Turf Talk Newsletter – 24 August, 2026

Viva Asterix defies his starting odds by winning with authority under champion jockey Craig Zackey, whose season took off over the weekend as he had a treble on the Fairview poly on Friday, a double at Hollywodbets Durbanville on Saturday and a single win at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Sunday (Picture: Wayne Marks)

There was a notable win in the first race of the Spring Festival at Hollywoodbets Durbanville by the Candice Bass-trained three-year-old first-timer gelding Viva Asterix, a full brother to his classy year older stablemate Viva’s Liberte.

The latter began his career at the corresponding meeting last year with a two length victory over 1250m under Craig Zackey at 18/10 odds and Viva Asterix’s commanding 1,75 length win saw history repeating itself, although the difference was he started unconsidered drifting out from 10/1 to 25/2, and he is also a gelding whereas Viva’s Liberte was still a colt for his debut.

African Wild Dog was expected to get off the mark at last in this race, having finished second in his last three starts and being well drawn over what seemed a suitable drop in trip having being caught and only just being outfought last time over 1400m.

The imposing Viva Asterix jumped from the widest draw of all in the twelve horse field, which could have explained his price.

Like his brother and mother he did take a keen hold early and Zackey did a fine job to slot him into a one wide position with cover just back of midpack.

Viva Asterix settled nicely as the race progressed and in the straight he built up momentum as he crept forward.

He was in full cry by the time he had fetched African Wild Dog in front  by the 150m mark and it was race over as he swept to a 1,75 length victory.

Zackey only had to give him two left-handed taps to straighten him as he was nearing the front, as he was tending to hang inward towards the leader, as racehorses do.

Khaya Stables own the Lammerskraal-bred Viva’s Liberte, whose three-year-old season culminated in a fine fourth place finish in the Hollywoodbets Durban July, and they also own Viva Asterix.

They purchased Viva’s Liberte for R2.1 million and Viva Asterix for R2.8 million.

They have not disappointed and in the long run they could recoup their costs. To date Viva’s Liberte has earned R891,912.

Viva’s Liberte won his first two starts, but had issues after his next start and was rested for about three months, making his comeback and first run as a  gelding in early February.

Perhaps Viva Asterix’s gelding before his career started will see him reaching his full potential as a three-year-old.

His mother Viva Maria by Jet Master tended to take a keen hold but showed how big an engine she had by winning the Gr 1 Woolavington 2000 from start to finish by four lengths.

Viva’s Liberte has also tended to take a bit of a hold, but after his fine July run he is an exciting prospect for this season.

If his brother Viva Asterix follows suit it will see Viva Maria’s foals being highly sort after. According to the NHA breeding website her latest foal, born in 2025, is a Gimmethegreenlight.

Sparkling Star makes it two eyecatching wins in succession (Picture: Wayne Marks) 

Candice Bass has started the new season in fine style and seven of this racing operation’s eight wins so far have come in the strong centre of Cape Town, which could indicate she has a decent string at present.

Viva Asterix was not her only impressive winner on Saturday at Hollywoodbets Durbanville as her Rafeef three-year-old filly Sparkling Star followed suit, converting 15/10 odds.

This filly had won a Maiden Juvenile Plate over 1000m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on 16 May with consummate ease in her third career start.

She was sent out at 15/10 on Saturday, despite returning from a three month layoff.

She ran off an 87 rating and Aldo Domeyer had her one wide in the joint lead rounding the turn before steadily opening a gap in the straight and winning by 1,50 lengths from 75-rated four-year-old stablemate Final Call.

Sparkling Star was bred and is owned by Marsh Shirtliff’s Greenacres Trust in partnership with David Hepburn-Brown’s Hemel ‘N Aarde Stud.

It is always gratifying to see the Shirtliff white, blue and pink colours winning for the Bass yard as it brings back memories of the great Bass-trained Pocket Power.

It was a fine day for Marsh as he was the owner of the winner of the next race, the Vaughan Marshall-trained Rafeef gelding Ireland Forever, who carried topweight to victory over 1250m off an 85 rating by half-a-length under Sean Veale. She went off at 13/2 odds and beat the hard-knocking Vercicat with the Listed Somerset 1200 winner Catwalk King beaten 0,90 lengths into third.

