Turf Talk Newsletter – 17 August, 2026

De Melo had won five successive carded races when Blazing Fury scored on Friday night (Picture: Julia Marnewick)

Keagan de Melo’s nine winners over the weekend has put him in a position to break a South African record.

No rider has ever had 50 wins in one month of a South African season, but having had 23 wins after 16 days of the current month it is feasible for De Melo to break the record of 47 held by Gavin Lerena and perhaps reach the 50 mark.

The odds are against him though, because he has ridden in eleven meetings this month and there are only ten more meetings available to him, and that is even of he rides in the Eastern Cape on Wednesday the 26th.

To date he has skipped only two meetings available to him this month, the meeting at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on the 5th and the one at Fairview on the 10th.

He is operating at a strike rate of 35.38% to date.

The Friday night meetings at Hollywoodbets Greyville are aiding his cause.

Last Friday’s meeting was on the poly and he was in devastating form, riding five winners in succession from race 2 to race 5.

It is unlikely that any rider in SA history has ridden the winner of six successive carded races, considering the only time the Pick 6 has been ridden, by Piere Strydom on July 14, 1990 at Gosforth Park, there was a match race in between the Pick 6 races won by Divine Act and Strydom was on the loser Brainteaser.

De Melo’s five winners were the Darryl Moore-trained Nautical Fire (Fire Away)(6/1), the Alyson Wright-trained Anything But Love (Act Of War) (15/10), the Justin Snaith-trained Bangkok Magic (Willow Magic) (5/2), the Yadav Singh-trained Victor Rail (Visionaries) (7/2) and The Louis Goosen-trained Blazing Fury (Vercingetorix) (18/10).

Ironically his shortest-priced ride on the night, Please Be True, on whom he was bidding to win a sixth successive carded race, did not make the frame, but his price of 56/100 was ridiculous considering he was at the bottom of his merit rated band and was thus 1kg out at the weights with the best weighted runners, one of whom was the winner the Nathan Kotzen-trained Rollo The Viking, who also had the advantage of 2,5kg claimer Dezahn Louw up.

At Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday De Melo added a treble, riding the Justin Snaith-trained Red Flag (Gimmethegreenlight) (9/4), the Snaith-trained Golden Shimmer (Rafeef) (2/1) and the Adam Marcus-trained Miss Attitude (Hawwaam) (9/4).

De Melo added a single winner at Turffontein on Sunday, the Johan Janse van Vuuren-trained first-timer Camillo Cavour (Master Of My Fate) (17/10).

De Melo only has four rides at the Hollywoodbets Greyville on Tuesday, three rides at the Vaal on Wednesday and four rides at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Friday.

That doesn’t leave him with much opportunity to keep on track for the record, so he is likely going to need another couple of five-timers if he is going to threaten it.

However, the question of whether he can break Richard Fourie’s record in one season of 378 wins will likely be posed soon, considering Fourie only had 32 wins by the end of September in his 2023/2024 record-breaking season.

Wish List is led in after beating the boys in the Gr 1 Lucky Fish Cape Derby (Picture: Wayne Marks)

The Hollywoodbets Kenilworth meeting on Saturday 15 August was used as the stage to present the Race Coast Cape Racing Awards.

The Race Coast Cape Horse Of The Year was Wish List, who as a three-year-old filly won the Gr 1 wfa Cartier Paddock Stakes against older females and the Gr 1 Lucky Fish Cape Derby against the boys, both races being in Cape Town. She also won two Gr 2s in KZN and finished a narrow second in the Hollywoodbets Durban July, while in Cape Town she was also third in the Gr 1 WSB Fillies Guineas.

Wish List, owned by Nancy Hossack and Jonathan Bloch, was also the Champion Three-year-old filly and she also got the Middle Distance Award ahead of stable companion See It Again, as the latter’s WSB Met win can be compared to her two Gr 1s in Cape Town over middle distances.

However, it would appear that out of province races might also have counted for the awards, because otherwise how could Questioning, who was a narrow second in the L’Ormarin’s King’s Plate and won the Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge in KZN, have won the Champion Miler award ahead of The King’s Plate winner The Real Prince?

If that was the case then the Champion Middle Distance award will have to go down as a surprise, because See It Again’s record of winning two open Gr 1 wfa middle distance races, the WSB Met and the HKJC World Pool Premier’s Champions Challenge, and finishing second in another, the HKJC Champions Cup, would in the view of most racing aficionado’s be a  superior achievement to Wish List’s feat of winning two restricted Gr 1s (a female wfa and a three-year-old event) and a restricted Gr 2 (female). She did also finish a narrow second in the Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Durban July, but that was a handicap event in which she raced off a 117 merit rating, a race See It Again thus avoided off his 130 merit rating.

