Turf Talk Newsletter – 19 June, 2026

Picture: Isivunguvungu wins cosily at Laurel Park after a ten month layoff. Photo by Jim McCue/Maryland Jockey Club (Herringswell Stables website)

A layoff of more than ten months benefited the South African-bred sprinter Isivunguvungu (What A Winter) as he recorded his second win in the USA today (Friday) when landing an Allowance Optional Claiming contest over 5.5 furlongs (about 1100m) on the turf worth $57,000 and a first prize of $33,600.

It was the Narrow Creek Stud-bred and Hollywood Racing-owned gelding’s first victory since winning the Da Hoss Stakes at Colonial Downs on his USA debut in September 2024.

Jumping from a draw of seven, Isivunguvungu settled well and took up what the Americans call a stalking position, He was produced on the outside with a sustained effort to get on terms before asserting close to home and winning in impressive style by half-a-length.

All seven of the runners carried 123 pounds and Isivunguvungu started 7/5 favourite.

Isivunguvungu is an eight-year-old by American rules at present but the big Graham Motion-trained speedster looks to have a lot of racing stil left in him.

Speaking to SAHorseracing.COM after the victory, winning jockey Jorge Ruiz paid tribute to the team behind the talented sprinter.

“I would like to thank the Graham Motion team and everyone involved with Isivunguvungu. I am truly grateful to Hollywood Racing for the opportunities they have given me,” said Ruiz.

“I hope to continue winning many important races with them and, of course, to win Group 1 races. That is my dream, especially while carrying the colors of Hollywood Racing from South Africa.

“Congratulations to the entire team, the owners, and everyone involved in this great organization in South Africa. Thank you for your support and confidence.”

Motion has done exceptionally well with South African-breds and this was his second win with an SA-bred in the space of six days as Gimme A Nother won at Monmouth Park last Saturday.

Palace Prince is the best in at the weights in the KZN Breeders Mile and should be a big runner (JC Photos)

Race Coast

It will be black and white at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday as the thoroughbred breeders in KwaZulu-Natal hold their flagship race meeting. Eight of the nine races are restricted to horses bred in the province. The card is headed by the KwaZulu-Natal Breeders Mile and supporting feature is the Gr3 Lucky Fish Winter Fillies Stakes.

The Breeders Mile is a tricky event but St John Gray is one of the smartest horseman in the country and he sends out Palace Prince. An owner, breeder and trainer, Gray has no need to send his mares to expensive commercial stallions and cuts his cloth accordingly with consistent success.

Palace Prince is the son of surprisingly unfashionable Potala Palace and is the highest rated runner in the Mile. The colt’s recent Highveld form is not inspiring but he is the highest rated runner and is Gray’s and jockey Philasande Mxoli’s only runner on the day.

Sean Tarry has an exceptional record at this meeting and saddles Golden Operator. Although a touch disappointing in a feature last run after coming off two straight wins he should be a big runner. He has the widest draw but has improved in blinkers. Frikkie Greyling saddles the filly Amelia’s Legacy who found it tough going in the Gr2 WSB Fillies Guineas behind Hollywoodbets Durban July hopeful Wish List but came off two smart efforts in useful enough company. Mark Dixon’s gelding Cleartherunway is seldom far back and the form of his last run has been franked. He could get in a blow.

Supporting feature is the Gr3 Lucky Fish Winter Fillies Stakes over 2400m. Ormond Ferraris Oaks Trial winner Curious Girl did not get home last run against males after an extended winning streak when sent over ground by Mike and Mathew de Kock. She has won over the trip, has a touch of class and rates the one to beat. But there are a host of rivals on the Gerbera form line with little separating a number of rivals but Tarry’s filly is still on the up and can confirm the form. James Crawford saddles two potential winners in Woman’s World and Duchess Of Paloma with little separating the two on form however, the step up in trip could suit the latter. Andre Nel’s mare Plum Pudding started favourite behind Gerbera and beaten less than a length so is also strongly in the mix and in her favour is that she stays the trip.

Michael Roberts’ gelding Fortress Of Fire could anchor the Bi-pot. He boasts some useful form in strong company. He made his poly debut last time out and can come on from that. Hathighwaytothesky made a smart poly debut for visiting Tony Peter and has some useful Highveld form to back her claims. She has a light weight and a good draw. Magic Surprise and Tara Star are both in with chances.

In the first leg of the PA Hat’s Queen was a beaten favourite over course and distance last time out but has this field stone-cold at the weights and can give Peter a quick double. However, Lucinda Woodruff is having a strong Champions Season and sends out Blizzardboy who has improved with the blinkers removed and over ground. He may be the biggest danger. Fine Wine and Prince Of Troy can also feature.

