Turf Talk Newsletter – 24 July, 2025

It will be a big day for the De Kock family on Sunday at Hollywoodbets Greyville and Mike, Diane and Mathew will be hoping to crown it with two Gr 1 victories (Candiese Lenferna Photography)

Mike de Kock, speaking on behalf of the Mike and Mathew de Kock yard, said there were “no complaints” about Dave The King ahead of Sunday’s Gr 1 HKJC Champions Cup over 1800m on Sunday, where he will be attempting to achieve a Gr 1 weight for age Hollywoodbets Greyville double-double, as he has won the Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge over 1600m for two years running and will be out to win the Champions Cup for two years running too.

It will be a momentous day for Mike no matter what happens as he will be inducted into the South African Hall Of Fame at the meeting.

He said about big bay Dave The King, “He is just his normal self, I can’t say he is better or worse, he is just in a good space.”

The yard take it day by day with him as he does have his issues, but De Kock said it had been going well.

His preparation would by now be complete.

The five-year-old Global View gelding is hard to beat at the tight Hollywoodbets Greyville track as he has the capability of sustaining a finishing  run from at least 800m out.

Once he finds the lead with his massive stride he is hard to fetch.

Callan Murray knows him well, having ridden him in his last two starts, and he will want to have him in a position from whence he can begin that finishing effort from a long way out.

It did not pan out like that in the Gold Challenge, as he was stuck on the rail behind the pacemaker Oriental Charm with horses outside of him, but he still won after Murray manoeuvred him brillantly through a gap between the false rail and Oriental Charm, meaning he had 450m to use his massive stride and he went on to hold on by a neck from Oriental Charm with a flying Gladatorian beaten 0,35 lengths into third.

He was drawn two there and is now drawn four which might enable him to be off the rail and with the opportunity to begin his run earlier.

Montien is likely to ensure a good early pace too.

Going for home 800m out would be preferable for Dave The King considering the closer Gladatorian nearly caught him in the Gold Challenge and this time there are additional top class closers in the field like The Real Prince, Fire Attack, See It Again and Royal Victory and it is only an eight horse field, so they won’t have a lot of ground to make up if Dave The King is going to be waited with until the top of the straight.

It is going to be an intriguing race and one of the highest class events of the season.

The yard also have a top chance of winning the Gr 1 World Pool Moment Of The Day Champion Stakes with the exciting Master Of My Fate colt Jan van Goyen.

De Kock said, “I think he is very progressive and his formlines are very good. He is a nice, big strong horse and I think he should be very suited to the mile.”

On top of that Jan van Goyen has landed a plum draw of three.

Callan Murray, who has won two Gr 1s since returning from Australia, will also be aboard Jan van Goyen.

De Kock said being inducted into the Hall Of Fame would be a big moment in his career.

He said, “You are being recognised by your country for your contribution to the country, so personally for me it is a big deal and then when I look at the names that are in the Hall Of Fame I feel even more honoured as there are many great South Africans there.”

De Kock will join his former guv’nor Ormond Ferraris and the legendary pair, trainer Syd Laird and jockey Michael “Muis” Roberts, as the only horeracing celebrities to make it into the South African Hall Of Fame.

When asked about the highlight of his career he said, “There is not one memory you can single out, but obviously my first winner, my first Gr 1, my first July and winning on World Cup night are stand outs, but there are so many others. I have been privileged to have multiple good memories.”

William Robertson lands the Gr 1 Computaform Sprint, a much deserved win at the highest level, and he will attempt to land another Gr 1 on Sunday (Candiese Lenferna Photography)

The Corne Spies-trained Computaform Sprint winner William Robertson is drawn in the middle in the Gr 1 Mercury Sprint and if he has better luck in running than he had in the Gr 3 Post Merchants on Hollywoodbets Durban July day he could land a second Gr 1 sprint prize and stake a claim to being named the Equus Champion Sprinter.

The yard also have chances on the day with both Elegantrix and Chocolate Soldier.

Xander Spies said about William Robertson, “Again we didn’t crack a draw with him.”

However, it has to be said that draw 8 out of 14 is better than the draw eleven out of 13 he had in the Post Merchants and he was actually drawn 10 out of 14 when he finished second in the Mercury Sprint to Equus Horse Of The Year Captain’s Ransom three years ago and he was 10 out of 12 when a 1,80 length fifth to Equus Champion Sprinter Isivunguvungu two years ago.

William Robertson missed the Mercury Sprint last year.

