Johannesburg, South Africa – Thirty-eight runners remain in contention for the 2026 Betway Summer Cup following the close of second entries at 11am on Tuesday, 3 November 2026. Heading the list is last year’s winner, Mauritzfontein (Pty) Ltd (Nom: Mrs J B Jell)’s Mocha Blend, from the Frank Robinson stable, who will be looking to defend her title. De Kock Racing, which currently boasts nine Summer Cup trophies on its CV, has added Splittheeights, strengthening its hand to eight runners. Five-time winning trainer Sean Tarry still holds a four-strong entry, including Grand Empire (Gr1 HKJC World Pool SA Classic) and Legend Of Arthur (Gr1 TAB SA Derby). Dual winner Alec Laird has scratched Gr1 HKJC World Pool Premier’s Champions Challenge hero Fire Attack and now pins his hopes on Gr2 TAB Gauteng Guineas winner Parisian Walkway. Directors: Charles Savage, Emma Callister, Potlako Mophiring, Bradley Ralph Page | 2 Joe Soma, who won the race with Wagner in 2012, has scratched Errol Flynn, leaving him with Jimmy Don and Rule By Force. St John Gray, breeder, owner and trainer of 2011 winner Dancewiththedevil, fields another homebred hopeful in Palace Prince. There is a strong contingent of KZN raiders, including 2025 winner Mocha Blend; two entries from 2023 Betway Summer Cup-winning trainer Nathan Kotzen in Field Marshal and Madison Valley; and recent Betway Joburg Spring Challenge winner Gladatorian, from the Stuart Ferrie stable. Frikkie Greyling, Peter Muscutt, Robbie Hill and Gareth van Zyl have also entered runners. The Cape challenge is headed by Justin Snaith, Glen Kotzen and James Crawford, who have entered Magic Verse and Native Ruler; Holding Thumbs; and Otto Luyken, respectively. Full list of entries below:-

2000m BETWAY SUMMER CUP (Grade 1)

Stakes Breakdown Total Stakes: R6,000,000.00 1st R3,450,000, 2nd R1,200,000, 3rd R600,000, 4th R300,000, 5th R150,000, 6th R60,000, 7th R60,000, 8th R60,000, 9th R60,000, 10th R60,000

Full List of Entries

• 0 GLADATORIAN (7G) 0.0 127 AT Stuart Ferrie
• 0 FIRE ATTACK (5G) 0.0 124 A Alec Laird (Scratched)
• 0 KING PELLES (6G) 0.0 122 BA Gareth van Zyl
• 0 NATIVE RULER (5G) 0.0 121 A Justin Snaith
• 0 MOCHA BLEND (5M) 0.0 120 A Frank Robinson
• 0 HOLDING THUMBS (6G) 0.0 119 BA Glen Kotzen
• 0 CHOISAANADA (5G) 0.0 118 A Erico Verdonese
• 0 JAN VAN GOYEN (4G) 0.0 118 A Mike / Mathew de Kock
• 0 HAZY DAZY (4F) 0.0 117 HA Xander / Corne Spi (Scratched)
• 0 RULE BY FORCE (7G) 0.0 117 BAT Joe Soma
• 0 THE ULTIMATE KING (5G) 0.0 117 BA Tony Peter
• 0 CHRONICLE KING (4C) 0.0 115 A Candice / Tammy Dawson
• 0 MAGIC VERSE (6G) 0.0 115 A Justin Snaith
• 0 ERROL FLYNN (4G) 0.0 114 BAT Joe Soma (Scratched)
• 0 LITTLEMISSMILLION (4F) 0.0 114 A Tyrone Zackey
• 0 OLIVIA’S WAY (5M) 0.0 114 CA Roy Magner
• 0 REET PETITE (4F) 0.0 114 A Mike / Mathew de Kock
• 0 OTTO LUYKEN (7G) 0.0 113 BAT James Crawford
• 0 ALADDIN’S LAMP (6G) 0.0 112 BA Mike / Mathew de Kock
• 0 I SALUTE YOU (5G) 0.0 112 BA Peter Muscutt
• 0 JIMMY DON (7G) 0.0 112 A Joe Soma
• 0 CALLA LAGOON (GB) (5H) 0.0 111 A Stuart Pettigrew (Scratched)
• 0 DRUMNADROCHIT (4F) 0.0 111 A Mike / Mathew de Kock
• 0 GRAND EMPIRE (4G) 0.0 111 AT Sean Tarry
• 0 MADISON VALLEY (6G) 0.0 111 A Nathan Kotzen
• 0 FIELD MARSHAL (5G) 0.0 110 A Nathan Kotzen

