Turf Talk Newsletter – 27 November, 2025

See It Again winning the Gr 1 Splash Out Cape Derby over the WSB Met course and distance in February, 2023. (Picture: Wayne Marks)  

The saying “every cloud has a silver lining” might turn out to apply to the Michael Roberts-trained See It Again and connections, considering he is an entry in the 2026 WSB Met.

Last year his below par Cape Town campaign was said by some to be due to him having travelled to Johannesburg to run in the Betway Summer Cup beforehand, as it was said the former journey and race would have taken too much out of him.

This season he was supposed to run in the Summer Cup again, but it was scuppered when he refused to load in both of his preparation outings and had to be scratched both times.

He was duly scratched from the Summer Cup.

However, he will now arrive in Cape Town a lot fresher and in a likely better mental state than ever before.

Not only will he have avoided the journey to Joburg and the race there, but the renowned “horse whisperer” Malan du Toit has also been working with him.

See It Again was a beaten 46/100 Met favourite in 2024, finishing a disappointing 3,15 length fourth, and he was a 1,10 length fourth at odds of 17/2 in the 2025 WSB Met.

See It Again is one of seven out of province entries for the Met, the other six being former Equus Horse Of The Year, the Mike de Kock-trained Dave The King, the reigning KZN Horse Of The Year, the Stuart Ferrie-trained Gladatorian, the Highveld Horse Of The Year, the Alec Laird-trained Fire Attack, the Sean Tarry-trained pair Cosmic Speed and Legend Of Arthur, and the Roy Magner-trained Olivia’s Way.

There are two three-year-old entries, the Dean Kannemeyer-trained Gimmie Rules and the Justin Snaith-trained Happy Verse.

Snaith has eight entries in his bid to win a fourth Met in succession, including the reigning champion Eight On Eighteen.

Snaith’s four previous Met winners have been Oh Susanna in 2018,Jet Dark in 2023, Double Superlative in 2024 and Eight On Eighteen in 2025.

The day will feature twelve competitive races, headlined by two Grade 1 contests in the Met and the prestigious Maine Chance Farms Majorca Stakes.

Race Coast has ensured that the 2026 Met is an experience for every kind of attendee.

From exclusive VIP packages and elevated hospitality offerings to grandstand seating, the range of ticketing options caters to every budget.

Tickets are officially on sale, and guests are encouraged to secure theirs early through Computicket, where the full spectrum of hospitality packages and general admission experiences is available.

First supplementary entries are due by 11h00 on Wednesday 17 December, while final entries can be made prior to 11h00 on Monday 12 January 2026. Weights will be published the same day.

Declarations are due by 11h00 on Tuesday 20 January.

The four-year-old filly by Written Tycoon, National Code, who is a close relative of Rafeef’s, made it two impressive victories on the trot in Australia for owners Mike de Kock, Larry Nestadt, Hollywood Racing (Mgr: D Heffer) and the Barnane Stud of the Kieswetter family when winning a Class 1 Handicap over 1114m at Geelong Racecourse on Wednesday carrying 57kg and earning an AUD $22,000 cheque.

A Class 1 race in Australia is restricted to horses who have won no more than one race in their careers.

The grey filly led from the off under claimer Daniel Stackhouse and kicked well in the straight to win by 1,8 lengths as the $2.60 favourite.

This was just her third career start and she could be going places.

The filly was purchased for Aus$160,000 at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale in 2023 and runs in the Barnane Stud colours.

Her mother Sarraqaa was unraced but is a three-quarter sister to the Gr 1 Computaform Sprint winner and highly successful sire Rafeef, as she is out of Rafeef’s dam National Colour and is by Snitzel, who is a son of Rafeef’s sire Redoute’s Choice.

Furthermore, National Code’s value since being purchased has skyrocketed because she is the half-sister to Dundeel colt Celestial Legend, who won both the Gr 1 Doncaster Mile and Gr 1 Randwick Guineas last year.

National Colour was a Riethuiskraal Stud-bred Sean Tarry-trained grey by National Assembly and was the joint Horse Of The Year together with Ilha da Vitoria in the Equus Awards of 2005-2006, having won the Gr 1 Computaform Sprint, Gr 1 SA Fillies Sprint and Gr 1 Mercury Sprint, among other victories, and she went on to win a race in Dubai and finish a half-a-length second in the Gr 1 Nunthorpe Stakes in England.

She was retired to Arrowfield Stud in Australia and besides Redoute’s Choice stalwart Rafeef she also produced Rafeef’s full-brother Mustaaqeem.

Rafeef was trained by Mike de Kock and won the Gr 1 Computaform Sprint. He has gone on to produce four Gr 1 winners himself and is always prominent on the South African Sires standings.

