Five-timer the highlight as Antoine Hamelin prepares for France return
Celestial Diamond ready to sparkle
Wednesday’s Hollywoodbets Scottsville card is packed with tricky handicaps and unexposed runners, so punters will need to stay sharp.
In the opener, Glen Kotzen’s Cassandra has strong form but must bounce back after a narrow defeat. Dean Kannemeyer’s unraced Gimmeanotherviking is well-bred and worth a market watch, while Opera Fan and Omnia have shown enough to feature.
Bruh should be ready to win in Race 2 after steady progress, but French War Lord could improve stepping up from a good draw. Master Spy can also do better for Sean Tarry.
The first leg of the Pick 6 is tough with many first-timers. Tarry’s Xenophon has gone close twice and should go close again. Next Of Kin and Cardinal Chief both showed promise on debut and are open to big improvement.
Celestial Diamond could be one of the better bets in Race 4 for Duncan Howells. She’s been consistent and should hold off Lucienne, who has strong course form.
Race 5 is wide open. World Of Royalty tries a mile for the first time and could bounce back. El Capitan is consistent and well drawn, while Limelight Legend and Queen Of The Air have good each-way claims.
Howells’s Princess Palace must be respected in Race 6 with a light weight. Hodgepodge is always thereabouts.
In Race 7, Dancing On A Cloud gets another chance to find his best, but the filly Lock And Key might be the one to beat despite taking on males. Royal Invitation and Tirpitz are others to note.
The finale looks competitive. Rafa’s Boy has a big weight but benefits from a claiming rider. Major Tommie, B Fifty Two, and Rhythm should be in the mix.
Kaiboy to continue his progress
Cape Town’s winter rain threatens Tuesday’s Hollywoodbets Kenilworth meeting, but if racing goes ahead, Kaiboy stands out in Race 3 over 1100m.
The Candice Bass-Robinson-trained gelding has long promised plenty and, rising four, could still blossom into a Stakes performer. He ran well last time in the Winter Sprint over 1200m, finishing a length behind Arctic Wizard under a big weight. Dropping to 1100m, where he has solid form, could suit him perfectly. Sean Veale, enjoying a standout season, takes the ride.
Dumbledore, beaten just 0.2 lengths by Kaiboy in that race, is a danger. With Richard Fourie up for one of only three rides on the card, he could prove a threat if the going isn’t too testing.
Meu Capitano returns after four months off and goes well on soft ground but fitness is the question mark. Time Fo Orchids relocates from Johannesburg and brings strong Grade 2 form into this race — well-weighted, she could surprise.
Earlier, Rockanrollin looks the one in Race 1. The Wootton Bassett colt stayed on nicely when debuting over 1200m and will have improved. Wish List is another to watch in Race 2 after a smart debut when third behind Paralegal.
Race 4 is modest but Rare Earth could build on her recent improvement. In Race 5, Firingonallengines is a tricky but game frontrunner — if he repeats last time’s effort, he’ll be in the mix despite top weight.
Race 6 is open, with La Divina given a tentative nod. Lovers Lane deserves a win in Race 7 after consistent efforts. The Charleston rounds off the card in Race 8 and could take advantage with a handy apprentice claim.
Sha Tin Track Spy: Saturday, 5 July
A Bright Patch Among the Stars
Bond backing Maranoa Charlie to go the distance at Deauville


Ombudsman leads the way in Eclipse for the ages
July 6 Selangor Preview By Mark Lydeamore
Laird launches attack at Sea Cottage Stakes
The eight-race Standside fixture at Turffontein on Sunday, 6 July is headlined by the Grade 3 Sea Cottage Stakes (Race 7) — the final leg of the Highveld Winter Series for three-year-olds, honouring the legendary Sea Cottage.
Sea Cottage famously survived a shooting in 1966 before dead-heating the Durban July a year later with the bullet still lodged in his hindquarter. He won 20 of his 24 starts for trainer Syd Laird, cementing his place as a South African racing icon.
Alec Laird, Syd’s son, saddles just one runner on Sunday, but it’s a big one. His star colt Fire Attack bids to land a win worthy of the family legacy. The Fire Away colt, last season’s Highveld Champion Two-Year-Old, has been in superb form this term — runner-up in the Gr2 Dingaans and Gr3 Got The Greenlight Stakes, then second again at Gr1 level in the TAB SA Classic over this same course and distance.
