the best weighted. Hotarubi could upset if it is a going day, but he is unreliable and frustrating to follow. Wcangoallnight is, like The Equator, only 1kg under sufferance, so he could earn if bouncing back over a drop in trip he will likely appreciate.

In the fifth race over 2850m Damova will stay this trip and from pole position should be a big runner. Mo Ment was outclassed last time at Hollywoodbets Greyville, but does well in staying races on the Highveld and from a good draw should make a bold bid. Enflame has ability and being by Irish Flame should have a chance of staying this trip and could be in the shake up. Royal Mazarin is a honest stayer who could be right there. To The Rescue should come into his own this season and can’t be ignored.

In the seventh over 1600m Impact Investor is drawn well over a suitable trip and looks the one to beat. Unsolved Riddle went close last time after a good win and with Gavin Lerena up from a good draw should be right there. Eiffel Tower has been doing well lately but does have a tricky draw. Pocket Watch was not disgraced last time and might enjoy this trip too from a good draw.

In the last race over 1000m Valieva has been in good form and has a chance from a high draw here. Phala Millions won well last time and from a high draw has a chance. Captain Efficient has a low draw but the draw hasn’t always been significant lately and he could be right there. Golden Aspen has the ability to be a factor in this race. One Tiger needs to bounce back after a below par run first time out of the maidens.

In the first race Master’s Lady makes most appeal having finished iclose to Alta Capitana on debut over 1160m and she is now back against the girls.

In the second race Brigitte Anne can reverse form with Bingo from a nice high draw on the presumption she improves.

In the third race over 1400m Heavenly Good should relish the step up in trip and Gavin Lerena stays aboard.

Gareth van Zyl with wife Kirsten and son Dallin after King Pelles had given the yard a second Gold Cup victory (Candiese Lenferna Photography)

Gareth van Zyl’s six-timer on June 16 at Hollywoodbets Scottsville proved to be the key event of the KZN Trainers Championship, because he finished exactly six wins ahead of both Garth Puller and Dean Kannemeyer on the championship table.

Van Zyl had 49 wins in KZN during the season at a strike rate of 13.54% to claim his third KZN championship.

Kanemeyer’s 43 wins were at a strike rate of 17.34%.

Puller has become the perennial rival of Van Zyl and his 43 wins were at a strike rate of 10.72%.

Alyson Wright was next best with 38 wins at 9.69%.

Fifth-placed Peter Muscutt had the best strike rate of the contenders, his 34 wins being achieved at a strike rate of 20.36%.

In sixth place was Mike Miller on 33 wins at 10.28%.

Andre Nel was in seventh place with 30 wins at 15.31%.

Stuart Ferrie was in ninth place with 29 wins at 12.61%.

An amazing facts is the stats of the former jockeys who tied for tenth place with both Michael Roberts and MJ Odendaal having exactly the same number of runs and wins, 294 runs for 28 wins, a strike rate of 9.52%.

Gimme A Prince is pictured demolishing the field in the Gr 1 HKJC World Pool Cape Flying Championship, a performance which earned him Karel Miedema’s top AR of the season, 121. (Picture: Wayne Marks) 

Karel Miedema is one of the most respected analysts in South African racing and his ratings often prove accurate.

In his top 100 rated performers for the 2024/2025 season he had three sprinters on top, Gimme A Prince, Tenango and William Robertson.

His best performers over a mile and further were the likely Equus Horse Of The Year Eight On Eighteen, Dave The King and See It Again, who all achieved a best rating of 116.

Eight On Eighteen got his 116 for his stunning Gr 1 Daily News 2000 victory, Dave The King’s best performance was surprisingly not his Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge win but rather his win over 1500m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville in the Sir Theophilus St George A Stakes, while See It Again was awarded a rating of 116 for his fifth place finish with topweight in the Gr 1 Betway Summer Cup over 2000m.

Vercingetorix had 12 runners in the top 100 with the top AR (ability rating) of them being achieved by Golden Sickle, who was awarded a 114 for her third place finish with topweight in a Pinnacle event over 1000m at Turffontein Standside in February.

