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Eyewitness News
3 hours ago
- Automotive
- Eyewitness News
How soon could Kyalami be back on the F1 calendar?
Daniell 21 June 2025 | 16:12 Formula 1 702 Weekend Breakfast with Gugs Mhlungu Motorsport An aereal view of the Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit, a motor racing circuit in Midrand, on February 3, 2025. In the aspiration of Lewis Hamilton, apostle of a return of F1 to the only continent deserted by the calendar, South Africa is mounting a bid to reorganize a Grand Prix, three decades later. Picture: AFP 702's Gugs Mhlungu picks the brain of resident motoring enthusiast Kumbi Mtshakazi. For years, many in the Formula One world, most notably Sir Lewis Hamilton, have been calling for an African race, and for years rumours of a return to Kyalami have abounded. Now that the FIA has granted approval for Class 1 upgrades, how likely is it that the return will happen any time soon, if at all? The upgrades, estimated to cost up to R200 million, will be focused on improving track safety, as well as infrastructural improvements to accommodate the spectacle that is an F1 race. "It's not any upgrades in terms of engineering, but it's just to enhance the excellent circuit that's at Kyalami to just meet the modern F1 requirements." Kumbi Mtshakazi, Resident Motoring Enthusiast While the odds are certainly in Kyalami's favour, it faces competition both locally and from the rest of the continent. There has been huge interest in hosting a street race in Cape Town, which would follow the same route as the hugely successful Formula E race which took place in 2023. Rwanda, with its rapidly developing economy and eagerness to welcome the world, has also thrown its hat in the ring. Kyalami, though, has a proven track record, having been a regular on the calendar from 1967-1985, and again in 1992 and 1993, and already has FIA Grade 2 certification. It is also a favourite among drivers who have driven the circuit before. "Kyalami deserves this one." Resident Motoring Enthusiast, Kumbi Mtshakazi Competition for a spot on the F1 calendar is fierce, and only getting fiercer, which has led many to speculate that South Africa could wait up to ten years to see a race. Mtshakazi, though, remains optimistic that it could happen much sooner than that. The Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari in Imola, Italy, has already lost its place on the calendar, and rumours are circulating that other old-school tracks won't have their contracts renewed. Should those rumours be accurate, and more tracks lose their spots, there's a chance Kyalami could see racing action as soon as 2028 or 2029. Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the full interview.
The Age
30-05-2025
- Sport
- The Age
Race-by-race preview and tips for Saturday meeting at Rosehill
4. Codetta might find 1100m a touch sharp, given her three runs to date have been over 1200m, but there is enough in the early price to take the punt on her. She remains an underrated filly for Michael Freedman despite her good record. The prospect of a soft track is perfect too. She is versatile in terms of where she can settle, which gives apprentice Jace McMurray a few options pending her getaway. She resumed a winner last time in, albeit in provincial Class 1 company. Was well beaten before spelling by Scintilla, but the winner is a smart filly, and Flying Thinker was back in third. 13. Ellipsis has been met with early support. She's an improving Bjorn Baker-trained filly. Only won narrowly first up, but there was merit to that performance, hitting the front a long way from home. Flying Embers ran her to a narrow margin, and she has since won twice herself. Ellipsis tackles this five weeks between runs but has won a trial since. Maps well from the inside. 6. Don't Forget Jack has had three different homes despite being just six starts into his career. How To Play It: Codetta WIN Race 6 - 1.55pm: RANVET HANDICAP (1500m) 8. Scalextrics was posted three deep at Doomben last start. It was a brave effort to keep finding the line to hold down fifth. The race was won by Fukubana, a good form reference for this despite the four-length margin. The five-year-old, trained by Matt Smith, may have been flattered by the heavy track given he loves wet ground, but Saturday's track, although improving, should still be rain-affected. Prior to last start Scalextrics ran a close-up third behind Thunderlips who has run well since. Back in fourth was 7. Little Cointreau, which the market has pegged as one of the key chances. 3. Furious looked the winner at Kensington last start, dropping back to midweek company but was run down by Pippie Beach in a tight finish. They beat the third horse two lengths. Has won out to the mile, so 1500m looks perfect third up. 4. Enter The Dragon has scrambled home by narrow margins at his past two starts, but winning has become a habit for this three-year-old. His record reads five wins from seven starts. How To Play It: Scalextrics EACH WAY Race 7 - 2.30pm: ASAHI SUPER DRY HANDICAP (1200m) 10. Kerguelen has only raced once in the past 10 months. He was beaten as an odds-on favourite at Canterbury back in November. It was only narrowly. He was tipped straight out thereafter. The four-year-old has trialled twice ahead of his return, doing it comfortably. To this point, the gelding boasts a record of 5:2:3-0. One of those defeats was to Cool Jakey and another Eye Of The Fire. Kerguelen is a proven fresh horse, is still progressive and should get the perfect run in transit from the draw. Kerrin McEvoy jumps aboard for the first time. Four of his five starts have been on heavy tracks. 