Gold Circle is thrilled to announce the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) as the new title sponsor of the Gold Cup race meeting. “Over the past two years this race meeting has been classified as a World Pool Event which has generated significant revenue for Gold Circle and this has coincided with HKJC World Pool becoming the sponsors of the Grade 1 Champions Cup. We can now confirm HKJC as the title sponsors of the day and we are excited to launch the first HKJC World Pool sponsored race day worldwide” said Michel Nairac, CEO of Gold Circle.

The Gold Cup race meeting represents one of the highest quality race days in South Africa. The 10-feature race card (the last 9 races being part of World Pool) boasts the premier race for stayers as the title event along with four Grade 1 races, three Grade 2 races and two listed races. Added to this, the race meeting falls on the last weekend of the South African racing calendar and with R6million in stakes on offer it is often a significant opportunity for Horses, Trainers and Owners to secure their respective status as EQUUS Champions of the year.

This year the Gold Cup will be run on Sunday 30^th July and will be part of a double header World Pool weekend, with racing from Ascot on Saturday.

“There has always been a strong connection between the Hong Kong and South African racing industries, particularly when it comes to participants, so it is exciting to collaborate with them. Gold Circle have been wonderful supporters of World Pool and they recognise the benefits of a having a robust pari-mutuel offering. And Hong Kong customers are quite fond of the product as well. In fact, the 2022 Gold Cup meeting produced record turnover in Hong Kong for a simulcast meeting of HKD 394.7M,” said Michael Fitzsimons, Executive Director, Wagering Products of the HKJC.

The stakes on HKJC World Pool Gold Cup Day have been increased by more than 25% and features the R1m World Pool Gold Cup and the R1,25m HKJC Champions Cup. Former South African Jockey, Douglas Whyte, who went on to secure 13 consecutive Hong Kong Jockey Titles and is now a successful trainer, will be recognised by having the Grade 1 Douglas Whyte Stakes (formerly the Thekwini Stakes) named in his honour.

Douglas Whyte said “I feel privileged to have this race named in my honour and want to thank Gold Circle and the Hong Kong Jockey Club for the recognition. It is a great race meeting and Durban has always held a special place in my heart. World Pool has been a great initiative and a much needed boost for the South African industry.

The race program is listed below:

R1: Tabgold Darley Arabian (Listed)

R2: World Pool with Gold Circle Stakes (Gr2) formerly Debutante Stakes

R3: @WorldPool Twitter Stakes (Gr2) formerly Umkhomazi Stakes

R4: Douglas Whyte Stakes (Gr1) formerly Thekwini Stakes

R5: World Pool Moment of the Day Champion Stakes (Gr1) formerly Premiers Champion Stakes

R6: Mercury Sprint (Gr1)

R7: World Pool Gold Cup (Gr3)

R8: The HKJC Champions Cup (Gr1)

R9: Riding High Together Gold Bracelet (Gr2)

R10: HKIR in December Handicap (Listed) formerly Umgeni Handicap

Major sports bookmaker, World Sports Betting, has significantly increased its investment in South African horseracing by committing a minimum R52 million towards the sponsorship of 4Racing’s blue-chip events in Gauteng and Eastern Cape over the next three years.

World Sports Betting, renowned sponsors of the World Sports Betting Triple Crown Series that traditionally kicks off the Gauteng horseracing season, are proudly the new and official sponsors of ‘The Championships’ season in Johannesburg, which will now come to be known as ‘The World Sports Betting Championships’.

In addition to the first three legs of the World Sports Betting Triple Crown, held annually and in tandem with the Wilgerbosdrift Triple Tiara, The World Sports Betting Championships will also include the Royal Race Day, headlined by the Her Serene Highness Princess Charlene Empress Club Stakes, and the eagerly anticipated Champions Day, which is the Finale of The World Sports Betting Championships.