If The Cape Middle Distance Award is questionable then so is the Cape Horse Of The Year Award, considering See It Again is reckoned to be a shoe-in for the Equus Horse Of The Year Award.

But perhaps it is not questionable, as it all depends on the criteria. And this is an annual complaint about the often confusing Provincial Awards … what exactly are the criteria?

In any case, few would begrudge any racing award given to Wish List, as she is not the biggest but has a heart as big as the great outdoors.

The Cape was the only one of the three major provinces in which Hollywood Racing did not take the title of Champion Owner and it deserves special mention as the Champion Owner Nick Jonsson achieved the incredible feat in the season of winning a fourth successive WSB Met and did it with four different horses (Jet Dark, Double Superlative, Eight On Eighteen and See It Again, all trained by Justin Snaith).

Cape Racing Award Winners:
Champion 2yo Male – Red Spice
Champion 2yo Filly – Grapes Of Wrath
Champion 3yo Male – Note To Self
Champion 3yo Filly – Wish List
Champion Older Male – See It Again
Champion Older Female – Double Grand Slam
Champion Sprinter – Outlaw King
Champion Miler – Questioning
Champion Middle Distance – Wish List
Champion Stayer – Holding Thumbs
Champion Jockey – Richard Fourie
Champion Trainer – Justin Snaith
Champion Apprentice – Sifisokuhle Bungane
Champion Owner – Mr Nick Jonsson
Champion Breeder – Drakenstein Stud (Nom: Mrs G A Rupert)
Horse Of The Year – Wish List

 

KZN Racing Award Winners

The Race Coast KZN Awards were published in last Friday’s Turf Talk newsletter, but for the record here they are.

CHAMPION TWO YEAR OLD ERIK DUBOIS
CHAMPION THREE YEAR OLD QUICKSTEPGAL
CHAMPION SPRINTER ASIYE PHAMBILI
CHAMPION MIDDLE DISTANCE MOCHA BLEND
CHAMPION OLDER FEMALE ASIYE PHAMBILI
CHAMPION OLDER MALE HOLDING THUMBS
CHAMPION STAYER HOLDING THUMBS
CHAMPION APPRENTICE DAMYAN PILLAY
CHAMPION JOCKEY KEAGAN DE MELO
CHAMPION TRAINER GARETH VAN ZYL
CHAMPION OWNERS HOLLYWOOD RACING
CHAMPION BREEDERS VARSFONTEIN STUD
GROOM OF THE YEAR MOSES TLALI
HORSE OF THE SEASON QUICKSTEPGAL

Reece’s Wish canters to a five length victory (JC Photos)

The most eyecatching winner of the weekend was the Candice and Tammy Dawson-trained Reece’s Wish and considering the performance this filly put up in  a 1600m Middle Stakes event at Turffontein Standside on Sunday it would have been no surprise for anybody to discover she is by stallion phenomenon Vercingetorix.

Vercingetorix’s famous six-times champion stallion father Silvano was also resposible for an eyecatching win over the weekend as his eight-year-old son Sugar Mountain showed he is not slowing down when running on strongly to win an A Stakes race over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday.

In the Middle Stakes race at Turffontein Standside Kabelo Matsunyane did well to settle four-year-old filly Reece’s Wish at the back after jumping from draw five out of six as she had threatened to overrace for a moment or two.

Matsunyane’s next good move was to take her on to the rail as they approached the false rail.

Upon seeing daylight she moved up exceptionally well, while still hard on the bit and had soon hit the front.

Matsunyane was looking around a long way out and without ever having to do more than just hold her together the four-year-old Ratmore Stud and Gary Player-bred filly won easing up by five lengths.

It being a Middle Stakes, she was well weighted only because she got a 2kg gender allowance, because she was actually at the bottom of one of the merit rated bands off as nett 86 merit rating.

The imported British-bred New Bay entire Calla Lagoon was officially only 1kg under sufferance with Reece’s Wish, but that was alleviated by the 2,5kg claim of Divesh Ramkhalawon.

However, she still slammed the latter, who finished third, by 5,25 lengths.

The runner up, Winding Power, who was coming off a hattrick, was officially 2kg under sufferance with Reece’s Wish, but was well beaten.

All in all it was a fine performance by Reece’s Wish.

