Turf Talk Newsletter – 13 May, 2026

Sean Tarry is bidding for a third win in South Africa’s most iconic race, the Hollywoodets Durban July

Five-times Champion Trainer Sean Tarry said he would stick to his original plan with the Gr 1 SA Classic winner Grand Empire, despite the first July Log having some anomalies that threaten to exclude his leading July entry from the final field.

The anomalies were a Gr 1 SA Classic winner, which used to mean an automatic berth in the final field, only making it into position 20 on the first log and the WSB 1900 winner, which used to be given preferential consideration for the final field, not making it into the top 20 on the first log.

In the last couple of seasons, for example, the SA Classic winners  Purple Pitcher and Confederate were both in 6th position on the first log and the WSB 1900 winners Future Swing and Selukwe were in 18th and 14th position respectively.

The relatively lowly merit ratings of the pair are likely the reasons Grand Empire and Isivivane find themselves in those positions.

The SA Classic winner usually has a higher merit rating than Grand Empire’s 111, but this year Grand Empire’s rating was twice brought down lower after appeal panelists upheld merit rating appeals.

Trust, the Gr 2 Jackpot City Dingaans winner and SA Classic runner up, also finds himself outside of the top 20. His current merit rating is also 111 and his rating was also twice brought down lower after merit rating appeals.

It would seem the pair Grand Empire and Trust are having their hand forced to go for the Gr 1 Daily News 2000 to qualify.

Tarry said he had planned his July route for Grand Empire with the assumption that his place in the final field would be a formality, being the winner of the Gr 1 SA Classic.

He said, “I had made the assumption that I would be closer to the top ten than battling to get in.”

He said there were four options for Grand Empire in the first week of June.

He sad, “There is the Cup Trial, The Jubilee, there is a three-year-old race over a mile in Jo’Burg or there is a Pinnacle Plate.”

He continued, “So I had earmarked one of those races and the interesting thing is I don’t believe any of them can get me in if winning the SA Classic didn’t.”

He added, “It makes me wonder what has changed so drastically, because history tells me over the last 15 years that the SA Classic winner was always highly regarded regardless of the merit rating, because the horses who have won the Classic and ended up in the top ten have had various merit ratings. there have been 108s, 110s, 112s , 115s, there wasn’t a set marker. So it is very hard to believe that this year suddenly a Gr 1, which has always been a good pointer, is not being considered.”

Tarry was asked whether the horse had been doing well and replied, “He is doing well, but obviously I am planning to have him 90% for the first weekend in June, or 85%, because the plan is to have him right for the July. Obviously he has not run since the SA Classic, because I was of the opinion that he had certainly done enough to qualify.”

Tarry described the Vercingetorix gelding as a medium-sized, athletic horse with a fine turn of foot and he believed he would love Hollywoodbets Greyville.

Tarry said about his female entry, Callmegetrix, “She is Gr 1 placed (third in the Gr 1 TAB Empress Club Stakes) and she won the Gr 2 Gerald Rosenberg over 2000m. She is a hard-knocking filly, but we are in a similar position with her. So we may be forced to run her in the Woolavington 2000, which wasn’t the plan. I didn’t expect her to be in the top 20, but I thought the Cup Trial and the Jubilee would be considered, so obviously if the WSB 1900 is not being considered, then how can I wait for a race like the Jubilee or the Cup Trial and expect that that will qualify her? So if we carry on towards the July with her, we would have to go for the Woolavington.”

Tarry said if the aim of the like of Grand Empire’s and Trust’s low log positions were to prevent the Daily News 2000 from being empty of Gr 1 class horses, he was “not going to buckle to scare tactics.”

He said, “I’ve got my program for my number one entry and I’m sticking to it.”

Sean’s other July entry is the up and coming three-year-old Master Spy.

He said, “He is a lovely horse who is only starting to really develop now. He ran a really good third in the SA Derby from an impossible position. I thought I would get him going again in a pipe opener over 1400m last time and with 61,5kg he ran on very well (beaten 4,45 lengths by King Harald.)”

He continued, “Once again it looks hard to qualify, so I might just pull the plug and save him for the Summer Cup.”

He said about him considering the Daily News 2000 for Master Spy, “It is kind of pointless, because he would for example run fifth and end up with a merit rating of 116, whereas his only chance in the July would be with bottom weight. The object is not to just be in the July, the object is to be in with the right weight so you can win, you need to have the right weight and the right prep.”

Asked on whether some would just like to win the Daily News 2000, he replied, “They would, but you don’t decide that two weeks before the race.”

Kurt Felix is one of the final field panelists who have been tasked with a big responsibility (via instagram) 

A Hollywoodbets Durban July press release had previously stated, “To uphold the integrity of this world-class contest, Race Coast will assemble a five-person national panel of racing experts, responsible for determining the final field.”

The five has turned out to be four and they are:

Lennon Maharaj – Chief Handicapper.

Kurt Felix – Race Coast’s Cape Racing Racing Coordinator

Aveen Sewpersad – National Racing Bureau Manager

Raf Sheik – Race Coast KZN Racing Executive.

