David Thiselton

Saturday racing was focused on Cape Town and the Gr 2 Punters Cup over 1600m, although there was a meeting at Turffontein Standside too and one or two horses made it into the notebook. 

At Hollywood Kenilworth the One World colt One Stripe not only won the Punters Cup as expected but looks to be the most exciting three-year-old for some time… more on that after the Turffontein report. 

Rachel Venniker rode a treble at Turffontein and will be looking forward to the Betway Summer Cup meeting where she has eight rides. 

Her first win on Saturday was aboard the Paul Matchett-trained Karate Kid over 1000m.

It was a notable win because this three-year-old Erupt gelding defied the weights in the Drakenstein Stud Graduation Plate event. He was 6kg under sufferance with the best weighted pair in the race according to official merit ratings. However, he has a progressive profile and the 1,5kg claim Venniker is allowed also helped as he galloped home full of running to win by 2,50 lengths, beating Rondebosch who was having his second rum after layoff and looks to have scope for improvement. The best weighted pair Master Casper and French Bolt needed their runs after layoffs. It was left to the decent Mike and Adam Azzie-trained Lead The Charge to run on for third. 

In the next race the form of the Johan Jansen van Vuuren-trained Happy Mo’s win last time had been franked and the Royal Mo filly duly followed up with a good win under Venniker off an 86 merit rating in the 1600m handicap. 

Venniker scored her treble in the last when the Fabian Habib-trained six-year-old Pathfork gelding Passage Of Power made it a fifth career win in the 1160m handicap. 

In the first race over 1600m the Alec Laird-trained Futura filly Tuscan Star is a big horse who won readily under Calvin Habib and Laird has hopes she could become an Oaks candidate. 

In the second the Crusade mare Tried and True had shown notable resolve when winning over 1400m last time and this time over 1600m under Diego Degouveia nobody was going to carch her from the front and she ran out a 3,25 length winner. The mare has had two wins from three starts since joining Robyn Klaasen as a five-year-old.

In the fifth race over 2000m it was another master class by Piere Strydom. He had outfoxed the opposition on the Lorenzo Karriem-trained The United States mare Indian Ocean last time by going to the front despite carrying 64.5kg and running out an easy winner. This time when coming back from a three month layoff he did the opposite and dropped her out to last. She used her big stride to eat up the ground down the inside rail in the straight and made it three-in-row by two lengths. Strydom has ridden her three times for three successive wins.

In the sixth over 1400m the Grant Maroun-trained Just Var made it two wins in a row despite stepping up from 1000m. The Var gelding gets on well with 2.5kg claimer Trent Mayhew and he brought him home again.

In the seventh over 1160m Serino Moodley has a fine record on the Sean Tarry-trained Silver Tudor (Lance) and he got him up despite him returning from a five-and-a-half month layoff.    

Meanwhile, One Stripe looks to be a special horse as it did not pan out well for him in the Punters Cup, as he was caught wide without cover throughout in the small six horse field, and yet he still won easing up under Gavin Lerena. 

The Vaughan Marshall-trained One World colt looks to be a particularly exciting prospect.

Marshall believes him at this stage to be a sprint-miler so his two immediate goals are the Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas on December 14 and the CRS R5 million Big Cap over 1400m on March 16.

However, the L’Ormarins King’s Plate might be in the offing too as there is three weeks between that and the Cape Guineas and then a full two months to recover for the Big Cap.

Graeme Hawkins

Trainer Vaughan Marshall enjoyed a champagne-popping red-letter day at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday with three winners across the 10-race programme, all sired by the sensational young stallion One World. The most significant of course being One Stripe who wrapped up his Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas preparation with a dominant and stylish victory in Saturday’s headliner, the R500 000 Cape Punters Cup (Gr2) over 1600m.

Stable companion All Out For Six, also by One World, ensured a true-run race and turned for home many lengths clear of his four rivals. For just a few moments 400m from home it appeared as if the bird had flown, but once Gavin Lerena sent One Stripe about his business the odds-on favourite lengthened his stride beautifully and quickly reeled in the leader to score cosily by nearly two lengths. The R2-million Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas on 14 December, when One Stripe is likely to face a few talented and highly regarded 3yo’s from up North, will be his acid test but he certainly passed his preliminary examination on Saturday with flying colours.