Fire Attack crowned his campaign with a Gr1 victory in the Premier’s Champions Challenge against older horses at weight-for-age over 2000m. He’s been off for 14 weeks but is well treated under the race conditions and, even with 60kg, rates well clear on official ratings. He should prove hard to beat despite conceding 3kg to his rivals.
His main dangers are Musical Score and Choisanaada, both in form and trying 1800m for the first time. Choisanaada is chasing a series clean sweep and the R500,000 bonus after winning the Winter Series legs over 1400m and 1600m, beating smart horses each time.
Elsewhere on the card, watch promising recent winners Shadowfax (Race 2) and Constellation (Race 4) for more clues. Clive Robinson
Eight On Eighteen out to make history
Justin Snaith, alongside owners Nick Jonsson and Johann Rupert, has confirmed that star colt Eight On Eighteen will lead their charge in the prestigious Gr1 R5 million Hollywoodbets Durban July at Greyville on Saturday, 5 July. Drawn in barrier 11, the talented three-year-old could make history as the first to win both the Gr1 WSB Cape Town Met and the Durban July in the same year.
With South Africa’s reigning Champion Jockey Richard Fourie in the irons, chasing his fourth July win and Snaith seeking his sixth, Eight On Eighteen will carry a hefty 57kg — the highest for a three-year-old since Abashiri in 2016. His brilliant wins in the Gr1 Daily News 2000 and the Cape Met stamped him as a standout, but he faces strong rivals.
Last year’s winner, Oriental Charm, looms as the main danger. Beaten just half a length by Eight On Eighteen in the Met, he now meets his younger rival on 5.5kg better terms. He tuned up well, finishing a close second in the Gr1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge.
Veteran See It Again, also racing for Jonsson, returns for a third tilt at the big prize, now partnered by Raymond Danielson. Stuart Ferrie’s Gladatorian and Dean Kannemeyer’s late closer The Real Prince add depth, while Nathan Kotzen’s Royal Victory — third last year — arrives in peak form.
Highveld hopes rest on Confederate, lightly raced but consistent, with champion jockey Warren Kennedy flying in from New Zealand. The father-son De Kock team fields Immediate Edge, drawn next to Eight On Eighteen, carrying a handy 53kg.
Snaith also saddles Okavango and Native Ruler, while Alec Laird pins his hopes on Summer Cup winner Atticus Finch for an upset in this history-making field.
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France Express Form & Race Previews (Saint-Cloud/Senonnes-Pouance) – Wednesday, July 9

South Africa Express Form & Race Previews (Scottsville) – July 9

RACE BY RACE PREVIEWS: SCOTTSVILLE@2025.07.09
HOLLYWOODBETS SCOTTSVILLE, 09.07.2025, Race 1, Gallops, 1600m, Turf, R125,000, 12:20GMT+2Race Summary: CASSANDRA (6) was beaten favourite last run and has two smart efforts to her name. She should go close again. Dean Kannemeyer has a stable of promising juveniles and the unraced GIMMEANOTHERVIKING (2) is bred in the purple. OPERA FAN (1) made a smart debut for her new stable but has had her chances although she had some promising Highveld form. OMNIA (5) was much improved second time out when trying a little further on the poly. She should come on from that effort.
Selections: #1 OPERA FAN, #2 GIMMEANOTHERVIKING, #5 OMNIA, #4 GATHERING WINTER
HOLLYWOODBETS SCOTTSVILLE, 09.07.2025, Race 2, Gallops, 1600m, Turf, R150,000, 12:55GMT+2Race Summary: Paul Lafferty’s runner BRUH (10) has come on with each outing and looks primed for this. FRENCH WAR LORD (2) has shown up well in two sprints and the step up in trip from a plum draw can see him home. MASTER SPY (4) was a well beaten fourth over the trip last time out but is sure to improve on that effort. PIED PIPER (1) showed up well on debut and steps up to what should be a more suitable trip.
Selections: #10 BRUH, #2 FRENCH WAR LORD, #4 MASTER SPY, #1 PIED PIPER
HOLLYWOODBETS SCOTTSVILLE, 09.07.2025, Race 3, Gallops, 1200m, Turf, R125,000, 13:30GMT+2Race Summary: Sean Tarry’s charge XENOPHON (10) looks primed to fire after two smart efforts. Narrowly beaten last run he should go close again. NEXT OF KIN (4) showed up well on debut over course and distance and one can expect good improvement from a top stable. CARDINAL CHIEF (8) was running on strongly on debut and the extra furlong should suit. RAGING MOON (9) has not been far back in two outings and has a money chance.