2. Spanish Fox has found 1100m too sharp in two runs back. He is creeping out to his right trip now. He strung together five straight wins last campaign out to 1300m. Like the way he kept chasing Zealously at Scone last start. 9. Unstopabull caught the eye when running fifth in that same Scone race. He was dragged back to last in the run. Hoping for a cleaner getaway on Saturday. Out to 1200m now on a soft track looks ideal. How To Play It: Kerguelen WIN Race 8 - 3.05pm: KIA LORD MAYORS CUP (2000m) 5. Glory Daze appreciated getting out to 2000m third up. It looked like a form reversal on paper, but his first and second up runs did have merit. His record over 2000m reads 4:3-1-0. The six-year-old is a big gelding, so needs room. That sees barrier 2 potentially pose some problems, but with clear running, he'll be hard to hold out on the quick backup. It was a very testing, heavy track last Saturday, but Glory Daze has bounced out of that run for the stable to turn him out seven days later. Evenly matched race, and that might give him a small edge. 7. Kadavar is likely to still be a run short of producing his best, and he maps to be giving away a big head start from the wide gate, but he charged home in the Scone Cup over the mile first up. Looking back on 11. Don Diego De Vega 's two failures over the spring, we can chalk those down to not being comfortable on good tracks. His two prior Australian runs, on soft and heavy ground, are perhaps a better indication of his talent. How To Play It: Glory Daze WIN Race 9 - 3.40pm: CAPTIVANT @ KIA ORA HANDICAP (1800m) 12. Freight Train hasn't had much go his way in his past two starts. Given his tendency of laying in, connections have decided to try the four-year-old the Sydney way for the first time. The son of Shamus Award, trained by Price and Kent, has travelled like he has had something to offer in his two most recent runs, but has struck traffic. First at Flemington and then most recently at Caulfield behind stablemate Wonderkid. The appeal of Freight Train also lies in the fact that he brings a different form line into this. The Scone 1700m reference looks the obvious one here, but it was a blanket finish. Still not sure how 14. Gentileschi didn't win at Scone. She rushed home to be beaten a nostril. Not even. She was only second up there. Like the progression out to 1800m and she appreciates getting her toe into the ground. The barrier isn't so scary once you factor in the emergencies. 7. Kind Words was just as strong to the line and just missed herself. She too is suited creeping out to 1800m. How To Play It: Freight Train WIN Race 10 - 4.20pm: TAB HANDICAP (1200m) 10. Weeping Woman looks to be flying off her two trials. The Joe Pride-trained mare trucked to the line in the first of those before gapping her rivals most recently. She is an improving mare, yet already boasts a record of four wins form 10 starts. She ended last campaign a 3.5 length winner at Wyong, running second to Gangster Granny at Canterbury prior to that. The 1200m as a kick off says she is ready to go first up given that she has resumed over 1000m in her three previous campaigns. Has good natural speed but she doesn't have to lead. 7. Pajanti didn't get the clearest of passages at Randwick first up, charging home into second behind all-the-way winner Memoria. Like that she has been kept fresh since, five weeks between runs, given the mare's first up record. 17. So You Pence dodged the heavy track last Saturday where she was set to jump a firm favourite in Highway Handicap company. How To Play It: Weeping Woman WIN
Sydney Morning Herald
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
Warpainted set to get back to winning ways after stable switch
The strength of the three-year-old ranks at the recent Wagga Cup carnival goes on the line at Monday's Corowa meeting. Progressive Albury three-year-old Warpainted is very well-placed to get back to winning ways fourth-up in a Benchmark 58 Hcp over the mile. It will only be the gelding's second run for leading border trainer Donna Scott after a rapid-fire stable switch from Gary Colvin at Wagga in between the Guineas Prelude and the Listed Final just 17 days ago. Warpainted, a dominant Class 1 winner back on Australia Day, was at big odds when having just his sixth start, finishing only three lengths from smart Guineas Prelude winner Dupli Kate. That was in the Colvin yard before he was abruptly transferred to the Scott camp at Albury, and only a couple of weeks later again produced a brave effort in the Wagga Guineas showdown, finishing just over two lengths from Dupli Kate again. Given the obvious depth of that race run at BM 74 level, Warpainted's immediate big drop in grade here makes him hard to beat on a track that should remain firm having sidestepped all the rain that is hammering the NSW East Coast. A tough on-speed son of 2018 Group 1 Rosehill Guineas (2000m) winner D'argento, Warpainted has drawn ideally to roll forward, with Blaike McDougall taking over in the saddle. It would certainly snap a recent frustrating run for the Scott stable which hasn't tasted success in nearly five weeks, although a double at Albury on April 17 had capped eight individual winners from her last 22 starts through the first half of autumn. The race, though, is the last and clearly strongest of three consecutive BM 58 battles to close the Corowa meeting.
