Green With Envy (far side) gets up to deny Sandringham Summit (Candiese Lenferna Photography)

The Dean Kannemeyer-trained Green With Envy showed how classy and progressive he is today at Hollywoodbets Greyville when storming home from last place to win the Gr 2 WSB Guineas, despite it being a slow run race over a trip which is sharper than ideal for him, not to mention the gusting tailwind.

He was also returning from a layoff of two-and-a-half months, having not run since winning the Gr 1 Splashout Cape Derby over 2000m in comfortable fashion.

His Hollywoodbets Durban July supporters would have been happy with his win on one hand, but perhaps unhappy on the other because he beat home the 123 merit rated Sandringham Summit and therefore might cop a raise and go to 124.

If he does go up to a 124 it will not be a disaster as things stand because he will only have to carry 54kg in the July, presuming See It Again will still be merit rated 132 at the time of publishing the weights.

The handicappers, on the other hand, might use the Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas winner Snow Pilot as the line horse.

He ran off 120 and was beaten 0,60 lengths into third.

In that case the current 119-rated Green With Envy will be made 121 and will be carrying the minimum weight of 53kg for a three-year-old male in the July.

The reason the handicappers might use Snow Pilot is because it might be deemed that Sandringham Summit did not run to his true rating considering he beat Navajo Nation  by only 2,45 lengths, compared to six lengths in the Gr 2 TAB Gauteng Guineas.

The time of the WSB Guineas was almost exactly a second slower than the earlier WSB Fillies Guineas and only 2,45 lengths separated the first six home.

Richard Fourie took Snow Pilot to the front today from draw four and he got an easy lead as the three drawn inside of him, Hluhluwe, Sandringham Summit and Green With Envy, were all held up.

Navajo Nation from the outside draw of seven got into second place in the running which caused Hluhluwe on the rail to be a bit cramped for a stride or two.

Mid Winter Wind was in third place on Navajo Nation’s flank with Hluhluwe next best on the rail, 85-rated Royal Edition was in fifth place behind Mid Winter Wind, Sandringhan Summit sat in sixth place and Craig Zackey was content to sit at the back on Green With Envy.

Fourie did not set fast fractions but still opened up a two length lead and went right to the inside in the straight. Sandringham Summit switched to the outside and ran on well, although perhaps not as well as he did here as a two-year-old.

Green With Envy followed the latter in the straight. He has developed into a classy individual and from being about a length down with 100m to go he mowed Sandringham Summit down with a strong late surge.

Hhuhluwe stayed on for a two length fourth. He will come on from the run, his first since gelding, and will relish a step up in trip.

Mid Winter Wind and Navajo Nation stayed on and were not disgraced, beaten 2,05 and 2,45 lengths respectively.

Snow Pilot gave Mid Winter Wind 6kg when beaten three lengths by him in the Byerley Turk over 1400m and he would have come on from that run too, so it is too early to write off Mid Winter Wind as not having stayed the trip today.

Jonathan Snaith said about Snow Pilot, “He was surprisingly green again at Greyville, hanging right across the course to the inside rail. Richard felt that had Snow Pilot kept a straight line he would have fought out the finish. He will be nominated for both the Gr 1 Daily News 2000 and the Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge. The connections will decide once they’ve seen the weights and draws for both races on which route they’d like to opt for next.”

Jonathan continued, “Hluhluwe produced an excellent comeback effort and will be aimed at the Gr 1 Daily News 2000.”

Of today’s runners Green With Envy is now a 4/1 shot for the Hollywoodbets Durban July, Hluhluwe is 20/1, Snow Pilot is 25/1, Mid Winter Wind is 75/1 and Navajo Nation is 200/1.

Sandringham Summit is not in the July betting as connections have intimated he will not run.

Both Green With Envy and Sandringham Summit are by Gimmethegreenlight.

Green With Envy is a homebred of Lady Christine Laidlaw’s Khaya Stables.