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• 0 SOLAR SAIL (5G) 0.0 109 A Paul Matchett
• 0 $ SPLITTHEEIGHTS (4C) 0.0 109 A Mike / Mathew de Kock
• 0 BUSSTOPINHOUNSLOW (5G) 0.0 108 AT Grant Maroun
• 0 IMMEDIATE EDGE (5G) 0.0 108 BA Mike / Mathew de Kock
• 0 LEGEND OF ARTHUR (5G) 0.0 108 HAT Sean Tarry
• 0 PALACE PRINCE (4C) 0.0 108 AT St John Gray
• 0 ISIVIVANE (5G) 0.0 107 A Peter Muscutt
• 0 PARISIAN WALKWAY (5G) 0.0 107 A Alec Laird
• 0 WILD INTENT (5G) 0.0 107 A Mike / Mathew de Kock
• 0 INDIAN OCEAN (7M) 0.0 105 BA Mano Pandaram
• 0 TOMYRIS (6M) 0.0 103 A Tony Peter
• 0 JAZZ CAFE (6M) 0.0 101 BA Robbie Hill (Scratched)
• 0 CURIOUS GIRL (4F) 0.0 100 A Mike / Mathew de Kock
• 0 GO GRAYSON GO (5H) 0.0 98 AT Frikkie Greyling
• 0 MASTER SPY (4G) 0.0 97 AT Sean Tarry
• 0 MISSION TO MARS (I (6G) 0.0 94 A Stuart Pettigrew (Scratched)
• 0 FIRST WISH (5M) 0.0 93 A Candice / Tammy Dawson
• 0 TINTIN (5G) 0.0 93 A Sean Tarry

Dates to diarise:

Final Entries Close: 09:00 Monday 16 November 2026 Weights: Monday 16 November 2026 Declarations: 11:00 Tuesday 17 November 2026 Final Field: Embargoed & announced on Tuesday 17 November at an event TBA Barrier Draw: Tuesday 17 November at an event TBA Please note: the determination of the final field is at the discretion of the NHA in consultation with 4Racing. The second Betway Summer Cup log will be published on 5 November 2026. This year’s Betway Summer Cup takes place at TAB Turffontein Racecourse on Saturday, 28 November 2026 and invites racegoers to “Celebrate Summer” with a day of top-class racing, entertainment and hospitality.

Calvin Habib and Champion Owners Hollywood Racing could provide bettors with plenty to cheer on Thursday 5 November when an eight-race programme unfolds at TAB Turffontein on the Inside track, where progressive runners and promising handicap debutants offer several attractive betting angles. Habib has a chance to strike twice in quick succession, with Brett Webber-trained Naretoi a leading contender in Race 4 before the in-form rider partners another improving prospect, Clinton Binda inmate Dreadnought, in the following event. Naretoi, a five-year-old grey by Danon Platina, has remained admirably consistent since winning over 1800m four starts ago. Despite a five-point rise in his rating, he has finished second, third and second again in subsequent appearances, underlining his competitiveness off the revised mark. He was particularly game last time over 2400m on the Standside track, racing prominently throughout and staying on under pressure to finish a close-up second. A further two-point penalty is an added complication, and he must now negotiate another 200m, but neither represents an insurmountable obstacle given his recent form. Habib, who takes the reins for the first time, will be hoping to coax further improvement from the gelding, who should again be competitive despite carrying 60kg in a field that lacks obvious depth. The prospect of a quick race-to-race double becomes more compelling with Dreadnought, whose authoritative maiden victory at TAB Vaal four weeks ago suggests he could be better than his opening handicap mark of 86. The progressive Gimmethegreenlight colt won over the same distance with enough authority to suggest that his handicap debut could prove a favourable starting point. Still maturing and highly regarded, Binda’s charge has the added advantages of a favourable gate 1 draw and Habib maintaining the partnership. Those factors strengthen the case for a bold showing for Hollywood. The champion owners have another promising prospect to unleash in Race 6, where Blunderbore makes his handicap debut over 1450m for Mike & Matthew de Kock. The three-year-old son of Malmoos has improved with each outing, progressing from a debut third over 1200m to a second over this course and distance before producing an emphatic breakthrough victory last time. His 5.10-length success was all the more impressive given that he overcame the widest draw by surging to the front and dictating matters before leaving his rivals with no answer. Blunderbore now faces a sterner examination from gate 9, but his upward trajectory is difficult to ignore. With just 53kg to shoulder, Jeffrey Syster is likely to adopt similar positive tactics, and if the colt can reproduce the early speed and authority of his latest performance, he could prove difficult to reel in.   Clive Robinson

