Turf Talk Newsletter – 29 September, 2026

R10,000 in Interbet betting vouchers up for grabs!

The first Turf Talk newsletter, published in July 2016. It looks like something from the 1960s, but it worked! (Image above found in old Turf Talk archives).

We’re a few months late in celebrating Turf Talk’s 10 birthday, but it slipped us by because we work so hard to give you a nice, readable product every day, five days a week!

As part of our birthday celebrations, we’re giving away R10,000 in betting vouchers from Interbet – ONE R2,500 VOUCHER PER DAY FOR FOUR DAYS, INCLUDING TODAY – and entry details appear at the bottom of this article.

Let’s first take a brief look back at 10 years of Turf Talk, launched in July 2016 with the concept of the US-published TDN Newsletter in mind – a daily source of racing information, covering local and international news, backed by a website with additional articles and features.

It’s strange to think of it, but 10 years ago publishing technology was not what it is today – we used ‘Microsoft Publisher’ and an early version of Mailchimp to get the letter out – a cumbersome way that had us pulling our hair out in the first two years. But things got easier and through trial and error we have a far more advanced and advertiser-friendly website template today which is linked to the newsletter – with our daily offering distributed instantly to an ever-growing list of subscribers.

Turf Talk was not the first news racing news product to be launched in South Africa, but we certainly entered the market in one of the most turbulent times in our industry’s history, reporting through the end of the Markus Jooste era, the death of Adriaan van Vuuren, the disastrous Phumelela business crash, the gargantuan rescue exercise and rise of 4Racing, the innovative rescue of Cape Racing which later became Race Coast, the shocking Covid-19 year in which we had to bring punters daily info from the United States and the Swedish trots, the rise and fall of Lyndon Barends, a variety of other scandals including betting jockeys and doping trainers, and much more.

Our first editor was Charl Pretorius (2016 – 2021), followed by Ken Nicol (2021-22) and presently David Thiselton.

The early years saw regular columns by (the late) David Allan on Mondays, and David Mollett’s Molly column (still going strong) launched in 2017. There were also guest columns by the likes of Kathryn Ralphs and Paul Lafferty, and some cartoons and parodies thrown in.

Today, our readers prefer more serious, news-driven articles and our statistics show a good reader base overseas, which shows an interest in our local and international coverage. David Thiselton’s interest in handicapping, his all-round knowledge of the sport and his interesting takes on topical matters are very popular.

Turf Talk has hosted a number of Charity Golf Days to support the Western Cape Equine Trust, with almost R400,000 raised at the last two events. There is another coming up in January for which bookings are now open. See the advert elsewhere in this letter.

We’ve also bought horses for the Turf Talk Syndicate – with five individual winners including Garden Of Eden, and we sponsored jockey Craig Bantam, also presently, Chad Little.

There’s something happening in our industry every day – we promise to keep you posted and entertained, and we look forward to the next 10 years. We thank readers and advertisers for continued support.

Below, you can click on the images from old Turf Talk editions to enlarge them for a trip down memory lane. Below that, details of our Interbet giveaway.

We’re giving away R10,000 in betting vouchers on our 10th birthday – that’s R2,500 for each of today, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday!

HOW TO WIN

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SEND YOUR NAME AND CONTACT DETAILS TO editor@turftalk.co.za

NOTE: To stand a better chance of winning, include the names and e-mail addresses of two friends who are not Turf Talk subscribers, send them to us. (With their permission, please).

Winners will be announced as the week goes along. If you are not already registered with Interbet, you will be required to join them to use vouchers.

SO, TO SUM UP:

Answer question
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Mail to editor@turftalk.co.za

Sadha Naidoo. (Picture: Julia Marnewick)

A longstanding horse racing owner and a widely respected personality in both the private and public sectors over the past three decades, Sadha Naidoo has been appointed Non-Executive Chairperson of both the Race Coast Western Cape and Race Coast KwaZulu-Natal boards.

A Non-Executive Director of the erstwhile racing operator Gold Circle, it was during Sadha Naidoo’s tenure as Chairperson that he oversaw the transition phase to the current Race Coast entity, under the Hollywoodbets’ banner.

To further streamline business operations across its racing regions, the group has aligned the structure of the individual boards within the Race Coast regions.