Querari had eight runners in the top 1000 with the top ability rating of 110 being achieved by Questioning.

Gimmethegreenlight had six runners in the top 100 and Gimme A Prince was given Miedema’s top AR of the season, 121 for his phenomenal obliteration of the Gr 1 HKJC World Pool Cape Flying Championship over 1000m.

The United States had six runners in the top 100, but the top AR any one of them was awarded was only 105, achieved by East Cape runner Kingdundee.

Wlliam Longsword had five runners in the top 100 with the top performance on 111 being by Dyce, who was awarded that figure three times during the season.

 Click here to see Karel Miedema’s Top 100

Peter Fornatale of the At The Races website looks forward to a mouth-watering clash of elder Breeders’ Cup Classic contenders in Saratoga’s showpiece on Saturday.

There should be major Breeders’ Cup Classic clues in Saturday’s running of the Grade 1 Whitney Stakes, one of the most historically important races at the famed Saratoga Summer Meet.

In recent weeks, it’s the three-year-old contenders who’ve been making noise with impressive wins from both Sovereignty and Journalism, but now the likes of Mindframe and Fierceness, as well as previous Classic winners Sierra Leone and White Abarrio will be strutting their stuff.

It’s a mouth-watering clash and we’ll look at the field from the rail out.

The race takes place at 23H41 South African time.

Click here to read Peter Fornatale’s Guide

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Rafa Boy followed two wins with a narrow second and can take advantage of a pole position draw in the last race over 1000m on the Hollywoodbets Greyville turf on Sunday (Candiese Lenferna Photography) 

A long held mission was accomplished when Hollywood Racing ran away with the season just past’s National Owners Championship.

Hollywood at last managed to usurp Drakenstein Stud, who had won the title for the previous three seasons successively.

Hollywood’s stakes earning, including restricted stakes, were R13,937,655, which was more than R5 million clear of Drakenstein on R8,288,709.

Sabine Plattner was narrowly behind Drakenstein in third with earnings of 8,222,696.

Narrowly behind her was Lady Christine Laidlaw’s Khaya Stables on 8,146,170.

Next best was Nick Jonsson and Johann Rupert, whose only horse owned together, Eight On Eighteen, earned R6,556,875.

Hollywood Racing can kick off the new season well and Rafa’s Boy on Sunday is one of their runners who can help them get out of the blocks quickly.

Below are formguides and selections for Sunday’s Hollywoodbets Greyville meeting:

R1 Summary: It may pay to keep track of the first timers. Of those that have run, BLAZING BEAUTY (1) made major improvement at long odds first run for her new stable. A repeat can see her home in a modest line-up. QUEEN FENN (7) has shown some ability but judged on jockey bookings, stable companion and first timer CAPTAIN VENTURA (3) could be the stable elect, trainer Darryl Moore commenting that she is very quick. (Andrew Harrison: 1-3-7-9).

R2 Summary: There was little confidence expressed about the first timers in this race but they should all have to get past KANAAL SKATER (4) and THAT’LL BE THE DAY (1) the pair with some credentials. Kanaal Skater made marked improvement first time out in KZN and can build on that while That’ll B The Day was a beaten favourite last run after a smart previous effort. From pole position draw he may be the one to beat. HIGHER LOVE (2) is way better than his last two and has done well on the poly. RED CARDINAL (7) raced green on debut and sure to come on with the run. (Andrew Harrison: 1-4-2-7).

R3 Summary: BOARDWALK BREEZE (8) has been knocking at the door for some time now and has improved in blinkers. Not disgraced last run he should finish in the money. TASTE THE RAINBOW (5) raced green on debut and although some way back the winner Green Gateway looks to be more than useful. TARGARYEN KNIGHT (3) finished just ahead of Taste The Rainbow but was having his second outing. DEVOTED (4) comes from a very much in form stable and is one to watch in the market. (Andrew Harrison: 8-4-5-3).

