Turf Talk Newsletter – 13 February, 2026

Olivia’s Way can get back into the winner’s enclosure on Saturday at Turffontein (JC Photos)

The Turffontein Standside nine race meeting on Valentine’s Day on Saturday is headed by the Gr 3 Betway London News Stakes over 1800m and it could be a good opportunity for the classy Betway Summer Cup runner up Olivia’s Way.

Olivia’s Way will enjoy the tough 1800m trip and on official ratings is only half-a-kilogram under sufferance with the best weighted runner Fire Attack, who is under a bit of a cloud at present. Olivia’s Way loves the Turffontein Standside track and although she would probably prefer 2000m the advantage she has at the weights here makes her the one to beat from a middle draw of four out of ten. However, the form of jockey Ryan Munger is a touch concerning. Last year, during the off season for his base in Canada, he had 38 wins out here at a strike rate of 19.19 and was the fourth most successful jockey in his three month stint. This season he has only had six wins at 8.96% so far in his stint and is the 15th most successful jockey in the period he has been here. The other filly in the race is Willy Meet Again, who is officially 4,5kg under sufferance with the best weighted, but she is on the up and this William Longsword four-year-old should enjoy the trip being out of a Philanthropist mare. The Ultimate King was third in the Summer Cup, beaten 1,50 lengths by Olivia’s Way, but he is now 1,5kg worse off. He is held in high regard and the best might not have been seen of this four-year-old Vercingetorix gelding yet. Fire Attack would be the automatic choice if he was at his best. However, he did not have a good preparation for the L’Ormarins King’s Plate and then finished a lacklustre last, so he has probably been freshened up and will likely need this run, which is likely part of his preparation for the Gr 1 Premiers Champions Challenge on April 4. Busstopinhounslow has a lively chance as he will relish the course and distance. He is half-a-kilogram worse off with Olivia’s Way for a 2,30 length beating in the Summer Cup but was a touch unlucky in that race.

In the first leg of the Pick 6 over 1160m Taskmaster ran second to a promising sort in Stoneywood last time and can go one better. Scorpio ran a good second last time and the form has been franked by fourth-placed King Redoute coming out and winning. Warning Light is by Gimmethegreenlight out of Gr 1 winner Siren’s Call (Elusive Fort) and would not have to be a superstar to win this. Stokesy has shown enough to be able to earn here. Sky Pilot disappointed last time but can do better and can’t be ignored.

In the fifth race over 1400m Sutherland won with authority last time and can repeat the feat despite a six point raise as he has some good overall form in his career and an 85 merit rating is about right. Salute The Flag is off a competitive mark and can be involved from a fair draw.  Bristol Hercules has always struck as one with plenty of ability and he is well drawn over a suitable trip. It’s Personal is in fine form and should be right there if able to overcome a wide draw under Muzi Yeni. Paul Revere is a distance-suited hard-knocker but he has a wide draw.

In the sixth over 1400m Winds Of Grace won her maiden with authority over 1600m and looks capable of rising above this merit rating of 70. Peregrine Falcon  is knocking hard and should be right there again from a plum draw. Mocha Frappe has probably not fulfilled her potential to date so she would not be a surprise winner. Oklahoma Smokeshow is in good form and from a good draw should be in the shake up. Vava Vegas is knocking hard and should be in the shake up.

In the eighth over 1160m Night Bomber has been ultra consistent since arriving from the Cape and is distance suited so should be right there off his current competitive mark. Black Egret has the ability to contest the finish here and should be cherry ripe having his third run after a layoff. Frozen Fantasy has some fine recent form and should be in the shake up. Gimmethegoodlife has pace and the ability to kick on so should be thereabouts. The Specialist was promising as a two-year-old and won last time after a steady drop from a merit rating of 115 to 88. He could follow up.

In the last race over 1160m One Tiger bounced back with a good run last time over 1200m and is only one point higher. Legendary is capable of a strong finish and has a chance. Longsword is also able to run on well and can earn with a clear run. Can You Danse has the form to be able to earn in this line up off a much reduced merit rating. Captain Selvie is in fine form and has a chance despite having to carry topweight.

In Race 3, the first leg of the PA over 1160m, Traditional Belief made a good debut and the form has turned out to seem better than the form of Miss Fantastic.

