David Thiselton

The small yard of Tienie Prinsloo triumphed in the Gr 1 WSB Cape Guineas with Vercingetorix filly Quickstepgal and it was a triumph too for the Wernars family and Harry Willson, who made the astute decision to buy her in training with the help of bloodstock agent Justin Vermaak.

Jockey Gavin Lerena’s strategy played a big part in the victory.

He said, “I always had it in mind to go to the front, but then I was hearing there were a couple of pacemakers in. I was quite happy to go forward to be in behind the pacemakers, but they didn’t come, so I was pretty happy to alone in the lead. She has got such a good action it would have been detrimental to have her in behind a slow pace and not using her action. As long as she was using her stride I was happy, whether it was in behind a fast pace or the pace I was at. She was very sensible in front, her ears came up very soon. She was just free-wheeling, she enjoyed it, she absolutely cruised around the course. From halfway around the turn I thought it was going to take a good one to beat me. She had cruised around so easily that I wanted the others to come off the bit early so I gave her a squeeze at the top of the straight. She lengthened beautifully and I felt I still had a lot of horse in hand, so if they were going to come at me, she was going to give me another kick.”

Lerena said Stormwatch had begun challenging, but he kept his mount in the hands until the 300m and then squeezed her again.

He said she responded superbly.

It was virtually race over at that point as she kicked away.

However, Reet Petite did produce a tremendous turn of foot when given a smack by Richard Fourie and Quickstepgal’s supporters had to hold their breaths again.

However, when Lerena gave her a smack at the 150m mark she found the necessary extra to keep the big-actioned Reet Petite at bay by three-quarters of a length.

James Crawford is trainer of Reet Petite and Crawford Racing were narrowly denied a win in the Gr 1 Classic for the second year in succession and for the third time in the last four years.

It was a first win of the Cape Fillies Guineas for Gavin and there can not be many Gr 1s around the country now that he has not won.

It was a first Gr 1 win for Tienie Prinsloo, who used to train in the backwater centre of Kimberley and he currently only has 13 horses in his yard.

Wish List ran on well from near the back of the field for a two length third.

She had sat behind Gr 2 Western Cape Fillies Championship winner Princess Of Gaul in the running and overtook the latter late in the race.

Princess Of Gaul ran on well initially, but appeared to not quite see it out and was beaten 2,50 lengths with Lowveld Lily 0,30 lengths further back in fifth.

The race was a nightmare for the hot favourite Golden Palm, the East Cape Equus Champion raider from the Alan Greeff yard.

She came out of stall seven hesitantly and and after the pack had been shuffled she ended up on the rail in midfield. With Quickstepgal dictating in front, and with there being just a narrow 1,5m false rail, she looked up against it from a long way out. However, it was not all down to luck in running. When she switched outward in the straight her usual kick was just not there. She took a long while to pick up, but did manage to do some good work late and finished a 3,80 length sixth. Time will tell whether she can bounce back. This was a filly being touted for superstardom and she started at odds of 91/100. Her next start will tell whether the bubble has burst. It must be remembered that a former East Cape star, Bold Silvano, bounced back from an unplaced run in the Cape Derby to win the July.

Gavin said in the winner’s enclosure that himself and Tienie had gone back a long way and he recalled being given some rides by him in Kimberley when  chasing the championship ten years ago and he said he had always called upon him along the way during his career.

He added, “It means so much to me to ride a Gr 1 winner for him. He’s always been a great trainer. He’s come from humble beginnings and it’s never been easy for him, but he keeps showing up and I am so elated he has got this Gr 1.”

He also thanked caretaker trainer in Cape Town, Eric Sands, and also the deserving owners, the Wernars family and Harry Willson.

Tienie said Quickstepgal had always quickened from the front and she knew she would have no problem with the 1600m trip. He said he could see Richard Fourie was off the bridle on Reet Petite after Quickstepgal had given her kick and “then I said there you go that’s our race!”

It was a double triumph for KZN-trained horses because the Gr 3 WSB Southern Cross Stakes was won by the Hollywood Racing-owned What A Winter mare Asiye Phambile, who thus retained her crown under Sean Veale. Lucinda Woodruff is her current trainer, but her home is Duncan Howells’ Summerveld yard and she will return to him after the Cape Summer season.

The Listed WSB Cape Prive Summer Stayers over 2500m saw a courageous victory for the Glen Kotzen-trained Holding Thumbs, who just got up by the narrowest of margins under Chad Little. The Vercingetorix gelding started at 16/1 as he was giving the runner up and favourite Ahead Of The Facts a whopping 11kg.

The phenomenal Vercingetorix had three winners on the day, two of them for the Kotzen/Little combination.

Gavin Lerena was booked off for yesterday’s meeting at Turffontein after an incident in the parade ring before the first which caused whiplash and a neck spasm, but he was treated and will be back for his next scheduled meeting.

Andrew Harrison

It was a big weekend for apprentice Damyan Pillay. Announced as Head Boy of the South African Jockey Academy at their year-end awards ceremony at the Summerveld Clubhouse on Friday morning, he rode out his 4kg claim just a few hours later. Riding a superbly judged race on Soho Star for Yogas Govender he scored the 20^th win of his fledgling career in the Middle Stakes that headed the card at Hollywoodbets Greyville.

The form was there to see, Soho Star finishing a close-up third to Gr1 winning Gladatorian, but a wide draw was always at the back of many punters minds. However, Pillay managed to navigate a handy position as Tara Star set sail from the jump.

