Graeme Hawkins

Sadly, One Stripe’s swansong in South Africa turned into a nightmare at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth yesterday as Gavin Lerena found his path down the inside rail blocked by The Grey King who was forced inwards by eventual winner All Out For Six (Grant Van Niekerk) at the 200m pole. Whether One Stripe was going as well as All Out For Six at that stage is open to conjecture, but Champions often find a way of snatching unlikely victories under pressure, and One Stripe, who was severely checked, was denied that opportunity.

The record books will show that All Out For Six, racing in the colours of the One World Syndicate and stable companion to the Vaughan Marshall-trained One Stripe, emerged victorious in the R5-million HSH Princess Charlene Big Cap over 1400m by a comfortable margin over La Pulga who avoided the scrimmaging and ran on nicely from near the back of the field to finish a clear second. Great Plains got up to edge The Grey King out of third spot with One Stripe having to settle for sixth position. Clearly One Stripe was not beaten on merit, and we look forward to seeing him setting the record straight as he jets off to the USA to join the stable of Graham Motion and the company of fellow “locals” Isivunguvungu, Beach Bomb and Gimme A Nother.

Making a rare appearance on the racecourse these days, it was wonderful to see KZN-based Steve Sturlese and his wife, Cheryl, on hand to lead in their 2yo son of Fire Away, Military Command, following a dominant victory in the R1,5-million Cape Racing Sales Slipper over 1200m. Billed as the second race on the 10-race programme, Dreamworld was sent out the 2/1 favourite but, although far from disgraced in finishing runner-up, he was no match for Military Command who led from start to finish on a lightning-quick track to pass the post nearly two lengths ahead of the chasing pack. Bred by James Goodman, Sturlese owns Military Command in partnership with Blaine Hamilton, Gino Da Silva and Tony Zackey and the colt was ridden to victory by Craig Zackey for trainer Peter Muscutt. 

The opening race, a Maiden Juvenile Plate over 1000m, was won in equally comfortable fashion by the striking grey North Point who was allowed to drift from 5/1 to 12/1. The 2yo son of William Longsword bounced into an immediate lead and was never headed. Ridden by JP van der Merwe and making his debut for the Brett & James Crawford stable, North Point raced away to score by three lengths with Demanding Dave (100/1) and Follow Your Heart (11/10) making up the frame.

Peace Of Mind, the Crawford/Rix team’s only runner on the card, took full advantage of the speedy conditions under Gavin Lerena to post an easy victory in the third race, a Cape C Stakes over 1000m. Palo Queen and Peace of Mind disputed the early lead but once the former fell away, Peace Of Mind (12/1) assumed control and galloped all the way to the line to score by close on two lengths in the fast time of 56,94 seconds.

Dropping to the minimum trip for the first time in her career, Mai Sensation (11/2) proved too strong for the opposition in the fourth race, a Middle Stakes (F&M) over 1000m, skating home with more than a length to spare over Babelicious (4/1) and First Masterpiece (9/2). Mai Sensation has now won three races from only eight starts and there appears to be more to come from the 3yo daughter of Rafeef who was bred in KZN at Peter Blythe’s Clifton Stud.

The fifth race, a Cape A Stakes over 1100m, produced a thrilling finish with little more than a length covering the first six horses past the post. Andrew Fortune appeared to have timed his final effort on Tenango (14/10) to perfection but no sooner had the son of Canford Cliffs struck the front inside the last 150m when 66/1 chance Gem King came charging through under Corne Orffer to spoil the party.

Richard Fourie opened his account in the sixth race, a Cape C Stakes over 2200m, producing the fast-improving Umfula (2/1) with a sustained run up the stretch to run out a facile winner over Ahead Of The Facts (7/2). Tothemoonandback (10/1) stayed on well to fill the Trifecta position with the consistent Aladdin’s Lamp rounding out the top four.

Holding Thumbs is probably one of the most improved horses in training this season and the 4yo son of Vercingetorix ran them ragged in the seventh race, the R200 000 Monaco Sport Of Kings Kenilworth Cup (Listed) over 2400m. Oozing confidence, Sean Veale, who has struck up a great relationship with Glen Kotzen’s stayer, wasted no time in taking Holding Thumbs to the front and the resolute 17-hand gelding had the opposition floored with 400m left to race. His lesser fancied stable companion Blackberry Malt emerged from the struggling pack to chase Holding Thumbs home but the race as a contest was over a long way out.

David Thiselton

Sean Tarry is in flying form and bagged a treble at Turffontein Standside on Saturday including winning the feature, the Gr 3 4Racing Sycamore Sprint over 1160m for fillies and mares, with Mia Moo who was ridden by Piere Strydom.