The launch of South Africa’s new age coastal racing operator was celebrated at the official unveiling of the Race Coast brand in May 2025. Race Coast evolved from the merger of Gold Circle’s operations in KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape-based Cape Racing.

Sadha Naidoo has played a significant role as Chairperson of Tourism KZN and the Durban ICC, and has also served on various public entities, with his primary focus being job creation, business development and governance protocols.

His private business interests span tourism and hospitality, as well as property and skills development, with a focus on KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga and the Western Cape.

Speaking on behalf of the Hollywood Group, Basil Thomas congratulated Sadha Naidoo on his appointment, saying that it is entirely appropriate that he should be given this honour.

“Sadha Naidoo’s institutional knowledge is invaluable. He played an integral role in the transition from Gold Circle – and the related club structure – to Race Coast. At the time of Hollywood’s acquisition of Gold Circle, he was invited to remain on the Board of Race Coast KwaZulu-Natal. With the recent retirement of Greg Bortz, it makes absolute sense that Mr Naidoo assume the chairmanship of both Race Coast companies.”

The newly constituted uniform composition of the Race Coast Western Cape and Race Coast KwaZulu-Natal boards is:

• Sadha Naidoo (Non-Executive Chairperson)
• Zandile Maseko (Non- Executive)
• Suren Rampersadh
• Morgan Shandu
• Dean Sawarjith
• Kaamilah Finch

Media release published by Race Coast on Tuesday 29 September 2026.

Coast Of The Sun (Mickaëlle Michel) wins his Maiden from Benny and Paul. ([Picture: Candiese Lenferna).

Promising three-year-old Coast Of The Sun has changed hands in a deal that could see him line up in races at the Dubai Racing Carnival in 2028. The sale was brokered by Vermaak Equine.

Coast Of The Sun, a smashing bay colt by 2019/20 Equus Horse Of The Year Hawwaam out of 2014 Equus Champion Three-Year-Old filly Alboran Sea, was sold by his former owner Rakesh Singh to the partnership of Laurence Wernars, Rikesh Sewgoolam, Mukund Gujadhur and Harry Willson, and will remain in training at Summerveld with Tienie Prinsloo.

Justin Vermaak said Coast Of The Sun will be kept racing in South Africa for selected races in his three-year-old season, but that the long-term objective was to launch his international career via De Kock Racing’s recently announced ‘Global Stable’ in Dubai.

Vermaak commented: “Coast Of The Sun will be having his first start as a three-year-old at Hollywoodbets Greyville this Friday. A decision will be made whether to prepare him with a view to the Grade 1 Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas or to keep him in Durban for the 2027 Champions Season in KwaZulu-Natal, which will include races like next year’s Grade 3 Byerley Turk and the WSB KZN Guineas.

“By the end of the 2026/27 season, Coast Of The Sun will be shipped to Dubai – provided he has proven himself to be good enough – with other potential candidates including Graded winners Red Spice and Erik du Bois, and 2026 Race Coast Slipper winner Turn It Up, who is on the comeback trail following an injury.

“The intent is to send a strong group of three-year-olds, turning four, to join the Global Stable, and Coast Of The Sun adds another dimension. But we have some way to go, and our plans will only come to fruition once our early recruits have shown they’re up to international standards.”

Coast Of The Sun’s four new owners have already tasted a good measure of success in various existing partnerships with runners including Quickstepgal (also bought from Rakesh Singh), Red Spice, World Series, On My Honour and Rivera, and Vermaak noted: “Harry Willson is keen to expand his interests in the team as an owner, and we hope this will be a big start for him at the higher level.”

Coast Of The Sun has raced three times for two eye-catching wins over 1400m. He was very green and raced four wide when winning his Maiden Plate with a powerful finish at Hollywoodbets Greyville, and then defeated a useful older horse in a MR82 Handicap at Hollywoodbets Scottsville, a significant achievement for a two-year-old.

The astute Prinsloo, who rose to prominence with the exploits of Quickstepgal, said that Coast Of The Sun was a ‘freaky horse’, who is doing everything asked of him and going the right way. “He is laid back for a Hawwaam, and he’s improved with every run. We really like him. He still has some maturing to do and more to learn, but he’s proper. I hope he can go all the way to the top.”