Owner Of Creation is a longtime maiden but has come good on the poly of late and can finally break the ice in modest company to open the Pick 6. However, that he never quite gets home is of concern. Water Hyacinth steps up in trip and has improved at her last two while Liz Hurley was disappointing

last run when lacking a finished effort after starting favourite. She is back on turf and she can make amends.

The fifth is a tricky handicap Maiden but Queen Of The Air has been a beaten favourite at her last two. She has dropped five points in the ratings and could now be more competitive. America First improved nicely second time out and now steps up in trip and is one to follow closely in the market however, stable companion Tears Of The Sun was much improved first up on the poly and the stable has stuck with Chad Little as pilot.

The last two races are competitive. In the eighth, Space Mission is way better than his last start. He is consistent and goes well this trip although he makes his poly debut. The Gliding Fish won a game race under a big weight last time out. The poly suits and he can follow up. Run To Rio has been close-up at his last two and has come to hand again. War Emperor was a recent maiden winner but had consistent form prior to that victory but there should not be much between him and Frostbite although the step up in trip could be the decider between the pair.

Winter In London can round off the programme. He has a big weight but is down in class with a 1.5kg allowance and Duncan Howells may have picked the right race. Indecent Proposal has the widest draw but goes well on the poly and is holding form. Tommy Greaney raced in feature company last start after his maiden win and is one to watch in the betting.

Amelia’s Legacy ran well below par in the WSB Fillies Guineas, but appears to be back in a good frame of mind and can go close in the KZN Breeders Mile if able to produce her best (Candiese Lenferna Photography) 

Summerveld trainer Frikkie Greyling sends out three Blue Sky Thoroughbred-bred runners in the Kwazulu-Natal Breeders Mile and the two homebreds among them, Amelia’s Legacy and Go Grayson Go, have the class to be contenders.

Amelia’s Legacy is impeccably bred being by Vercingetorix out of the classy Dynasty mare Hashtagyolo. She looked capable of following in her mother’s footsteps when showing a magnificent turn of foot second time out and winning her maiden over 1400m at Hollywoodbets Greyville by four lengths. In her first run out of the maidens she was beaten 2,15 lengths by the classy older horse Ladyofdistinction over 1400m at Hollywoodbets Greyville when receiving just 2,5kg. Then next time out she faced the same horse in the Listed Flamboyant Stakes over 1600m at Hollywoodbets Greyville and receiving just 1,5kg ran a fine 0,25 length second. Then came a mishap at the start in her next outing and she had to be withdrawn. In her following start she was well below par, finisng a 12,15 length last in the Gr 2 WSB Fillies Guineas.

Bruce le Roux of Blue Sky Thoroughbreds said, “She didn’t raise a gallop in that last run. The race before she had that incident in the starting stalls, so she was a bit nervous, but apparently she is alright now. We are hoping she is back to her best, Frikkie says he is doing all that needs to be done now and he’s taken her around to the starting pens. So we are hoping for a big run, as always, but its is all to do with her mind now. That’s the main thing and we hope she will be fine.”

Go Grayson Go also has class, but Bruce confirmed he tends to take a bit of a strong hold.

However, he might appreciate the drop in trip as he won’t need to be reined in as much as he would over further.

Bruce said, “He probably needs to go to the front and take his chances. Frikkie gives him a big shout, although I think if Amerlia’s Legacy runs her normal race she may be a little better than Go Grayson Go.”

Amelia’s Legacy jumps from a draw eight under Serino Moodley and Go Grayson Go jumps from draw six under Richard Fourie.

Greyling aso sends out Mtr Hotstepper, who won two of his first five starts and finished second in another but then went completely off form in his next two starts. After a layoff of ten months there was no improvement and he has thus finished last in his last three starts.

Bruce said, “He gets so wound up when he gets to the races.”

Blue Sky Thoroughbreds also bred the Mark Dixon-trained Cleartherunway, who ran a cracker over 1600m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville last time and on that effort he won’t be too far off them.

Officially Cleartherunway is 6,5kg under sufferance with the best weighted Palace Prince, while Amelia’s Legacy is only 2kg under sufferance, Go Grayson Go is 4,5kg under sufferance and Mr Hotstepper is 8,5kg under sufferance.

Bruce said abot the rest of the Bluesky horses on the day, “I think we’ve got some fair chances. I can’t say there is anything sticking out, although in the first race Stuart Ferrie quite likes Predator’s Crown. She ran a good second on debut in February and hasn’t run since because she pulled a muscle.”