Marshall had a double when the One World gelding United Front won a C Stakes event over 1400m under Oswald Noach.

Veale scored a double when the James Crawford-trained Hollywood Racing-owned Danon Platina filly Boozy Suzie followed up on her  eyecatching second in her last start to score in the last race, a 1600m handicap for fillies and mares. Veale took her handy from a good draw and she ran on well to win cosily by a length, her second career win in her 12th start.

The Justin Snaith-trained Greg and Gina Bortz and Leon Ellman-owned The United States gelding Miami Summer caught the eye when winning the third race, a Middle Stakes event over 1600m. The big four-year-old was running off an 87 and built up momentum on the outside from a handy position in the five horse field, wearing them down to get up by a length under JP van der Merwe at 5/4 odds. He should soon be on a feature campaign and looks likely to enjoy further.

The ever dependable Piet Botha-trained Master Of My Fate six-year-old gelding Avignon followed up on his last win over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth with an amazing 4,50 length win in the fourth race, a handicap over 1250m. The 2,5kg claimer Dezahn Louw too her to the front and the 72-rated gelding kept on finding to score his sixth career win.

Craig Zackey had earlier followed up his win in the first race on the impressive Viva Asterix by winning the second on the Greg Ennion-trained hard-knocking Elusive Fort gelding Havoc, who was backed into 9/4 and beat a decent field, including Landman and Waterfront, who should both pay to follow. Waterfront met trouble in the straight, which scuppered his chances, and his three length third is not a fair reflection of his ability, so he is one to follow.

Zackey started off the season slowly, with 23 rides before he had a winner, but his season took off over the weekend with a treble on the Fairview poly on Friday, a double at Hollywoodbets Durbanville on Saturday and a single win at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Sunday.

Uzwano is Kannemeyer Racing’s third win of the season and they are going at a strike rate of 23.08%. It was Champion Owners Hollywood Racing’s 16th win of the season and they are going at a strike rate of 19.05% (Candiese Lenferna Photography) 

Andrew Harrison (Race Coast)

It was five wins from eight starts for Uzwano and Gavin Lerena as Dean Kannemeyer’s charge put his best foot forward in the Middle Stakes over 1600m that headed the card at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Sunday.

He was helped in his cause as Capsaicin, who races in the same Hollywood silks as Uzwano, set solid fractions up front with Uzwano well off the pace in a strung out field.

Capsaicin tried gamely to hold his advantage in the straight but his early exertions took their toll as Uzwano ran on doggedly for the win with Down By The River running on late for second under replacement rider Callan Murray.

Visitors got the ball rolling in the first two with Sean Tarry’s filly Ashvendra getting the better of the luckless Barry’s Boy with AMC Roy On Fire flying up late in a tight finish to the first. Fillies taking on males is always at the back of punter’s minds when putting their money down but Champion Jockey Craig Zackey always had his mount well placed and although it came to a close finish, Ashvendra always had the measure of Barry’s Boy.

Alec Laird was next up as Sistership shrugged off a lengthy break to break her maiden. A filly with plenty of substance, that may have accounted for her late start to her career, made short work of the opposition in the second. It was all to play for at the 300m mark but once Calvin Habib put his foot down, Sistership quickened away to win comfortably with Tarry’s second debutante on the day flashing up late to snatch second ahead of Sweet Faye and is definitely one for the notebook.

Murray rode a confident race on favourite Periwinkle for Tienie Prinsloo to win the opening leg of the Pick 6.

Out in a flash, the daughter off under rated stallion Skitt Skizzle, was not for the catching finishing with over two lengths to spare over Spot Me In The Sky.

Celtic Moon enjoyed the step up in trip to shed her maiden in fine fashion, giving Habib his second winner of the afternoon. Always comfortable on the rail and just off the pace, the daughter of Erik The Red quickened up smartly when asked, winning comfortably from Predator’s Crown and Peach Melba and gave the impression that a step up in trip is on the cards.