Royal Aussie (pink sleeves) just holds on from a charging Cousin Casey (purple cap) (Candiese Lenferna Photography) 

Royal Aussie’s L’Ormarins King’s Plate third place made him the horse to beat in today’s Gr 2 IOS Drill Hall Stakes, especially considering the fine turn of foot he showed that day, and he duly obliged albeit by a fast diminishing 0,25 lengths from an unlucky Cousin Casey.

Acceleration is a valuable asset at Hollywoodbets Greyville’s tight track and Royal Aussie’s apparent failure to stay the WSB Met trip, also suggested he would be at home coming down to the 1400m trip.

The hopelessy outclassed 70-rated Archimides went to the front and Richard Fourie opted to bounce Royal Aussie out from draw one and take him handy, opposite to the tactic which had been employed on him in the King’s Plate, although he did lie handy last time out when winning the Listed Jet Master Stakes over 1600m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Splashout Cape Derby day.

Humdinger was on the leader’s quarters with Gladatorian behind him.

Cousin Casey sat behind Royal Aussie.

Fourie sent Royal Aussie for home at the top of the straight and Humdinger did not waste time either, while Gladatorian went for his run on the outside of the latter.

Royal Aussie turned it on well and soon had the measure of Humdinger.

Meanwhile, Cousin Casey was  crying out for racing room, but the gap between Humdinger and Gladatorian closed and he had to be steadied for a few strides which could have been costly.

He also had to force himself through the gap when Gladatorian leant on to him.

However, he was flying at the finish and was only denied by a quarter of a length in the end. It was a welcome return to form for the four-year-old Vercingetorix colt , who had set Hollywoodbets Greyville alight as a two-year-old but whose relative downturn in form since reached a zenith when he was eased out of the race in the Gr 1 World Pool Premier’s Champions Challenge.

Gladatorian was beaten 0,55 lengths into third and a further length back was Gimmeanotherchance who ran on well from last.

Al Muthana came from near the back for a 2,65 length fifth.

Humdinger was disappointing in sixth place over her ideal trip.

Archimides was well beaten in 9th and Waterberry Lane pulled early and was then caught wide and finished nearly 17 lengths back.

Jonathan Snaith said about Royal Aussie’s win, “He was given a near perfect ride by Richard under the conditions i.e. a strong tailwind and not much pace. He will go for the Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge next.”

Royal Aussie has had a lucratrive career, being the winner of the inaugural R7.5 millon Gold Rush, and icreased his earnings to R5,813,550.

The Royal Mo gelding was bred by Klawervlei Stud and is owned by Suzette Viljoen, Dr Jill Warner and DA Squance.

Wings Of War wins comfortably in Mary Slacks familiar black with a scarlet cap colours. (Picture: HKJC)

Mary Slack had her first winner as an owner in Hong Kong today when the Douglas Whyte -trained five-year-old Irish-bred Dark Angel gelding Wings Of War won a class 3 event over 1200m at Happy Valley under Harry Bentley.

From a draw of 6 Bentley broke well and was content to have the hard kncking grey in fifth place in touch with the fast pace.

In the straight Wings Of War turned it on impressively and ran out a comfortable one-and-a-half length winner.

He returned 5.00 on the Tote for a win.

It was his 15th start in Hong Kong.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE REPLAY 

The timing of the win was fitting, considering it comes just a couple of weeks after a Mary Slack-bred horse fetched the top price at the BSA National Yearling Sale, sold to the Hong Kong Jockey Club.

Hong Kong racing used to be a closed book with only residents allowed to own, but it changed in late 2022 when Mary Slack became one of the first two persons to be allowed to own horses in Hong Kong as non-residents.

This development came after the HKJC authorized the ownership and racing of two thoroughbreds under the names of Chinese Billionaire and Yulong Supremo, Zhang Yuesheng, as well as Slack.

Tony Millard initially trained imported Wings of War, who is now trained by Douglas Whyte.

The gelding arrived as a twice winner, including having won a Gr 2 over six furlongs at Newbury as a two-year-old when trained by Clive Cox for owner Isa Salman Al Khalifa.

Wings Of War was bought in training by Slack and exported from the UK to Hong Kong.

