May proved successful for syndicates!

There was a long list of runners cheered home by various registered syndicates during May. Of which, there were five winners and heaps of places to keep ahead of the curve. Although some wins were expected due to strong form of respective horses, there was no shortage of excitement under the arch at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth.

GRAVITY saluted for the Social Squad on 4 May under Brevan Plaatjies. He found the right race for this horse who might have underdelivered to an extent through his career, but this was comfortably his career best. Credit to all shareholders, because it was nearly 18 months since his last win which came in the Okapi Ladies Invitational on L’Ormarins Kings Plate Day in 2024. Patience was rewarded, but with confidence boosted, there is no reason why this son of Querari cannot claim a few more wins while the masses are in Durban.

Speaking of patience and perseverance, AMERICAN ULTRA exited the maidens at the third time of asking, but 11 months after his debut. He was probably easy for the Wolf Power Syndicate (Nominee: Dianne Howell) to hold tight with because his opening two runs were filled with promise. Credit to trainer Ricky Maingard for getting the horse ready on his return after a lengthy break. There are more wins to come from him.

FOLLOW YOUR HEART for the Centenary Syndicate and many partners looks the part and he is one of the most exciting two-year-olds around. He is built like a centerfold and his three career starts back up and possible expectations. He might be limited by the distances that he would be most effective over, but trainer Candice Bass-Robinson will happily split her best babies so it might not be a bad headache to have. He is a horse to follow.

TAKE IT AS RED broke his annoying habit of finishing fourth when she obliged towards the end of May for the Turf Talk Syndicate, managed by Grant Knowles. Blinkers equipped and given a positive ride by Chad Little, the daughter of Hawwaam suddenly took a step forward offering some hope for the future. She might have been looking for extra distance this entire time. She should have more wins in the tank. She is under the hands of Piet Steyn.

BENEATH THE CLOUDS carries possibly the brightest silks in the game today. The Ready Steady Go Syndicate managed by Michelle Rix are so easy to spot. She is part-owned by Dayalan Chinsammy, Jonathan Bloch and Trevelen Pillay’s TKP Syndicate. As for the filly, she was knocking on the door consistently and she has developed with every start. Her debut at Hollywoodbets Durbanville might have come a while ago, but the horse then and the horse now are poles apart, so credit to Michelle Rix and Harold

Crawford. She loves to race from the front and with her generous rating, there might be more to come.

Other syndicate flag bearers who ran solid races in May who could win soon include SET TO MUSIC, COUNTER ATTACK, IKO IKO, TIMELINE, BUGLE BOY, WHITE WATERS, SESAME and ROYAL CLINTON. The vast majority of Syndicate owned horses earned a cheque in May which is an astonishing percentage