Turf Talk Newsletter – 21 May, 2026

The Andre Nel-trained Otenikwa can add to Vercingetorix’s list of stakes winners this season by winning the Gr 2 Golden Horse Sprint on Saturday at Hollywoodbets Scottsville (Picture: Wayne Marks) 

Time is running out for Vercingetorix to break his own record of 23 stakes winners in a season, but he can potentially add more to his current tally of 16 for this season with potential winners at Fairview on Friday, at Scottsville’s Festival Of Speed meeting on Saturday and at the Hollywoodbets Kenilworth meeting on Sunday.

At Fairview on Friday Virgin River or Avernian Goddess could respectively become a new Vercingetorix stakes winner by landing the Listed Milkwood Stakes over 1000m on the poly.

On Saturday, Vercingetorix has four chances of new stakes winners.

In the Gr 2 Allan Robertson Vercingetorix has three runners, although one of them, Gr 2 SA Fillies Nursery winner Good Day Sunshine, is already a stakes winner. The other pair are the easy winner on debut, the Dean Kannemeyer-trained Palace Of Arvernia, and the maiden Ferrari Flair, who was a 0,35 length third last time out in the Gr 3 Strelitzia Stakes. They are both yet to win a stakes race.

In the Gr 2 Golden Horse Sprint Vercingetorix has three runners, Taxi To The Moon, Otenikwa and King Of The Gauls. Taxi To The Moon has won a Gr 3 this season, but neither of the other pair have won a stakes race this season, so can help Vercingetorix notch up another stakes winner.

In the Gr 1 SA Fillies Sprint, Vercingetorix has four runners, last year’s winner Mia Moo, Double Grand Slam, Elegantrix and Princess Of Gaul.

However, all four of them are stakes winners this season.

At Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Sunday, Magic Verse can add a stakes winner for Vercingetorix by winning the Listed Pocket Power Stakes.

The Sean Tarry-trained Secret Fate toyed with the opposition on debut today (Picture: JC Photos) 

Geoff Woodruff won the Gr 2 SA Oaks with Elusive Fort filly Secret Potion in 2018 and the latter had her first runner at the Vaal today (Wednesday), a Master Of My Fate filly called Secret Fate, and she doddled in by over five lengths.

The Sean Tarry-trained filly faced an uninspiring field and was backed in from 7/1 to11/10.

She took a bump jumping from the stalls, but thereafter hardly came out of second gear and cruised in by 5,25 lengths under Keagan de Melo.

Her time was more than 2,50 second slower than the time for the following race won by the smart Life In Colour.

However, she looked like she was out for a morning canter and was never under any pressure.

Tarry said she did not show much at home.

However, he was excited by the win which is in keeping with her classy pedigree.

Secret Fate will relish further and is one to follow.

Life In Colour drifted alarmingly in the betting before obliterating the field in today’s second race, a Maiden Juvenile Plate over 1400m (JC Photos)

Robin Bruss’s Northfields Stud are pound for pound one of the most successful breeding operations in the country and one of his best families look to have another potential star member in the Corne Spies-trained Malmoos gelding Life In Colour, who slammed the opposition in a start to finish victory over 1400m at the Vaal today (Wednesday).

Life In Colour is a half-brother to True To Life, a Northfields Stud-bred Duke Of Marmalade filly who won two Gr 3s, was runner up in the Gr 1 SA Fillies Sprint and was twice placed third in the Gr 1 Computaform Sprint.

Life In Colour is also a half-brother to the Spies-trained Listed-placed speedster African Pride.

Life In Colour was beaten 7,80 lengths on debut by a fair sort in Sherlock Holmes, but then ran a good 1,50 length third next time out over 1160m at Turffontein Standside. He was noticeably resolute in that run so was surely going to be suited to the Vaal 1200m.

He amazingly drifted right out from 4/1 to 25/2 as Raptor King, who had been green before finishing strongly on debut, remained steady at around 7/10 and there was support for first-timer Master Smoker.

