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New Paper
5 hours 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.
The Citizen
28-05-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
Eight On Eighteen floating to July winning post
The colt is rated tops but will get weight from all his rivals. Eight On Eighteen winning the Cape Town Met at Kenilworth earlier this year. Picture: Peter Heeger/Gallo Images The phrase 'weighted win' is guaranteed to turn any punter's head. Well, if colt Eight On Eighteen competes in the Hollywoodbets Durban July in six weeks' time, he will be weighted to win – and easily at that. The Justin Snaith-trained prodigy has been given a two-point merit rating rise for his facile victory in the past weekend's Daily News 2000 – from 127 to 129. That's a giddily high number for a three-year-old horse but is justified by three Grade 1 wins in just 10 outings, with a Grade 1 second thrown in, too. It makes him the highest rated of the 48 remaining entries for the July, with five-year-old See It Again in second position on 127. MRs are for determining imposts in handicap races, but the July isn't a pure handicap; it's a 'conditions' race, with a bit of this and a bit of that in terms of make-up. Though the race rules set the top weight at 60kg, they also limit the maximum weight for three-year-olds to 57kg. Theoretically, See It Again will lug 60kg and Eight On Eighteen will have to carry only 57kg, despite his two-point higher MR. Knowledgeable Turf Talk puts this advantage at a nett 4kg. It's 'theoretically' as the line-up for the country's biggest race is a long way from being finalised. Uncertain for July Indeed, Eight On Eighteen's connections have maintained for weeks that their star is by no means a definite July runner. He is hot property value-wise – for racing in the near future and for stud purposes in the long term – and, as Snaith stated on Saturday, the July is always a rough affair with everyone involved hell-bent on getting their names into the history books. 'Committing to the July, we've had a lot of horses go wrong in the race,' said Snaith after Saturday's Daily News 2000 at Greyville in Durban. 'It's the most interesting race in South Africa as, when the starting stalls open, the jockeys completely lose their heads and their brains. Its importance, history … there's so much at play in a race like that and you also have to think about his wellbeing. It's a decision that will be made a little later, but when you have a horse of this ability it's very hard not to go for a race like that. We will put it all in and make the call.' Many a racing fan would lay short odds on owners Nick Jonsson and Johan Rupert going for it. The two gentlemen are in the game for the thrills and there's no bigger thrill than winning a July. Durban July odds In terms of laying odds, July sponsors Hollywoodbets have chopped Eight On Eighteen's big-race ante-post odds by half – from 5-1 last week to 5-2. July defending champion and second favourite Oriental Charm has eased from 6-1 to 7-1. In adjusting merit ratings after Saturday's Daily News 2000, the handicappers made runner-up Spumante Dolce their line horse, keeping her rating at 117. Okavango, who finished third, was pushed up sharply from 105 to 120, having finished 0.25 lengths behind Spumante Dolce while conceding 2.5kg in weight. Native Ruler, who finished 0.3 lengths behind Okavango, also got a big bump: 103 to 119. Little Suzie, winner of the Tote Woolavington 2000 – also for Snaith – had her rating raised from 106 to 108.
The South African
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The South African
Justin Snaith scratches Sail The Seas from Hollywoodbets Durban July
Top Cape trainer Justin Snaith has scratched 3-year-old Sail The Seas from the 2025 Hollywoodbets Durban July. No reason for the scratching was given. Snaith still holds a strong hand in the field with a number of other entrants, including current race favourite Eight On Eighteen Hollywoodbets have priced Eight On Eighteen at 5/2 in the ante-post market. The Snaith yard have not won Africa's greatest race since Belgarion do so in 2020, rounding off a hat-trick that was launched in 2018 and 2019 by the iconic Do It Again. This year's R5 million Hollywoodbets Durban July over 2 200m will take place on Saturday, 5 July at Hollywoodbets Greyville. Second declarations close at 11:00 on Monday, 9 June Final supplementary entries close at 11:00 on Tuesday, 17 June, on which date the weights will be published Final Declarations close at 11:00 on Monday, 23 June Final field and draw announcement will take place on Tuesday, 24 June The official gallops will be held on Thursday 26 June A final field of 20 horses will be carded (18 + 2 Reserves) The reserves to be scratched by 08:15 on Friday, 4 July Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
New Paper
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New Paper
Chip and putt for Eight On Eighteen