All Out For Six stayed on well to provide One World and Marshall with a 1-2 finish while Eight On Eighteen, having his first run since taking out the Langerman in June, made some late progress to round out the Trifecta. Justin Snaith will no doubt be encouraged by Eight On Eighteen’s comeback performance and the son of Lancaster Bomber should strip a lot fitter when lining up in the Guineas three weeks hence. One Stripe, All Out For Six and Eight On Eighteen were all bred at Gaynor Rupert’s Drakenstein Stud.

Earlier in the day One World enjoyed the distinction of siring the first three past the post in the R250 000 World Sports Betting Sophomore Sprint (Listed) over 1200m. Marshall’s Lion Rampart, re-united with Richard Fourie who has partnered the 3yo colt to all his victories, enjoyed a useful advantage approaching the final 400m and although the chasing pack were closing at the line, the Hollywood Syndicate-owned Lion Rampart stuck to his guns well and held on by a diminishing margin.

Kaiboy snatched the runner-up berth narrowly ahead of Miss World with Handsome Prince completing the frame. Roman Agent, who drifted sharply in the market from 9/4 to 7/1, was a touch disappointing, finishing a never dangerous fifth.

The Hollywood Syndicate were back in the winner’s enclosure some 35 minutes later when Ziyasha (40/1) bounced back to his very best form and held off the race favourite, Meu Capitano, by a whisker in the R225 000 World Sports Betting Bantry Bay Stakes over 1100m. Ziyasha, a first Western Cape winner for Highveld-based trainer Clinton Binda, was ahead with 300m to run but Fourie produced Meu Capitano with a good-looking challenge inside the distance and at that stage the Piet Steyn-trained 4yo son of Captain Of All was being hailed the likely winner. In fact, Meu Capitano may have put his nose in front close home, but Ziyasha rallied strongly under Raymond Danielson and the pair prevailed in a tight photo finish.

The expected three-horse war in the R180 000 Summer Bowl over 1600m failed to materialise as both Red Palace and, to a lesser extent, Rascova failed to bring their best form to the track. That left the way clear for Double Grand Slam to exact revenge on her principal rivals and the 4yo daughter of Vercingetorix was full value for her half-a-length victory over Rainbow Lorikeet, who ran well above expectations. Saartjie ran her usual honest race to finish in third spot with the pace-setting Rascova staying on to complete the Quartet. Red Palace clearly had an off-day but the daughter of Potala Palace cannot be written off on the basis of this below-par effort.

Marshall and One World’s third winner came in the eighth race, a Class 4 Handicap over 1400m, in which World Of Pleasure (14/1) edged out the favourite Empire State (15/10) in a thrilling stride-for-stride duel over the final 200m. Snaith and Fourie also notched up three winners apiece but no doubt the stars of the show on Saturday were Vaughan Marshall and One World, and of course One Stripe.

Andrew Harrison

After a break from racing of nearly two months for spring treatment, racing switches to Hollywoodbets Scottsville this weekend where runners will be faced with a billiard table.

A card opening bonus could come first with Major Tommie. Garth Puller’s charge made a promising debut and did find some market support. He was only beaten just over a length by Future Flo who has since franked that form with back-to-back victories and a close-up second. Of the first timers, all the trainers have commented that their charges will need the run. Watch the betting! 

Mind Map has finished runner-up in both local start, both on the poly. He was second best behind Mc Dazzler last run but could go one better in this line-up. Bring The Magic and Little Cracker have shown some ability and in with a money chance. 