As part of their exciting partnership and a minimum of R52 million sports marketing investment in 4Racing, World Sports Betting will continue to sponsor the Vaal’s big racing day out, the Grand Heritage, and the East Cape Derby at Fairview over the next three years.

The deal will also see World Sports Betting invest significantly into 4Racing’s digital and broadcast programming on Racing 240 all-year-round, as well as its magazine show Weighted To Win, along with activations around major WSB race days.

World Sports Betting have proudly announced that they will commit a further R7 million to  Grooms’ CSI initiatives, with every winning Groom under the 4Racing umbrella being awarded a generous R1 500 cash incentive.

“This investment by World Sports Betting into the future sustainability of South African horseracing is hugely significant. We appreciate their confidence in and support for The World Sports Betting Championships season, which has added a new dimension to the start of the Johannesburg horseracing season. We are also appreciative of WSB’s sponsorship of our major race days in the Vaal and Nelson Mandela Bay. While the horseracing industry remains under pressure to ensure its long-term survival, we are heartened by the partners who have come on board to put their name, energy and support behind our major race days on the 4Racing calendar and to ensure stakes remain competitive. We will continue to make the sport of horseracing appealing to existing and potential new punters, owners, trainers, corporates and all stakeholders who are strongly invested in the much-loved sport of horseracing,” said 4Racing Chief Executive Officer, Fundi Sithebe.

“We are proud and more so honoured to be part of this journey and partnership with 4Racing. Our aim and vision go hand in hand with that of the 4Racing Executive team and all major players and contributors to ensure the sustainably and longevity of the sport we live and breathe. Our plan is to welcome a new life into the sport of racing, creating awareness, an element of fun and lifestyle too. We look forward to a long and fruitful partnership with 4Racing,” said World Sports Betting Group Holdings CEO, Warren Tannous.

The third leg of the World Sports Betting Championships, the R4.3 million Derby Day, takes place at Turffontein on Saturday 1 April, headlined by the R1.5 million World Sports Betting SA Derby (Grade 1), R1 million HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes (Grade 1) and the R750 000 Wilgerbosdrift Bridget Oppenheimer Oaks (Grade 2).

The World Sports Betting Championships continues on Saturday 15 April with the Royal Race Day, headlined by the R1 250 000 HSH Princess Charlene Empress Club Stakes (Grade 1), as well as the Racehorse Owners Association’s R300 000 Monaco Sport of Kings Charity Maiden Sprint.

The World Sports Betting Championships’ Finale concludes on leg five with the high-octane R4 895 000 Champions Day on Saturday April 29, which is a major highlight on the South African horseracing calendar packed with top quality Graded races galore.

Champions Day includes the R2 million Grade 1 Premier’s Champions Challenge, the Middle Distance Championship, and the R1 million Grade 1 Jonsson Workwear Computaform Sprint, the quickest 1000m event in the land which crowns the best sprinter.

The day also contains a host of Championship Graded races for Juveniles, Fillies and Mares.

The World Sports Betting East Cape Derby takes place on Friday 12 May 2023, while the World Sports Betting Grand Heritage at the Vaal takes place on Saturday 9 December this year.

The remainder of the World Sports Betting Championships’ season race days’ details are as follows: 

Leg 3: Derby Day, 1 April: 

•           WSB South African Derby Gr.1 Leg 3, The Triple Crown, The 3yo              Championship

•           Wilgerbosdrift Bridget Oppenheimer Oaks, Gr.2, Leg 3, The Triple Tiara – The 3yo Fillies Championship 

•           H. F Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes, Gr.1 – The Mile Championship

Leg 4: Royal Race Day, 15 April:

•           HSH Princess Charlene Empress Club Stakes, Gr.1 – The Fillies and Mares Mile Championship

•           Racehorse Owners Association’s Monaco Sport of Kings Charity Maiden Sprint.

