A rain-affected card at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Tuesday should provide competitive racing and several strong betting opportunities, with soft underfoot conditions likely to play a key role.

The standout selection is Boogiefied in Race 5 over 1400m. The Andre Nel-trained gelding has an excellent record on soft and yielding ground, with two wins and six placings from eight starts in such conditions. He was a solid second to Major Master over 1600m last time and is ideally suited by this drop back in trip. With Keagan de Melo aboard, Boogiefied looks the one to beat.

Main dangers include Soho Heartthrob, who continues to improve for Dean Kannemeyer, and Pay The Palace, whose form against stronger opposition makes him a major contender. Please Be True should strip fitter after a promising comeback run.

Race 8 over 1000m features several speedsters, but preference is for Demanding Dave, who reunites with Andrew Fortune. The pair are unbeaten in three starts together, and the Mike Stewart-trained sprinter was unlucky when meeting traffic problems in the Easter Sprint. He looks capable of returning to winning ways.

Earlier on the card, Snowbird and In Hot Water appear the standout contenders in Race 1, while Rubee King is expected to improve sharply in Race 2 after a promising but green debut. Redford is the obvious danger.

Rabdan gets the nod in Race 3, having contested stronger juvenile company, while Redlight Lane is selected to finally break through in Race 4 after an unlucky defeat last time.

Trainer Piet Botha’s yard has returned to form and could strike with Baton Rouge in Race 6 after a strong recent second over 1800m. Stablemate Shifting Path looks well placed to follow up in Race 7, particularly if the track remains testing.

The closing event is wide open, but veteran Fort Red would be a popular winner. The eight-year-old has amassed eight victories from 83 starts and remains competitive in this grade.

With several runners well suited to wet conditions, Tuesday’s Kenilworth card promises close finishes and attractive betting opportunities for punters.

The National Jockeys’ Championship is increasingly becoming a one-horse race, with Craig Zackey holding a commanding lead of 215 winners, 46 clear of defending champion Richard Fourie. Thursday’s eight-race meeting at Vaal Racecourse presents another excellent opportunity for Zackey to extend that advantage.

Zackey’s first standout ride comes in Race 3 aboard Princess Of All, a filly who has repeatedly threatened to win without delivering. Trained by Lucky Houdalakis, she has finished second in two of her last three starts, including over this course and distance. Against modest opposition over 1000m, she appears to have every chance to finally break through.

Race 7 features one of the strongest bets on the card in Dimako’s Jet. The lightly raced daughter of Ideal World returns from a 14-week break after two consecutive wins over 1800m, including a decisive course-and-distance success. Blinkers have transformed her, and despite a four-point ratings increase, she still appears ahead of the handicapper. Trainer Weichong Marwing has placed her carefully, and Zackey looks set to complete at least a double.

While Zackey dominates the title race, Jeffrey Syster could provide punters with attractive value.

In Race 4, veteran sprinter Jet Cat appeals as a solid each-way prospect. The 10-year-old remains competitive and was far from disgraced when fourth over the same course and distance last time. Racing off the same mark, another honest effort could see him in the finish once more.

Syster’s strongest winning opportunity may come in the final race aboard Scarlet O’Hara. The Stuart Pettigrew-trained filly caused a surprise when winning her maiden at 25-1, and subsequent runs suggest that success was no fluke. She has held her own in stronger company and now drops in class over 1800m off a reduced rating, making her a major contender.

Although Thursday’s Vaal meeting lacks feature-race glamour, it offers several appealing betting opportunities. Yet the main storyline remains Zackey’s relentless pursuit of a first national title. With momentum firmly on his side and a powerful book of rides, he looks well placed to tighten his grip on the championship even further.

Trainer Candice Bass continues to dominate the Cape racing scene and her progressive gelding Marcus Aurellius looks ready to reward supporters when he lines up in Race 7 over 1500m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Tuesday.

The improving runner has taken significant strides with each outing and arrives off a strong second to Future Free over 1600m last month. That form received a major boost when Future Free finished third behind La Pulga in the Grade 3 Legal Eagle Stakes. Earlier form behind the rapidly progressive Sommerstern also reads well, underlining the quality of opposition Marcus Aurellius has faced. Blinkers appeared to sharpen him considerably last time and, with stable jockey Aldo Domeyer returning to the saddle, he rates a leading chance.

A major threat could come from Ferryman, now trained by Eric Sands after switching from the Andre Nel yard. He made an immediate impact by winning on stable debut and comes from the same family as stars Rainbow Bridge, Golden Ducat, and Foudre. With Craig Zackey booked, Ferryman looks capable of further improvement despite stepping out of maiden company.

Stablemate Rockanrollin also has claims and could earn a placing if continuing his gradual progress.

Earlier on the card, Bass and Domeyer may strike in the opener with Sparkling Star, who was narrowly beaten as favourite last time and sets the benchmark among the raced runners.

Race 2 sees another Bass runner, Blackbird, looking to improve on a promising debut behind Rich Man’s World, who has since franked the form with a Grade 3 victory. Blackbird showed inexperience that day and should come on sharply.