The eight-race programme at TAB Vaal Classic track on Tuesday 3 November presents punters with several attractive betting propositions, with reigning Equus Champion Jockey Craig Zackey, fellow rider Calvin Habib and leading trainer Sean Tarry all well placed to register doubles on the Highveld card. Zackey could get the ball rolling in Race 2 over 1800m aboard Grant Maroun-trained Giddy Up Grace, who looks overdue a maiden success. The four-year-old daughter of One World has found form and consistency since relocating to the Highveld, finishing runner-up in three consecutive starts, most recently over the same distance. She would not be winning out of turn and, with little improvement required, a repeat of that latest effort could be enough to see her deservedly open her account. Tarry could strike in Race 3 with promising Secret Getaway, a well-bred three-year-old Gimmethegreenlight gelding who made pleasing improvement from his first to second outing. He was game in defeat when finishing a close-up second after making the running over 1600m on the TAB Turffontein Inside track last time. Kabelo Matsunyane, aboard in both starts, retains the ride and the extra 200m should bring further improvement. Secret Getaway looks primed to shed his maiden tag and provide Tarry with the first leg of a potential double. Habib could get among the winners in Race 4 over 2000m aboard Alec Laird-trained Doctor Strangelove, who appeals as an attractive value proposition despite his wide draw in gate No 14. The Master Of My Fate gelding boasts a perfect record from his only previous attempt over this distance and should appreciate stepping back up in trip after returning from a three-month absence over 1800m last month. That comeback came in significantly stronger company and he is entitled to strip fitter. Dropping in class, racing off an unchanged handicap mark and returning to his preferred distance, Doctor Strangelove has plenty in his favour. The outside draw complicates matters, but he could reward eachway support. Habib could complete his double in Race 7, a 1600m fillies and mares’ handicap, aboard Robin Klaasen-trained Moana, an exciting daughter of New Predator who makes her seasonal reappearance. The three-year-old showed considerable promise at two, finishing a close-up second on debut before rattling off three successive victories, one over 1400m and two over 1600m. She subsequently tackled male opposition at Grade 1 level and was far from disgraced, finishing less than five lengths behind the winner. With further improvement likely as she matures, Moana looks a filly worth following this season. The booking of regular rider Habib adds confidence to her prospects of making a winning comeback. The strongest betting proposition could be reserved for the finale, where Tarry and Zackey combine with exciting three-year-old Gimme Sunshine in Race 8. The well-bred Gimmethegreenlight filly caught the eye in two KwaZulu-Natal appearances, finishing third on debut over 1400m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville before producing a remarkable winning performance over 1600m at Hollywoodbets Greyville. Having appeared hopelessly positioned, she made up almost 10 lengths in the final 400m, quickening in the manner of a filly with considerable ability. That explosive finishing burst suggests the longer run-in of the Vaal Classic track will play to her strengths. Ideally drawn in gate No 2 with just 56.5kg, Gimme Sunshine looks well placed to make a winning Highveld debut before progressing to bigger and better things.   Clive Robinson