R4 Summary: Tricky maiden. TWILIGHT WARRIOR (14) has a wide draw to contend with but made a promising local debut and looks set to make further improvement. ZARA’S WINTER (10) appears to be coming to hand at the right time. Mike Miller’s charge has started at long odds in all three outings but has come on with each start and could prove to be the best of Miller’s four runners. CARNIVAL PARK (2) has taken time to shed his maiden but has not been far back and has a plum draw to help his cause. LUNAR DESCENT (9) is better than his last run. He has been showing signs of coming to hand and with a more experienced jockey aboard he should be competitive. (Andrew Harrison: 10-2-14-9).

R5 Summary: PRINCESS PALACE (4) has dropped in the ratings and this step up in trip with a handy galloping weight will suit. ELEMBEE (6) has come down to a more competitive rating and has shown steady improvement at recent outings. She is seldom far back and should be in the mix. QUEEN AMINA (2) built on his steady improvement when not winning out of turn on the poly last time out. The trip suits. ANOTHER DREAM (3) was a game winner first up out of the maidens. Three might be too much to ask from Lucinda Woodruff’s filly but she cannot be ignored. THE GHOST (8) steps up in trip and Muzi Yeni is back in the irons for Paul Lafferty. The extra should suit. (Andrew Harrison: 4-6-2-3).

R6 Summary: CASSANDRA (7) is still a maiden but has shown up well in all three of her starts and Glen Kotzen’s filly is up against some well exposed opposition. AMAFORT (6) is lightly raced but appears to have come to hand at recent outings and looks primed for this. COPACABANA (9) has drawn wide but has been holding form well and the extra furlong should be in her favour. MOUNTAINSOFTHEMOON (1) was a beaten favourite last run but has improved with a tongue-tie and has the best of the draw. (Andrew Harrison: 7-6-9-1).

R7 Summary: Competitive field. CALLMEGETRIX (9) was possibly out-classed in the Gr1 Garden Province but had smart form before that and should go well in this line-up. WHITE PEARL (3) finished less than a length behind Callmegetrix in the Garden Province and has the better draw this time around. There should not be much between the two. TWO G’S (2) steps up in class and trip but is lightly raced and her recent form is solid. SOVEREIGN GRANT (4) hardly ever runs a poor race and should be right up there. (Andrew Harrison: 9-3-2-4).

R8 Summary: RAFA’S BOY (1) has a big weight but is in mustard form. All recent form has been over the Hollywoodbets Scottsville straight and he takes the turn but from pole position. CATAVAR (4) has shown up well in two recent outings on the poly. His last win was over course and distance. IBHELE (10) has been dropping steadily in the ratings. Down in class and he can surprise. TRAFALGAR SQUARE (2) is quick. He has started at long odds in all of his recent starts but can pop up. (Andrew Harrison: 1-4-10-2).

Vercingetorix has enjoyed the best season by any sire in South African history.

He matched the 2022/2023 and 2023/2024 feats of Gimmethegreenlight in being leading sire, leading two-year-old sire and leading three-year-old sire.

Gimmethegreenlight was the first stallion to achieve that feat in recorded history, which goes back to 1953.

Vercingetorix smashed Gimmethegreenlight’s SA record of R30,732,600 in stakes earnings, set last season, with earnings of R38,562,706.

He also smashed the SA record for individual stakes winners in a season with 23 stakes winners of 33 races.

Vercingetorix also smashed records at the Sales.

His average for 25 lots sold at the BSA National Yearling Sale was a phenomenal 1,435,000.

The Maine Chance Farms son of the six-times Champion Stallion Silvano can only be described as a phenomenon.

Kevin Blake of At The Races analyses the massive upset in the showpiece event of the Glorous Goodwood meeting, the Gr 1 Sussex Stakes.

He also looks at the false assumptions everybody made about the pace in the Gr 1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, although Aidan O’ Brien’s deceptive tactic ultimately went awry.

Click here to read this very interesting article

Which famous mare raided Goodwood from overseas to win the Goodwood Cup?

The picture is of the subject