Cowboy Country landed the coup last time put, but this time the money went astray in the Middle Stakes. From an opening call of 5-2 into the red he was beaten a long way out. Soho Star had solid Gr1 form to back his claims and talented apprentice Dezahn Louw, who surprisingly has taken some time to shed his 2.5kg claim, rode a confident race on Yogas Govender’s charge. Sitting just off a searching early pace set by Master Josh, Soho Star quickened well in spite of hanging in under pressure, and won comfortably. Cowboy Country folded when asked for an effort, finishing a modest fourth with Licence To Thrill and Master Josh ahead of him.

Louw will have to wait another day before he loses his 2.5kg claim. Confident that it would come in the next aboard Fire Chief for Gareth van Zyl, he was a winner all the way before Serino Moodley pressed for home on Eric’s Legacy. The two had the finish to themselves but Andre Nel’s runner was always going the better. Ante-post favourite Scots Wae Hae blew the start and was never in the hunt from that point on. Recently gelded, Eric’s legacy has always given the impression that he was a little better than his form would suggest and we could see a lot more from him as he steps up in trip.

For those following the money in the last, they were on the money as Mister Nibbles was given a confident ride by Mauritian apprentice Anaas Mosaheb who had his first winner at Hollywoodbets Scottsville. Lerena was in no hurry on Place Of Practice with Mister Nibbles sat in behind. With the benefit of the 4kg allowance off his back, Mister Nibbles kept rolling as Place Of Practice declared enough and Paul Lafferty’s gelding got to the line ahead of another money horse, Master Bomber with rank outsider Pressure Point rattling home up the outside rail for third.

Scots Wae Hae (Gavin Lerena) canters to the start on Sunday. The 89-rated 3YO blew it at the start leaving 79-rated 4YO Eric’s Legacy to win by a length from 97-rated 3YO Fire Chief (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)

In a goodwill gesture, SA’s leading sportsbook operator Hollywoodbets has given backers of the fancied Scots Wae Hae, who was declared a runner after losing substantial ground at the start of the Hollywoodbets Scottsville sixth race on Sunday, some sporting relief by refunding all fixed odds and open bets on the 3yo.

The Hollywood Racing-owned Scots Wae Hae, who shed his maiden over 1000m at his previous start, was well supported to start a 3-1 tote favourite in the Class 4 1200m contest, despite trainer Mike de Kock’s reservations pre-race that his charge was stepping into a handicap off an 89 rating.

“Proceed with some caution as week in and week out we see three-year-olds beaten by the handicapper,” said the veteran in advance of the son of Malmoos’ post-maiden effort.

As it happened, backers of the progressive 3yo saw their hopes go up in smoke when the gates were sprung, as a restless Scots Wae Hae prematurely broke open his gate, which then bounced back on him as he appeared to sit back in his stall, thus losing lengths.

Jockey Gavin Lerena did not bustle the youngster thereafter, and he unsurprisingly finished some way downfield.

After a race review was called, the Stipes were satisfied that Scots Wae Hae had not been impeded in any manner and that the subsequent loss of ground was due to the horse’s behaviour alone. He has not shown behavioural issues previously.

It is understood that both Gavin Lerena and the starter were interviewed by the Stipes but nothing to that effect is included in the Stipes report.

The Stipes took no further action and declared Scots Wae Hae a runner.

Ironically, in the same race, the Woodruff runner Azzurri, in the gate alongside Scots Wae Hae reacted to his neighbour, and this resulted in the handler allocated to Azzurri being slow in releasing this gelding as the start was effected.

Azzurri jumped awkwardly with his head turned sideways and lost ground to the field.

The Board acting in terms of Rule 61.5.10.3 declared Azzurri to be a non-runner.

The two sides of the rule were shown clearly here! If the horse is deemed to be the perpetrator, he remains a runner, while human intervention or interference, by way of, for example, the handler, could see him declared a non-runner.

While the rule, which has proven contentious in the past, may be worthy of a review, Hollywoodbets spokesman Devin Heffer advised the Sporting Post that the company holds the view that Scots Wae Hae’s supporters never had a fair shout or run for their money. Accordingly, the company had made the decision to refund bets.