The Age
18-05-2025
- Sport
- The Age
Warpainted set to get back to winning ways after stable switch
The strength of the three-year-old ranks at the recent Wagga Cup carnival goes on the line at Monday's Corowa meeting. Progressive Albury three-year-old Warpainted is very well-placed to get back to winning ways fourth-up in a Benchmark 58 Hcp over the mile. It will only be the gelding's second run for leading border trainer Donna Scott after a rapid-fire stable switch from Gary Colvin at Wagga in between the Guineas Prelude and the Listed Final just 17 days ago. Warpainted, a dominant Class 1 winner back on Australia Day, was at big odds when having just his sixth start, finishing only three lengths from smart Guineas Prelude winner Dupli Kate. That was in the Colvin yard before he was abruptly transferred to the Scott camp at Albury, and only a couple of weeks later again produced a brave effort in the Wagga Guineas showdown, finishing just over two lengths from Dupli Kate again. Given the obvious depth of that race run at BM 74 level, Warpainted's immediate big drop in grade here makes him hard to beat on a track that should remain firm having sidestepped all the rain that is hammering the NSW East Coast. A tough on-speed son of 2018 Group 1 Rosehill Guineas (2000m) winner D'argento, Warpainted has drawn ideally to roll forward, with Blaike McDougall taking over in the saddle. It would certainly snap a recent frustrating run for the Scott stable which hasn't tasted success in nearly five weeks, although a double at Albury on April 17 had capped eight individual winners from her last 22 starts through the first half of autumn. The race, though, is the last and clearly strongest of three consecutive BM 58 battles to close the Corowa meeting.
News.com.au
03-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Dubbo preview, best bets and inside mail for Sunday May 4, 2025
It took plenty of time and effort from trainer Scott Singleton and his team to get Zoomorphic to show his best but it was worthwhile when he blitzed his rivals to finally break his maiden. The son of Zoustar and Group 1-winning mare Spright took until start 10 to land that maiden win at Mudgee two weeks ago but he certainly did it in style. After racing outside the leader, Zoomorphic went into another gear after straightening and raced away to score by just over five lengths. 'When we got him, it took a lot of time and work to get him to want to win and put horses away,' said Singleton. 'He's a very intelligent horse and would only do what he wanted to do. 'He lives out at the farm in a yard now and is much happier.' Singleton is quite confident the four-year-old can win again when he lines up in the Benchmark 58 Handicap (1400m) with Mitchell Bell to again partner the gelding. 'I think he will be hard enough to beat on the way he won the other day and the way he seems to have come though the run,' he said. 'He is owned by a couple of big studs here at Scone – Cressfield and Robrick Lodge – and if he wins this weekend, we will run him in the Highway at Scone over the carnival. 'If he gets beat but still runs well, I will run him on the Friday meeting at the carnival in a Class 1.' Singleton is also keen on the chances of Deemee in the opening race on the card, the Benchmark 58 Handicap (2200m) with Mitchell Bell on her as well. Like Zoomorphic, Deemee has only been with Singleton since the start of this preparation. After two runs in unsuitably short races, the four-year-old New Zealand-bred daughter of Preferment really appreciated getting out to a staying trip when she broke her maiden in a Class 1 set weights race over the 2200m at Dubbo on April 7. She then backed it up with a nose second behind Wittelsbach on her home track of Scone. 'She is bred for the journey and once she got to it, she has found form,' Singleton said. 'She had a bleed in her last run at Newcastle last campaign so she went to the paddock and had quite a while off before she came to me. 'It's a slow maturing breed so naturally she has taken time and it takes a couple of runs to get them up to a suitable trip. 'She hasn't gone backwards in any way, shape or form since her last run at Scone and I expect her to be hard to beat.' The third of Singleton's runners for the day is Wanavan in the Maiden Plate (1000m) with Bell onboard him as well. The son of Wandjina resumed from a 10 month break with a long had second to Enniroc at Muswellbrook before a failed on a wet track second-up run at Scone. He raced wide without cover when a 2½-length fifth at Dubbo on April 7 before a length third to Rail Trail at Scone after racing wide at Scone a week later. 'I was happy with his last run at home. Reece (Jones) got caught four-deep on him and he was working a little bit around the corner but he stuck to his task OK,' he said. 