Life In Colour pinged the gates from draw 5 in the eleven horse field and never looked back. He carved out a lead under Mickaelle Michel and kicked in the final stages to beat Master Smoker by 4,50 lengths with Raptor King, who was a touch green again, beaten 8,25 lengths.

Life In Colour relished the step up in trip and both Mickaelle Michel and Corne Spies said he could improve further if calming down more in the preliminaries. Corne said he had improved in that respect today from his first two starts and he added that he was looking forward to seeing him go over classic distances.

The Spies yard rate Malmoos and identified him as a horse to support at the sales and so far it looks to be paying dividends.

Robin Bruss won an Equus Outstanding Breeders award a few years ago for the remarkable feat of never having operated with more than eight broodmares and yet being breeder of two champions that season, the Equus Champion Three-year-old Do It Again and the Equus Champion Sprinter Will Pays, on top of also being breeder of a Hong Kong Gr 1-placed horse Horse Of Fortune (Strongman).

Of course Do It Again went on to become Equus Horse Of The Year after winning the July for a second time the next season.

Bruss bred his first thoroughbred in 1975 and up until 2018 had bred eight Gr 1 winners, including the winner of all of the July (Do It Again), the Met (Zebra Crossing) and the Premier’s Champions Challenge (Deo Juvente).

He hasn’t bred a Gr 1 winner since then but is the breeder of Supreme Vision, who is the dam of this year’s WSB Met and Premier’s Champions Challenge winner See It Again.

Supreme Vision (Visionaire) is a half-sister to Do It Again.

Bruss’ first Grade 1 winner was Basic Instinct (Comic Blush-Joyfields (Northfields), who won the Grade 1 Golden Spur sprint in 1998.

His mare Teclafields gave him three Grade 1 winners, Circle Of Life (Complete Warrior), who won the Garden Province Stakes in 2000, African Lion (Shalford), who won the Champions Cup in 2003 and Zebra Crossing (Jallad), who won the 2006 Met.

Circle Of Life is the dam of Deo Juvente and she is also the dam of Mina Salaam, who is the dam of Life In Colour.

Life In Colour is definitely one to watch.

Click here to read an article about Robin Bruss’ breeding success story

Majmu is pictured in action (JC Photos)

Majmu was an Australian-bred champion trained by Mike de Kock and she had her sixth runner in the UK today.

The Arrowfield Stud-bred Redoute’s Choice 2011-born filly was owned by the late Sheik Hamdan Al Maktoum and won the Gr 2 SA Fillies Nursery as well as the Gr 1 Cape Fillies Guineas and Gr 1 Empress Club Stakes, apart from being named Equus Champion Two-year-old filly.

Today her Richard Fahey-trained colt by Palace Pier called Charted Course caught the eye in a Novice Stakes race over six furlongs at Haydock for two-year-olds.

He is strongly built like his mother and, up with the pace throughout, he kept on finding extra under pressure in courageous fashion to look like the winner a furlong out.

He had started 2/1 favourite and his supporters must have been smiling, but the 14/1 outsider Persian Land (Persian Force) then suddenly came from nowhere with a wet sail and won easily.

It was a good debut and the Shadwell-bred Charted Course shouldn’t be long in winning.

Charted Course was originally bought at Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 2 for 100,000 Gns but was then pinhooked at the Tattersalls Craven Breeze Up Sale for 450,000 Gns purchased by Blandford Bloodstock and he is now owned by Wathnam Racing.

She’s My World has been tipped to win the Listed Milkwood Stakes over 1000m (Picture: Wayne Marks)

Trevor’s Reid’s Friday Fairview Poly Formguides And Selections

RACE 1

RULES OF CONDUCT has been very costly to follow. This course and distance suits and he should go one better this time. FYFIELD LEGEND is threatening to win a race and does look the obvious danger. ANNUSHKA’S LIGHT makes his debut for a trainer that has been successful a couple of times this year with newcomers. DRAUPNER makes his debut but he might have to settle for a minor role at best. DANCING AMBER was a well beaten runner-up on debut but can get involved with the finish.