Leg 5: The World Sports Betting Championships Finale, 29 April:

•           WSB Premier’s Champions Challenge Gr.1 – The Middle-Distance Championship 

•           Jonsson Workwear Computaform Sprint Gr 1. – The Sprint Championship 

•           WSB SA Nursery Gr.2 – The Juvenile Championship 

•           WSB SA Filles Nursey Gr.2 – The Juvenile Filles Championship 

•           WSB Gerald Rosenberg Gr.2 – The Fillies and Mares Middle Distance Championship

•           WSB Camellia Stakes Gr. 2 – The Fillies and Mares Sprint Championship

•           SpinaWina Gold Bowl Gr.3 – The Staying Championship

Entrance to the Turffontein Racecourse is free throughout ‘The World Sports Betting Championships’ season. 

ENDS

For any media inquiries contact 

Jermaine Craig

0832010121 / JermaineC@4racing.com

Gold Circle and Hollywoodbets are pleased to announce that Champions Season 2023 will boast more than R29-million in prize money for the Feature race programme, which comprises 13 Grade 1 races, 12 Grade 2 races and a host of Grade 3 and Listed events. In addition, an amount of R24-million will be paid out for the minor races during this period.

Speaking on behalf of Gold Circle, CEO, Michel Nairac said “At this time, when horse racing is facing many challenges, we are delighted that the status of our Champions Season has not only been retained, but it has also been enhanced. Of course, this would not have been possible without the generous support of our loyal headline sponsor and partner, Hollywoodbets. All stakeholders are indebted to Hollywoodbets for their continued backing and belief.”

With all the Covid protocols and regulations now firmly behind us, racegoers can look forward to a Champions Season of high-quality horse racing, with visitors descending on KwaZulu-Natal from all around the country. Annually, the Champions Season which brings the racing year to a glorious conclusion, attracts the best horses, jockeys, and trainers to compete in the “National Championship” of South African horse racing.

The R5-million Hollywoodbets Durban July remains the most sought-after and valuable prize. However, there are significant increases for the following important Graded races:-

1.    Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge (Grade 1) from R1,25-million to R1,75-million

2.    Daily News 2000 (Grade 1) from R1-million to R1,50-million

3.    HKJC Champions Cup (Grade 1) from R1-million to R1,25-million

4.    Garden Province Stakes (Grade 1) from R1-million to R1,25-million

5.    Woolavington 2000 (Grade 1) from R750 000 to R1-million

6.    The Gold Cup 3200m (Grade 3) from R750 000 to R1-million

7.    Premiers Champion Stakes 2yo’s (Grade 1) from R500 000 to R700 000

8.    Thekwini Stakes 2yo fillies (Grade 1) from R500 000 to R700 000

In addition, the following Grade 2 races have had their stake increased from R400 000 to R500 000:-

1.     World Sport Betting Guineas

2.     Independent on Saturday Drill Hall Stakes

3.     Post Merchants

And the following Grade 2 races:-

1.       World Sports Betting Fillies Guineas from R350 000 to R450 000

2.       World Sports Betting 1900 from R350 000 to R400 000.

THE GOLD CUP RACE MEETING MOVES TO SUNDAY 30 JULY

Gold Circle wishes to advise that The Gold Cup race meeting has been moved from Saturday 29 July to Sunday 30 July. This has been agreed to because the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot Racecourse in England has been moved to Saturday 29 July.

Both of these elite race meetings are “World Pool” events, and the Hong Kong Jockey Club has requested that the meetings take place on consecutive days rather than simultaneously.

“Given the status and value of hosting a World Pool race meeting, the decision to move the Gold Cup to Sunday 30 July was a no-brainer,” said Nairac.

WOOLAVINGTON 2000 OPEN TO ALL FILLIES AND MARES AT W-F-A

Gold Circle also wishes to advise that the conditions of the Woolavington 2000 have been changed with immediate effect. Formerly restricted to three-year-old fillies, the Woolavington 2000 will now be open to all Fillies and Mares at Weight-for-Age. The change in conditions was approved by the Asian Pattern Committee (APC) and Gold Circle Racing Committee and the race will retain its Grade 1 status.