He had finished second three times and third three times on the racing mad island before Wednesday’s historic win.

Unfortunately, Zhang Yuesheng had already beaten Slack to the accolade of being the first non-resident owner to win a race in Hong Kong.

His charge, an Irish-bred four-year-old gelding by Showcasing called Show Respect, was initially trained by Whyte.

He switched to Australian Mark Newnham’s yard in January this year and finally got off the mark in Hong Kong on 13 march when winning a class 4 event over 1650m.

He followed up in his next start, winning a class 3 event.

Whyte said after Wings Of War’s win, “That’s probably the most satisfying winner I’ve had this season. It means a lot for the owner Mary, her daughter Jessica (Jell) and Stephen Jell. It’s been an unbelievable connection for me, I’ve known them my whole career. To get a winner on the board for them as a trainer, it’s a highlight of my career. Mary, Jessica and Stephen have been so good to me. When I was waiting to start my training career in Hong Kong, they let me stay in their house at Newmarket for three months. They are fantastic people.”

Pacaya wins the Legal Eagle Stakes (Picture: Wayne Marks)

Legal Eagle Stakes (Grade 3) 

PACAYA has seen his rating increased from 111 to 115 after winning the Grade 3 Legal Eagle Stakes over 1800m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Sunday.  The Handicappers were of the view that SACHDEV made for the most suitable line horse and his rating remained unchanged on 104.

RAPIDASH was the only other runner to receive an increase in ratings and he went up to 106 from 103.

The only runner to receive a drop in ratings was FUTURE PRINCE who went down one point from 101 to 100.

Ladies Mile (Listed) 

TIME FOR LOVE had her rating increased to 88 from 82 following her win in the Listed Ladies Miles over 1600m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Sunday. The Handicappers were unanimous in their view that the runner-up MY FLOWER FATE made for the most suitable line horse here and her rating remained unchanged on 87.

No less than 6 horses received drops to their ratings in this event. GOLD POKER GAME dropped to 107 from 108, SIDDELEY drop from 92 to 90, MONTELENA dropped to 91 from 93, FATAL GEM dropped to 90 from 92, RED PALACE dropped to 108 from 111 and LADY MISTICO dropped to 82 from 85.

Little Ballerina (white cap) wins the Gr 2 Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Nursery (JC Photos)

The Vaal straight course has an intriguing eight race meeting today(Thursday)  and high draws should be favourable down the straight with the outside rail set at zero.

In the first race the Alec Laird-trained Parisian Walkway made a good debut over 1160m after a tardy start and this scopey Ideal World colt will relish the step up in trip. He is drawn on the right side and is the one to beat. Sonic Jet will be a threat as he has had three good runs, all behind decent sorts. Pearl In Her Crown has a chance too as she was beaten only a length behind Sonic Jet on debut and ran well second time out too. The Mark Khan-trained first-timer Mizzen Sword is by William Longsword and is a half-brother to a handful of multiple winners. Ultimissimo has produced some good runs and is interesting stepped up in trip being by Fire Away out of a Listed winning Western Winter mare who won from 1000m up to 1400m.

In the second race over 1200m the smart Gr 2 SA Fillies Nursery winner Little Ballerina is drawn five out of six and is hard to oppose despite having to give weight to the rest of the field. Kindred Heart has run consistently and is drawn on the right side so could reverse an earlier one length defeat by It’s Her Way. First-timer Green Sapphire is interesting being a Drakenstein homebred by Gimmethegreenlight and a half-brother to Gr 2 winner King Of Gems and to Gr 2 winner Pink Tourmaline. It’s Her Way has the form to be in the top three.  Force Eight has shown some ability and should enjoy the step up in trip on pedigree.