However, in his comeback from a six month layoff, the six-year-old Rafeef gelding rattled off five wins, including the Gr 1 Computaform Sprint, and two seconds in a nine start Spring and Summer campaign.

His winning run on that occasion began with his third run after the layoff and he now has his third run after a short layoff from March 29 to June 7.

Xander continued, “This is the most fillies I have seen in this race before, six of them, and it will be interesting to see whether they can keep up with the boys. The last female winner of this race was Captain’s Ransom and interestingly William Robertson finished second to her that year. His last two runs can have a line drawn through them as the 1600m of Gold Challenge was probably overly ambitious and from a wide draw he was caught five wide in stages on July day.”

Worse than being caught wide was that William Robertson didn’t get cover outside of runners in the Post Merchants and he duly found little extra when it counted.

He should have come on from that run and if getting that luck in running Xander speaks of the six-year-old Rafeef gelding will no doubt be producing his usual storming finish from off the pace.

William Robertson has won over 1100m at Hollywoodbets Greyville before and on that occasion at level weights he beat the Gr 1 Computaform Sprint winner Master Archie as well as Isivunguvungu, who went on to become a duel Gr 1 winner.

The best sprinter in the country is undoubtedly Gimme A Prince, but Dean Kannemeyer, having brought the latter to Summerveld to prepare him for the Mercury Sprint, was “not quite happy” with where he had him on his “fitness levels” and he had one or two little issues too, so he is being saved for another Cape Racing Summer campaign.

If William Robertson does win the Mercury the Equus panelists will have a tough time deciding on the champion, but the one who has won more Gr 1s usually gets it and that will be William Robertson.

Corne also runs the talented filly Elegantrix and she comes down in trip for the Gr 2 World Pool with Race Coast Debutante over 1200m after disappointing in the Gr 2 Omoda Golden Horseshoe over 1400m on Hollywoodbets Durban July day. Before that she finished a 1,10 length second to the crack filly Diect Hit over this trip in the Gr 1 Allan Robertson Championship.

Xander said, “She has amazing formlines and has beaten a Gr 1 winner (Good For You over 1100m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville), has finished second in a Gr 1 and was already a Gr 3 winner. She has seen the track, on July day, and the way that she runs I think currently the 1200m will suit her. She is not drawn badly (six out of 11), although she is not drawn the best. Gavin has decided to retain the ride, which gives confidence. I think she has an each-way chance. I don’t know how good Dean Kannemeyer’s filly is, but she will have to run to beat us on the day.”

They run the speedy One World gelding Chocolate Soldier over his favourite 1000m trip in the tenth race, the Listed HKIR In Decmember Umngeni Handicap, presuming there are no scratchings in the Mercury Sprint before early Friday morning, because he is first reserve in that race.

Xander said, “The race in which he came sixth last time (over 1100m at Turffontein Standside) was kind of a prep for him going into Gold Cup day, but sadly he is drawn very wide (ten out of 13).That is a very difficult draw to overcome over 1000m and he is carrying topweight. If he gets luck in running I think he will find the places, it wouldn’t suprise me if he pulls off a win, but it’s going to be very difficult for him.”

The Umngeni was won by a similarly speedy type last year, King Of The Gauls, from draw 14, but he only carried 56kg as a three-year-old off a 103 merit rating, whereas three-year-old Chocolate Soldier carries 60,5kg off a 112 rating.

King Of The Gauls is drawn 11 this year and carries 60.5kg off a 11 rating, so there could be a battle for the early lead from out wide.

Royal Victory pictured going down for last year’s Hollywoodbets Durban July. The ultra consistent campaigner will be out to win a third career Gr 1 on Sunday and thereby give the legendary Piere Strydom a perfect send off. (Cadiese Lenferna Photography) 

Nathan Kotzen said the Pathfork gelding Royal Victory was in fine shape ahead of his run in Sunday’s vintage renewal of the Gr 1 HKJC Champions Cup over 1800m at Hollywoodbets Greyville.

He added, “He came out of the July very well. I wan’t going to run him but my Boet (brother Glen Kotzen) said to me, ‘No man, supplement him and run him’. So I went ahead and supplemented him.”

Royal Victory ran a terrific race in the Hollywoodbets Durban July from draw 17 out of 18.

He and ran on strongly from way back for a 2,85 length fourth, despite carrying 59kg and giving the winner, The Real Prince, 2,5kg.

Royal Victory was in fact the second best performed horse in the race behind only Eight On Eighteen, who looks likely to be named Equus Horse Of The Year.