Mustaaqeem was also trained by De Kock and won the Gr 1 SA Nursery.

National Colour also produced Circle Of Speed, a one-time winner who produced the Gr 2 winner Full Velocity.

National Code must already have considerable value as a broodmare and hopefully she can continue to progress.

Royal Victory is out to win a second Betway Summer Cup (JC Photos)

Peter Victor, part-owner of Royal Victory, was at Turffontein on Thursday and confirmed that the Nathan Kotzen-trained former winner of the race would not be wearing blinkers for the Betway Summer Cup on Saturday and he would have “horse whisperer” Glyn Redgrave with him.

Royal Victory wore blinkers in the Hollywoodbets Durban July, where he finished a fine fourth, but he had earlier displayed his “sticking up” habit at both the Hollywoodbets Durban July gallops and in the Gr 1 HKJC Champion Stakes and had to be scratched from the latter race.

Glyn Redgrave subsequently worked wonders with him and he showed no sign of  any issue in the parade ring, the canter down or at the start in either of his two starts this season.

He should go down to the start normally on Saturday, especially with the horse whisperer present with him at the course.

During his difficult period he did have an issue at the starting stalls on one occasion and Nathan said that after just two sessions with Glyn Redgrave he was going into the stalls like a puppy.

He had also stopped his sticking up habit.

Nathan said the six-year-old Pathfork gelding was very well.

He said he did not turn it on in a matter of strides like he used to as a younger horse, but still kicked on well, as he proved in the July, so he will once again relish the long Turffontein Standside straight.

He races off the same merit rating of 125 as last year when finishing a three length sixth, but he never quite had fresh air in front of him in that race and so was unable to make up a substantial amount of ground.

He won in 2023 from draw 13 and has draw 14 on Saturday, so he  is good value at 25/1 considering his four runs over the course and distance have yielded two Gr 1 victories, including one at wfa, a Gr 1 wfa 0,25 length second and the aforementioned three length 6th placed finish.

Chad Little has quickly proved his class as a jockey since his comeback and will be aboard Royal Victory.

Picture: The Big T will be abuzz on Saturday

Pick 6 fever will grip the racegoing nation on Saturday as there is a carry over for the Betway Summer Cup meeting and with an expected pool of R5 million it will be well worth playing.

The first leg is the Listed Blu Voucher Carry On Alice Stakes over 1160m and Whistle The Tune makes most appeal. She proved her ability last time when coming back from a layoff of more than three months to win at this course over 1000m. She was beaten 1,40 lengths by Mia Moo in the Gr 1 wfa SA Fillies Sprint over 1200m and faces the latter on wfa terms here but she has an advantageous high draw by trends as opposed to the latter being drawn one and Mia Moo is also making her seasonal reappearance after a layoff of four months. Mia Moo does have Richard Fourie up though and as horses have been winning down the middle on the Turffontein straight he could make a plan from the low draw. Whistle The Tune is officially 3kg well in with Rodeo Drive, but the latter has come into her own lately and has a nice high draw too. Those three could get punters through, although Fatal Flaw can be considered as a dual Gr 1 winner running fresh over shorter from a nice high draw. Rachel Wall will probably be a popular choice as a progressive sort and she can be considered, but she does officially have a tough tsak at the weights.

The second leg is the Gr 3 New Turf Carriers Merchants over 1160m and the one to beat could be Truth. Now that it has been decided to stick to sprints with him he could blossom and he has a high draw under in-form jockey Serino Moodley. Quantum Theory has a middle to high draw and has been in fine form in sprints, so he should be in the shake up under leading jockey Craig Zackey. Future Variety ran a bit of a flat race last time, but he has a devastating turn of foot when at his best and he could bounce back here from a middle draw. Barbaresco gave Quantum Theory 8kg and a beating over course and distance back in January so can’t be ignored from a nice high draw, although he does have to bounce back from a disappointing Charity Mile run. Melech and Pistol Pete can’t be ignored and should be right there. The three-year-olds officially have tough tasks at the weights but African Pride looks to be one who could be going places and he could progress beyond his current merit rating.

The sixth race is the Gr 3 Ducat Africa Fillies Mile and a chance is taken here on Hazy Dazy putting her highly disappointing last run behind her and bouncing back. She looked to be a progressive sort and from a good draw might enjoy coming down in trip on this tough course. Littlemissmillion should not take much work being a small horse so she can return from a layoff to make a bold bid as she has made a big impression in her two runs which yielded easy wins. She has a big action and a fine turn of foot and will enjoy this course and distance. Those two could be enough for risk-taking punters, but beyond them it is a wide open race.