Candice said afterwards the penny had begun dropping for the filly as her work had begun improving and she had come on from her previous start too.

She hinted about a feature campaign now being on the cards.

Reece’s Wish was bred by Rathmor Stud and Gary Player and is owned by Player in partnership with Larry Netadt and the Wernars Family.

At Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday, Aldo Domeyer had suggested to trainer Candice Bass that the Silvano eight-year-old gelding Sugar Mountain be tried over the shorter trip of 1200m and believed he would win.

He was very well weighted in the A Stakes event off his 122 merit rating and and was officially 2,5kg well in with the second best weight horse Dance Variety.

He duly came from off the pace in a smal field of five with a strong late run to catch The US Of A and beat him by half-a-length.

There had been rumours that it would be the Moutonshoek-bred ASSM Racing Syndicate-owned Silvano gelding’s last tun, but Domeyer said the win had opened up some new doors as he was normally kept to a mile with the odd 1400m race in between.

Candice Bass said it had been the intention for this winter to be the yard favourite’s last campaign, but she added with a chuckle that the winter was not yet over.

It will be interesting to see whether the connections decide to extend his career in order to try him in feature sprints.

Johannesburg, South Africa — The Equus Awards Committee is pleased to confirm that this year’s Awards will be live streamed on Tuesday, 18 August 2026.

There will be two ways of following the evening’s events:-

Via the SA Racing Channel on Racing Today (www.racingtoday.co.za)

Or via www.gallop.co.za

from 19H30.

A replay will be broadcast on Racing 240 on Wednesday, 19 August from 19H10.

ENDS.

The Country Course is calling and the Spring Season starts this Saturday

Cape Town, August 2026 – Spring racing is back at Hollywoodbets Durbanville, with the first fixture of the season taking place this Saturday, 22 August.

It marks the start of a fantastic few months of racing at the Country Course, with fixtures continuing through to November. With free entry, plenty of parking and a relaxed country atmosphere, there’s every reason to come down and join us.

Set against the beautiful backdrop of the Durbanville winelands, Hollywoodbets Durbanville offers a welcoming racing experience where the action on the track meets a great day out with colleagues, friends and family.

Make a Midweek Meeting of It

Midweek racing at Hollywoodbets Durbanville is the perfect excuse to step away from the office and spend an afternoon connecting with colleagues, clients or friends in a completely different setting.

Swap the boardroom for the Country Course, find a spot overlooking the track and enjoy an afternoon of live racing and good company. With several midweek fixtures scheduled throughout the Spring Season, there are plenty of opportunities to turn an ordinary working week into something a little more memorable.

Whether it’s an informal team get-together, an afternoon with clients or simply a chance to catch up with friends, the Country Course provides the perfect setting.

Weekends Are for Everyone

When the weekend arrives, Hollywoodbets Durbanville is a great destination for the whole family.

Bring the kids, round up a group of friends and settle in for an afternoon at the races. With kids’ areas, drinks specials and food trucks, there’s plenty happening both on and off the track.

You don’t need to be a racing expert to enjoy the day. Whether you’re there for the horses, the atmosphere, something to eat and drink, or simply a relaxed afternoon outdoors, there is something for everyone.

Best of all, entry is free and there is plenty of parking, making a day at the races an easy addition to your Spring plans.

It All Starts This Saturday

The first fixture of the Hollywoodbets Durbanville Spring Season takes place this Saturday, 22 August, kicking off a programme of racing that runs all the way through to November.

So come and rediscover the Country Course this Spring.

Come midweek with your colleagues. Come on the weekend with friends and family. Come for the racing, the food, the atmosphere or simply to enjoy a day out in one of Cape Town’s most relaxed racing settings.

Spring racing is here. We’ll see you at Hollywoodbets Durbanville.

For the full Hollywoodbets Durbanville Spring Season fixture list and further information, visit racecoast.co.za.

Sovereign Gem has a chance in the third race (Picture: Race Coast)

There is an eight race meeting at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Tuesday and some Summerveld trainers spoke about their chances.

In the first race over 1200m Nathan Kotzen runs the The United States filly CALIFORNIA DREAMER, albeit from a wide draw of nine out of nine.

He said, “It is her first time on the poly and she has a wide draw. Her final workout was good and if she takes to the poly she has an each way chance.”

This filly looked well on Monday morning and has substance. Last time out over 1000m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville she showed good pace and stayed on well, so she should enjoy this course and distance.

