RACE 1

CRONUS (8) caught the eye on debut when a close-up 3rd behind Can You Danse and with natural improvement, can prove very hard to oppose. VIBE SA (2) travels well, moves up and simply just does not go on with his effort. He has run five seconds in a row. He is the obvious exacta selection and will get it all right one of these days. PAGE BOY (10) finished 4th on debut albeit well beaten, but can improve this time to get a lot closer. KWAGGA BLITZ (1) has a first four chance. (Devonne Govender 8-2-10-1)

RACE 2

GIMME A STORM (12) ran a good race on debut and has tons of scope to progress on that. A competitive race, but he has a bright winning chance. FLIGHT OF A CONDOR (9) nearly won first time out and clearly has some ability. A big runner with strong each way claims. PRETTY PRECIOUS (3) is ultra-consistent and can be given a huge place chance and ON A JET PLANE (1) is the value for the minor positions. Respect and include in trifectas and quartets. (Devonne Govender 12-9-3-1)

RACE 3

GARLANDSOFGREENERY (3) is lightly raced and clearly talented. She is the firm first choice, looks hard to beat and is the suggested banker on the card. SIGRID SWING (1) is taking time for the next win but in saying that, is never far off and can serve up a big run in this. BOSUM BUDDY (4) and VALIEVA (5) have strong place chances. (Devonne Govender 3-1-4-5)

RACE 4

(3) THE MERCIFUL is holding consistent form and has a big winning chance. (4) MISHRAH ran a much improved race in the last start and should be included. (5) SANTIAGO’S PRIDE was disappointing in the last start, he is capable of better and will be there. (2) MO MENT wasn’t far in the last start and can get into the quartets. ( Devonne Govender 3-4-5-2)

RACE 5

(2) GOOD COUNCIL won a gutsy race in the last start and can follow up with the light mass. (3) THUNEE PLAYA is holding form and based on that will have a shout. (1) SON OF RAJ on ratings is the horse to beat however he may need the run and another factor is his form on paper which isn’t the greatest respectfully, if he brings his ‘A` game he will smash them here. (5) RED MAPLE wasn’t far in the last start and can pop up here, include in all bets. ( Devonne Govender 2-3-1-5)

RACE 6

(2) SWING UPON A STAR ran a cracker in the last start and another big run can be expected. (5) KING OF VENUS is in excellent form and a huge performance is expected. (4) PASSAGE OF POWER was a gutsy winner in the last start and will be a factor. (3) ONE FELL SWOOP needed the last run and better is expected. ( Devonne Govender 2-5-4-3)

RACE 7

Very competitive race , many have winning chances. It’s also advisable to watch on which side of the track horses seem to be winning from. (14) RADICCHIO is holding solid form and is a massive contender here. His recent victories have been excellent and he will be in the firing line. (12) CAPTAINOFTHEGREEN was ultra impressive in his last win and the fact that Richard Fourie has been booked for the ride speaks volumes. He has always been rated as a smart horse early in his career so he must have a huge chance. (19) THE AFRICA HOUSE is another who is loaded with ability and can get into the action, his last run was eye catching and he deserves huge respect. (11) SLINKY MAPIMPI is a very interesting runner with Rachel Venniker aboard. He is very capable on his day and it will be no surprise to see him win this contest at decent odds from an inside draw. ( Devonne Govender 14-12-19-11)

RACE 8

(5) CONFEDERATE looks a smart type and will be a big runner in this contest. His last victory was very impressive and he will have a huge winning chance here. (7) COUNT INVICTO is another smart type in the making, his form speaks for itself and there won’t be much to choose between him and the top selection. (9) MK’S DREAMS won a gutsy race in the last start, he showed plenty of determination on that occasion and with the light mass on his back will be a factor. (4) WARHAWK BOMBER is never far back and is capable of getting involved here, he does have solid form overall and can’t be ignored. ( Devonne Govender 5-7-9-4)

RACE 9

(5) DARK SILVER ran an excellent race behind a smart sort and looks to be a strong contender for top honours. He has regular pilot Diego De Gouveia aboard who knows him well and a bold showing is expected. (8) GUY ALEXANDER has been consistent and will be in the mix again. (3) COPPER MIST ran well enough in the last start and can’t be ignored. (10) ROBERT BROWNING is capable of running into the quartet. ( Devonne Govender 5-8-3-10)

Soccer4 on Saturday, 21st December 2024, ADD-IN R 25 000, Pool Closes at 17h00, Sport 19 and Pool 2, Estimated Pool: R 100 000

Soccer6 on Saturday, 21st December 2024, ADD-IN R 100 000, Pool Closes at 17h00, Sport 5 and Pool 2, Estimated Pool: R 500 000

Soccer10 on Saturday, 21st December 2024, ADD-IN R 200 000, Pool Closes at 16h00, Sport 7 and Pool 1, Estimated Pool: R 2 Million

Soccer13 on Saturday, 21st December 2024, Pool Closes at 16h15, Sport1 and Pool 1, One Winner Guaranteed Jackpot: R 16 Million (if only one 13 of 13 Winner)

Soccer ANY 13Xtra on Saturday, 21st December 2024, C/Over R 250 000, Pool Closes at 14h30, Sport 13 and Pool 1, Estimated Pool: R 750 000

Soccer4 on Sunday, 22nd December 2024, ADD-IN R 25 000, Pool Closes at 16h00, Sport 17 and Pool 1, Estimated Pool: R 100 000

Graeme Hawkins

Veteran trainer Vaughan Marshall reeled in a record-equalling sixth career Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas victory at a festive Kenilworth racetrack on Saturday when One Stripe stormed home under the stand side rail to beat Eight On Eighteen by more than a length. One Stripe delivered heavily invested owner Rikesh Sewgoolam his maiden Grade 1 success and for jockey Gavin Lerena his first Guineas trophy, but for Champion breeders, Drakenstein Stud, it was “business-as-usual” as the first three past the post were all bred and raised at their magnificent Franschhoek-based operation.