“The Woolavington 2000 was struggling to maintain the levels required by the APC for a Grade 1 3yo fillies’ race and we are confident that the depth of quality will improve significantly now that it is open to all fillies and mares,” said Gold Circle Racing Executive Raf Sheik. “In addition, the change of conditions adds a significant Grade 1 opportunity for older fillies and mares over a middle distance and fills a gap in our Champions Season programme.”

David Thiselton

There will be no weight anomalies in the Hollywoodbets Durban July as the highest rated three-year-old in the country Charles Dickens will not be an entry.

Candice Bass-Robinson said the crack Trippi colt would be coming to KZN for the SA Champions Season, but added he would not be running in the Hollywoodbets Durban July.

She said about the yard’s reading of his Grade 1 SplashOut Cape Derby second place finish, “I don’t think it is that he doesn’t stay, he still ran a very good race, but he is probably not at his best over 2000m at this stage.”

She envisaged the Grade 2 IOS Drill Hall Stakes over 1400m, the Grade 1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge over 1600m and the Grade 1 Champions Cup over 1800m as possible targets.

Another horse who will likely be running here in the SA Champions Season is Marina.

Candice was not sure she was good enough to make the July field.

She is also probably going to go up to the Highveld first to run in the Grade 1 HSH Princess Charlene Empress Club Stakes at Turffontein Standside on April 15.

She said this Silvano filly’s chief KZN targets would likely be the Grade 1 Brentford FC Garden Province Stakes and the Grade 2 Gold Bracelet, which she won last year. 

The Grade 1 Schweppes Majorca Stakes third-placed Golden Hostess is likely to be on the float. 

The obvious first target for her is the WSB Fillies Guineas.

She will be an interesting contender in the Grade 1 Woolavington 2000, considering she is by Trippi stallion Gold Standard and is a half-sister to the useful stayer Silver Host, who has won three Grade 3s from 1800m up to 2500m and has also won a Listed race over 2400m.

Bass-Robinson said she would only bring feature horses and none for ordinary races, because Cape Racing’s new look program will cater well for the latter types this winter.    

She was not sure whether the promising two-year-old Winter Cloud, who is a full-sister to the top class Clouds Unfold, would be on the float.   

Meanwhile, Charles Dickens, whose only two defeats in eight starts have been narrow ones in the Grade 1 L’Ormarins King’s PLate and the Grade1 SplashOut Cape Derby respectively, has gone to the top of the points table on the Equus Horse Of The Year log.

His closest rival is Jet Dark, who has been retired, so Charles Dickens has a good chance of holding on.  

4Racing and Gold Circle reach interim agreement to air KwaZulu-Natal content on Racing 240

Johannesburg, 2 March 2022

4Racing and Gold Circle would like to advise that they have reached an interim agreement that KwaZulu-Natal racing will be available on Racing 240 with immediate effect.

The parties are committed to continuing their engagements to conclude an equitable and sustainable long-term agreement for a unified broadcast platform, for the benefit of the South African horseracing industry.

For any media inquiries contact Jermaine Craig at JermaineC@4racing.com or on 0832010121.

David Thiselton

Competition between operators in South Africa might have inadvertently led to a brighter outlook for the owner and breeder as they and their sponsors have driven stakes upward in order to attract the best horses to their respective jurisdictions.

SA Champion trainer Justin Snaith said, “I don’t think we have been in a more positive situation for years. We have gone through the hardest time ever in SA racing and the racing operators should be applauded for whatever they have had to do to pick up the pieces. Racing has been the winner at the end of the day.”

Towards the end of last year 4Racing announced a commitment to a total stakes increase from R186 million in 2021 to R207 million in 2022 and an announcement of handsome minimum stakes amounts for feature races.