RACE 2

LUCY’S WORLD brings some fair Western Cape form and that is often good enough at this centre. XTINES PRINCESS (GB) found betting support on local debut and did not run too badly. She looks a threat to these rivals. TRULY MAGICAL and FOCAL POINT need to improve to beat those two rivals but are capable of earning some money. LOVELY DANCER has only been fair on the Polytrack but should do better on the grass. TAKEMETOTHEMOON makes her local debut and could improve. PRETTY AWESOME is well bred and would not be a surprise winner on debut.

RACE 3

An interesting race. AMERICAN GEM struggled last time out. He makes his local debut and blinkers have been reached for and he might bounce back with a victory. CHAMPAGNE BLAZE was backed to win on her local debut and was a disappointment. She could do better back on the grass. STONE OF SCONE is not an easy ride but she was an unlucky loser last time out and could go one better. DELAROCHE is unreliable but has a place chance. POWER OF TIGER, FONTE, LADY OF FATE and KIM KAY are all capable of improvement. AMONG THE WILLOWS makes her debut and could score for Richard Fourie.

RACE 4

ROMAN AGENT has found a very game stable companion to beat him in his last two starts. He gives weight to all his rivals but can score. JOKER MAN has been speedy of late and should fight out the finish. Trainer Dean Smith has three runners and all three have been very unreliable of late. GALILEO STAR is talented but has not shown that recently. THE WINTER LAKE is very fast but has not won for some time. FOREST SPY has had a very profitable last 18 months and can earn some money. WARRIOR OF ROYALTY tackles a lot stronger this time but does represent a bang-in-form Juan Nel.

RACE 5

A very good race. MARCHLAND has been impressive so far with two good wins. She can complete a hat-trick. Trainer Alan Greeff has clearly targeted this race and has four of the seven carded. Stable jockey Richard Fourie is on MALIBU ICE. This filly quickened nicely to win her latest start and clearly has ability. CASPERITA was a bitter disappointment last time on the Polytrack but could be a threat over this track and trip. FATEFUL LOVE did not shine when making a trip to Gauteng but is a lively danger. OBSIDIAN STAR has won her last two starts on the Polytrack. POWEROFPEACE, represents Dean Smith and Craig Zackey so must be respected for that.

RACE 6

ZINOVI has impressed this year, winning three of his last four starts. This course and distance is clearly not a problem and he is the one to beat. KING REGENT is a former winner of the Eastern Cape Polytrack Championship in 2024. He has gone missing since then but is capable of winning a race like this. LANCIAFIAMME has beaten ZINOVI and can get involved with the finish once again. SCOTTISH KISS and CHAMPION WARRIOR make their local debuts and could improve. PORFIRIO has won five of his last 7 starts and has a place chance.

RACE 7

Some talented fillies and mares line up for this Listed Race. SHE’S MY WORLD represents Snaith Racing and she could be the one to beat. Her recent form is solid and this shorter distance is not a problem for her. SONG OF MYSELF did not shape at Turffontein last time out but has been outstanding at this course and her win over this distance was impressive. ONE DANCE tackles stronger this time around but the filly she beat last time out did win her next start. DANISH DYNAMITE is very quick and has stable jockey Craig Zackey aboard so is a threat. HOT SAUCE has had some disappointing recent performances but is also not out of it.

RACE 8

Some big fields and difficult races to end this card. LADY LUCK has not shown her best form of late. She does, however, represent a trainer in fine form and from a good draw can contest the finish. Stable companion GORGEOUS CAPE has stable jockey Chad Little aboard and this filly ran on strongly last time out. She does, however, have to give weight away to all her rivals. FLOWER FESTIVAL is not reliable but is capable of earning money. QONDANEKUKHANYENI has shown improvement of late but is not well drawn. AMANATTO has been very consistent of late and is sure to be sent out the favourite for this. SUN SPECTACULAR and LANA VIEW are in good shape and capable of making the frame.

