Turf Talk Newsletter – 05 August, 2026

Zeitz enjoyed his campaign in KZN and will be staying on at Summerveld (Picture: Race Coast) 

In Summerveld news three progeny of Vercingetorix, Zeitz, Gladatorian and Blazing Fury, have their eyes on Highveld prizes.

The Andre Nel-trained Zeitz did well in KZN this Champions Season, winning three out of his four starts, including the Gr 3 Betgames Cup Trial over 1800m and the Listed Tote Stakes Darley Arabian over 1600m, both at Hollywoodbets Greyville.

Nel’s Summerveld assistant trainer Byron Forster said about the smart grey, who is now five years old, “Andre feels he has done nicely here so has given us an opportunity with Jo’Burg maybe in mind. If all goes well we will probably look at something like The Charity Mile and take it from there. Before that the Spring Challenge over 1450m is also an option. At the moment he is just on a nice holiday after a good season.”

O’Tenikwa will go back to Cape Town as his high merit rating will give him some options there. Byron confirmed he had been disappointing in the Mercury Sprint. It looked like it would be his peak run, but he failed to kick on in the way he is capable of after leading as usual.

Byron revealed that the former Gold Cup winner Master Redoute had been retired and will have a nice second career in showjumping.

Trainer Stuart Ferrie said the now seven-year-old Gladatorian will go for the Gr 2 Jo’Burg Spring Challenge over 1450m on October 3 and will then go for the R6 million Betway Summer Cup over 2000m on November 28.

Ferrie said Gladatorian was fine after his disappointing run in defense of his Gr 1 HKJC Champions Cup crown.

He was reported to have taken no interest, but there was no false rail in the race and Gladatorian did not see daylight in the straight having sat on the rail throughout. That might have been a better explanation for his below par run, as he usually takes off when there is fresh air in front of him.

The Louis Goosen-trained Blazing Fury impressed over 1000m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Sunday, carrying 62,5kg and winning by 1,65 lengths.

He looks to be a 1000m specialist.

Louis said there were two more races for him in KZN and he would then look at raiding the Highveld.

A new chapter begins! Stallion handler Robert Willshire has been showing Danon Scorpion the ropes as the Gr 1 winner settles comfortably into life at Wilgerbosdrift (Picture Supplied)

Wilgerbosdrift Stud is delighted to announce the safe arrival of Danon Scorpion (JPN) following his journey from Japan.

After an arduous trip, the Grade 1-winning son of Lord Kanaloa has arrived in excellent condition and is settling in well ahead of the 2026 breeding season.

A winner of the Grade 1 NHK Mile Cup, Danon Scorpion is by Horse of the Year and Champion Sprinter-Miler Lord Kanaloa, one of Japan’s most influential stallions. Lord Kanaloa has sired more than 900 winners, including 63 stakes winners, and boasts an exceptional Average Earnings Index (AEI) of 2.04.

His dam, Lexie Lou, was crowned Canadian Horse of the Year, a multiple champion, and is a member of the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame, giving Danon Scorpion an outstanding international pedigree on both sides.

A Grade 1 winner at three and Grade 1 placed at two, Danon Scorpion displayed speed, class and versatility throughout his racing career, excelling over 1600 to 1800 metres.

Now safely settled at Wilgerbosdrift, Danon Scorpion is ready to embark on the next chapter of his career. He offers South African breeders a rare opportunity to access world-class Japanese bloodlines and inject proven international excellence into the next generation of champions.

Click here to view details of Danon Scorpion

For any enquiries regarding coverings to Danon Scorpion this breeding season, please contact:

Shane van Zyl
Mobile: +27 82 872 8229
Email: shane@wilgerbosdrift.co.za

Jehan Malherbe – Bloodstock Agent
Mobile: +27 83 252 8146
Email: jehan@aro.co.za

Bolero wins in commanding fashion (Picture: Wayne Marks)

The Candice Bass-trained Rafeef colt Bolero was out at 33/1 at one point on Wednesday morning before shortening all the way in to 4/1 for the first race over 1200m, so it was not surprising Brandon Bailey’s words as he stretched past the line 0,75 lengths clear were, “And the gamble has been landed.”