DURBAN - Always a guiding light as to the chances of three-year-old males going into the Grade 1 Hollywoodbets Durban July (2,200m), this year's 2 million rand (S$144,000) Grade 1 Daily News 2000 (2,000m) at Greyville (at 9.12pm Singapore time) looks to be at first glance something of a Justin Snaith/Nick Jonsson benefit. Snaith saddles four of the seven runners with three of them, including the 1-2 ante-post favourite Eight On Eighteen, carrying the Jonsson silks. The presence of the Lancaster Bomber colt in the field has likely scared off much of the opposition given that finishing in close proximity to the four-time winner would see their handicap ratings ramped up, but Mike and Mathew de Kock have risen to the challenge with their filly Spumante Dolce. Regular partner Richard Fourie will ride Eight On Eighteen who arrived in KZN for South Africa's Champions Season after wins in the Grade 1 Cape Met (2,000m) and Grade 1 Cape Derby (2,000m). He made his debut in the Grade 2 Guineas (1,600m) and fell just short of catching stable companion Sail The Seas, with Muzi Yeni pinching a break on Eight On Eighteen who was finishing best of all, a win possibly thwarted by a difficult passage at the top of the straight. It was an excellent effort by Eight On Eighteen over a distance now possibly short of his best. With experience on the course and back over an ideal trip, he is the worthy favourite. The de Kocks have spurned the Grade 2 Woolavington 2000 (2,000m) and are hunting Grade 1 glory for Spumante Dolce. She is currently 13th on the Durban July log and as a three-parts sister to the former de Kock-trained Durban July winner Sparkling Water, this trip should suit. The daughter of Vercingetorix was running on strongly when second in the Grade 2 Fillies Guineas (1,600m) at Greyville on May 3, and de Kock seldom runs no-hopers in feature company. Spumante Dolce would also be a first fairer-sex winner of the Daily News this century with fillies enjoying a purple patch with Roland's Song (1989), St Just (1990) and Star Effort (1991). However, Snaith has indicated that the Durban July is not an option cast in iron for Eight On Eighteen but rather the WFA Grade 1 Champions Cup (1,800m) at Greyville as well. On the other hand, stable companions Okavango and Native Ruler are both July entries, but will need to up their handicap ratings to make the field which may be what is behind Snaith's thinking. Okavango, the mount of Andrew Fortune, is currently joint-second favourite along with the Fabian Habib-trained Confederate at 6-1, but the son of Master Of My Fate is only merit-rated 105 although nine points up through a 3.2-length fourth behind Selukwe in the Grade 3 World Sports Betting 1900 (1,900m) at Greyville when carrying just 52kg. Having won three races from 1,600m to 1,800m, he will be suited by Saturday's 2,000m trip. If Okavango can finish within a reasonable distance of the 127-rated Eight On Eighteen, he will get a further rise in the ratings, possibly high enough to gain a July berth. The other joint-second favourite is the classy Confederate. The son of Fire Away won the Grade 1 SA Classic on the first day in March over 1,800m on the Turffontein standside track, beating subsequent Grade 1 WFA Premier's Champions Challenge (2,000m) winner and Highveld Horse of the Year, Fire Attack, another progeny of Fire Away. That he returns from a layoff of close to three months is a little concerning, but he has won four races and has yet to finish further back than second in eight starts. With Fire Attack sidelined with a hoof injury, Alec Laird has pinned his hopes on Grade 2 TAB Gauteng Guineas (1,600m) winner Parisian Walkway. Also a July entry, the son of Ideal World is the second highest-rated runner on 121. He likes to race handy which will give some hope of a decent gallop. However, Snaith's fourth entry, Makazole, racing in the Jonsson colours, may be sacrificed and given the role of pacemaker. The son of Trippi has won two races including the Listed Champion Juvenile Cup (1,400m) at Fairview but has yet to race beyond 1,400m. GOLD CIRCLE
The Citizen
19-05-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
Snaith sextet top entries for Daily News 2000
Two-time Grade 1 winner Eight On Eighteen heads up field for R2m race. Runners from the Justin Snaith stable dominate the entry for the Grade 1 Daily News 2000 at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday. There are 11 runners entered in the R2-million race for three-year-olds and six of them come from Snaith Racing. Of course, leading the sextet is Cape Town Met and Cape Derby winner Eight On Eighteen, who is likely to go off as a hot favourite for this race. The Lancaster Bomber colt had a perfect warm-up for this race when finishing a 0.60-length second behind stable companion Sail The Seas in the Grade 2 WSB Guineas over 1600m at this course. Interestingly, Snaith has already declared three of his runners for the race and other than Eight On Eighteen, he has Native Ruler with JP van der Merwe up and Makazole, to be ridden by Andrew Fortune. Once again, Richard Fourie will be on Eight On Eighteen. ALSO READ: Callan puts Dave back on throne Another runner of interest is Fabian Habib-trained Confederate, who has not been seen in action since winning the Grade 2-1 SA Classic over 1800m at Turffontein on 1 March. He kept going resolutely to hold off Fire Attack, who went on to win the Grade 1 Premier's Champion Challenge four weeks later, by 0.70 lengths. Also run at the meeting will be the Grade 2 Tote Woolavington 2000, which is no longer restricted to three-year-olds and is open to all fillies and mares. Spumante Dolce, winner of the Grade 2 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas, has been entered to run in both races and it will be interesting to see which of the two trainers Mike and Mathew de Kock choose. This race has got a strong entry of 19 runners so that should be quite a competitive event. ALSO READ: Local jockeys good enough for world league Entries for the R2-million Daily News 2000 (Grade 1) over 2000m 5 CONFEDERATE (F P Habib) 60.0 11 EIGHT ON EIGHTEEN (J S Snaith) 60.0 4 FIELD MARSHAL (F Robinson) 60.0 2 GRAN CANARIA (J S Snaith) 60.0 7 MAKAZOLE (J S Snaith) 60.0 3 NATIVE RULER (J S Snaith) 60.0 1 OKAVANGO (J S Snaith) 60.0 9 ON MY HONOUR (G S Kotzen) 60.0 10 PARISIAN WALKWAY (A G Laird) 60.0 12 REGULATION (J S Snaith) 60.0 6 SPUMANTE DOLCE (M/M de Kock) 57.5 Entries for the R500,000 Tote Woolavington 2000 (Grade 2) (Fillies & Mares) over 2000m