RACE 9

GREEN PLANET has not been disgraced in his two runs at this track. This course and distance should suit and he could win a very open race. TEEREX has won four of his last six starts but will be giving weight to his rivals. KING VISERYS is not reliable but is capable of winning a race of this nature. RHYDIAN quickened nicely on local debut and should be a danger from a good draw. SLIVER OF SUNSHINE impressed when winning on local debut and could have more to offer. HOSPICES DE BEAUNE is very consistent but that was on the Polytrack. MELA STRENGTH ran well on local debut and is another to consider.

Top Shelf Teddy flew up to give Sean Tarry a treble on the day and Serino Moodley a double (JC Photos)

Sean Tarry scored a treble at the Vaal straight course meeting on Thursday, two of them ridden by Keagan De Melo and there were also doubles for Mickaelle Michel and Serino Moodley.

Tarry is on 105 wins for the season at 15.67%.

De Melo is now on 113 wins and has achieved it at a strike rate of 20.07%.

Michel is on 27 wins at 9.12%.

Moodley is on 89 wins at 13.07%.

Green Gateway is one of the horses who comes out shining after an analysis of Saturday HWB Scottsville Race 9, the last leg of the Pick 6 (Picture: Wayne Marks)

The all important last leg of the Pick 6 at the Festival Of Speed meeeting at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Saturday is a Middle Stakes race and this gives punters an opportunity to get an edge if they do their homework.

A Middle Stakes race is a merit rated band race with wide bands of four points relating to 1,5kg spreads.

Firstly, the horses that are at the top of their bands will have an advantage over the horses that are at the bottom of their bands and, secondly, the horses that are in the highest bands will have a potential advantage over horses that are in lower bands.

The merit ratings used are the nett ratings of a horse, which is an important consideration because there are nine three-year-olds in the race.

Another fact associated with these races is that females get a 2,5kg allowance, so females are invariably the officially best weighted, but on the other hand it is virtually an adage in racing to say, “It is hard for the girls to beat the boys.”

If a horse is merit rated above the highest band the rule is 0,5kg for every point above the band.

Analysing a Middle Stakes race is not as simple as working out the best weighted runners as will be seen in the ensuing analysis.

The list of horses in the race and how well they are officially weighted is shown below:

Best weighted: Disting
1kg under sufferance: Chapbook, Kaalvoet, Soho Star, Green Gateway,
2kg under sufferance: Dreamworld, Banff
2,5kg under sufferance: Cognac, Golden Rule
3kg under sufferance: Magic Surprise, City Of Love, Vibe SA
3,5kg under sufferance: Freedom Fighter, Saudi Cat, Red Mountain, Best Of All, Cavalry Commander
4,5kg under sufferance: Etiquette, Red Mountain

The merit rated bands for this race are:

61,5kg = nett merit ratings of 99 to 102 – Green Gateway (nett MR 102), Soho Star (102) Golden Rule (99),
60kg = 95 to 98 – Dreamworld (97), Banff (97), Disting (96 – female 2,5kg allowance= 57,5kg),
58,5kg = 91 to 94 – Cognac (93), Vibe SA (92), Saudi Cat (91)
57kg = 87 to 90 – Magic Surprise (89), City Of Love (89)
55,5kg = 83 to 86 – Best Of All (85), Etiquette (83)
54kg = 79 to 82 – Freedom Fighter (82), Cavalry Commander (82)
52,5kg = 75 to 78 – Red Mountain (77)

62kg = Kaalvoet (103), Chapbook (103) because they are both 1 point above the highest band.

It is now important to look at how these runners have fared in previous such merit rated band conditions races, if they have run in any.

Disting was just 1,30 lengths back in a Middle Stakes race last time off this same merit rating. That was over 1000m on the Hollywoodbets Greyville poly. In December she was at the bottom of her band in a B Stakes race over 1200m and was beaten 3.25 lengths, not a bad effort, but she would need to improve on that performance to in here.