“We are dealing with flesh and blood, and it is an unfortunate set of circumstances that arose here. While we respect the fact that the Stipes are applying the letter of the rule, we want every punter to have a fair run for their money,” added Heffer.

Refunds have already been implemented for all online bets.

Those who took bets on Scots Wae Hae at Hollywoodbets retail outlets should present their tickets or alternatively approach the Branch Manager for assistance with a ‘lost ticket’ application.

JP’s Palace returned to the Darryl Moore yard on Monday after a short holiday and Moore has high hopes for this five-year-old Potala Palace gelding (Candiese Lenferna Photography)

A few Summerveld trainers spoke about their stable news on Monday morning.

Darryl Moore’s best horse at present is JP’s Palace and he said, “He had a hard winter campaign and we sent him for a break for three weeks. He is coming back today (Monday). He ran two close up thirds in Listed races last season and a close up Gr 3 third. I’m happy with him and can’t wait to get him back in the yard. We will start planning a campaign for him once he is back in action.”

The five-year-old Potala Palace gelding was entered in the Hollywoodbets Durban July last season and Darryl said, “To pick up a Listed race would be first prize for him this season. He still needs to learn to settle in his races, so if he is ever going to run in the July he needs to learn to do that first. That is why we are limiting him to 1600m or a maximum of 1800m. He is a big, strong horse who weighs about 530kg, so if he wants to take you on nine times out of ten he will get the better of you. But, hopefully he comes back in with a fresh mind and will learn to settle as he gets older. ”

Paul Lafferty had a gratifying win on Sunday at Hollywoodbets Scottsville and among other good news his best horse, Alannah, is back in full work after an injury enforced layoff.

His winner on Sunday was the 75-rated Horizon gelding Mister Nibbles and he said, “I expected the win because last time out I gave the ride to young Qiniso Ngcobo, who is a lovely young man, and I told him, which in hindsight wasn’t the right thing, that he likes to run through horses … he likes to quicken through horses, don’t just dive left or right when coming into the stretch, and what happened was he went for a gap between two horses and they never moved, so he sat for a furlong-and-a-half and only got beat a length. I was mortified as he shouldn’t have lost and this time Anaas (Mosaheb) who had been away in Mauritius seeing his wife, came back and he rode the horse for me and I said to him get him up there as the cheekpieces have got him keener. He went and sat second and won a very good race. What was in our favour was the favourite wouldn’t go in the gate, so it made it easier for us. He was overdue, he has been a good horse. The owners have never had to pay in a cent for him as she just keeps on earning.”

Mister Nibbles runs in the colours of Ashley Rushton and is also part-owned by Marius and Gill Mostert and FJ Beck.

Paul continued, “Alannah is coming back soon, she smacked a tendon and I threw her out, but she is now back in full work and I am very pleased with her.”

The 102-rated filly last ran in the Scarlet Lady in April.

He added, “I bought Allanah’s half-sister at the Sale. She is by Digital Age, some were popular some weren’t, so the jury is still out on this brand new sire.”

He continued, “I also bought a beautifully bred Flower Alley filly for a good price, so I got two girls and they both look well.”

Paul is also pleased with Bruh, who ran on Sunday, running a five length seventh over 1600m.

He said about the 92-rated Danon Platina four-year-old gelding, who suffered complications after a gelding operation, “Bruh is finally getting over the gelding. He just wants a bit of a trip. I’m very pleased with him and he is now going to go over his right trip of 2000m.”

Paul was the first trainer to ever have a winner for Hollywood Racing, who clinched their second successive Owners Championship last season, and he is currently training one for them.

He said about the Hollywood Racing-owned Canford Cliffs filly Fleur Delacour, who finished a head second on debut over 1200m at Hollywodbets Scottsville at 40/1 odds, “She is a lovely filly and runs again on the 30th.”

He added, “A filly who has come into her own is Flash Of Love. She has really developed. I have given her the time. She used to fall away, but now she holds her weight, she’s strong.”

