Lucky Houdalakis has made a successful transition from jockey to trainer, something that is not simple to accomplish even though both jobs obviously require working with racehorses. Different skills are needed, which the bubbly and jovial but serious- about- his- job, Houdalakis evidently possesses. Based on the Highveld, and only a rare participant in
Horseplayers are an interesting breed. Dedicated to a fascinating yet, at times, maddening game, they bet on outcomes over which they exercise no control whatsoever. Sure, studying form conscientiously, updating handicapping research with proven, modern methods and using smart betting strategies elevates the pursuit above a pure chance gamble, but the horses can’t talk
Do It Again (s/s 105 +), sired by Twice Over won the Gold Challenge after a tussle with Cirillo (s/s 104) and is perfectly teed up for another Durban July win as he tends to peak at his second run after a freshening. The year younger runner up tried his utmost but could not
Hawwaam accelerated best off a slow pace to easily win the Grade 1 Daily News at Greyville over 2000m. Twist of Fate tried hard but could not go with the star colt who produced a 24.8 second closing burst from the top of the straight. Speed figures wouldn’t work here given that the sluggish
Fans were treated to a sprinting feast of four Grade 1’s down the Scottsville straight on Saturday. It began with Miss Florida (speed score 91 and trained by Justin Snaith) sneaking home in the Allan Robertson to deny Sean Tarry’s Cavivar in a jostling tussle down the inside of the course. After that
The Grade 2 Greyville 1900 has, in the past, yielded clues for the Durban July. Eyes Wide Open (speed score 104) snuck home this year in a blanket finish from Magnificent Seven, Made to Conquer and the filly, Fresnaye, who all scored 103’s. It was a satisfying victory for Eyes Wide Open,
Brett Crawford has been winning big races all around the country over the past week and he added the East Cape Derby to the honours’ roll when Fort Wood colt, St Vladimir drew clear in that listed Fairview feature. The stable also cracked 100 wins for the season after Hudoo Magic (speed score
Punters who were anticipating top quality racing got just what they were hoping for from strong cards in both Durban and Johannesburg. Followers of this newsletter know that speed figures above 108 are achieved only in exceptional cases – often Grade 1’s in SA can be won by older horses with lesser scores
One World (speed figure 104) again proved his fighting qualities when just prevailing over Vardy (s/s 104) in an exciting G3 Winter Guineas at Kenilworth on Saturday. Both are seriously high class three year- olds, and they went at it in a knock down brawl over the final 400m with One World (who
Stormy weather up North curtailed the racing program over the weekend, with both the Turffontein and Scottsville meetings not quite making it through to completion. Ultra consistent six year old gelding, Silver Rose kept on to win the Highland Night Cup from favoured, Strathdon, then Miyabi Gold forged ahead to land the Scarlet