In the second, Sun In My Pocket is talented but does not have the easiest of temperaments. If Wendy Whitehead’s charge can keep the lid on until the gates open she could prove difficult to beat. Her biggest threat could be Littleblackgem from the Michael Roberts yard who has run well over course and distance and showed up well first up from a lengthy lay-off last time out. Dressedtothenines has not been far back since racing in blinkers but has had a few chances. She gets a 4kg claimer up which will help her cause. Lightinthedarkness  gets first time blinkers and could up her game

In the first leg of the Pick 6, Woza Nawe found one too good for her when starting favourite last run. It was a narrow defeat but Peter Muscutt has declared blinkers and if they have the desired effect, she rates the one to beat. Bao La has the best of the draw  and Gareth van Zyl’s filly has her third run after a lengthy break. She is lightly raced and could make the required improvement over the extra furlong. 

Of the balance, La Vida Loca has not been far back in her two local starts and can feature in this company while Dee Day has drawn wide but also has her peak run and cannot be ruled out

In the fourth, a Maiden over a mile, Go Grayson Go has shown steady improvement for Frikkie Greyling and was run out of it late when favourite last time out. At his penultimate start he was runner-up to Mike de Kock’s Cape Guineas entry Artists Model to the inference is obvious.

 Alyson Wright has booked log-leading rider Gavin Lerena for World Of Our Own who has been placed in all three starts. He has a wide draw to contend with but looks a big threat to Go Grayson Go. 

Of the balance, Meercat Moon steps up to what could be a more suitable trip after running on nicely last time out while Long Gallery has drawn in New England Road but was much improved in blinkers last time out and can feature for the in-form Garth Puller yard. 

Vihaan’s Queen got a hefty six-point rise in the handicap after her last win but still looks quite well in at the weights for the fifth. She won well last time out and Gareth van Zyl appears to have picked the right race for a back-to-back attempt. 

African Beat has her third run after a break and was narrowly beaten last time out. Mike Miller has stepped her up to what looks to be a more comfortable trip and she could threaten Vihaan’s Queen. Miss Platina steps up in trip after being a beaten favourite last start on the poly. Tinnie Prinsloo’s filly looks held by Vihaan’s Queen at the weights but she is in good form. Broadway Girl finished in front of Miss Platina when last they met  but Stuart Ferrie’s filly is now 1kg worse off. 

The sixth is a competitive handicap. Global Movement got a two-point rise in the handicap for running second but he has consistent recent form and Tienie Prinsloo has booked Gavin Lerena for the ride. One Scotch got a hefty rating for his maiden win and with top weight it remains to be seen if it was a realistic rating by the handicappers. Doug Campbell’s veteran Lake Como has not been far back at recent starts and has been slowly dropping in the handicap.  He has Rachel Venniker’s allowance to assist and from the best of the draw he has a chance at possible long odds. Future Saint has his third outing for Prinsloo and steps up to a more suitable trip. He could also be a surprise package. Not an easy race

Jane’s Vision had a good early record on this track and has come well of late. She takes a big drop in class and with Venniker’s allowance she should be a strong contender in the seventh. Lady Of Vix won well at second time of asking and Tony Rivalland’s charge looks progressive. She got a hefty rating but does look capable. Prankster is never far back and was two lengths behind Jane’s Vision when last they met. With a 4kg claimer up she is much better off at the weights and it will be up to the apprentice to shine. Ayuwi Yuwi is also better off at the weights with Jane’s Vision with her four claimer up so also has claims. 

The last is a wide open handicap but Paul Lafferty could hold the key with the grey The Ghost. She is up against males but she ran a smart race in much stronger company last time out. She has a big weight to shoulder but does look progressive and has a touch of class which could see her home. Garth Puller has cleverly placed Masterbling who has won four of his last five starts and as a five-year-old has only been creeping up the handicap. He still looks well weighted so expect another big effort. Top weight Professor Lupin is slightly better off in the weights with Masterbling and is in good form so must be a contender. Ultra Quick has been holding form and is another that comes into the picture in a tough race.

David Thiselton

The Hong Kong international race day in December is fast approaching, as is the Longines International Jockeys Championship, and race fans got a foretaste of the former with two scintillating performances by Romantic Warrior and Ka Ying Rising at Sha Tin on Sunday.