However, he was actually a good form choice and as the old adage goes “form is always the best guide.”

This horse looked over-priced at opening odds of 14/1 and it is a wonder he drifted to such long odds, because a quick look at the form showed him to have finished an eight length fourth over 1200m on debut but his time was more than a second quicker than what Rust Never Sleeps ran on the same day over the same distance. Yet, the latter was priced up as the second favourite in the opening betting. Furthermore, Bolero had beaten a horse called Havoc by six lengths and the latter had gone on to run two decent races, finishing fourth and second respectively.

Bolero jumped well on Wednesday in his second career start and never really looked in danger of defeat as he used his big action in a relaxed manner under Athandiwe Mgudlwa to sit just off the pace before showing a fine turn of foot late and stretching past 25/1 longshot In The Air Tonight (Canford Cliffs) with 50/1 chance Cardinal King (What A Winter) next best.

The well-bred first-timer Wreath Of Snow, who is by Vercingetorix out of the  top class Snowdance, started favourite at 9/4.

He should come on from his fourth place finish, in which he just pipped another first-timer Workingclasshero (Elusive Fort).

There was something wrong with the on course sound at the time of the interviews, so the words of Candice Bass after the race could not be heard,

Andrew Harrison of Race Coast wrote the below report on the meeting:

Athandiwe Mgudlwa does a lot of work for assistant trainer Terry Fripp in the Candice Bass satellite yard at Summerveld and he got the call-up for the stable at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth yesterday and got off to a flying start.

Bolero, backed in from 16-1 to 4-1 before the off, landed a gamble in fine style. Settled off a strong early pace, Mgudlwa was sitting with a double handful approaching the final furlong and once asked for maximum, Bolero strode clear to win comfortably with In The Air Tonight, always up with the pace staying on for second. Stable companion to Bolero, Cardinal King, blew the start by three or four lengths but finished strongly for third.

The regally-bred first timer Wreath Of Snow was in a somnambulist mood going to the start but showed good early toe and a mile and further could see the best of him.

Wreath Of Snow is a horse to follow and Justin Snaith stepped out another cracker in the form of Over My Shoulder in the second. A full sister to Eight On Eighteen, the word was out that she could run a bit and with Gavin Lerena getting the call-up, the writing was on the wall.

The filly appeared to be heady and over-racing in the early exchanges but Lerena has great hands and clarified post-race that she has a soft mouth, hence the impression that she was not settled. She is obviously a filly with some scope but the two who chased her home, Winter Blossom and Sabre Wing, were not disgraced with the balance of the field well beaten.

It was a boat race in the betting and a boat race on the track – the only difference was in the result of the first leg of the Pick 6. African Wild Dog was a short-priced favourite ahead of It’s Good It’s Nice but given that there was less than a neck separating them when last they met the betting did not tell the full story with African Wild Dog in the red and It’s Good It’s Nice easy to back around 3-1.

There was nothing in it again as the two fought out a protracted finish with It’s Good It’s Nice turning the tables and this time a head to the good.

Odds-on favorite African Wild Dog got ‘run over’ in the third but Lerena and Snaith were back in the winner’s box as short-priced favourite Odds And Evens had no trouble putting the opposition to bed in the fourth. Smartly out of her inside gate, Lerena took Odds And Evens to the front and was not for the catching as the filly stretched away from her rivals at the top of the straight to win as she liked.

After yesterday’s double for Candice Bass, Athandiwe Mgudlwa is likely to be a more frequent visitor to the Western Cape as he rode a driving finish aboard South Of France to edge out apprentice Dezahn Louw and Gin Palace. The pair came together a furlong out with South Of France appearing to be going the better and get her head in front. However, Gin Palace was not done and fought back and the photo rested on a nod of the heads. Mgudlwa has now fully recovered from his bad fall some months back and given that he can ride near the bottom of the handicap he would be a valuable asset to any stable.

Robert Barrett has only had his trainer’s brief for a few months but is already showing that he has what it takes to make it in a tough sport. Gold Index is a seven-year-old that won like a three-year-old as replacement rider Gavin Lerena got the gelding well placed from a wide gate and kick on to win comfortably for Lerena’s third winner of the afternoon.