He added, “We’ve got a few horses coming through. I’ve got four or five unraced horses in the mold of Delacour that could be useful.

One of the best formlines in KZN revolves around the Tony Rivalland-trained Rafeef filly Egolee and the formline took a further boost when the Duncan Howells-trained Erik The Red filly Celtic Moon won comfortably third time out on Sunday.

Duncan said, “She won very well in her first start over ground (1400m). She got bad interference in her previous start and this was her first start around the turn. She won a very good race. I hope there is more to come. I think she will go over a further distance in future. She will probably go up to 2000m.”

Duncan had bought two Erik The Red fillies earlier in the week at the BSA August Sale, along with a Querari colt.

He said, “I had a very good Sale. Erik The Red has a very good pedigree and whether he ever ran over the correct distance is debatable, because, I stand to be corrected, but I think he was retired early with injury.”

He mntioned that because his progeny appear to be versatile.

Meanwhile, the stable star Asiye Phambili is coming back from a rest on the farm next week on Monday and will then be prepared to go to Cape Town, where she will be trained by Lucinda Woodruff.
Tony Rivalland spoke about the aforementioned horse Egolee, a Rafeef filly who won easily second time out and who is yet to run as a three-year-old, “There is a nice race for her at the end of September, so I might delay the second round of AHS vaccinations until then. I might step her up to 1400m next time. She’s A big filly so it is just a question of getting her up in the ratings slowly and giving her a bit of confidence. She still needs to learn about racing and she might have run second and then first, but as Richard (Fourie) said she is still not quite sure what she is doing. She is a magnificent specimen. She might be by Rafeef who was a champion sprinter, but she is from a female line that has Oaks winners in it and she doesn’t look like a sprinter. It is very encouraging when a horse looks like a Stayer and has that sort of speed, it usually means you have a decent horse. When you buy a horse you are never quite sure and sometimes have buyer’s remorse, but I was always confident about this one.”

The Andre Nel yard had a winner on Sunday, the Vercingetorix gelding Eric’s Legacy, and Byron Forster said, “He is a half-brother to Miss Twinkle (Oratorio), who won a Listed race for us recently. He had complications with his gelding operation. He fell away in his condition and we had to start all over again and build him up. He is still soft and the run on Sunday (following an eight month layoff) was more to get his campaign started. There is a lot of scope for improvement.”

Meanwhile, Zeitz is back in work this week and the yard are looking for a high rated race at the beginning of October to prep him into a Jo’Burg feature.

This Varsfontein Stud-bred Vercingetorix colt was the Sales Topper, going for R6 million (Picture: BSA)

This year’s two-day Bloodstock South Africa August Two-Year-Old Sale gave plenty of substance to the sales company’s stated aim of providing “a horse for every buyer”, with a diverse buying bench ensuring strong activity across the market.

The familiar big hitters were active at the top end, there was strong demand in the medium-to-high market and plenty of participation among smaller buyers. In effect, horses were bought for all the major training regions, giving the national racehorse population a welcome boost as 302 lots headed off to new stables around the country.

The breadth of the market was reflected in the figures, with turnover soaring 32% from R80.505-million to R106.120-million, while the average price climbed 12% from R314,473 to R351,391.

Form Bloodstock, spearheaded by veteran thoroughbred consultant Jehan Malherbe, bid aggressively among the sale’s most outstanding lots. Form returned to the top of the Buyers’ List for the sixth time in the past 10 years, securing eight lots for R14.505-million at an impressive average of R1,813,125.

Malherbe bought both the highest-priced colt and filly at the sale, starting on Thursday with R2.6-million for Lot 130, a stunning chestnut filly by Vercingetorix out of Palace Of Dreams. Bred by Jan Mantel at Millstream Farm, she is a full-sister to Grand Empire and Palace Of Arvernia.

Malherbe said: “She is by a champion sire out of this year’s Equus Champion Broodmare, and her full-sister is the Equus Champion Two-Year-Old Filly. We thought she was an even nicer specimen than Palace Of Arvernia was last year.”