Snaith said as a response to this commitment many Cape trainers had been set to take strings up to the Highveld at a time they would normally be travelling to KZN.

However, KZN then announced exciting stakes incentives at a glittering ceremony held on February 17 to announce a new Durban July sponsor. 

Gold Circle announced Hollywoodbets as the new sponsor and the two entities, who have been working together for some time to improve racing in KZN, then jointly announced a July stake increase to a record-breaking R5 million. A further R13 million has been injected into minor races and feature races from 1 March – 31 August, meaning a total R16m boost to the KZN stakes pot.

KZN also announced that from 1 March until the end of May 2022 grooms would receive R2000 for each winning horse, an increase of R1000.    

Snaith said the announcement by Gold Circle was sure to have attracted the attention of connections around the country.

He himself will be in KZN for the SA Champions Season which he has supported every year for the past 22 years.

He said the only negative in SA racing at present remains the export situation and he reiterated, “They would like me to send a horse to the USA but it takes me two weeks to get a horse from the Eastern Cape to Cape Town. They have to sit for two weeks in quarantine even if they return a negative PCR test. The horses we buy at the sales in other provinces will have to sit in quarantine halfway back to Cape Town before being allowed to go to their pre-racing centres. The question I have for the experts is, how is all of this seen to be ‘moving forward’.”

Snaith called his Grade 1 R1 million Jonsson Workwear Cape Derby winner Pomp And Power a “smart little horse” and added, “He needed his first run back and hasn’t put a foot wrong since.”

He revealed he had battled to book a rider for the Derby and divulged that Richard Fourie’s agent had said he was waiting “to see what else he could get” when initially offered the ride and had only accepted some time later.

Fourie was confident the son of Vercingetorix would stay and suggested a “happy bit” to try and help him settle. Fourie then surprised all and sundry by reining him back into midfield after a good break as everybody had expected him to lead. Pomp And Power proved himself to not be one-dimensional and ran on strongly in the straight to win easily.

He has only been given a 118 merit rating which will allow the connections an opportunity of targeting the Hollywoodbets Durban July by avoiding the classics and protecting his July weight. The route he takes is yet to be decided by the connections but he has not surprisingly been scratched from Saturday’s Grade 1 WSB SA Classic at Turffontein.

Pomp And Power gave Vercingetorix a third individual Grade 1 winner and saw him increase his lead in the national Sires Championship to just over R600,000 from reigning champion Gimmethegreenlight, whose son Cosmic Highway won one of the main supporting features, the R600,000 Grade 2 Khaya Stables Diadem Stakes 

Snaith was disappointed by the well beaten third of the favourite Double Superlative and said, “His Met run seemed to have flattened him. It was tempting to go for the Derby, but maybe it was the wrong call.”

He predicted a big future for the runner up, the Adam Marcus-trained Universal who had to do it the hard way in front, and called him “impressive”.

Snaith had one other winner on the day, his four-year-old Dynasty gelding Salvator Mundi winning the Listed Kenilworth Cup over 3200m.

In the Grade 2 Prix du Cap, won easily by the Adam Marcus-trained Princess Calla, he finished second with Rain In Newmarket (Kingsbarns) and said, “I couldn’t be happier with her and she has now finished second to two top horses, Marina and Princess Calla, but I’m not sure of her route because it will be hard to find races for a four-year-old filly of her class other than in the Grade 1s.”

He was disappointed with Rio Querari’s third place in the Diadem and said,  “He never traveled and was tailed off. He kicked but he has had some issues and an ordinary summer and I am going to have to change something.”

He said the reigning Equus Champion Sprinter was unlikely at this stage to defend his Computaform Sprint title.

He added if horses who had run at Hollywoodbets Greyville before were not allowed a gallop there it would be a detractor to Rio Querari going to KZN.

However, he concluded by saying all horses are checked for soundness and weighed after races to see where they are and it is taken from there.