Three quarters of the card at Hollywoodbets Durbanville on Wednesday are Maiden Plates, but there are some extremely well-bred youngsters with appealing form and reputations. A crystal ball may be needed to know who could end up above average, but there could be some notebook entries by the end of the meeting.

Race 1 over 1000m looks fairly shallow. Nadia Nerina brings a good run on debut into play, having finished third, six lengths behind Magma Flow in April. She was scratched heading to the start on 12 August with an injury reported, but her quick return is a good sign that trainer Justin Snaith is happy with her. Gavin Lerena makes the trip to Cape Town for a good book of rides and takes the mount. Wide draws could make things difficult for Naughty Princess, Workingclasshero and Cape Town Deern.

Winter Blossom ran a ripper on debut behind the huge reputation of Over My Shoulder over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth, finishing a length behind the half-sister to Eight On Eighteen. She runs in Race 2 over 1250m and a repeat should see her in the winner’s box. Callan Murray retains the ride for Lucinda Woodruff. Sabre Wing has something about her too, but Winter Blossom should have more to come.

Race 3 over 1250m is not strong. Kim Chanel gets the chance to maintain her recent good work over 1000m over the extra trip. Her last start was the first indication she might have the tools for the distance when getting going late behind Viridian Ruby. Michelle Rix has her yard in good heart and Kim Chanel should go close.

In Race 4 over 1400m, Time Of Our Lives gets a narrow nod despite gate No 9. He stayed on strongly on debut to finish close-up behind Ile Morris over 1250m and should have improvement to come. Red Hot Rifle, Wreath Of Snow and Gather Quick can also feature. Wreath Of Snow can improve over the extra trip but is still all reputation as a R9-million yearling.

Race 5 over 1400m looks a battle between Big City Roller and California Cat, who both finished second on debut in eye-catching circumstances. Big City Roller came from well back, while California Cat also finished strongly, suggesting further will suit. Big City Roller gets the narrow verdict from a slightly stronger formline.

The next two races are for winners, with Andre Nel and Muzi Yeni holding a strong hand. Cork Bay looks the part in Race 6 over 1250m. He has finished third behind Witch Hazel, then narrowly lost to Lyrical Gangster over the same course and distance before being beaten again over 1200m. With Nel’s yard in good heart, he could finally gain his overdue third career win.

In Race 7 over 1000m, Pushing Limits gets the preference for Yeni and Nel. Her last effort was encouraging when she looked likely to win before Black Erika collared her late. With low mileage, the six-year-old could have more in the locker.

Chinwag should exit the maidens in Race 8 over 1600m. A slow pace cost her last time, but her third in the Listed Iridescence Stakes behind Grapes Of Wrath sets a high standard. Murray is back aboard for Rix, and she could make the running and catch them on the stretch.

Zac Purton and David Hayes are confident Ka Ying Rising is poised to extend his remarkable 20-race winning streak after the champion sprinter breezed through a barrier trial at Sha Tin on Sunday (30 August) in preparation for his return to racing in the 2026/27 season-opening meeting on Sunday (6 September).

Jumping from barrier one against 10 rivals, Ka Ying Rising built momentum up the middle of the course before forging clear, clocking 56.73s to score by two lengths from Public Attention and Magic Control as he prepares to chase a third consecutive victory in the HK$4.2 million G3 HKSAR Chief Executive’s Cup Handicap (1200m) next weekend.

Rated joint No. 1 in the LONGINES World’s Best Racehorse Rankings, Ka Ying Rising was never pressured to extend by Purton at any stage and his time this afternoon was only marginally outside the 56.45s he clocked in the corresponding trial last season.

 Predicting the world’s premier sprinter could still improve, Hayes said: “I feel pretty good. Zac said he didn’t change legs, but he was probably three or four seconds below course record time, so he was doing it very easy, and I just like the way he acted before the trial.

“I think he’s in the right head space and ready to run a race next week. You spell the horses trying to make them bigger and stronger, especially if they’re a sprinter, and he’s bigger and stronger than he’s ever been. So, I still think we have another season of him improving.”

Hong Kong’s reigning joint Horse of the Year, Ka Ying Rising will enter quarantine in Hong Kong for two weeks immediately after his first-up run in the HKSAR Chief Executive’s Cup before flying to Sydney, Australia where he will bid for successive wins in the AU$20 million (approx. HK$112 million) G1 The Everest (1200m) at Royal Randwick on 17 October.

 Purton, who has ridden Ka Ying Rising in 19 of his 21 victories (with Karis Teetan also scoring twice), said: “It was nice. He jumped out well, he cruised along. He just did enough to tick him over for his race next week. He’s pulled up in pretty good shape. For where he is at the moment, we’re happy with him.

“He’s a bit fitter now, he moved a bit better, his action was a bit better – but he’s back on the grass, too.

“But he was on one leg the whole way, which is frustrating. How does a horse go 1000m up the straight on one leg? Normal horses can’t do it, but he’s got to sort that out when he gets back to the races.”

The 2026/27 Hong Kong racing season starts at Sha Tin on Sunday (6 September), featuring the HK$4.2 million G3 HKSAR Chief Executive’s Cup Handicap (1200m).