In the first race over 1160m Staggerwing made a good debut to finish second to the smart Secretary Bird and is an obvious choice here.

In the second race over 1160m Prayersandpromises in the one to beat but Dear Doc also made a good debut and with expected improvement should be right there. Ehhfifteenkjoe has run two decent races against good sorts and Sherlock Holmes made a fair debut against a promising sort. Stage One should show some improvement.

By Mark van Deventer (Race Coast)

Des Mclachlan and Grant van Niekerk recorded a double (Noble Hero & Double Dash) at Hollywoodbets Durbanville’s mid-week meet on Wednesday and might have made it a treble with Dawn’s Early Light, if it weren’t for a dramatic resurgence by Richard Fourie on a resolute Sooty.

The talented van Niekerk seems Mauritius bound, but for the time being will try boost his SA tally with Milnerton-based supporter, McLachlan, who has his string in fighting form. They step out stable star, JET FORCE in Race 8’s headliner, a Progress Plate where the class-dropping 4YO gelding is officially handicapped a good thing.

JET FORCE performed credibly when taking on the best milers in the land in the Ridgemont Green Point Stakes Gr 2 and L’Ormarins King’s Plate Gr 1, which has seen his official merit rating bump up big time to 115. On Saturday, the son of Master Of My Fate jumps from the outer gate (8) and turns back to seven panels, a distance over which he has won before at this course.

That said, he will need to be razor-sharp to see off POWERANDTHEGLORY, who could be extremely dangerous over 1400m at the country course, after just missing in a torridly run race won by Snow Pilot on World Sports Betting Cape Town Met Day. Justin Snaith’s entry is now in the form of his life and should work out a good trip racing handy under Andrew Fortune while tracking likely leaders, blinkered CAPTAIN WEST and JET FORCE’s stable mate, DEVIL A SAINT.

BEWARE enters the reckoning on the Roland Garros clash with POWERANDTHEGLORY, as does Greg Ennion’s MISS WORLD on the pick of her top ratings, though quite how she fares over 1400m is hard to predict.

In the preceding race, Ennion, who also saddled a double on Wednesday with Loui’s Star and developing stayer, Fort Liam, sends out ALL IS GREEN. She is lightly raced at intervals so comes with a “hazardous material” warning, yet this is precisely the sort of race she can come to light in.

The 2x winning daughter of Captain of All has previously triumphed in higher grade races off bigger merit ratings (86 as opposed to a current mark of 75) and now drops into calmer waters. She showed signs of zest at her comeback run under Craig Zackey in mid-January behind Dame Of Trix, and has a neat record second run after a layoff. Zackey sticks solid and she can pop up with SAACHI ONE and DECEMBER DAWN, her principal dangers.

BONELLI is a progressive 3YO from Bass Racing. Improvement has been forthcoming at each successive start since gelding, and the Master of My Fate gelding gave Prairie Dawn a fright last time over this course and distance.

Making just a bit more improvement should see him exit the Maiden ranks. Aldo Domeyer rides – he and Bass share a tidy 21% winning strike rate and 47% place stat.

BONELLI is thus the pick in Race 3. He probably has most to fear from PROTECTOR OF PEACE, who should go smoothly from Draw 3 under J P van der Merwe’s guidance, and returning older Maiden TUNGUSKA, ridden by Andrew Fortune for Ricky Maingard.

Single race exotics tickets can place GOLD GOLD BABY, WATERFRONT and OH SO ONEDERFUL in the lower positions.

Punters face a dilemma in Race 9, where IRELAND FOREVER sports appealing credentials but is drawn 11 in the finale, a Class 4 over 1400m. His hold up style of racing is also not quite in sync with a track profile which tends to favor on-pace runners.

Those two strikes against him may be enough to put bettors off, but the visual image of him hurtling through a late gap and blasting clear of reopposing CARRIACOU at this Class level in November is more positive.

Granted, he will need luck to jink past a full field in the Hollywoodbets Durbanville straight but can win in this grade if getting the breaks in time under Sean Veale. Stable mate, SAN PEDRO, together with IT IS MY TIME, BOOGIEFIED and pace-presser GRAN CANARIA, should ensure a high velocity early clip which might just tee it up for a nimble closer like IRELAND FOREVER.

MARCUS AURELIUS also possesses a powerful turn of finishing speed. He jumps from the inside alley and is another late running threat.