Race 3 appears wide open, with Hilton Heads narrowly preferred after three consecutive fourth-place finishes. Protector Of Peace, The Big Bang, and Caesar’s Ransom are among several with chances.

In Race 4, Masteronthemoon looks well placed to score after shaping well over unsuitable distances recently. Dropping back to 1800m with Richard Fourie aboard could prove ideal.

Bass again holds strong claims in Race 5 with Backinthefastlane and Super Viking, while Somebody Somewhere appeals in Race 7 after a solid post-maiden effort.

The finale could go to Black Erika, who has shown improving form and may finally break through under Zackey for the in-form Adam Marcus stable.

The Hong Kong racing season has moved into its final quarter, and there’s plenty on the line between now and the concluding meeting on 15 July, with nothing currently commanding more attention than the mouthwatering battle for the trainers’ championship.

There are five trainers within eight wins of the pace-setting Mark Newnham’s 52 victories, with Caspar Fownes and Danny Shum sitting on 51 successes and David Hayes (48) and John Size (44) also lurking.

Veteran Francis Lui is also among the chasing pack after amassing 45 winners through the season’s 69 meetings so far.

While Lui admits “it won’t be easy” to prevail, he is no stranger to coming from behind to claim championship success after winning four of the final five races of the 2023/24 season to pip Pierre Ng to the title by one win.

Lui sat five wins adrift of Ng after 69 meetings of the 2023/24 season, and while it came down to the final day and he had to orchestrate one of the all-time great finishes to snare victory, he believes this year’s task is greater still.

“Last time I was only in competition with Pierre, but this time as many as five other trainers can win it. They are all so close and I’m sure they will have plenty of winners,” he said.

“Of course, I will try hard to win my second premiership but it won’t be easy.”

While Lui started the season slowly, he warmed up through October and November before a quiet December gave way to a fruitful start to 2026, with January (10 winners), February (eight) and March (10) his biggest months of the campaign so far.

 April was tougher going for Lui; he banged in a timely double late on last Sunday’s (3 May) Sha Tin card, grabbing the final two races with Baby Sakura and Turquoise Velocity to begin May on a high.

The lightly raced pair look capable of winning again this season, as do the undefeated Hot Delight and the in-form Gold Patch.

“I have quite a few horses who can win more races but I can’t say that I am confident of winning the premiership,” Lui said.

“It’s very close. It all depends on how they run. I will take it step by step. To have so many trainers fighting it out is great competition.”

Hot Delight and Gold Patch are among Lui’s 10 runners at Sha Tin this Saturday (9 May), with the former looking to make it four wins from four starts in the Class 2 Sai Wan Shan Handicap (1200m) and the latter chasing a hat-trick in the Class 3 Lei Yue Mun Park Handicap (1200m).

Amazing Partners in the Class 3 Pok Fu Lam Reservoir Handicap (1600m) is another in-form Lui galloper heading to Sha Tin this weekend, while the handler will be eager to see what debutants Almighty Warrior, Spirited Steed and Winalot can produce.

Trainers’ Ranking (Top 6) – As of 7 May, 2026

Champions Season has reached a crucial stage as trainers begin fine-tuning their paths toward the Hollywoodbets Durban July, balancing form with the challenge of securing a favourable handicap weight. Saturday’s WSB 1900 at Hollywoodbets Greyville could once again provide key July clues.

Peter Muscutt saddles Isivivane, still on the fringe of the July field but likely to secure a berth with victory here. While his recent wins have come on the polytrack, he has a favourable draw and workable weight.

Champion trainer Justin Snaith fields several major contenders. Native Ruler carries top weight and has little to lose ratings-wise, while stablemate Regulation, ridden by stable jockey JP van der Merwe, receives a significant weight advantage. Betting support may prove revealing. Snaith also unleashes Legal Counsel, who finished strongly behind Questioning last time and should improve for the run.

Of greater interest are Note To Self and Eight On Eighteen. Note To Self was runner-up to top filly Wish List in the Cape Derby and a bold showing would strengthen his July claims, though it could result in a ratings increase. Eight On Eighteen, runner-up in last year’s Durban July behind The Real Prince, makes his local debut after an underwhelming Cape campaign. He may need the outing but possesses the class to feature prominently.

Candice and Tammy Dawson saddle classy three-year-old Trust, winner of the Dingaan’s and never out of the money in six starts. His performance will provide a strong measure of the current three-year-old crop. The Ultimate King, from the Paul Peter stable, also enters calculations after a narrow defeat to Fire Attack when fitted with blinkers for the first time.

The Pick 6 opener, a Conditions Plate, has shrunk to seven runners, four from the Snaith yard. Likely pacemaker Okavango has been excellent in front-running efforts, including a brave second in the Premier’s Champions Cup. He benefits from Mickaella Michel’s 1.5kg allowance and already sits high enough in the July weights to avoid a harsh penalty.

Elsewhere, Mocha Blend, winner of the Summer Cup, represents Frank Robertson and receives weight from most rivals, making her a serious contender. Lightly raced Ascalon Dancer, a recent maiden winner, also commands attention in a high-quality contest loaded with Durban July implications.