Track Spy Video Stars Race 5 – 4 WINNING MONEY The late money went astray in his most recent outing, when he was pushed forward from the widest draw to stalk the speed in a strongly run race. Once straightening, he battled away inside the final 200m to finish seventh, beaten 3.75 lengths. Possessing tactical speed, he should be capable of securing a top-three finish with a smoother run in transit this time. Race 9 – 10 BLOSSOMY In a strongly run race last start, he was caught in an early speed battle from an awkward draw before the hard work took its toll in the straight, seeing him weaken to finish seventh, beaten five lengths over this distance on the All-Weather track. The return to Happy Valley poses no problem, as he scored an impressive win at this track two starts ago, albeit in Class 4, and he is worth another look. Sectional Stars Race 1 – 12 VON BAER After a disappointing 11th on the AWT two starts ago, he showed significant improvement on his return to turf last time out, charging home strongly to finish second over 1000m at Sha Tin. Remaining well weighted this week, he should appreciate the rise to 1200m and looks one to follow. Race 10 – 10 KING LOTUS His winning chances were significantly hindered by a wide draw last start, but he still recorded the fastest final 400m sectional of 22.64 seconds to finish fifth over this track and distance. Having dropped in the ratings, he looks capable of finishing in the money with better luck in running.

A stellar line-up will contest the 2026 LONGINES International Jockeys’ Championship (IJC) at Happy Valley Racecourse on Wednesday, 9 December, with the current top five in the LONGINES World’s Best Jockey standings – Ryan Moore, James McDonald, William Buick, Mickael Barzalona and Zac Purton – in this year’s competition. Adding further class to the roster are Saffie Osborne, Dylan Browne McMonagle, Rachel King, Christophe Lemaire and Joao Moreira. Of the line-up, Moore, Purton, Barzalona, Moreira and Lemaire are previous winners of the LONGINES IJC, with Moore and Purton each three-time victors of the event. Buick was the joint runner-up last year, whilst King claimed third in the 2023 LONGINES IJC. The LONGINES IJC is the most prestigious jockey challenge in the world and the most lucrative for the winning rider. The four races are worth a combined HK$7.5 million in prizemoney. Meanwhile, a total bonus prize fund of HK$1 million for the most successful riders will be split three ways, with the winner set to receive HK$600,000, HK$250,000 being awarded to second place and HK$150,000 to third. With Purton assured of his spot as reigning Hong Kong Champion Jockey and a clear leader in this season’s championship, the final two berths on the 12-rider roster for the LONGINES IJC will go to the leading homegrown rider and the highest-ranked eligible rider in the Hong Kong standings at the selection cut-off date, which follows the race meeting on Wednesday, 25 November. Mr Andrew Harding, Executive Director, Racing, The Hong Kong Jockey Club, said: “The 2026 edition of the LONGINES International Jockeys’ Championship is shaping to be one of our best, featuring Ryan Moore, James McDonald, William Buick, Mickael Barzalona and our champion Zac Purton. To have the current top five in the LONGINES World’s Best Jockey rankings taking part in the IJC says everything necessary about the quality of this year’s competition. “I’m especially pleased to welcome Saffie Osborne for the first time. She is without a shadow of a doubt one of the best up-and-coming young riders anywhere in the world, and she captured the imagination of racing fans all over the world this year with her history-making victory in the Group 1 St. Leger. To also have Irish Champion Jockey Dylan Browne McMonagle, as well as Rachel King, Christophe Lemaire and Joao Moreira, rounds out the international competitors perfectly. “With this star-studded line-up and the iconic and spectacular Happy Valley racecourse as the setting we have all the ingredients for a thrilling night of great sport.” Harding said. Debutant Osborne was recently crowned winner of the 2026 World Pool Jockeys’ Championship on British Champions Day at Ascot, after riding 13 winners on 2026 World Pool racedays in Great Britain and Ireland. Last month the 24-year-old became the first female jockey to win a British Classic when Highwayman claimed the 250th G1 St. Leger (2905m) at Doncaster Racecourse. She is also a two-time Shergar Cup winner and captained Team Great Britain & Ireland to victory over Team Hong Kong this year. Moore, last year’s LONGINES IJC champion, currently holds the top spot in the LONGINES World’s Best Jockey standings, winning seven of the top 100 Group 1 races so far this year. He recently claimed the G1 British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes (2392m), and is a three-time LONGINES IJC winner (2009, 2010 & 2025). Among his career honours was being appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2026 Birthday Honours for services to horse racing and to British sport. He was inducted into British Racing’s Hall of Fame earlier this month. McDonald, Buick and Barzalona have all won Group 1 races this month. McDonald, a three-time LONGINES World’s Best Jockey