There were a couple of hefty blows landed against the bookies yesterday, Bolero in the card opener and the Piet Botha-trained Avignon in the Class 5.  In from 9-2 to start 14-10, he led all the way under an enterprising apprentice Dezahn Louw  who was jointly led into the winner’s enclosure by his mother. Runner-up was the Snaith-trained Vericat with Lerena hunting his fourth winner of the afternoon.

Snaith had another productive afternoon as Lyrical Gangster rounded off a stable treble in the last. The result was up in the air over the final 200m with Cork Bay clinging to his lead with Gold Dust challenging hard but once Lyrical Gangster saw daylight between the two he quickened through to win going away from Gold Dust and Cork Bay.

Fortitudine spreadeagles the field to win by 21 lengths (via Racing TV)

The 3-year-old gelding wins a novice event at Kempton Park by 21 lengths.

By Casey Gore/Racing Post Today, 6:30 PM

Fortitudine made a striking start to his career Aug. 5 at Kempton Park, when the full brother to Rebel’s Romance demolished his rivals by 21 lengths in the 1 3/8-mile novice on the all-weather surface.

The Charlie Appleby-trained 3-year-old gelding, sent off the 7-2 second favorite in a field of 12 for Godolphin, broke smartly under James Doyle and was settled in the lead.

Fortitudine briefly wandered around when the rail dropped away before quickly responding to a reminder from Doyle, and when Purple Moon moved alongside approaching the straight he found another gear to power clear for an emphatic success.

Doyle, who rode Rebel’s Romance to victory in the 2022 Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1T), said: “He was quite professional. I gave him one tap, then he balanced up and away he went. He’s learning on the job nicely.

“He feels like he lengthens away. He doesn’t do anything too quickly, so I was keen to keep the revs up, keep him in a nice high gear and keep him galloping.

“The trip is right and he might even get a bit further.”

He added: “I was a bit surprised myself when I had a little look around. It bodes well; hopefully he’s in for a good career.”

If it goes on to get anywhere near that of his brother Rebel’s Romance, who was likewise trained by Appleby and was retired last month age 8 after nine top-level wins and £12 million in prize money, connections will be in clover.

Dam Minidress also produced the late Measured Time, a dual top-level winner by Frankel . Fortitudine and Rebel’s Romance are sons of Dubawi.

Sean Tarry is engrossed in his copy of the Kimberley Recorder (Picture Supplied) 

Two recent publications that have gone down well with the select South African Racing industrymen to have received them so far are a wonderfully inventive broadsheet newspaper edition called The Kimberley Recorder, published by well know owner Ravi Naidoo, and a racing thriller called National Nightmare written by Cape Town’s burgeoning  novelist and respected former racing journalist Michael Clower.

Ravi Naidoo was inspired by his Mauritzfontein Stud-based stallion Cousin Casey, “who has given me much joy”, to produce a broadshseet newspaper called the Kimberley Recorder which is packed with entertaining racing articles, interviews, anecdotes, statistics, a crossword and some clever digs at ourselves, the racing fraternity.

A lot of the articles are about “The Cousin” in what must be the cleverest “brochure” ever produced in South African racing.

However, the publication would go down well with all racing folk, not just those who are interested in sending their mares to Cousin Casey.

A skim through it before writing this review shows Ravi’s turn of phrase to be as good as Cousin Casey’s turn of foot, resulting in some amusing, offbeat pieces.

A lot of it is made up, such as the letters page, which is a good giggle while at the same time being thought provoking and forcing us to take a look at ourselves.

There is plenty of interesting stuff too such as an insightful article from the perspective of Jessica Jell about the history of Mauritzfontein as well as articles on some of the stud farms staff members like stud manager Nigel Page and stallion handler Regan van Rooi.

There is also an interview with Oisin Murphy, which rather than containing the usual boring questions, has imaginative questions that draws out answers that give real insight into what it is like to be a jockey and a horseman.

Another article is entitled “The wisdom of breeders”, there is an article about the structure that best suits racing called “The apex and the base” and an article on equine exports.

There is also an entertaining interview with Cousin Casey himself, which will bring plenty of chortles.