In the third over 1400m Grand Crescendo is unplaced in two starts but both of those were in Cape Town and he was under six lengths on each occasion behind the useful Roman Agent, with the second of those races having Listed status. He should be too good for this uninspiring field over a step up in trip which should suit. He jumps from draw five out of 12. Shinto Shrine made a good debut and could be a threat. He should enjoy the step up in trip but a draw of three out of 12 won’t make it easy. Roll Of THe Dice was never disgraced in cape Town and can place here. Ilha Da Orange has drawn on the right side and looks capable of placing. Magical Stones has some form and tries a step up in trip which on pedigree might suit.

in the fourth race over 1600m Officer In Command is distance suited and comes off a close up fifth over 1800m from which the form has worked out very well. The progressive Judgement Day won that race and second-placed Jordan has come out and won a good race since then, beating some classy horses. Majestic Palace, who is a half-brother to Gr 1-winning sprinter and now sire Master Archie, is drawn on the right side and looks to be on the up, but he does have a five point raise to overcome.  Sage King could be in the shake up if producing his best. Nordic Rebel is a gallant ten-year-old who could make the frame. Bloomington is always hard to ignore.

In the fifth race over 2000m the talented Sukhumvit takes on the boys. She can rise above her current 91 merit rating having finished close up to the classy Frances Ethel last time over this trip at level weights. She does have a tricky draw of seven and was scratched before the SA Oaks when cast in her box, so might still need this outing. Millahue benefited from a layoff as this talented gelding came back to run a fine third last time over 1800m. He should have come on from that run but a draw of six out of ten will be tricky. Sugar Blast beat Millahue last time by a quarter of a length and although 1,5kg worse off he is now drawn in pole. Total Surrender beat that pair last time but has been raised three points and has to jump from draw nine. Home Of The Brave and Supreme Dance have good draws and should be included if the budget allows.

In the sixth race over 1200m Mia Moo has some good form against classy sorts and should enjoy the return to a sprint, because she won a race over 1160m in December by 4,25 lengths, although she does have to jump from draw two. She is comfortably best in at the weights. Beamonesque is interesting because he has speed and some class but returns from a layoff of close to seven months. Piere Strydom is an interesting booking, although draw three out of eight might make it a little bit tricky. Mount Pilatus has hard-knocking sprint form and should be in the shake up. Global Thunder should enjoy the step up to 1200m. Sunshine Day could bounce back in his second run back from Cape Town.

In the seventh race over 1200m Richard The First is knocking on the door and has a chance from a middle draw, despite being 1,5kg under sufferance with the best weighted.  Black Egret ran a cracker last time at Hollywoodbets Scottsville in a Listed event and has a chance. He is 1kg under sufferance with the best weighted. Aussenkehr can never be ignored over this trip. He is 1,5kg out with the best weighted. Wings Within Me has some fair form and is the best weighted so can’t be ignored. Gimmefabulous made a good debut and followed it with a good win, both at Kenilworth, so should make her presence felt here, although she has a tough task at the weights.

The last is a tricky Classified Stakes race. Moola Man is drawn on the right side and has been in fair form, so although 2kg under sufferance with the best weighted he can start to deliver having dropped to a competitive merit rating. Whorly Whorly, also 2kg under sufferance with the best weighted, has some fair recent form and has a chance here. King Rahul, also 2kg under sufferance can go close if repeating his last start. The best weighted is Dancing Dora, who is in good form but has the potentially tough number one draw. Sharapova is only half-a-kilogram worse off than the latter and should be included.

Anne, Duchess Of Westminster, was known for her passion for horseracing and named two of her horses after those two mountains, which were both on her estate in Sutherland. The dome-shaped mountain on the right is called Arkle and the one on the left is called Foinaven.

Arkle the horse was born in the 1957 and is regarded as the greatest jumps racehorse of all time, winning the Cheltenham Gold Cup three years in succession from 1964 to 1966 and in all he won 27 of his 35 starts.

Foinavon the horse was born in 1958 and is a celebrated winner of the Grand National because of how lucky his win was at odds of 100/1. At the 23rd fence in the 1967 Grand National a horse veered to his right and ran across the fence. There was a complete melee with every horse in the race involved. However,  Foinavon, coming from off the pace managed to find a gap and jump through it. He was left out in front of his own and went on to win comfortably. The fence was officially named after Foinavon in 1984.