Latest news with #DrillHallStakes
New Paper
4 days ago
- Sport
- New Paper
June 7 South Africa (Greyville) form analysis
Race 1 (1,600m) (3) BLIZZARD QUEST has found market support in both starts. He steps up to a more suitable trip. (4) LUNAR DESCENT has improved with each outing and was close-up at long odds when going a mile for the first time. (2) MATCHA MINT comes with smart Highveld form. She has a good draw and Richard Fourie. (1) BLACKJACK RANDALL goes this trip for the first time. He took on what has panned out to be a fair field over a sprint last time. Race 2 (1,600m) (7) RICH FOLKS HOAX has started a beaten favourite at his first two KZN starts. He shed his maiden over a mile blinkers are on. (5) PLUS FOUR has run two smart races for his new stable since moving up from the Cape. Stable jockey Sean Veale has plumped for the well-drawn (1) TYRCONNELL. (3) MASTER CHRISTMAS is way better than his last effort and makes the trip from the Highveld. Race 3 (1,900m) (11) AFROPOLITAN stayed on stoutly last run on the Poly. Though he has top weight, he should be competitive. (6) BOMBERS IN THE SKY only recently shed his maiden but was staying on well in his first local start over course and distance. He should turn the tables on (7) CHILL IN THE AIR who finished 0.5 length ahead of Bombers In The Sky last time. (10) AFRICAN DUSK looks held by Afropolitan on their last meeting but he is also down in class. Race 4 (1,200m) (1) VIBE SA may have needed his first run back after a three-month break. He has the best of the draws. (3) POSITION OF POWER won well on debut over this course. He looks useful and can follow up. (7) AFRICAN PRINCE was a beaten favourite in his Poly debut but was not far back. The switch to the turf could bring out the best. (6) HOPE IS POWER finished ahead of African Prince when they last met and from the widest draw. Little between these two. Race 5 (1,400m) (1) EDUCATOR was well supported in the market on debut and won comfortably. She stays the trip and has the best of the draws. (5) CAPTAINS ENVY is now 2kg better off than (3) QUICKSTEPGAL who touched him off in the Strelitzia Stakes. Mike Miller's charge can turn the tables. (4) LITTLEMISSSPLENDID went close when stepping up in trip. Race 6 (1,400m) (8) WHISPERING DEATH finished runner-up on debut and is unbeaten in two since. He looks progressive. (1) TENJIKU beat Whispering Death when shedding his maiden and followed up with another comfortable victory. (9) VIKINGS REVENGE won well at long odds on debut. He will come on from that run. (11) AVERSATOR won well over course and distance when shedding his maiden. Still can win this with natural improvement. Race 7 (1,600m) (2) DAVE THE KING made all to show that he was back to best when winning last time. He has the ideal draw and all should be chasing him come the final furlong. (5) COSMIC SPEED finished close behind Eight On Eighteen in the Group 2 WSB Guineas over course and distance. As one of the best 3YOs, he can test Dave The King. (3) SEE IT AGAIN showed signs of his best when touched off by Gladatorian in the Drill Hall Stakes. Extra 200m suits. (8) GLADATORIAN came from well back to win the Drill Hall and must certainly have a chance. Race 8 (1,400m) (9) BE MERRY stayed on gamely in the WSB Fillies Guineas and this shorter trip should suit despite wide gate. (8) CALLMEGETRIX has finished runner-up at her last three and meets Be Merry on similar terms as to when last they met. (5) GREEN SAPPHIRE was never in the hunt from her wide draw in the WSB Fillies Guineas. She won well over course and distance at her penultimate start. (1) LUCRATIVE has shown steady improvement of late and has the best of the draws. Race 9 (1,800m) (1) POMODORO'S JET steps up in trip but is unbeaten since being fitted with cheek pieces. Fair weight on his back but he will go close. (5) ON MY HONOUR was just over three lengths off Eight On Eighteen in the Group 2 WSB Guineas. He has been taking on top company in the Western Cape. (13) ZEITZ flopped in the Group 1 Cape Derby. Not seen since. He will need to win or run up close to have a chance on a run in July. (10) WILD INTENT has come well since his below-par trip to the Cape. He got a 17-point jump in the handicap for his second to Legend Of Arthur in the Gr1 SA Derby. Race 10 (1,000m) (7) AYUWI YUWI was narrowly beaten by the veteran sprinter Trafalgar Square last time. (4) TARA STAR has found form. Apprentice is replaced by Fourie. (6) GOLDEN CHANDELIER has lost her way of late but gets first-time blinkers. She can pop up at long odds. (12) MILLION VOICES resumes and is the choice of stable rider Tristan Godden. She will go close on her best form.