Copies of the Kimberley Recorder are being couriered around the country and enquiries about getting a copy can be made to Dominique Millard at Mauritzfontein Stud.

Meanwhile, Michael Clower, who was a much respected racing journalist in Britain,  Ireland and South Africa, having started out in Kenya as a jockey and a writer, is fast making a name for himself as a Dick Francis-style novelist of racing thrillers.

Michael’s plots are swift and capture the reader from the first page, making the book difficult to put down.

His latest thriller called National Nightmare sees Rod Hutchinson, an amateur jockey and  racing journalist, investigating Grand National protester plans as well as rumours of trainers using various means to cheat.

There are are plenty of sub-plots and twists.

It is an easy and riveting read and can be enjoyed by racing people, and probably even by non-racing people, of all ages.

National Danger is available on Amazon in paperback (R187.21) and on kindle.

Vaal Thursday 6 August 2026 – Comments by Brendan Gaillard

RACE 1
CORRUPT followed up his 2400m victory at this level with a dominant last-start success under a penalty over 2600m and, such was the manner of that career-best performance, a 6-point rating rise is unlikely to prevent him from completing the hat-trick. Lightly raced 4yo geldings GREEN MACHINE and SAMUEL SHARPE are maturing stayers with scope to improve over this extended trip. Both are weighted to pose more of a threat to the selection. Veteran BATTLEGROUND and consistent BELLEROPHON also have the means to make their presence felt.

RACE 2
CALADRIUS benefitted from the fitting of blinkers to open her account in a Work Riders race last time. With the headgear retained and improvement expected, she looks ideally placed to make a winning handicap debut. Class-dropper CHAMPAGNE PROBLEMS, returning PHALA MILLIONS and consistent 11yo veteran JET CAT have the form and experience to trouble the selection. Hard-knocker ORIENTAL BOUQUET will enjoy reverting to this trip and should have a role to play.

RACE 3
LOVE NOT WAR showed promise over sprint distances as a 2yo so this shorter trip should be more to her liking. Consistent ICONIC WINTER is respected on her Highveld return for a new stable after a productive stint in the Eastern Cape. WINGS OF KILDRA, ADA LOVELACE and EXECUTRIX are out of sorts but capable of having a say in this line up off reduced ratings.

RACE 4
Well-related TEMPRANILLO was heavily backed to win a stronger race last time. She acquitted herself well in defeat and a repeat of that performance in her peak outing off an unchanged mark could suffice at this level. Top-weight VERSACE ONTHETRACK and Highveld newcomer WINTER RAINFALL also boast solid form credentials against stronger opposition so should be competitive. Lightly raced SLENDER SILHOUETTE returns from another break but has shown enough to make her presence felt and remains open to improvement. JAZZ PIANIST has earning potential too.

RACE 5
WISH YOU WERE HERE has progressed recently without headgear and won’t need to find a great deal of improvement in first-time cheekpieces to fight out the finish. A ROMAN TWIST and COOL GAMBLER would’ve benefitted from educational introductory outings and should also improve to have a say in the outcome. The latter was a costly acquisition and could be anything on his reappearance following a lengthy layoff during which he was gelded. LEVITATOR, SMOKING GUN and GOD’S COUNTRY appeal most of the remainder.

RACE 6
KORCULA has remained consistent in her 3 comeback appearances and could be rewarded if making any improvement over this extended trip. EPIDAURUS fits a similar profile and wouldn’t be winning out of turn either. COMIC ARTIST finished ahead of that rival over this trip last time so should have a role to play. EVENING NEWS had excuses last time and could get into the picture if bouncing back to earlier form.

RACE 7
REPETITION is unbeaten over this distance and was not disgraced in a stronger race over further last time. He has a wide draw to contend with but should play another leading role. THOONSIL is open to improvement stretching out to this trip and his pedigree suggests he will appreciate this sterner test of stamina. ARLINGTON ACTION, CHABAL and EUPHRATES are capable of getting involved if bouncing back from disappointing recent efforts. Consistent ROSY LEMON, hard-knocker ITSNOWORNEVER and last-start winner NUCLEAR FORCE have earning potential too.