Chapbook is a reserve runner but ran a cracker last time out in a Listed handicap over 1100m at this course. He is now effectively on top of his merit-rating band, so if he was able to do so well in a handicap and he is now better off than he would have been in a handicap, then he will be a massive runner here if a horse is scratched and he gets a place in the field.

Kaalvoet actually won the aforementioned race in which Chapbook ran and is now in this race with the same merit rating as Chapbook. He beat Chapbook by 1,60 lengths and is only 2kg worse off, so is only fractionally worse off than Chapbook on the weight turnaround. Kaalvoet must thus be a massive runner here.

Green Gateway lost two lengths on his KZN debut in a poly race so that race can be ignored. Before that he won the Sophomore Sprint over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth, beating 104 rated Roland Garros by a neck when receiving just 1kg. He was raised to 105, which puts him at the top of his band and Roland Garros has won twice since, including the lucrative Big Cap. Green Gateway would thus be the horse to beat on that formline, but on the other hand his last run followed a four month layoff and gelding, so he might still need this run.

Soho Star has not been in good form in his last two starts and is unlikely to get in as second reserve.

Dreamworld is hard to assess because he hasn’t raced since last September, but he did win the Gr 3 Winter Nursery beating the likes of All The Rage, so that makes him potentially very well weighted here.

Banff is only 1,5kg better off with Kaalvoet for a 2,70 length beating and that still puts her at just over a 1,5kg disadvantage with Kaalvoet on paper. However, interestingly, before that Banff was beaten 1,50 lengths by Kaalvoet in a 1000m race at the Vaal and is now effectively 5kg better off from that run if wfa month by month changes are taken into account. So that puts him well in with Kaalvoet here and he now has his third run after a layoff. So he has to be considered over a suitable trip, especially as he is just one point off the top of his MR band, Furthermore, he had the tricky draw of one in the In Full Flight Stakes and now has draw eight.

Cognac was well beaten in a Middle Stakes race over this trip in February at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth and last time was in the middle of the band off a NETT 94 in a B Stakes race over 1000m at Hollywoodbets Greyville and was beaten 3,50 lengths. Now he is one off the top of the band and should have come on from that last race and has won over this course and distance before.

Vibe SA is two off the top of that band and was beaten three lengths the last time he ran in a Middle Stakes event over 1160m off this same mark, so will need to improve on that performance.

Saudi Cat is on the bottom of his band and hasn’t run since September last year, but in that race he beat the like of Star Major, so he is the second of the Vaughan Marshall runners who are difficult to assess. However, such is his reputation that he has been priced up as favourite with Hollywoodbets, despite officially being 3,5kg under sufferance.

Magic Surprise and City Of Love are one point off the top of their band. Magic Surprise is 2,5kg better off with Kaalvoet for a 2,60 length beating in the In Full Flight for the reason that the 1,5kg claim of Rachel Venniker can be taken this time. That puts him just 0,4kg out with Kaalvoet, so he an outsider to consider at 25/2.

City Of Love was just 2,40 lenghs back in the In Full Flight and the gender claim of Mickaelle Michel can be taken, so he is only 0,26kg out with Kaalvoet. There is virtually nothing between those two on paper and he is superb value at 17/1.

Best Of All is one off the top of his band but was well beaten in a handicap last time over 1100m, so can’t be fancied.

Etiquette is at the bottom of his band and is off form and is also 4,5kg under sufferance. He will also find this too sharp.

Cavalry Commander is at the top of his band and although 3,5kg under sufferance due to being in a lowly band he won a handicap easily last time in his second run outside of Cape Town, so he could earn a cheque in his effort to lead from start to finish, which is his likely tactic.

Red Mountain is one off the top of the lowest band and is hence 4,5kg under sufferance. He won a C Stakes event over 1400m last time when top of his band in a C Stakes race and was given three points, so this is a lot tougher.

So after all that there is still a choice to make, but the readers can use the above analysis to narrow it down and hopefully the article will have given them the tools to make their own analyses of these type of races.