While comfortable in the end, One Stripes’ fans had to endure a few anxious moments. Stable companion All Out For Six set a brisk gallop followed by O’Tenikwa, Heather’s Boy and Great Plains with One Stripe in a good position heading into the turn. Midway round the bend One Stripe appeared to lose a few positions, but supercool Lerena never panicked and allowed the son of One World to find his feet once heads were turned for home.

At the 400m pole the front-runners began to feel the pinch. One Stripe was poised to strike and Eight On Eighteen was beginning to make serious inroads from near the back of the field. With Richard Fourie in full cry on Snaith’s Eight On Eighteen towards the inside, and One Stripe gathering momentum while shifting ground to the outside, it was initially not easy to gauge who held the upper hand, but approaching the final 150m it was clear that One Stripe was not going to be denied, and he drew clear to score emphatically.

One Stripe was initially purchased by Grant Knowles for a “mere” R100 000 at BSA’s August 2yo Sale last year and was sent to Julia Pilbeam’s Soetendal Estate to be prepared for Cape Racing Sales’ 2023 November Ready-to-Run Sale. Knowles loves to speculate in the Sales’ market and has done so with great success over many years. But not even he could have expected a R100 000 purchase in August to realise R1,4-million just a few months later. One Stripe put up a spectacular gallop – later described by Marshall as the most impressive he had ever seen at similar sales – and the active buyers’ bench responded accordingly, with Marshall having the final say. And the rest, as they say, is history!

I asked Knowles what it was about One Stripe that grabbed his attention at the August Sale. “He was very correct, walked really well, appeared very athletic with a commanding presence.” Nothing’s changed as all those attributes were on full display in the parade ring on Saturday. One Stripe has now won five of his seven starts and has banked nearly R2,4-million in prize money but, given the history of the Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas being a stallion-producing race, Rikesh Sewgoolam has so much more to look forward to.

If all goes according to plan between now and then, the Nick Jonsson-owned Eight On Eighteen will be a tough nut to crack in the Splashout Cape Derby (Gr1) over 2000m in February. The 3yo son of Lancaster Bomber is clearly very progressive and the Derby trip should not be an issue for Eight On Eighteen. His next engagement could be the 1800m Politician Stakes (Gr3) in January, the traditional Derby trial here in the Western Cape.

Great Plains stayed on well from a handy position to finish a creditable third, with rank outsider O’Tenikwa a remote fourth. Mike de Kock’s Heather’s Boy, unbeaten from three starts coming into Saturday’s Guineas, was found wanting over the final 400m but did enough to grab a minor share of the R2-million purse.

The R350 000 Ridgemont Peninsula Handicap (Gr3) over 1800m produced a shock result as the enigmatic and completely unpredictable The Futurist (66/1) led just about from pillar to post under Anthony Andrews. The chasing pack were closing in fast over the final 100m, but the winning post came just in time for The Futurist who held on gamely to beat Otto Luyken and the winner’s well backed stable companion, Infrared, in a blanket finish.

The R225 000 Splashout Victress Stakes (Gr3) over 1800m turned into something of a farce. On a day when most races were run inside of standard time, the Victress was “run” at a pedestrian pace, some three seconds (15 lengths) outside of the average and nearly five seconds (25 lengths) slower than the Peninsula Handicap. Rainbow Lorikeet took full advantage and scored for Aldo Domeyer and Candice Bass-Robinson by the best part of a length over Knockout and Time For Love. The favourite Saartjie cast a shoe during the race and was never a factor, finishing last of the five runners.

Domeyer and Bass-Robinson were also successful with From A Distance in the third race, a Maiden Plate (F&M) over 1200m, and Kaiboy in the sixth race, a Class 3 Handicap over 1200m. Kaiboy was most impressive and the 3yo son of One World looks to be a smart sprinter in the making. From A Distance won readily at the expense Englefield Green and in his post-race interview, Domeyer suggested the daughter of Querari could be even better over slightly further.

Parental Guidance, a half-brother to last season’s Grade 1-winning Proceed, scored an impressive debut victory under Richard Fourie for the Paul Reeves stable in the R250 000 Commonwealth Plate for juveniles over 1000m, which got proceedings at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth under way. The 2yo son of Querari was largely ignored in the market but he stormed home in quick time and is one for the notebook.

The second race, the R200 000 Coronation Plate for 2yo fillies, was won by the Snaith-trained Wild Wild Green who came from a little way off the pace to get the better of Whatastar by a length. Wild Wild Green is a half-sister to Sheela who was trained to Graded-stakes success by the Azzie team on the Highveld.

ONE IRISH ROVER, with Damyan Pillay up, wins the Open A TabGold Account – 031 314 1874 MR 68 Handicap for trainer M J Odendaal at Hollywoodbets Scottsville yesterday.

Picture: Gold Circle/Candiese Lenferna

Please Note: From December, Unit cost of all Soccer10 Pools closing on Wednesdays will be R3.

The R3 unit cost on Wednesdays is on a trial basis only & follows requests from many customers to increase the Soccer10 Unit.

The unit cost of Soccer10 Pools on all other days remains R2.