For a long way up the straight and barely moving a muscle, Pillay looked to be ‘no good’, as the saying goes, but once he put his foot on the gas 250m out, Soho Star accelerated in a matter of strides with the apprentice timing the gelding’s run to perfection to get the better of Magic Surprise.

Ladyofdistinction has always shown a touch of class as her name and six-figure purchase price suggested and she ran out a smart if narrow winner of the Progress Plate for fillies in the second.

Michael Roberts has always held the filly in high regard and she showed plenty of intestinal fortitude to get up and touch off a game Sonata Samaritan, a nose separating them at the line.

It was not all plane sailing for the winner as Rachel Venniker had to steer the filly through a narrow gap before going on to tackle Sonata Samaritan. The two fought a nose-to-nose battle over the final 50 m with Ladyofdistinction getting her nose down to snatch it on the line.

Double Causeway touched 7-10 in the first race on the card before drifting late and crossing the subway the drift appeared to be significant with Callan Murray hard at work. However, Gareth van Zyl’s charge gradually got it all together and eventually got to the line with some to spare over Good Omen and Hammerhead who came from near last to finish a close-up third.

Salani Kahle built on a solid debut effort when putting the opposition to the sword in the opening leg of the Place Accumulator. Well supported in the betting, Sean Veale started to scrub away on the turn, making up ground to hit the top of the straight in touch with the leaders. From there on it was a matter of how far as Salani Kahle said good bye under hands and heels to win by the best part of six lengths with Intro finishing best of the balance.

Four rides back from an aborted stint in Hong Kong and former Champion Jockey Keagan de Melo was back in the winner’s box as he got Alyson Wright’s diminutive gelding King Bavarian home in a finish worthy of a Hong Kong scramble. Always travelling comfortably in the D Stakes over 1800m, De Melo showed his Hong Kong experience as he pulled off the rail for a clear run at the line. He only made his move just over a furlong out with Councillor chasing hard and Power Star refusing to throw in the towel. It was touch-and-go at the wire but King Bavarian just had his nose in front to deny Power Star with Councillor a neck back in third.

Please note: South African Quartet Pools with fractional betting offered at Kelso (UK) – 7 December 2025

David Thiselton

 

A Graduation Plate over 1160m and a MR96 Handicap over 1160m are the highlights of the eight race Turffontein Standside meeting today.

 

In the Graduation Plate the Mike Azzie-trained Winds Of Change has a lot of speed and class, but lost his way a bit in his last three runs. However, he now has his second run after gelding and can bounce back, especially considering he is slung in at the weights according to official merit ratings. One Fine Winter has a lot of speed and class too. She finished just 1,40 lengths back in the Gr 1 SA Fillies Sprint and can make an impact over this trip in her first appearance since July 27 when third in the Gr 1 Douglas Whyte Stakes over 1600m at Hollywoodbets Greyville. Bjorn Ironside is third best in at the weights and is officially 6,5kg under sufferance with Winds Of Change but is talented and can make his presence felt. Yippee Kiyay is on the way up and can rise above his merit rating and defy the weights in which he is 12,5kg under sufferance with Winds Of Change. King Harald is officially second best in at the weights and should finish on top of Yippee Kiyay according to the form of their last meeting.

 

In the MR96 handicap over 1160m One Eye On Vegas looks to have speed and class and as he finished just two lengths behind Trust over 1200m he should be the one to beat here.  Gimmethegoodlife won well over 1000m last time, putting his previous start when going out too fast behind him. He is four points higher in the ratings but goes well for Gavin Lerena and has a nice high draw over a suitable trip. Miami Mountain has plenty of ability and will enjoy the step down in trip, but does have the tricky number one draw to contend with. War Of Kingdoms has the form to earn and has a nice high draw. Rollwiththepunches could earn with a 4kg claimer up.

 

In  the first leg of the Pick 6 Oklahoma Sideshow ran second over 1500m last time and is interesting now dropped in trip in this uninspiring race, although her Philanthropist Dam’s only win was over 1800m. Underdog has shown fair ability before and is a big runner here. In The Willows has shown enough in his last two starts to be a contender in this uninspiring field and he is interesting with first time blinkers.  Sakura Hanami has run two fair races and can earn here. Special Al is by Rafeef and is a half-brother to the like of 96-rated Warrior Royale.

 

In the second leg over 1160m Blooming Lovely made a fine debut and should go close with expected improvement. Inspiration has been knocking on the door and should be right there. Power Of Pearls is a hard-knocking sort who should also be in the shake up. Gulf Of America will enjoy the step back to this trip. LA Flyer is by What A Winter and is a half-sister to Mexican Pete, who reached a merit rating of 100.

 

In the sixth race over 1600m Impact Investor disappointed last time but was consistent before that and can go close from a middle draw. Palace Attack ran a cracker last time behind a well regarded sort and should be thereabouts. Open Highway has been in fine form and can go close over a suitable trip. Jury’s Out has the form to earn here from a good draw with Lerena up. Sea Shanty pack a strong finish and has a chance if able to overcome a wide draw.

 

In the eight race over 1000m His Lordship has Lerena up and will enjoy the course and distance from a middle to high draw. Bumps Last Grind will relish the step back to the minimum trip and should be in the shake up. Old Fashioned won his maiden easily and has a chance off a 70 merit rating. Nkandla Gold bounced back to form last time and can earn with a repeat. In The Ether is capable of a strong late run.

 

In the first race over 800m  No Drama makes most appeal being by Erik The Red and a half-sister to a horse who won second time out.

 

In the second race over 800m Turn It Up ran on smartly on debut and will be hard to oppose here.

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