IOL News
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- IOL News
Racing season opens with thrilling victory in R750 000 Independent On Saturday Gr2 Drill Hall Stakes
The Champions Season started with the running of the Independent On Saturday Gr2 Drill Hall Stakes at Hollywoodbets Greyville Racecourse on Saturday. Image: Leon Lestrade / Independent Newspapers. The atmosphere was electric at the Hollywoodbets Greyville Racecourse last Saturday as the 2025 Champions Season kicked off with the R750 000 Independent On Saturday Gr2 Drill Hall Stakes. The event attracted a vibrant crowd of fans, punters, and families, all eager to participate in this prestigious day of racing. Children enjoyed a range of free entertainment at KidZone, while adults livened up their experience at the Durban View Restaurant and participated in the thrilling Win if You Lose competitions that kept spirits high between the races. In a riveting 1400m race, the crowd roared as Gladatorian, the five-year-old son of Vercingetorix piloted by his usual jockey Sean Veale, rode to victory. The gelding triumphed over 11 formidable rivals, including last year's winner, Royal Aussie. Marketing and brand officer, Sinethemba Hlela, stated that The Independent on Saturday is proud of its ongoing relationship with Hollywoodbets Greyville and Gold Circle, which continues to grow. 'The Independent on Saturday Drill Hall Stakes is always an exciting highlight on our calendar, and we are thrilled to be part of the top-class racing this event brings,' she said. Graeme Hawkins from Gold Circle said Champions Season 2025 got off to a flying start last Saturday, with top-class racing and exciting finishes the order of the day. 'The traditional season-opener, the IOS Drill Hall Stakes, held over 1400m, produced a nail-biting finish between Gladatorian and See It Again, which set the tone for an outstanding day,' he said. Looking forward, Hawkins said the stage is set for a memorable Champions Season, with the R5 million Hollywoodbets Durban July being the highlight. 'At the first entry stage, 61 horses were nominated, including both Gladatorian and See It Again, and with the Daily News 2000 (Gr1) in two weeks' time, there is much anticipation amongst the racing fans,' he said. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ Punter Raffiek Habib, 68, from Durban, who attends all the major races, recalled coming to the racecourse at the age of seven with his grandfather. 'I love horses running on this track; it's not about the money and gambling, it's about blueblood racing. The way horses are bred and the speed they have, it's exhilarating, and that's what I love about it. Although the jockey is on the horse getting that rush, I'm here, backing that horse and getting that same rush. The excitement is there,' he said. However, Habib said he did win some of the bets he placed and is looking forward to the season ahead.
The Citizen
23-04-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
Snaith chooses Guineas for Met champ Eight On Eighteen
All the stars out early in KZN season. The winter racing season in KwaZulu-Natal is set for a rousing start at Greyville on the first Saturday of May, with early entries for Guineas day pitching most of the country's best racehorses into action. Gimme A Prince, South Africa's top-rated horse, tops the list for the Drill Hall Stakes, a storied race that's always been closely linked to thinking about the country's premier contest, the Hollywoodbets Durban July. Unfortunately for trainer Dean Kannemeyer, Gimme A Prince has drawn wide at 19 and racing fans will have to wait and see if the brilliant gelding stands his ground for the Grade 2, 1400m contest. Put up against him are a phalanx of big names: Equus Horse of the Year Dave The King; smart Cape Town sprinter Café Culture; Joburg raiders Main Defender, Cousin Casey and Barbaresco; local heroes See It Again and Gladatorian … and plenty more. Three-year-old Eight On Eighteen, winner of this year's Cape Town Met and Cape Derby, is among the Drill Hall