Nathan pointed out, “I think he was the fastest fom 800m to finish and second fastest from 400m to finish … from the 400m he was only slower than the winner.”

Royal Victory will provide the legendary Piere “Striker” Strydom with the final Gr 1 ride of his illustrious career as the horse’s regular rider Muzi Yeni is currently serving a suspension.

Nathan said, “I think Striker will suit him with his style of riding and the way the horse likes to run.”

Royal Victory likes to come from off the pace and there is no better rider around than Piere Strydom on horses who have to be waited with.

Nathan added, “It is not a big field, ony eight runners, so he will not be far out of his ground turning for home. He comes from off the pace in any case, so I am not worried about the draw (seven).”

He concluded, “He pulled up well, he is sound-sound, and is doing well. I haven’t had to do much with him , he is fit and ready. I have just had to keep him ticking over.”

Hollywoodbets make Royal Victory an 8/1 chance.

Nathan runs the fine prospect World Of Royalty in the Gr 1 World Pool Moment Of The Day Champion Stakes over 1600m.

He recorded a good time when winning his maiden over this trip and made up a lot of ground in the straight with his big stride.

Nathan said, “I think he has got the ability, but I just don’t know whether he is mentally ready for it.”

World Of Royalty, who is by One World out of a Pathfork mare, is drawn six and the under-rated Chad Little rides.

Hollywoodbets make World Of Royalty a 25/1 shot, so he looks to be good each way value.

Future Swing will be out to land Justin Snaith an elusive first Gold Cup win (Candiese Lenferna Photography)

The Hollywoodbets Durban July result would have been a bitter pill to swallow for the Justin Snaith yard as their three-year-old superstar Eight On Eighteen was comfortably the best performed horse in the race, but he was pipped late by the one year older The Real Prince, to whom he had to give half-a-kilogram.

Eight On Eighteen will not be there on Sunday to exact revenge, but Snaith will be out to land one of the only big races in either Durban or Cape Town to elude him, the Gr 3 World Pool Gold Cup, and he has a good Gr 1 chance on the day too among other chances.

The Gold Cup used to be just about the second most sought after prize in the country after the July, so it is  race Justin Snaith will surely want to have on his CV.

The yard have not been far off winning it this decade with a 0,25 length second in 2021 with Silver Host and a 0,90 length fourth with Future Swing last year.

Five-year-old Futura gelding Future Swing has another tilt at the trophy this year.

He has drawn quite well in seven out of 13, but looks held on form by the like of favourite King Pelles.

However, the yard would love to give Drakenstein Stud another stakes winner for the season, because the latter are equal with their own South African record of 21 stakes winners for a season at present and need just one more stakes winner to set a new mark.

Jonathan Snaith said about the Drakenstein Stud homebred Future Swing, “He was luckless last year and returns to familiar territory. This is a trip he relishes, and while his Durban season has not unfolded as hoped, there’s a sense he has been holding something back—saving his best for this grand finale.”

The yard run the classy Drakenstein Stud-bred Gimmethegreenlight colt Malmesbury Missile in the Gr 1 World Pool Moment Of The Day Champion Stakes over 1600m and Jonathan said, “Malmesbury Missile has been aimed like an arrow at this Grade 1 mile from the very start of his KZN campaign, and all signs suggest he is ready to deliver another sparkling performance. Justin is convinced that a mile is the sweet spot for this son of Gimmethegreenlight, and the stable brims with quiet confidence.”

They run the Ridgemont-bred Danon Platina filly Knockout in the Gr 2 Bet With The World Gold Bracelet over 2000m and Jonathan said, “Knockout comes off a decent run against similar company. A finish among the top three would not only delight her connections but also secure that coveted black-type before she heads to Jet Dark’s stallion barn.”

They run the Gr 2 Woolavington 2000 winner Little Suzie in the Gold Bracelet too and Jonathan said about this Drakenstein homebred Trippi filly, “Little Suzie is a filly on the rise, sharpening with every start. Over this distance she is expected to thrive; expect her to run with a purpose – she’s ready!”

In the last race over 1000m, the Listed HKIR In December Umngeni Handicap, Un Bel Di will be another horse who can give Drakenstein the record, as one who is yet to win a stakes race this season.

Jonathan said about the Querari gelding, “Un Bel Di steps boldly into deeper waters, taking on this class with a light weight. He will need to summon every ounce of his ability to feature in the finish, but at home he is thriving—and he has upset potential.”