Coast Of The Sun, bred by Wilgerbosdrift/Mauritzfontein, was a R1-million purchase at the 2025 Bloodstock SA National Yearling Sale and Prinsloo recalled: “He was destined to join us. Rakesh had bought his half-brother Torremolinos, by Vercingetorix. He was the top seller at the 2024 BSA August Sale.

“Torremolinos was a monster of a horse, looked like a future star. But he died unexpectedly of colic before we could race him, so his owner went to the National Sale last year with the sole purpose of buying the next colt out of Alboran Sea. He came back with Coast Of The Sun. So far, so good for all!” – vermaakequine.com

Erik Du Bois, winning the Grade 1 Premiers Champion Stakes. (Picture: Race Coast).

A full field of 14 runners will be lining up for Saturday’s Grade 2 Betway Joburg Spring Challenge over 1450m on the Inside track at Turffontein, writes JACK MILNER of 4Racing.

Heading up the R550,000 race is last year’s winner, Tin Pan Alley, who will be having his comeback run after finishing unplaced in the Grade 1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge over 1600m at HWB Greyville in June, a race in which he suffered massive interference.

He will be carrying 10kg more this time and will have to deal with a wide draw, but he will have Keagan de Melo up and whatever the outcome of this race, we are sure to be hearing a lot more about Sean Tarry’s charge as the season progresses.

Three-year-olds have a good record in this race but there is only one this year and that is Louis Goosen-trained Erik Dubois, who already has a Grade 1 victory under his belt.  The Premiers Champion Stakes winner looks well weighted with just 52.5kg on his back and he will have Muzi Yeni in the irons.

However, there are some other talented runners in the field, headed up by Stuart Ferrie-trained Gladatorian who will be joined by Grade 1 winners Fire Attack, Cosmic Speed and Main Defender, who won this race in 2023.

There will be 12 runners lining up for the R450,000 Betway Joburg Spring F&M Spring Challenge and it could be worth following the lightly weighted three-year-olds. The best of these could be Tarry-trained Get Up, winner of three of her four races including the Grade 1 Allan Robertson Championship. This daughter of What A Winter could be hard to peg back, despite jumping from No 10 draw.

There is also a R500,000 Pick 6 carryover at the meeting with a likely pool of R3 million.

Final field for the R550,000 Betway Joburg Spring Challenge (Grade 2) over 1450m at Turffontein on Saturday.

1 – 14 TIN PAN ALLEY (S G Tarry) K de Melo 60.0 – 128
2 – 10 FIRE ATTACK (A G Laird) C Habib 59.5 – 124
3 – 5 GLADATORIAN (S H Ferrie) T Godden 58.5 – 127
4 – 12 MAIN DEFENDER (A P Peter) K Matsunyane 58.5 – 126
5 – 15 COSMIC SPEED (S G Tarry) C Zackey 58.5 – 123
6 – 6 CHOISAANADA (E Verdonese) R Danielson 58.5 – 121
7 – 4 TEXAS RED (R Klaasen) R Fourie 58.5 – 119
8 – 13 JIMMY DON (J A Soma) K Strydom 58.5 – 112
9 – 1 BUSSTOPINHOUNSLOW (G J Maroun) M K Katjedi 58.5 – 110
10 – 11 TALK TO THE MASTER (R R Sage) S Moodley 58.5 – 109
11 – 8 SUNSET RIOT (A G Laird) B Marx-Jacobson 58.5 – 107
12 – 2 CHRONICLE KING (C/T Dawson) P Mxoli 58.0 – 115
13 – 7 I’M A FIREBALL (M/M de Kock) C Murray 58.0 – 113
14 – 9 ERIK DUBOIS (L W Goosen) M Yeni 52.5 – 111

Reserve Runner
15 – 3 PRINCE OF KILDARE (B B Ruiters) Reserve 1 58.5 – 85
Same Trainer: (1,5) (2,11)

Final field for the R450,000 Betway Joburg Spring F&M Challenge (Grade 2) over 1450m at Turffontein on Saturday.