The four experts are also responsible for forming the July logs.

These four have an unenviable task this season as the competition for places with the race now carrying a R10 million stake is going to be greater than ever before.

Exciting colt Turn It Up is unfortunately out for the season (Picture: Race Coast)

The crack Sean Tarry-trained Turn It Up is out for the season.

Tarry said, “He had a fragment that needed to be removed.”

The Querari colt was second on debut over 800m to the lightning quick Heath House and he has since then won all three of his starts in impressive style.

He  was particularly impressive in his last start when winning the R3 million Race Coast Sales Slipper over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Greyville, coming from way back to win effortlessly by two lengths.

He was all set to try and emulate his half-brother Proceed by winning the Gr 1 Gold Medallion, although the Vaughan Marshall-trained Rich Man’s World was going to be a hard nut to crack.

Turn It Up’s unfortunate sidelining has robbed the public of one of the clashes of the season in the Medallion, although the Mike and Mathew de KOck-trained Haute Couture looks to be an exciting prospect and should make Rich Man’s World earn his stake.

Tarry, who could have the title the King Of Hollywoodbets Scottsville, will still have a strong team for the Festival Of Speed meeting.

Get the insight on all his entries in tomorrow’s Turf Talk newsletter.

Victory In Orleans won in impressive style and can progress again (Julia Marnewick) 

The Hollywoodbets Greyville poly meeting yesterday got off to a cracking start for punters with the two favourites winning the first two races and a fancied horse winning the third at an attractive price.

In the first over 1000m, an Open Maiden, the Candice and Tammy Dawson-trained three-year-old Pathfork filly Power Of Pearls brought hard-knocking Highveld form in which she had run ten times for three seconds, six thirds and a fourth. She was set to carry 58,5kg off a 73 merit rating as she was given a 2,5kg gender allowance, but in reality she only carried 54,5kg as 4kg claimer Divesh Ramkhalawon was aboard. She bunny hopped as the stalls opened and lost a length or more but then shoed fine pace and ended up in a battle for the lead between herself, Highveld Storm and Catrien. She was between that pair but in the straight she kept on finding and, under pressure, she did well to forge ahead  in the final 100m under a cool Ramkhalawon to covert 7/10 odds by one length from a staying on Captain T, with Catrien, Donmagoo and Winter Miracle next best.

In the second, a Maiden over 1400m, the Andre Nel-trained Gimmethegreenlight gelding Prins Jaspar started 2/1 favourite having run a good third in his first start in KZN having had some fair form in Cape Town. Prins Jaspar pinged the gates and mever looked back, cruising to a three length win under Serino Moodley with the rest of the field spread out like the washing.

In the third the 88 merit-rated Vaughan Marshall-trained Act Of War filly Victory In Orleans looked an absolute picture in the preliminaries, but against her was the weights in this Middle Stakes event over 1400m for fillies and mares, because she was officially 3kg under sufferance with the best-weighted Infinity Edge. However, she is progressive and won from start to finish in fine style by 1,70 lengths under Callan Murray. Infinity Edge did not settle well and was well beaten in sixth place.

In the next race over 1400m, a Class 4 handicap, the Gareth van Zyl-trained Dubai Dude relished his fifst outing on the poly and gave Athandiwe a welcome first victory since returning fron injury on March 27, so hopefully this will buoy his confidence. Starting at 8/1, the Declarationofpeace gelding ended up sitting on he quarters of the leader Johnny Boy. He had no cover but settled well. He has plenty of substance and responded well when asked to fetch Grand Appeal who was charging down the inside rail. He got up by a shorthead. He looks like one to follow as he looks to have plenty of scope for further improvement.

In the fifth race over 1000m, a C Stakes event over 1000m, the Kumaran Naidoo-trained six-year-old Rafeef gelding Rainbow Reward relished running over this course and distance since going close over it on December 9 and as he had come down two points since then and was one of the best weighted males here he was fair value at 33/10. He pinged the gates from pole position and found the box seast and in the straight pulled away from them with ease to win by 1,70 lengths under 4kg claimer Anaas Mosaheb.

In the sixth race over 1200m Hollywood Racing claimed their 146th win of the season when the Vengi Masawi-trained William Longsword mare won the Class 4 handicap over 1200m by 0,80 lengths under Sean Veale. She also pinged the gate from pole position and was also in the box seat. She ran on well down the inside to beat the consistent Dawn Surprise by 0,80 lengths.

The seventh race over 1200, a B Stakes event, saw a third victory from he pole position-drawn horse in succession as the Alyson Wright-trained Vercingetorix gelding won by 0,70 lengths under Keagan de Malo from the favourite Black Eagle. He jumed well and from a midfield position on the rail switched out to come home full of running to convert 4/1 odds. He will pay to follow as he was 1kg under sufferance with the favourite under the conditions.

In the last race over 1200, a Class 5 event, Definitely Yes scored a deserved win having gone close at Hollywoodbets Scottsville last time over the same trip. She came from a handy position and ran on well under Chad Little to beat L’Ultimo by 0,30 lengths and thus deny yet another win for a pole position-drawn runner.