Romantic Warrior is surprisingly only rated joint eleventh best racehorse in the world on a rating of 122, but perhaps that is because the ranking period happens to a northern hemisphere time scale and runs from January until December. This great Danny Shum-trained Acclamation gelding ended last season with five successive Gr 1 wins, starting with Australia’s most prestigious weight for age race, the Cox Plate and then including three prestigious Hong Kong races, the Longines Hong Kong Cup, the Hong Kong Gold Cup and the QE II Cup, and although all four of those races were over a mile and two furlongs (2000m) he then ended the season by winning the Gr 1 Yashuda Kinen in Japan over a mile.

On Sunday he was over his favourite 2000m trip in the Gr 2 Jockey Club Cup and despite giving the whole field five pounds he cruised in by 4,25 lengths under regular rider James McDonald.

This season he is likely to defend his titles in all of the Kong King Gr 1s mentioned above.

In one of them, the QE II Cup, he will be going for his fourth successive victory. He is the only horse to have won this prestigious international weight for age race three times.

Romantic Warrior could soon become the highest earning racehorse in history.

On Sunday he took his overall record to 16 wins and three seconds from 21 starts and boosted his prize money earnings to HK$154.92 million. He is now not far behind retired Golden Sixty’s world record haul of HK$167.17 million in earnings.

Earlier on Sunday the progressive David Hayes-trained New Zealand-bred Shamexpress gelding Ka Ying Rising smashed the Sha Tin course record set by Sacred Kingdom 17 years ago. Sacred King’s record was 68.35 seconds and Ka Ying Rising lowered it to an incredible 67.43 seconds.

Ka Ying Rising jumped from draw ten under Zac Purton and was being eased down at the line, which makes the record even more special.

When J J The Jet Plane won the Gr 1 Hong Kong Sprint over the course and distance in 2010, his time was 68.84 seconds.

Ka Ying Rising will be the one to beat in the latter race next month.

He has never won a Gr 1 before, but is unexposed as he only began his career in December last year, winning on debut before running two narrow seconds and since then he has won seven times on the trot. Ka Ying Rising’s record was the second notable course record lowered in the Far East recently.

Via Sistina lowered the Moonee Valley course record over 2000m in the Cox Plate a few weeks ago to 2:01.07, beating the previous mark of 2:02.07 set by the legendary four-times Cox Plate-winning mare Winx.

Meanwhile a top class line up has been announced for the Longines IJC, which is one of the world’s most prestigious Jockeys Challenges. Unfortunately, there are no South African riders, at least yet.

The two spots still to be determined for Hong Kong-based jockeys will go to Hugh Bowman and either Karis Teetan or Matthew Poon as things stand. The latter pair are both on 14 wins of the season, three ahead of Luke Ferraris and Matthew Chadwick and there is only Wednesday’s Happy Valley meeting remaining.

The Longines IJC is the most lucrative in the world for the winning rider. The four races are worth a combined HK$7.5 million in prize money. Furthermore, a total prize fund of HK$1 million in bonus money for the most successful riders will be split three ways, with the winner set to receive HK$600,000 with HK$250,000 for second and HK$150,000 for third, respectively.

The line up for the 2024 Longines IJC is: Vincent Ho (reigning IJC champion), Zac Purton (Hong Kong champion), Rachel King (Australia), Ryan Moore (Great Britain), Hollie Doyle (Great Britain), William Buick (Great Britain), Mickael Barzalona (France), Colin Keane (Ireland), Yuga Kawada (Japan), James McDonald (NZ), TBD (Hong Kong), TBD (Hong Kong).

Johannesburg, 15 October 2024 – 4Racing in conjunction with the Handicappers have published the first log for the 2024 R6 million Gr1 Betway Summer Cup to be run at Turffontein on Saturday 30 November.

Second entries close at 11am on Tuesday 05 November, and final entries at 9am on Monday, 18 November 2024, after which weights will be announced. Declarations must be in by 11am on Wednesday, 20 November 2024 and barrier draws will be conducted at a Betway event on 20 November 2024. The final log will be published on Tuesday 05 November 2024.