1 – 7 HAZY DAZY (X/C Spies) T Mayhew 60.0 – 117
2 – 5 WHISTLE THE TUNE (C/T Dawson) K de Melo 58.5 – 115
3 – 6 KISSHOTEN (A P Peter) K Matsunyane 58.5 – 112
4 – 12 DESTINY OF FIRE (M/M de Kock) C Murray 58.5 – 104
5 – 9 FAMOUS LADY (D Nieuwenhuizen) T Godden 58.5 – 103
6 – 4 CARE FORGOT (S G Tarry) C Zackey 58.5 – 102
7 – 3 SWIATEK (J S Snaith) R Fourie 58.5 – 100
8 – 1 MISS WORLD (A A Azzie) S Moodley 58.5 – 98
9 – 8 WARM RECEPTION (C/T Dawson) C Habib 58.0 – 105
10 – 11 VALENTINA BALDUCCI (R R Sage) P Mxoli 58.0 – 96
11 – 10 GET UP (S G Tarry) M K Katjedi 51.5 – 112
12 – 2 FLOWER ISLAND (M/M de Kock) M Yeni 50.5 – 104

Same Trainer: (2,9) (4,12) (6,11)

Diamond Necklace, early ‘Arc’ support. (Picture: Breeders’ Cup).

Diamond Necklace has come in for support to win Sunday’s Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamps. Trainer Aidan O’Brien indicating she is likely to lead his three-pronged challenge on Europe’s biggest Flat prize.

O’Brien, who has twice saddled the winner of the race, also left last year’s runner-up Minnie Hauk and Irish Derby winner Benvenuto Cellini in the €5 million middle-distance championship at Monday’s first forfeit stage, and indicated he would like to run all three unless the ground deteriorates.

Diamond Necklace has looked tailor-made for the Arc since winning the Prix Marcel Boussac on the same card as a two-year-old in 2025, but surrendered her position as chief market rival to Daryz when suffering a first defeat at the hands of Aventure in the Prix Jean et Louis Romanet over a mile and a quarter at Deauville last month.

On Saturday the four-time Group 1 winner was still freely available to back at 20-1 but, with the sun continuing to shine in Paris, the Ballydoyle maestro looks more likely to let her take her chance in the Arc – with the possibility that Precise could step up to a mile and a quarter for the first time to deputise for her in the Prix de l’Opera 35 minutes later – and Diamond Necklace is now no bigger than 12-1.

O’Brien would not be drawn on whether Ryan Moore will stick by Diamond Necklace, although he confirmed that Christophe Soumillon will pick up one of the other two rides. – Extracts from Racing Post.

Kelly Mitchley and Muzi Yeni (Picture: Pauline Herman).

Polytrack racing at Fairview has another meeting on Wednesday, and most of the races look highly competitive, writes CLIVE ROBINSON.

Two weeks ago, trainer Dean Smith had six winners in the eight races and last Friday Alan Greeff led in a number of winners.

This meeting could be shared between a few of them but perhaps it is the turn of Kelly Mitchley to shine.

She does not have the numbers in her yard as the other two trainers, but she does have a steady flow of winners and a decent strike rate.

There are four runners from her yard on which we will concentrate for the purpose of this preview.

They are Highway Code in Race 1, Soundsofsymphonies in Race 4, Warofdynamite in Race 5 and Vila Vicosa in Race 8.

Gold Standard gelding Highway Code has his first run for her, and it is also his first taste of the Polytrack. The three-year-old was gelded in April after having been placed in two of his three starts.

His two runs since that operation have been below-par, but often a break after that operation is beneficial. Stable jockey Muzi Yeni gets the ride, and blinkers are tried on him.

Soundsofsymphonies, a Master Of My Fate colt, had two unplaced runs in the Western Cape before making his debut for the yard.

Mitchley put him on the Polytrack for his debut with her, and he ran out a 12.25-length winner.

He impressed in that victory, and she decided to take a crack at a feature race in KwaZulu-Natal, but he hung badly and had problems with his bit, so was well beaten.

A return to his home track and his first time in a handicap may well see him prove ahead of the handicapper.

Yeni gets his first ride on the three-year-old colt and he will definitely be trying to prove a point with his next mount, Warofdynamite.

This very consistent gelding has been runner-up four times this year under him. The Declarationofpeace gelding also looked the likely winner of his most recent start but was worried out of it at the finish to finish third.

Vila Vicosa has only won three of his 17 starts, but two of those wins have come in his last three starts, with both of them being over this particular course and distance.

Yeni does get the best out of him, as he was runner-up in his first start under him. – 4Racing.