In the Gr 2 Betway Dingaans Jan Van Goyen would be banker material if he was at his peak, but he is retuning from a four month layoff so that could be a bit risky. Tin Pan Alley has won both of his starts this season in fine fashion and the form has been franked by the like of the smart Atticus Finch. Chronicle King, Trust and Shadowfax also have the class to be involved.

In the Gr 1 Betway Summer Cup King Pelles is the Equus Champion Stayer but has a tremendous turn of foot and has shown lately to have the class to be effective over shorter trips, so he could be the one to beat. Atticus Finch is the defending champion but looks to be in the form of his life having made the rest of the Charity Mile field look like low division horses such was the ease with which he beat them. Madison Valley has also blossomed and could do better than last year when fourth as he is better as a gelding and looks to be improving all the time. Former winner Royal Victory can always be relied on to run a fine race. The Equator has been working very well and should be ideally suited to this course and distance as a big galloping type. On My Honour looks to have a lot of ability and could show what he is made of.

In the last leg over 2000m the ones to side with could be Field Marshall, Money Heist and Cape Eagle.

Sweet Julia has been tipped to win the 6th race (Pauline Herman Photography)

Fairview Polytrack Friday Formguides And Selections

R1 (6) OCEAN FLAME is holding form and was unlucky as she jumped awkwardly out the gates in her last start, she has a good draw and will take some beating here. (2) ICONIC WINTER has been racing consistently and another good run is expected. (4) FIVE STAR MAGIC is capable of better and should be included into the placings. (7) ENGELANDPARK wasn’t far on provincial debut and can get closer. Any support for the unraced runner (11) KENTUCKY LASSIE must be respected. (Devonne Govender 6-2-4-7).

R2 (2) TERMINAL VELOCITY ran a cracker in the last start and will be a huge contender, she could be tough to beat from the ace draw. (1) ROYAL MERMAID ran well in the last start and a repeat of that will see her in the firing line. (4) RIPSNORTER has scope to improve and should be respected. (3) OH MANDY has been consistent and another honest run is expected. (Devonne Govender 2-1-4-3).

R3 (1) SPLICETHEMAINBRACE packs plenty of class and with the claimer up she will be hard to beat in this line up. (5) WALKONTHEWILDSIDE is holding solid form and another decent run is expected. (3) EPIKLEROS is a very honest type and will be in the mix. (8) HONORABLE MEMBER is holding consistent form and must go into larger perms , she can challenge here. (Devonne Govender 1-5-3-8).

R4 (1) LOTUS SILK won easily when shedding her maiden and has scope to go well here so needs to be respected. (9) CHRONICLESOFNANIA is holding solid form and will be in the mix, she can win this. (8) BRETTY is capable of a big finish on her day and needs to be included in all bets, she has the top draw and will have every chance. (11) PRESERVE FOREVER has never been far back in recent starts so include in larger perms. (Devonne Govender 1-9-8-11).

R5 (9) RICHARDTHEFEARLESS impressed in his last win, with a claimer up once again he will have a big chance. (6) ANATOLIAN SILVER is very capable of running a big race in this line up especially with the fact that he goes 1900m now compared to his last race. From a decent tempo he will be flying late. (4) MAKHACHEV is never far back and cracks the ace draw so warrants huge respect. (2) WAZ WOUTER shoulders a big weight but is certainly capable here. (Devonne Govender 9-6-4-2).

R6 (1) SWEET JULIA won a gutsy race in her last start and looks to have a solid winning chance here. (2) WORDSWORTH has never been far in recent starts and will run well here, he gets a much better draw this time and will be a strong contender. (3) B FIFTYTWO is always in the mix over this trip in KZN however does return from a rest, as this is a sprint he could go well fresh. (4) NOTORIX is another who goes well this trip and is a must include. (Devonne Govender 1-2-3-5).

R7 (6) BUFFALO BILL is holding consistent form and looks a progressive type so he will be the banker in all bets. He ran a cracker in his last start and will be tough to beat here. (2) LAGUNA VERDE won a gutsy race in his last start and will run another honest race so must go into calculations but he will need to lift to beat the top selection. (10) BIG BOY BRUCE is a horse who is certainly capable of running a big race, he hasn’t been far in recent starts and can feature. (5) GLOBAL STATE gets the claimer up which makes him a runner here so can go into larger perms. (Devonne Govender 6-2-10-5).

R8 (7) WILD FIG ran extremely well in the last start and is the horse to beat. (8) CAPTAIN CLEVER has scope to go well and should be included in all bets. (2) DAS GUTE won a decent race in the last start and another big run is expected with the claiming apprentice up. (1) BURNING MAN ran well at big odds and if repeating that run he will be a big runner. (Devonne Govender 7-8-2-1).