Picture: Limitless Sky is the best weighted runner in Race 8 at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday, but has to overcome a wide draw and a seeming dislike of the poly (Candiese Lenferna Photography) 

Wendy Whitehead has three runners at the KZN Breeders meeting on Saturday and she is also looking forward to the run of one of her stable stars, Buttercup Baby, on Hollywoodbets Durban July day.

Wendy has the best weighted runner in the eighth race on Saturday, the Captain Of Al Kwazulu-Natal Breeders 1600 on the poly. Her Lance three-year-old filly Limitless Sky is 4kg better off then any other horse. She ran a shocker last time over 1400m on the poly in a Class 3 event o9ver 1400m. However, the on course veterinarian could not find anything amiss. Before that she had run a 4,10 length fourth to Keukenhof in the Gr 3 Umzimkhulu Stakes over 1400m and followed that by not being disgraced when beaten 9.05 lengths by the dual Gr 1 winner Wish List in the Gr 2 WSB Fillies Guineas. She has drawn barrier ten out of ten on Saturday and regular rider Calvin Habib rides.

Wendy said, “Limitless Sky is very, very well. My only concerns are she doesn’t really like the poly track and she is drawn deep, but I am going to try and change her tactics and try and get her to race a bit more handy and maybe that will pay off because I think that is the right race, it is just a pity we are drawn so deep.”

The bookmakers have taken that last run into consideration and Hollywoodbets have her at 5/1, which could be good value if she does manage to produce her best.

First up for Wendy on Saturday is Tee Dog (Act Of War), who runs in the Bluesky Thoroughbreds KZN Breeders 1900 on the poly. The small size of the field with just eight runners will suit this big gelding as he relishes being in front and will have the opportunity to dictate in a field where there are no other front-running sorts. He is a whopping 9,5kg under sufferance with the best weighted Hat’s Queen. However, the latter has not run since flopping in this race last year when well treated at the weights, only managing a 1,45 length fourth of six. Hat’s Queen will likely need the run after a year’s layoff. The second best weighted runner in the race is Fine Wine (Futura) who is in good form and she has a further advantage of being ridden by the very much in form Mickaelle Michel, whose 1,5kg gender claim is a bonus. However Tee Dog could get the run of the race and will offer good eachway value at 14/1.

Wendy said, “Tee Dog is very well. He just needed that last run of his and has come on from it.”

She runs Dog Soldier (Declarationofpeace) in the Double Superlative KZN Breeders Maiden Plate over 1400m on the poly. Wendy reckoned the rider backed off him last time when hampered halfway down the straight, so that run can probably be ignored, Before that he ran a cracking 3,40 length fifth in a Maiden Juvenile Plate over 1200m on the Hollywoodbets Greyville turf, despite jumping from a wide draw. Richard Fourie is an eyecatching booking and he jumps from draw six over a trip he should get being out of a Captain Al dam who won three times from 1000m to 1600m. This race will not take a lot of winning. Furthermore, the likely favourite Owner Of Creation is drawn wide. The 7/1 shot Dog Soldier has a chance.

Wendy has entered the 102-rated What A Winter filly Buttercup Baby in the Middle Stakes race over 1200m for fillies and mares on the poly on Hollywoodbets Durban July day and she has everything in her favour. Firstly, she is at the top of the highest merit-rated band, the 99 to 102 band, which makes her the best weighted runner among the entries together with the 106-rated Pecocious and the 104-rated Scarlet Macaw, who will get half-a-kilogram for each point they are above the benchmark rating of 102. Secondly she has landed a plum draw of five out of the 46 entries. She was tried over 1400m in the Tibouchina last time but it didn’t pan out at all well as she was caught wide without cover from a wide draw and duly faded after being squeezed out in the straight. Before that she ran a cracking four length third in the Gr 3 Poinsettia over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville and followed that with a fine run in the Gr 1 SA Fillies Sprint in whch she was beaten just 5,40 lengths. She was raised five points to 103 for that Gr 1 effort, but came down a point after the Tibouchina. She should be a big runner in the Middle Stakes race over 1200m on July day.

• Betting correct at 17:00 on Thursday 18 June.

Sugar Mountain comes back from a short layoff in the Winter Mile (Picture: Wayne Marks)

Race Coast

The abandonment of racing in Cape Town last Tuesday due to a waterlogged track has necessitated the feature races to move to what would be an ordinary Sunday at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth. The card suddenly has a classy look and racing fans could have some fun with some individuals who decided to stay at home this winter rather than head to Durban where they would be capable of competing with the best.