In the second over 1200m Gareth van Zyl runs ARUMUGAM’S DREAM and he said, “His work is half decent and he can improve a little. We wouldn’t expect to win the race, but I am hoping for some improvement.”

It is not easy to find a winner of that uninspiring race, so ARUMUGAM’S DREAM does have a chance.

In the third race over 1200, a Class 5 Handicap for fillies and mares, the Alyson Wright have two runners SOVEREIGN GEM (Rafeef) and CAPRICIOUS MISS (What A Winter).

The yard said, ” SOVEREIGN GEM is the better one of the two here. She has more of a place chance, but with a bit of luck and considering Keagan de Melo is in devastating form, she has also got a chance of winning.”

Athandiwe Mgudlwa rides CAPRICIOUS MISS, who is having her last run before going to stud.

Athandiwe said, “I have won on her in the past, it was quite some time ago when she won her maiden, but she looks to be in the right race. However, SOVEREIGN GEM looks to have her held. She beat her (by a narrow 0,40 lengths) last time and they meet on about the same weight terms, It looks to be a competitive race. She should be in the money though.”

CAPRICIOUS MISS is officially half-a-kilogram under sufferance, so SOVEREIGN GEM is effectively half-a-kilogram better off with her if weight for age improvement is taken into account. However, CAPRICIOUS MISS does have a plum draw of three.

SOVEREIGN GEM has a less wide draw of seven this time as opposed to ten last time.

Gareth van Zyl runs QUEEN OF THE SPEAR (Lance) in this race.

He said, “She needed her last start, she is fitter and can improve, so perhaps holds some outside value there.”

In fact the four year old was coming back from an eight month layoff last time and was not far behind decent horse’s like MILITARY COMMAND and CALVARY COMMANDER, so this field is not as strong. She does have the widest draw of all to overcome though under Kaidan Brewer.

The Andre Nel yard run THINGAMABOB (Trippi) in this race and assistant trainer Byron Forster said, “She comes off a long break (eight-and-a-half months). She had niggles, so the break has done her a world of good. It would not surprise me if she ran a place, Serino was very pleased with her work last week.”

SOVEREIGN GEM holds YOUR LADYSHIP and TIME IN PARIS on form.

The ones to side with in this race look to be SOVEREIGN GEM, WEDDING VOW and THINGAMABOB, with CAPRICIOUS MISS and ASGARDIAN QUEEN for wider.

In the fourth over 1600m, Stuart Ferrie runs LUCKY DOLLAR from draw two out of six.

He said, “He has run two good races in his last two starts. If he can get a nice soft lead or run up handy he will run well.”

He has the in form 2,5kg claimer Dezahn Louw aboard.”

Andre Nel runs HOODIA in this race from draw six out of six and Byron Forster said, “He must have a decent chance, but I think we are going to have to rely on some speed in the race.”

The Alyson Wright yard run ULTRA QUICK in this race and the yard said, “I didn’t think he would win his penultimate start, but he did and he got a three point raise. He will certainly be in the money, but whether he wins or not I am not sure.”

LUCKY DOLLAR and HOODIA make most appeal in that race.

In the fifth over 1600m, a C Stakes event, Gareth van Zyl runs I AM INVICTUS and he said, “He will be better suited to the shorter run in. He was the winner until just before the end last time over this trip at Hollywoodbets Scottsville. I am definitely expecting him to compete in the finish there.”

Nathan Kotzen runs STAR OF THE FUTURE in this race and said, “He will need a bit further, but he has an outside place chance.”

Alyson Wright runs SLYTHERIN from pole position and the yard said, “He has come off a layoff, he had a virus and I think he will need it.”

I AM INVICTUS is in the middle of his merit rated band off a nett 76 and looks the one to beat.

Nathan Kotzen runs ONE PATH in the sixth over 1600m, while Wright runs QUANDURA.

Kotzen said, “ONE PATH ran a better race last time first time out after a break. It is her second run after a rest, but I am not too concerned about that. She is showing nice work and has an eachway chance.”

The Wright yard said, “QUANDURA is one of our better runners on the day. She would probably prefer a bit further, so probably has more of a place chance, but with Keagan aboard she has a small shout.”

ONE PATH, ROY’S GRACE and OCOTILLO make most appeal in that race.

In the seventh over 1000m Michael Roberts runs BLESS ME FRED and he said, “He’s doing well, to be honest he surprised me when he won on the poly in June. Scottsville is actually his track. But looking at the race, I think he must be a live runner.”

The one to beat in that race looks to be CHAMPAGNE MAC.