Award winner (2022, 2024 & 2025), won the G1 King Charles III Stakes (1609m) aboard Autumn Glow. He became the most successful jockey in Australian racing history this year by surpassing Damien Oliver’s all‑time record of 129 Group 1 wins with his 130th earlier this year. He is second in the current LONGINES World’s Best Jockey standings, claiming 10 of the top 100 Group 1 races. He claimed a 10th Sydney jockeys’ title (including eight in succession) in the 2025/26 season. Two-time British Champion Jockey Buick is no stranger to Hong Kong. He finished joint-second in last year’s LONGINES IJC, winning the first leg of the series with Bunta Baby. Buick is Godolphin’s leading rider and has formed a formidable partnership with Ombudsman, winning the G1 Champion Stakes (1993m) at Ascot this month. He has amassed 130 Group 1 winners, and his glittering career highlights span the European Classics as well as major successes at Royal Ascot. Barzalona, the 2024 LONGINES IJC champion, is also riding high in 2026, having recently won a second consecutive G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (2400m) with Daryz. He also enjoyed plenty of success this year with 2025 G1 Japan Cup (2400m) winner Calandagan, adding two more Group 1 wins to the horse’s tally. Another notable Group 1 winner in 2026 is Rayif, victor of the Poule d’Essai des Poulains (1600m) and the Prix Jacques Le Marois (1600m). “Magic Man” Moreira is another familiar face at the LONGINES IJC. He will make his 11th appearance this year. The 2012 LONGINES IJC champion played a key role in assisting Caspar Fownes to claim his fifth trainer’s championship last season, and rode 32 winners across that season, including a four-timer at Happy Valley on 8 April. Lemaire, who shared 2009 LONGINES IJC top honours with Johnny Murtagh and Ryan Moore, is a runaway leader in the JRA Jockeys Rankings, both in terms of number of wins and total prizemoney and is on his way to his ninth JRA Best Jockey Award for races won. He has three G1 wins this season and is a four-time Japan Cup winner. Browne McMonagle is one of global racing’s most exciting talents. Last year he was crowned Irish Champion Jockey and has won Group 1 races in Ireland, Great Britain, the United States of America, France and Germany, the latest of which was a G1 Futurity Trophy (1609m) victory aboard Giant Sequoia. He rode 10 winners across a short-term stint in Hong Kong last season and placed fourth in two Group 1 races. King made her LONGINES IJC debut in 2023 and secured a victory aboard Oversubscribed. Overall, she ranked third behind Vincent Ho and Purton. Last year she became the first female jockey to win a G1 race in Japan, claiming the February Stakes (1600m, dirt) with Costa Nova. Recently, she captured the G1 Golden Rose Stakes (1400m) and G1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) aboard star colt Warwoven. Purton, a nine-time Hong Kong Champion Jockey, will chase a record fourth LONGINES IJC crown, having won the event in 2017, 2020 and 2021. He currently leads this season’s Hong Kong standings with 26 wins (as of 25 October), ahead of Nichola Yuen (13) and Ho (12). Purton’s tally of 2,047 career wins in Hong Kong is a record. Trainers will have an added incentive to aim their horses at LONGINES IJC races this year with a bonus scheme that will pay HK$300,000, HK$125,000 and HK$75,000 respectively to the three handlers who achieve the highest number of points across the four races. The four-race competition works on a points-based system, with 12 points for a win, six points for second place and four points for third. The ranking of each jockey will be determined by the total number of points earned over all four races and the LONGINES IJC champion will be the jockey with the highest accumulated points. In the case of a dead-heat for any of the first three placings, points will be added and then divided by the number of horses involved. In the LONGINES IJC, substitute jockeys are eligible for points and if a countback is required, it will go back to fourth placings. Homegrown jockeys with 2lb or 3lb claims are eligible for selection for the LONGINES IJC, but there will be no claiming allowance in the four LONGINES IJC races. Apprentice jockeys do not qualify for selection. This year’s edition will again follow the process successfully employed in recent years of allocating rides with a model designed to make the contest competitive and to reduce the likelihood of individual riders being advantaged or disadvantaged by the draw. This will form the basis for a process in which each rider will be allocated four rides based on an estimated average of each horse’s chance as supplied by the Club’s Jockey Challenge odds-compiling team. The odds-compiling team will assess the credentials of every runner in advance and, without knowing who will ride each horse, will submit their final assessments once the barrier draw is made on the morning of Monday, 7 December. The minimum riding weight for LONGINES IJC races is 118lb. If there are more than 12 entries for a race, the Club’s Handicapping Department will use its discretion to give preference to horses that have shown reasonable recent form. List of invited jockeys for 2026 LONGINES IJC