The Winter Mile, race 6 over 1600m sees Sugar Mountain well weighted in a field which has cut up to five runners and he has a big chance despite not having been seen since February 28 when running well below par in the Litsed Jet Master Stakes.

Beware The Bomb has been whispered about lately. She could be a filly to follow in the coming months. She was rested for nearly a year between May 2025 and April 2026 so to suggest that she would have needed her last run would be an understatement. It was a neat effort when she ended up 4,5 lengths behind Café Culture in the Champagne Stakes over 1200m. Café Culture nearly won a Grade 2 at Hollywoodbets Scottsville a few weeks later while Beware The Bomb would have found that 1200m distance too short. She will come on further with this run under her belt but one can expect a good showing under Andrew Fortune.

Chasingtherainbow wrote his trainer and owner one of the stories of the year when he won last time. He recently transferred to the yard of Rob Barrett who took out his license a few months ago. He was Barrett’s first runner and he won with ease, possibly delivering his career best in the process. He is owned by Barrett’s grandfather. There was not a dry eye in the house. Richard Fourie retains the ride. Life is a little harder at the weights but there is no reason to suggest that he cannot win.

The Us Of A could be in the right place at the right time in the supporting feature, the Winter Sprint, race 7 over 1200m. Being a feature, this will be down the straight. He has a blistering turn of foot. He has showed his effectiveness at this level and Richard Fourie gets the most out of him. His main rivals have their claims but valid reasons why they might be vulnerable for now.

His last run was a superb effort finishing second behind Café Culture over this course and distance in the same Listed Champagne Stakes highlighted by Beware The Bomb. The Us Of A must be in good heart because there was a desperate plea from his connections to reschedule this race which was never up for debate.

All The Rage could ultimately end up being the best horse in the field. The three-year-old had little chance at the weights in the Khaya Stables Diadem Stakes last time but he was not disgraced finishing sixth behind Questioning who has had an unreal 2026. He is back from a break and not being seen in nearly four months suggests he will step forward with the run. This is not his “cup final” and his bigger picture could be revealing.

There are two apprentice races on the card which are always worth a watch. Race 1 over 1200m could point to Royal Clinton under Eduan Muller who is based in Cape Town. Muller rode him to nearly his career best last time over this course and distance when he finished 1,45 lengths behind Lava Strike. He finished nearly three lengths ahead of the lightly raced Coffee Crunch on that occasion who has a 4,5kg beneficial swing of the weights. Coffee Crunch will surely be most effective over further so despite his best run to date being on the cards, he might come into his own with another run under his belt.
The final apprentice event is race 8 over 1000m. Worldly is such a tricky horse to follow. He does his worst out of the stalls but his best work at the finish. If Dezahn Louw can get him somewhere close to the pace and in the mood for his late flourish at the end of the race, he must be considered. He is 5kg better off with Palace Gift for five lengths. Worldly was typically his own worst enemy on that occasion over this course and distance.

Heritage Ridge has run her socks off since moving to Michelle Rix. She is due her next career win and it could materialize in race 2 over 1200m. Her penultimate start came over this course and distance and it was her best run for a while when she was beaten by less than a length by Easy Money. Hampstead Heath must be regarded as her main danger.

There is a lengthy list of chances in race 3 over 1600m. Blind Date appears to be on the up after his last win when he turned over Chance Encounter over this course and distance. It was a simple restart after summer with a sprint in his penultimate run where he was not disgraced. He followed up naturally and logically as far as procedure after a rest is concerned. Andrew Fortune takes the ride.

Baton Rouge has the widest gate of No 8 to overcome in race 4 over 1950m but his biggest threat is gatespeed which he could use to his advantage. He has been banging at the door of late and he would be deserving of his next career win. He is proven over this trip while some of his rivals need to answer any stamina doubts.

Speaking of overdue horses. My Only Weakness must count as a horse who must get the job done now. She runs in race 5 over 1500m under Mickaelle Michel. She has been very close to the winners of late. Potentially, all she needs is some confidence to finish the task. Her dangers include Vroom Vroom who needed her last run badly and she should come on and Apricity who loves this middle distance range on a soft track.

At The Races tipster Tim Carroll’s NAP and Placepot delivered last weekend, and he returns with more selections for Sha Tin on Sunday.

This Sunday sees an exciting 11-race card from Sha Tin getting underway at 9.00am – live on Sky Sports Racing. The two features of the meeting are Group 3 handicaps, race 7, the Premier Cup, over 7 furlongs, and race 9, the Premier Plate, over 9 furlongs, with both offering prize-money off more than £400,000.

Now onto this week’s selections:

Click here for a comprehensive guide to the meeting