The Lope De Vega colt justified 15-8 favouritism under Tom Marquand.

At The Races

William Haggas has more than one eye on the Ebor with Klassleader following his victory in the Sky Bet Race To The Ebor Jorvik Handicap at York.

The Lope De Vega colt justified 15-8 favouritism under Tom Marquand when running out a comfortable two and three-quarter length winner which guarantees him a run in the big handicap at the course later this year.

Haggas will delight in getting off the mark in just the second race of the Dante meeting with a live Ebor contender, for which he is currently a 10-1 chance with sponsors Sky Bet.

This meeting makes for a common hunting ground for locally-born Haggas and Klassleader arrived off the back of a good handicap debut when second at Haydock in September and reversed the form with the winner of that race, Sing Us A Song. Though dropping back in distance, his trainer holds no doubts about his stamina.

“He will stay the Ebor trip and he is qualified now,” said Haggas.

“You would be a brave man not to run him again beforehand, but I won’t. It’s probably the sensible thing to do because he’s won off 90, if he goes up 5lb to 95, he wouldn’t get in the Ebor off 95 normally but he is guaranteed a run.

“It’s very nice ground and if you listen down by the rail as they go past it’s not squelchy, it is firm with a bit of water on the top. Once the rain gets chance to get in, it will be lovely ground.

“Everyone wants to win here and when you’re a Yorkshire-born trainer it is nice to win here.

Doitwithdiamonds has her easiest task for some time (JC Photos)

The Vaal Classic track has an eight race meeting on Thursday and the highest rated race is a Mr 97 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1800m which could be won by Doitwithdiamonds.

The Tony Peter-trained Silvano mare has not run in an ordinary race since early December when finishing a close second over this course and distance in a fillies and mares handicap. Furthermore, she was rated 100 for that race and is now rated 99. In her last three runs, the distance of 1450m was too sharp and she was out at the weights in a Conditions event in February, she was under sufferance and not well drawn in the Listed Acacia Stakes over 1600m in March and last time out in April she did well to be beaten just 2,90 lengths in the Gr 2 TAB Igugu Stakes over 2000m, because she was way under sufferance. She cracks a pole position draw in Thursday’s race, although at time of writing the jockey was unknown. Avoontoast has won over this distance before and should have come on from her last run which followed a rest. Keagan de Melo rides from a good draw off a merit rating which is eight points higher than her highest winning mark, but she did finish a close second off a one point lower mark in her penultimate start. Juliet Tango is 3kg better off with Doitwithdiamonds for a 1,60 length beating just over a year ago over this distance, but Juliet Tango’s form has not been great since. However, she might have benefited from a layoff having not run for about five months. Mount Etna is in good form but has to overcome a five point raise for her last win. Free In Seattle has the form to be a contender if able to overcome a wide draw.

In the first leg of the Pick 6 over 1000m Master’s Lady should make a bold bid from a draw which is towards the right side i.e. a relatively high number. Princess Of All has just as good form but has the number one draw which is usually tricky. Two-year-old Energia could be dangerous as she has faced top fields in her last two starts and hasn’t been disgraced.

In the second leg of the Pick 6 over 1000m Zoombomber could make a bold bid from draw seven of eleven. Tiger Storm should finish close to Zoombomber considering the form of when they last met. Segeant Soqrat has not fared well in three starts in succession in KZN, but he has come down three points and has a 2,5kg claimer up too, while this is also the course and distance of his best recent run.

In the fifth, a MR 93 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1000m Mystical Miss is drawn on the right side and has the form to go close under in form Mickaelle Michel. Executrix might relish the step down in trip and can’t be ignored. Vanakkam has plenty of speed and ability and should make a bold bid despite being drawn on the low side. Russian Nobility is drawn on the standside and has Craig Zackey up and she could bounce back from her disappointing second career start having won nicely on debut. Just The Two Of Us beat Vanakkam when they last met, but she is now four points higher and has the potentially unfavourable number one draw.

In the sixth over 1000m Lovable should appreciate the step down in trip and should make a bold bid. Eight Hats ran a cracker last time and should be right there. Blndfire enjoys this course and distance and is drawn in the middle. Jazz Pianist has come down to a competitive merit rating and could be in the shake up. Wings Of Kildra should finish on top of Jazz Pianist on form.

In the eighth race over 1800m Rosy Lemon usually does well in fillies and mares handicaps and can go close here from a good draw over an ideal trip under Serino Moodley. Craig Zackey is aboard Arctic Silver who has a wide draw to overcome but has the form to go close. Kortvandraad is interesting stepped up in trip being by Erupt and she can do well from a plum draw under Mickaelle Michel. Apostrophe is also capable of doing well if able to overcome a wide draw. Ply With Fire is always capable of popping up.

In the second over 1600m What A Warrior is well regarded and should make a bold bid over a suitable trip from pole position. Doesyourmotherknow won a fine race last time and should also enjoy this trip, although she does have a tricky draw. Dear Doc should also be in the shake up.

In the first over 1000m Periodic Table should be hard to beat and the good workrider Phenisile Mongqawa rides.