Selections: #10 XENOPHON, #4 NEXT OF KIN, #8 CARDINAL CHIEF, #9 RAGING MOON
HOLLYWOODBETS SCOTTSVILLE, 09.07.2025, Race 4, Gallops, 1200m, Turf, R110,000, 14:05GMT+2Race Summary: CELESTIAL DIAMOND (9) was a beaten even money favourite last start. She has shown up well in both starts and should run another good race. LUCIENNE (16) was touched off on this course last time out. She has put in three good efforts and should be involved in the finish again. TRAIL RUNNER (5) was a beaten favourite at her last two on the Highveld. She was not far behind and should feature. CHIMES AT MIDNIGHT (1) made a smart debut at long odds and one to watch in the betting.
Selections: #9 CELESTIAL DIAMOND, #16 LUCIENNE, #5 TRAIL RUNNER, #1 CHIMES AT MIDNIGHT
HOLLYWOODBETS SCOTTSVILLE, 09.07.2025, Race 5, Gallops, 1600m, Turf, R125,000, 14:45GMT+2Race Summary: WORLD OF ROYALTY (5) steps up to a mile but has two good sprints in the bag. Beaten favourite last run this trip should suit. EL CAPITAN (1) has the best of the draw and has not been out of the money in four starts since his return from the Cape. LIMELIGHT LEGEND (8) has been runner-up in his last three and stays the trip well so must have a strong chance. QUEEN OF THE AIR (9) is a filly with plenty of substance. She showed up well in her first run back from a lengthy break and is one to watch.
Selections: #5 WORLD OF ROYALTY, #1 EL CAPITAN, #8 LIMELIGHT LEGEND, #9 QUEEN OF THE AIR
HOLLYWOODBETS SCOTTSVILLE, 09.07.2025, Race 6, Gallops, 1750m, Turf, R125,000, 15:18GMT+2Race Summary: PRINCESS PALACE (5) is seldom far behind and steps up in trip. She has a handy weight and rates a strong winning chance. HODGEPODGE (3) shoulders top weight but has consistent form and should be in the firing line once again. ELEMBEE (10) comes with consistent Highveld form and shouldn’t be far off. ANOTHER DREAM (9) is a recent maiden winner but won well from a wide draw and can be concerned in the finish.
Selections: #5 PRINCESS PALACE, #3 HODGEPODGE, #10 ELEMBEE, #9 ANOTHER DREAM
HOLLYWOODBETS SCOTTSVILLE, 09.07.2025, Race 7, Gallops, 1750m, Turf, R160,000, 15:55GMT+2Race Summary: DANCING ON A CLOUD (4) has been a touch disappointing since running out an easy maiden winner on this course. He does seem better than his last two and gets another chance. LOCK AND KEY (6) is a smart filly that takes on males. She has been a beaten favourite at her last two but has been runner-up and can go one better in this line-up. ROYAL INVITATION (2) has improved at her last two and comes from a Cape stable that does not have many runners up for the season. TIRPITZ (5) has come good for Gary Rich and steps up in trip. One to watch in the betting.
Selections: #4 DANCING ON A CLOUD, #6 LOCK AND KEY, #2 ROYAL INVITATION, #5 TIRPITZ
HOLLYWOODBETS SCOTTSVILLE, 09.07.2025, Race 8, Gallops, 1000m, Turf, R125,000, 16:30GMT+2Race Summary: The form behind RAFA’S BOY (10) could be the key here. Gareth van Zyl’s charge jumped seven points in the handicap for his last win but now gets a 4kg claimer aboard. MAJOR TOMMIE (4) is lightly raced and was not far behind in his handicap debut. He has a big weight but should be right up there. B FIFTY TWO (12) has seldom been far back of late and was close-up at long odds last start. He should be competitive. RHYTHM (11) is holding form and goes well this trip. Not out of it.
Selections: #4 MAJOR TOMMIE, #12 B FIFTYTWO, #11 RHYTHM, #10 RAFA’S BOY
Best Win: #5 PRINCESS PALACE
Best Value Bet: #4 DANCING ON A CLOUD
Best Longshot: #5 TIRPITZ