RACE 8
ONE STATE and CAMPO FORMIO are closely matched on the form of a recent 1400m meeting and will likely improve for the step up in trip, so they could fight out the finish. However, SWORD OF LIGHT should also have more to offer stretching out to this distance after a pleasing 1450m comeback. MEGA AWESOME, WARTRAX BLAZE and FREESTYLE DANCE have also shown enough to be competitive.

Green Machine should enjoy the 2800m trip of race 1 and only has 53,5kg to carry under Muzi Yeni

The Vaal has an eight race meeting today and Green Machine has a fine chance of winning the opening event, which is the higthest rated race of the day.

The progressive Gimmethegreenlight gelding is drawn in pole position in the MR 90 Handicap over 2800m and if weight for age progression is taken into account he is effectively 3,5kg better off with Corrupt for a 3,30 length beating over 2600m last time out. He was staying on well in that race and could be the one to beat with Muzi Yeni staying aboard as he only has to carry 53,5kg and will be improving all the time. Corrupt is a progressive stayer who should also enjoy the 2800m trip and carrying 60kg off a 90 merit rating should not be a problem. Last time over 2600m Corrupt opened up a big lead and kept going to win by 3,30 lengths in that last race, underlining his stamina capacity. He has always struck as one with the potential to be a decent stayer and now goes for a hattrick. He jumps from a nice draw of two with Keagan de Melo aboard again and he can defy the handicapper, who raised him six points for that last win. Bellerophon refused to race last time, but if in a better mood this time could be a threat.

In the second race over 1000m Oriental Bouquet looked to be a feature class filly in her early days and she looks to have the ability to beat this field off a 54 rating over an ideal 1000m trip. Belle Of Angelus’s last run can have a line drawn through it as she was caught wide from a wide draw before fading. She has pace and over this 1000m trip and could be go close in this field. Jet Cat is now an eleven-year-old, but will still be competitive against this sort of field. Jeffery Syster knows him well and 1000m is his best trip.

In the third race over 1000m Iconic Winter has hard-knocking East Cape form and has done well on the Highveld and in KZN before so the newcomer to the Tony Peter yard should be the one to beat off a lowly 68 rating from a nice draw of five out of seven over a course and distance that favours high draws. Wings Of Kildra has a nice middle draw as opposed to the disadvantageous low draw she had the last time she tried this trip and she is also five points lower in the merit ratings, so she could go close. Love Not War faces an easier task than she has been facing, but does have to race off an 85 merit rating. She should enjoy the trip and should be in the shake up.

In the next race over 1000m Tempranillo has a favourable high draw over an ideal trip and this pacy sort is the one to beat under Keagan de Melo. Winter Rainfall is a consistent sort and has run well over the minimum trip before so has a chance from a fair draw of five off a competitive mark. Slender Silhouette will relish thge step back to 1000m and from barrier six is also drawn on the right side.

In the fifth race over 1200m Cool Gambler is well bred being by Hawwaam and a half-brother to the like of July winner Sparkling Water and to the decent Spumante Dolce. He disappointed on debut five months ago, but would have strengthened and matured since then and does not face a strong field. Smoking Gun has shown signs of ability and could be in the shake up. A Roman Twist should finish on top of Smoking Gun on the evidence of their clash last time. God’s Country can earn if he runs as well as last time. Willow Charm looks capable of earning in this race if producing his best.

In the sixth race over 2000m Epidaurus is knocking on the door and is suited to this trip so can do well from pole position. Korcula is knocking hard and is also distance suited but does have a tricky draw. Comic Artist has every chance on formlines and should be in the shake up.

In the seventh race over 2400m Repetition won well over 2600m in his penultimate start and can do better than last time when beaten more than seven lengths by Corrupt over 2600m. Corrupt has always been a promising type and Repetition is capable of better, especially considering Chabal beat him last time but was more than six lengths behind him when he won. Chabal could be the main threat as he down to a competitive mark and Blaine Marx-Jacobson’s 1,5kg claim will help. Heroic Act looks capable of improving over this trip.

In the last race over 1700m One State narrowly beat Campo Formio last time and could confirm the form over a step up in trip, being by One World out of an Ideal World mare. Those two could fight it out despite tricky draws. Wartrax Blaze has the form to be involved too.