In the last race LOU LOU will have a fine chance from pole position and Roberts said, “She has been facing much stronger. She is back where she should be racing and she is in goood form, so I am expecting a big run from her.”

Gareth van Zyl runs WHAT A PASSION and he said, “She is coming off a little rest. She is genuine and honest. She is not so dependant on a good draw, she does run on, so I am hoping for a good showing from her, but she might just need this run to bring her on.”

Athandiwe Mgudlwa said about What A Passion, “She was doing better in the class 5 races and has found it tougher in class 4. It is a very competitive race, but she is in a good space here at home, so I am hoping she can pull off a good run.”

INNER BLOOM might still be ahead of the handicapper and could make it a hattrick.

DAWN SURPRISE is 5,5kg better off with Innerbloom for a mere 1,40 length beating so has a fine chance.

THOUGHT CONTROL’s win last time has been franked and she could be in the shake up too.

Wedding Vow is a smart sort and can bounce back to winning ways in the third race (Picture: Race Coast)

Another competitive card faces punters on the poly at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Tuesday, 18 August 2026 but that usually relates to better dividends.

CALIFORNIA DREAMER was much improved last run and is lightly raced. There should be more to come and he has a chance in the first race over 1200m.

In the first leg of the PA, OWNER OF CREATION is a long time maiden but is seldom too far back although that is a concern. He is back on his favourite surface and with a 4kg claimer aboard he could finally get it right. PLATINUM GREY makes his local debut for Justin Snaith and has been improving slowly and could prove the main danger. THE FLAT CAT appears to be coming to hand and was close-up last run while CHIHIRO takes on males but has not been far back in her two starts on the poly although she does drop back to a sprint.

WEDDING VOW can get the Pick 6 off to a winning start. She has won twice over course and distance and although she shoulders top weight she is down in class and does get some relief from the saddle. SOVEREIGN GEM looks a threat as she has come on nicely at recent starts. She has gone well on the poly and should put in a good showing. THINGAMABOB is lightly raced but yet to run a bad race. She was not far back first up on the poly last start and can feature prominently along with TIME IN PARIS who has a handy weight and goes well on the poly.

The fourth is wide open but THE WOLF is never far back and loves the poly. He was a beaten favourite last run and the drop in trip with a claiming apprentice aboard can see him home. HOODIA was also a beaten favourite last run but has shown up well in two starts on the poly with a first-time tongue-tie. This trip will suit. LUCKY DOLLAR has started at long odds at his last two but has improved in blinkers. He has a handy 2.5kg apprentice aboard and should be involved in the finish. LET IT ROLL is a progressive three-year-old who finished close-up first run out of the maidens. He shed his maiden over course and distance.

In the fifth, I AM INVICTUS is lightly raced but has been narrowly beaten at his last two. He shed his maiden on the poly and looks the part. PIED PIPER is seldom out of the money and loves this surface. He was just beaten last start and can go one better. GARDENER’S PRIDE is something of a tearaway and sure to keep the opposition honest. Although up in class he has a light weight and was close-up from wide draws at his last two.

PARTY GIRL has her third run after a break and has improved with each outing and with first-time cheek pieces from the best of the draw she should be competitive in a trick handicap, sixth on the card. PRAISE DE LA REY’s both wins have been on the poly, and she has been consistent of late. She is down in class and will be a big runner. QUANDURA was not far back after her maiden win but does step up in class. This is not a strong field and she can feature again. ROY’S GRACE is struggling for her second win but is seldom far back. She goes well on the poly and has a handy galloping weight.

TRAFALGAR SQUARE is long overdue another win. He goes well over course and distance and now gets a useful 4kg claimer aboard which could see him land his eighth victory for Dennis Bosch. CHAMPAGNE MAC makes his poly debut but has shown up well in two starts for his new stable. He now gets a senior rider aboard. B FIFTYTWO started at long odds when winning first up back from PE and first-time blinkers. A repeat can see him in the firing line again. BLESS ME FRED is always dangerous and is another to consider.

The last is a puzzle for punters and the betting could provide the best clue as to the outcome. DAWN SURPRISE has consistent form over course and distance and with her 4kg claimer staying aboard she should run another big race. INNERBLOOM has won both of her starts on the poly with ease however, she jumped nine points in the handicap after her last win so it will be a lot tougher this time around. THOUGHT CONTROL franked the INNERBLOOM form when winning next time out so there should not be much between the two. QHAWEKAZI has run two cracking races over course and distance and is a must inclusion in all calculations.