Australia’s most famous horse racing event, the Melbourne Cup, is set to return on Tuesday, 3 November 2026, at the historic Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne, Victoria. Known as “the race that stops a nation”, this prestigious event brings together elite horses, leading jockeys and passionate racing fans from around the world. With an impressive prize pool of A$10.2 million, the 2026 Melbourne Cup promises to be another exciting chapter in Australian sporting history.

A Historic Racing Tradition

First held in 1861, the Melbourne Cup has grown into one of the world’s most celebrated horse races. The 2026 event marks its 166th running, continuing a tradition spanning more than a century and a half. The race covers 3,200 metres and is classified as a Group 1 handicap race, testing the endurance, speed and determination of both horses and jockeys. Unlike shorter races, the Melbourne Cup requires competitors to maintain their stamina over a demanding distance while making strategic decisions throughout the contest. Beyond its sporting significance, the Melbourne Cup has become an important part of Australian culture. Each year, millions of people follow the race through television broadcasts, workplace celebrations and social gatherings.

Strong International Competition

The 2026 Melbourne Cup has attracted significant international interest. According to the Victoria Racing Club, 101 horses were originally nominated, including 78 locally trained runners and 23 international entries representing England, Ireland, Japan and the United States. Among the notable contenders is Half Yours, the defending Melbourne Cup champion, trained by Tony and Calvin McEvoy. The horse is seeking another historic victory following its impressive success in 2025. Australian trainer Ciaron Maher has also assembled a strong group of contenders, including Point Of Law, while internationally renowned Irish trainer Joseph O’Brien is pursuing his third Melbourne Cup victory. O’Brien’s entries have included Defiantly, who earned a place in the race through victory in France’s Prix Kergorlay. The international competition highlights the Melbourne Cup’s reputation as a major attraction for some of the world’s finest staying horses. As of 30 October, the final field has not yet been confirmed. The remaining contenders are competing for places in the 24-horse starting lineup, with final declarations scheduled for Saturday, 31 October.

A Celebration Beyond Horse Racing

Although horse racing is the centrepiece, the Melbourne Cup Carnival offers much more than sporting competition. The 2026 Carnival runs across four major race days, beginning with Victoria Derby Day on 31 October, followed by Melbourne Cup Day on 3 November, Crown Oaks Day on 5 November and Champions Stakes Day on 7 November. Fashion remains an essential part of the celebrations. Spectators traditionally attend in elegant dresses, colourful suits and elaborate hats, while the famous Fashions on the Field competition showcases creativity and personal style. Entertainment is another major attraction. British pop superstar Robbie Williams is scheduled to perform at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day, adding further excitement to the occasion. The Carnival also attracts tourists and supports Melbourne’s hospitality, accommodation and retail industries, reinforcing its importance beyond the racetrack.

Anticipation Builds for Race Day

With substantial prize money, international competitors and a rich sporting history, the 2026 Melbourne Cup is shaping up to be a memorable event. However, the outcome remains uncertain. The demanding distance, changing track conditions, barrier positions and race-day tactics can all influence which horse ultimately crosses the finish line first. As Australia prepares for the first Tuesday in November, racing enthusiasts eagerly await the moment when the horses charge down Flemington’s famous home straight. Regardless of the winner, the Melbourne Cup continues to represent a unique combination of sporting excellence, international competition, fashion and Australian tradition.