There was spirited action around the ring for Friday’s star offering, Lot 316 Ragazinno, an athletic, Varsfontein-bred son of Vercingetorix out of Ciao Bella, by Gimmethegreenlight, who topped the sale at an August Sale record price of R6-million.

Malherbe noted: “This colt hails from perhaps the most accomplished female line in the stud book, via the prolific Mystic Spring. Pedigrees don’t come much better than this. He is a terrific specimen. He ticked all the boxes.”

High-flying Hollywood Racing, last season’s leading owners, invested R6-million in five lots at an average of R1.2-million per lot, making them the second-highest buyers. They were followed by a notably active Michael Roberts, who bought seven lots for R5.275-million, Jonathan Snaith with seven for R4.175-million and Vermaak Equine, which purchased six for R3.72-million.

Glen Kotzen and Peter Racing, with 12 lots each, and KM Racing, with 10, were the most active among the middle-market buyers, while Lucinda Woodruff bought six. In the value range, Bronkhorst Racing was particularly active with nine lots, followed by Dean Smith, Jacques Mitchley and Roy Magner, who bought five apiece.

Varsfontein, the perennial top-performing stud, headed the vendors’ list for the second successive year, selling 26 lots for R21-million at an average of R807,692. Millstream Farm, going from strength to strength, was the second-highest vendor, with 12 lots sold for R7.135-million, narrowly edging Wilgerbosdrift (R7.125-million) into third place – a 10th consecutive Top Three finish for the Piketberg establishment.

Maine Chance Farms’ three-time champion sire Vercingetorix topped the sires’ list, with all eight of his lots finding strong demand. They realised R16.20-million in total at an impressive average of R2.025-million.

Michael Holmes, CEO of Bloodstock South Africa, reflected on the record-breaking sale: “This was a wonderful way to end our live auctions for 2026. All of them have been buoyant, with lively support from diverse buying benches. There were several new names among the buyers alongside the regulars, and that is particularly encouraging in this heartwarming phase of growth for our industry.

“We thank all our clients – vendors and buyers – for their tremendous support, goodwill and sportsmanship. Our thanks also go to the Bloodstock South Africa staff and the team of auctioneers, bid spotters and all our service providers who worked so hard to make all of this possible.”

Kingdundee is probably favourite to be named Horse Of The Year (Picture: Wayne Marks)

EAST CAPE RACING COMMUNITY TO CELEBRATE 2025/26 SEASON AT REGIONAL AWARDS

4Racing looks forward to celebrating the 2026 East Cape Awards on Saturday, 5 September 2026 in the Bold Silvano Room at Fairview Racecourse.

This year’s judging panel comprised Henk Steenkamp, Nico Kritsiotis and Neil Pretorius and the categories and nominees are:-

 

CHAMPION 2-YEAR-OLD FILLY

Marchland

Obsidian Star

 

CHAMPION 2-YEAR-OLD COLT/GELDING

Gimmethatworldcup

Master Mtoto

U S Ranger

 

 

CHAMPION 3-YEAR-OLD FILLY

Anotherdanceforme

Danish Dynamite

Golden Palm

 

CHAMPION 3-YEAR-OLD COLT/GELDING

All Systems Go

Buffalo Bill

Royal Kingdom

 

CHAMPION OLDER FILLY/MARE

Enchanting Choice

Epikleros

Song Of Myself

Splicethemainbrace

 

CHAMPION OLDER COLT/GELDING

Kingdundee

Zatara Magic

Zinovi

 

CHAMPION SPRINTER

Anuschka’s World

Cruise Control

Kingdundee

 

CHAMPION STAYER

Bad Medicine

Home Reef

Spoil Yourself

 

CHAMPION POLYTRACK FILLY/MARE

To be announced on the evening

 

CHAMPION POLYTRACK COLT/GELDING

To be announced on the evening

HORSE OF THE SEASON

To be announced on the evening

 

The annual awards honour the outstanding equine and human performances of the season while recognising the owners, trainers, jockeys, breeders, stable staff, officials and supporters whose dedication continues to drive racing in the Eastern Cape.

ENDS.