nominations, but his trainer Justin Snaith has already accepted for the colt to run in the WSB Guineas on the same card. Both races are Grade 2s carrying R750,000 purses, but the Guineas is over 1600m, which better suits the youngster at this stage. Snaith's Drill Hall combatants will be Royal Aussie and Great Plains, both of whom could end up in the July line-up. The champion trainer's back-up to Eight On Eighteen in the Guineas is the improving Sail The Seas, who we're likely to hear a lot more about in the coming months. The main threat to the Snaith pair in the Guineas will come from a trio of Highveld visitors: Sean Tarry-trained Cosmic Speed and Legend Of Arthur, and Alec Laird's Fire Attack. ENTRIES [draw, name, (age&sex), weight, MR, equipment, trainer] Independent On Saturday Drill Hall Stakes 19 Gimme A Prince (6G) 60 134 A Dean Kannemeyer 16 Dave The King (5G) 60 128 A Mike / Mathew de Kock 24 Purple Pitcher (4C) 60 123 BA Robyn Klaasen 21 Main Defender (4G) 58.5 130 A Tony Peter 1 Cafe Culture (5G) 58.5 128 A Lucinda Woodruff 3 Royal Aussie (5G) 58.5 124 BA Justin Snaith 27 Outlaw King (4G) 58.5 110 A Dean Kannemeyer 5 Eight On Eighteen (3C) 58 127 A Justin Snaith 13 Cosmic Speed (3G) 58 125 A Sean Tarry 14 Montien (5G) 57 129 A Piet Botha 2 See It Again (5G) 57 127 A Michael Roberts 26 Cousin Casey (5H) 57 125 A Sean Tarry 8 Barbaresco (4G) 57 124 ATe J A Janse van Vuuren 10 Questioning (4G) 57 124 BA Vaughan Marshall 6 Gladatorian (5G) 57 123 AT Stuart Ferrie 25 The Real Prince (4G) 57 118 A Dean Kannemeyer 15 Texas Red (5G) 57 115 A Robyn Klaasen 18 Anfields Rocket (5G) 57 113 A Trevor Brown 20 Diani (5G) 57 103 A Dennis Bosch 11 Cats Pajamas (3G) 56.5 115 A Frank Robinson 9 Red Palace (4F) 56 119 A Dean Kannemeyer 23 White Pearl (4F) 56 114 A Mike / Mathew de Kock 17 Winds Of Change (3C) 55 121 AT M G Azzie/A A Azzie 4 Great Plains (3G) 55 112 A Justin Snaith 22 Sail The Seas (3C) 55 112 A Justin Snaith 7 Oxalis Gold (3F) 52.5 107 A Mike / Mathew de Kock 12 Khethiwe's Destiny (3F) 52.5 100 A Mike / Mathew de Kock WSB Guineas 11 Eight On Eighteen (3C) 60 127 A Justin Snaith 10 Fire Attack (3C) 60 126 A Alec Laird 8 Cosmic Speed (3G) 60 125 A Sean Tarry 12 Legend Of Arthur (3C) 60 117 HA Sean Tarry 18 Cats Pajamas (3G) 60 115 A Frank Robinson 4 Great Plains (3G) 60 112 A Justin Snaith 6 Sail The Seas (3C) 60 112 A Justin Snaith 9 Musical Score (3G) 60 108 A Lucky Houdalakis 14 On My Honour (3G) 60 108 A Glen Kotzen 15 Royal Force (3G) 60 104 A Lucky Houdalakis 17 Field Marshal (3G) 60 102 A Frank Robinson 13 Legal Counsel (3G) 60 98 A Justin Snaith 7 Zeitz (3C) 60 97 BA Andre Nel 1 Jp's Palace (3G) 60 91 A Darryl Moore 3 Dance King (3G) 60 89 A Weichong Marwing 16 World Of Our Own (3G) 60 86 A Alyson Wright 2 Vj's Angel (3F) 57.5 119 A Tony Peter 5 Give Me Everything (3F) 57.5 103 A Dean Kannemeyer 19 Frozen Fantasy (3F) 57.5 99 A Robyn Klaasen WSB Fillies Guineas 19 Spumante Dolce (3F) 60 119 AT Mike / Mathew de Kock 2 Vj's Angel (3F) 60 119 A Tony Peter 16 Scarlet Macaw (3F) 60 110 A Candice Bass-Robinson 3 Mon Petit Cherie (3F) 60 108 A BJ Crawford/JI Crawford 23 Little Suzie (3F) 60 107 A Justin Snaith 14 Oxalis Gold (3F) 60 107 A Mike / Mathew de Kock 15 Be Merry (3F) 60 104 A Justin Snaith 22 Green Sapphire (3F) 60 104 A Sean Tarry 24 Give Me Everything (3F) 60 103 A Dean Kannemeyer 17 Gimmefabulous (3F) 60 102 HA e M G Azzie/A A Azzie 7 Miss Scaletta (3F) 60 102 A Paul Matchett 5 Khethiwe's Destiny (3F) 60 100 A Mike / Mathew de Kock 9 Regeneration (3F) 60 100 A e Robbie Hill 10 Frozen Fantasy (3F) 60 99 A Robyn Klaasen 6 Jeanne Darc (3F) 60 99 A Stuart Ferrie 21 Lock And Key (3F) 60 98 A Glen Kotzen 1 Too Late My Mate (3F) 60 97 A Alec Laird 11 Magical View (3F) 60 96 AT Michael Miller 8 Mocha Blend (3F) 60 94 A Frank Robinson 4 Disting (3F) 60 92 BATe Glen Kotzen 13 Blind Ambition (3F) 60 91 BA Brett Webber 20 Goodnessgraciousme (3F) 60 91 A Justin Snaith 12 Two G's (3F) 60 89 A Gareth van Zyl 25 Glamorous Lady (3F) 60 85 A Weichong Marwing 18 One Path (3F) 60 79 A Frank Robinson