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Northern Kitten (Admiral Kitten) gives Jason Gates a treble and Fabian Habib a double. (JC Photos)

Jason Gates looks to be a jockey on the up and he scored a welcome treble at the Vaal Classic track today.

His riding has clearly improved of late and the treble could provide a springbard for the forthcoming season.

Two of his wins were for Fabian Habib, Thomas Shelby (Querari) and Northern Kitten (Admiral Kitten), and one was for Brett Webber, Phala Millions (Linngari).

Robyn Klaasen also had a double.

Meanwhile, Gavin Lerena had one winner and that puts him 16 wins clear of Richard Fourie in the title race, so it looks to be all over unless Fourie does something miraculous.

Gates is now on 19 wins for the season and has achieved it at a strike rate of 5.79%.

Lerena is on 270 win at 24.95%.

Fourie is on 254 wins at 25.45%.

Habib is on 46 wins at 13.73%.

Klaasen is on 30 wins at 11.95%.

The Glen Kotzen-trained Sweetie Darling will be out to land a hattrick of wins on the Fairview turf sprint course (Pauline Herman Photography)

Fairview Turf Friday Formguides And Selections

R1 (5) GLOBAL SCENE has been holding form and will be a contender in a very open looking race. (6) SEMPRE BELLA ran extremely well in his last start and based on that he should go well in his 4th start in the province. He represents Cape form and must be respected here. (1) GARDEN SUN is capable of better and can get much closer, that last run is best ignored. (7) COSMIC CLIFFS gets the top apprentice aboard and can run into the placings. (Devonne Govender 5-6-1-7).

R2 (4) JUST FOR U is knocking on the door and will take some beating here. (1) GENTEEL is capable of much better and is capable of winning this, she will be the main danger to the top selection. (2) BEACH QUEEN is never far back and can get much closer. (6) FANTASY GIRL is capable of getting much closer and should be included in quartets. (Devonne Govender 4-1-2-6)

R3 (5) GREEN MANDARIN has had some hard luck stories in recent runs. He is capable on his day and with the inform apprentice board he represents some good value. (4) MR FOX is holding top form and will have a huge winning chance, he drops in trip now to 1600m. (7) HAARLEM is holding form and will be right there in the mix. (2) DOWSER ran extremely well in the last start and is another that must be respected. (Devonne Govender 5-4-7-2).

R4 (4) RED WILLIAM ran extremely well in the last start and rates a huge winning chance here. (6) CHEERFUL CHARLIE B is very capable of getting closer, he does have scope to go well. (8) COURAGEOUS gets a much better draw and cannot be discounted. (1) ALADO’S PRIDE can get into the placings. (Devonne Govender 4-6-8-1)

R5 (2) DUBAI HILLS is holding solid form and will have a massive winning chance. (7) MASKED VIGILANTE is very capable on his day and will be in the mix with the Richard Fourie up. (1) PAS DE NOM represents strong Cape form and can blow this field away if bringing the “A” game. (5) SONG OF MYSELF has plenty scope to go very well here, she can be thrown into larger perms. (Devonne Govender 2-7-1-5).

R6 (2) KING PRAWN is holding solid form and finished some very smart horses, huge contender here. (3) READY has plenty scope to improve more and should be respected. (7) ROYAL CITY GIRL ran a cracker in the last start, although she takes on some serious opposition she can make the frame. (4) AUGUSTA ROSSO ran well enough behind Ready and can get into the quartets. (Devonne Govender 2-3-7-4).

R7 (7) SWEETIE DARLING is in top form, her last win was ultra-impressive and a repeat showing will see her go close. (4) ELLORIX ran well in the last start and another big run is expected. (2) RED SASH is capable of winning this, she has run some cracking races and must be included in everything. (3) GIMME’S LASSIE is holding solid form and rates a big winning chance. (Devonne Govender 7-4-2-3).

R8 (2) IMAGINABLE was an easy winner in the last start, the manner in which he got the job done in his last start suggests he will be hard to beat. (7) SILVERY SURFER was game in the last start when running 2nd behind the top selection so warrants respect with the claimer up. (3) SWEET AND TRUE is in good form and will be in the mix. (1) BEECHAMWOOD BOY is never far back and will win soon, don’t ignore. (Devonne Govender 2-7-3-1)

In what year did the Gold Cup (run over 3200m at Hollywoodbets Greyville) have its first running and in what year was it not run?

Picture: Dean Kannemeyer holds the Gold Cup after winning it with In Writing in 2012. (Picture: Gold Circle)