'This race is no stronger and I'd say he has to be in the mix somewhere as long as the track isn't too wet which I don't think it will be.' â– â– â– â– â– DUBBO TIPS BEST BET Was good in both Victorian starts. Drawn the pole and hard to beat. NEXT BEST Race 1 No.5: DEEMEE Nice win at her first go at this trip before a close second last start. Can bounce back. VALUE BET Race 7 No.2: CANAMBLE Both wins have come first-up including one this track and trip. Good chance again. QUADDIE RACE 5: 1, 6, 7 RACE 6: 1, 2, 6 RACE 7: 2, 4, 8, 10 RACE 8: 2, 3, 4, 10 JOCKEY TO FOLLOW MITCHELL BELL looks a good chance the TAB Jockey Challenge. â– â– â– â– â– DUBBO INSIDE MAIL DEEMEE (5) appreciated getting up to a staying trip when she closed nicely to beat Casino Diva over 2200m here on Apr 7. Almost made it two in-a-row when a nose second to Wittelsbach over the same trip at Scone. Can bounce back. D'ORO CHOICE (1) made a mid-race move to go to the front near the 600m when a big winner at Wellington. Was down the order in the Orange Cup then was wide when sixth at Mudgee over 2000m. Runner-up in both runs this track and distance. RUFUS WAINRIGHT (3) has place claims. BET: DEEMEE to win. PRESSNELL (3) raced keenly on debut and wasn't disgraced when runner-up to Quick Sharp at Scone then raced wide without cover when fifth at Warren. Resumes here off an impressive five-length trial win at Mudgee. WANAVAN (5) raced wide without cover when fifth at Dubbo on Apr 7 and backed up at Scone a week later and again did it tough out wide when a length third to Rail Trail. A win isn't far away. I DON'T THINK SO (8) is first-up for over two years. Nice trial here on Apr 12. BET: PRESSNELL to win. COLONEL LIGHT (1) was three-wide and pushed wider on the bend when sixth to Davikar on debut ta Muswellbrook on Mar 14. Then back and wide from the outside gate when second to Spenzalot at Scone a month later. PIERONIMO (3) raced inside Colonel Light and tracked him around the bend to finish third when resuming in that Scone race. Will be better for the run but has a wide gate to overcome. JEFFO (5) has placed in two of his three runs here and was fourth on the other. BET: COLONEL LIGHT to win. Former Victorian gelding PROPER TWELVE (7) was carried wide at the 1000m when beaten under two lengths into fifth behind Barbie'sdreamworld on debut at Terang. Raced outside the leader and tried hard when a half-length second to Harrumph Harrumph at Geelong on Mar 15. LORD VETTORI (4) boxed on well when runner-up to Imperial State when resuming from a lengthy spell at Gosford. Disappointed when second last at Wyong second-up. Worth another chance. WENDOUREE (9) has place claims on his first-up second at Coonabarabran. Made up ground from last at Armidale last start. BET: PROPER TWELVE to win. ZOOMORPHIC (7) ran a couple of close seconds to start his campaign then failed to handle the heavy track at Scone. Was dominant on breaking his maiden by five lengths at Mudgee on Apr 20. With that confidence-boosting win, he can go on with it. RICH STREET (6) is in terrific form with two wins and three placings from her last five starts. Came wide on the bend and was game in running down Extravagant Choice at Orange last start. MAZITA (1) has a big weight and wide gate but is more than capable. BET: ZOOMORPHIC to win. CROP DUSTER (2) will take improvement from his first-up seventh behind Extravagant Lad in the Cup Day Sprint over 1000m at Orange on Apr 11. Will appreciate the sting out of the track and the step up to 1200m where he has scored three of his six wins. LIFE'S A PARTY (6) closed strongly to win the Bill Aspros Cup from Outback Angel at Bathurst first-up. Is a second-up winner and drawn to get a nice run. THE DRAMATIST (1) got well back from a wide gate and closed well between horses when sixth to Annie's Rose at Muswellbrook second-up. BET: CROP DUSTER each-way. CANAMBLE (2) has won two of her seven and both wins have come first-up. Beat Brutal Love on the Wellington Boot Prelude on debut in March last year. Kicked off last preparation with an all-the-way win from the Mooch over this track and distance. Resumes off a nice trial second behind stablemate Bare To Witness on the Beaumont. CUMNOCK (4) battled away for fifth to Cumboogle when resuming at Orange and will take improvement. Had solid form last campaign including a fourth to Clear Thinking in a Randwick Highway. D'ARPANO (10) and KORA MAGIC (8) have claims. BET: CANAMBLE to win. PRESS FORWARD (4) was rewarded for his solid form with a good win over this track and distance last start. Went back to last before coming down the middle of the track to beat D'Arpano. Will gain confidence from the win and can go back-to-back. THIS ONE TIME (10) took benefit from his first-up fourth at Scone with a handy win from Maxandus at Tamworth. Good chance again. BARE TO WITNESS (2) and ROCK 'N' REIGN (3) have claims.