Punters face a testing card at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Sunday, but Mike and Mathew de Kock could provide some relief with Exocet in the Middle Stakes over 1000m, the fifth race on the card.

Now a lightly raced four-year-old, Exocet has an international pedigree and is still an entire. He has won two of his three starts, and the yard has indicated that he is a horse with some ability. He has not raced since winning on the poly in October last year, but the De Kocks are unlikely to send him out half-baked. With only six rivals, he could prove the one to beat.

Gareth van Zyl saddles Vihaan’s Web, who has won over course and distance and seldom runs a poor race. If Exocet fails to fire, he could pick up the pieces. Veteran Donquerari is always dangerous over this trip and has a 4kg claimer aboard, while African Skyline gets first-time blinkers with a 4kg claimer. Both have a money chance.

Big fields face punters in the opening races, including a full house of 16 in the first. One Pepper returns from a break and gelding and, having faced Vibe Check and Kazanoyoni last time, should go close if racing fit. Diaval was well supported on debut but raced green and should improve with experience. Bullet Catch was not far back at long odds and makes his third course appearance, while Maggiano should come on from a promising debut.

Fleur Delacour faces a capacity field in the second. She started at long odds on debut but finished with a flourish, narrowly failing over course and distance, and can go one better. Theleia was disappointing when favourite on her local debut but was returning from a break and can make amends. Abbey’s World improved nicely second time out over course and distance, while Willow Valli has shown up well in two starts under Rachel Venniker.

The De Kocks could hold the key to the opening leg of the Pick 6. Scott’s Bar was a beaten favourite over a sprint last time and now steps up to a mile, which should suit. Stablemate Taranaki Nomad was green and slowly away on debut, also taking a hefty bump, and should improve significantly. Reign Man also steps up in trip after a promising sprint debut and has the best of the draw.

The fourth is a wide-open handicap. Another Dream has joint top weight but has shown up well in two recent course-and-distance starts. Gold Gol Baby is unbeaten in two starts in blinkers, including her latest over this course and distance, while stablemate Heavenly Mafia is 2.5kg better off and gets a light weight.

The final three races are competitive handicaps. In the sixth, Flamethrower gets 4kg relief and could upset some solid handicappers, including Twocantango, who is lightly raced and gets Gavin Lerena. Global Movement is coming down the handicap and looks competitively weighted.

In the seventh, Run Forest Run has the best draw and should go forward. Kitchakal is down in class, while Turbo Twenty has won over course and distance and was narrowly beaten last time. Meerkat Moon improved in blinkers and has a strong money chance.

In the last, Lady Godiva could provide Doug Campbell with the answer. Showgirl should improve from her recent return, while Last Margarita, Dawn Surprise and Rags To Riches all warrant consideration.

Saturday’s nine-race Inside track programme at Turffontein offers plenty of betting possibilities, with potential doubles for jockeys Gavin Lerena and Calvin Habib, while trainers Tony Peter and Johan Janse van Vuuren have several runners capable of making their presence felt.

The Betway-sponsored Listed Spring Spree Stakes over 1200m is the headline event in Race 7, where Paul Matchett’s Erupt gelding Karate Kid could prove the one to beat. He has the profile to acquit himself well at Listed level and, with a solid pace expected, Blaine Marx-Jacobson could have the right mount to strike when it counts.

The supporting Betway-sponsored The Lady Stakes over 1200m in Race 6 sees Tony Peter throw three chances into the mix. However, punters looking beyond the obvious stable strength may be rewarded by siding with Blizzard Snow, who has drawn gate No 6 for Kobeli James Lihaba.

The Erupt filly has raced three times over this course and distance, winning once and finishing outside the first two only once. She was asked to take on male opposition last time, having previously scored over this track and trip. A repeat of that winning effort from just a two-point higher rating would make her a serious player.

Earlier, in Race 5, stablemate Jack’s Legacy makes her handicap debut over 1200m after opening her account over 1160m on the Standside track. Kabelo Matsunyane retains the ride and further improvement would come as no surprise.

Lerena looks well placed to bag a double, beginning with Stuart Pettigrew-trained Rafeef’s Queen in Race 2 over 1200m. The three-year-old filly has finished runner-up in her last two starts, including a second over this distance, and will not need to find much extra to convert consistency into a first victory. The booking of the former champion rider is an obvious positive.

Lerena returns in Race 8 aboard Van Vuuren-trained Social Graces. The three-year-old daughter of Rafeef won over 1000m on debut before finishing a creditable second over 1100m last month. She conceded 3kg to the winner and was beaten only 1½ lengths, while the fourth-placed runner has since franked the form by winning. There is plenty to like about her prospects.

Habib also has a realistic shot at a double, starting with Two Tigers in Race 1 before partnering Clinton Binda’s progressive Whatsdamatterwithu in Race 3 over 1000m.

The latter is particularly intriguing. The Fire Away gelding has won both starts since being gelded, both over 1160m, and has shown enough natural speed to suggest the sharper 1000m on the Inside track could suit. A favourable No 3 draw is another plus, and a hat-trick bid looks well within his compass.