Mia Moo carried 59.5kg off a 103 merit rating and beat the 80-rated Komati River by half a length to give the amazing Vercingetorix a double.

Vercingetorix lots averaged a record-breaking R1,707,143 on the select day 1 of the Cape Racing Sales March Yearling Sale such is the demand for this superstar stallion’s progeny.

Chrome Tourmaline and Elegant Ice were third and fourth respectively behind Mia Moo and Komati River on Saturday and the favourite Almond Sea could only manage fifth after another tardy start.

Komati River is in for a big merit rating raise because she was 6,5kg under sufferance.

Mia Moo provided further evidence that the Cape form is strongest because in her three runs in Cape Town she had finished 16th in the Gr 2 De Grendel Cape Merchants over 1200m, beaten 14,40 lengths, and followed that with a 1,45 length fourth in a Listed handicap over 1200m, running off a 103, and then ran an excellent 0,90 length fourth in the Gr 3 Splashout Prix du Cap, a conditions race over 1400m.

She remained off a 103 on Saturday so was surprisingly easy to back, shortening from 7/1 into 6/1.

Mia Moo jumped well from draw five and Strydom managed to slot her in behind Komatii River, who set the pace down the centre after jumping well from draw six. 

Mia Moo travelled within herself and Strydom merely had to switch her outward for a run to get the job done because she passed Komati River with just a shake of the reins and passed the post while just being shown the stick.

She was bred by Klawervlei Stud and is out of a Captain Al mare.

Both of the highest priced lots at the aforementioned Sale last Thursday were by Vercingetorix out of Captain Al mares, one them, a Drakenstein Stud-bred half-brother to Gr 1 WSB Cape Guineas winner Snow Pilot, going for a SA record-equalling R9 million purchased by Greg Bortz, and the other, a filly vendored by Klawervlei Stud as agent, going for R4.1 million to Darryl Yutar.

Tarry won the first two races on Saturday with respective odds on favourites One Fine Winter (What A Winter) and Tina Lovelace (Danon Platina), who were both ridden by Ryan Munger.

Gavin Lerena rode a double for Brett and James Crawford, while Kabelo  Matsunyane also rode a double.

The leader of the national jockeys log, Craig Zackey, is on suspension from March 9 to March 26, excluding the Royal Raceday at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth yesterday (Sunday), so Lerena has had an opportunity to close the gap.

By close of play on Saturday the situation was Zackey on 167 wins, Richard Fourie on 163 and Lerena on 158.

It has been an intriguing championship, but Fourie could probably win it at will. He had already had 19 wins in March by the end of Friday racing at Fairview and is closing rapidly on Zackey, so if he decides to ride regularly in more than two centres (Cape Town and East Cape) then he should forge clear.

Allan Greeff is in flying form in the East Cape and has had 110 wins for the season, just four behind the national log leader Snaith, although the national championship goes on stakes and Snaith is more than R10 million clear of Greeff, who is in second place.

Graeme Hawkins

South Africa’s Champion three-year-old, One Stripe, is set for the biggest payday of his career when he lines up for the final time on South African soil against nine rivals in the R5-million HSH Princess Charlene Big Cap over 1400m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth today. One Stripe has won six races, including the Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas (Gr1) and the L’Ormarins King’s Plate (Gr 1), from only eight starts to date for career earnings of close on R4,2-million. Victory on Sunday would add another R3-million to his bank balance and provide for a fitting “bon voyage” as the Drakenstein-bred son of One World jets off to further his career in the USA.

Now owned by Betting Entertainment Technologies International (Pty) Ltd in partnership with Rikesh Sewgoolam, One Stripe will join the stable of Graham Motion who already has Isivunguvungu, Beach Bomb and Gimme A Nother in his care, all of which have performed admirably since relocating to the States. Hollywood Racing’s Isivunguvungu, a Narrow Creek-bred son of What A Winter, is likely to fly South Africa’s flag at the Dubai World Cup race meeting over the first weekend of April but One Stripe’s main mission will surely be the Breeders Cup race meeting later this year.

As was the case with Eight On Eighteen and Gimme A Prince on SplashOut Cape Derby day three weeks ago, there is no logical case to be made for any of One Stripe’s rivals to knock him off his perch. Perhaps Great Plains comes closest if you isolate the Cape Guineas (Gr1) form. Great Plains finished third nearly three lengths behind One Stripe and is 2kgs better off but, more than that, the Guineas is run over 1600m, and Great Plains has proven to be something of a 1400m specialist with all four of his victories having been recorded over the “Big Cap” trip. Hypothetically, if the Guineas was run over 1400m, would Great Plains have been a lot closer to One Stripe? Perhaps, but brilliant horses – and there can hardly be any doubt that One Stripe fits that description – are equally versatile and I doubt the step back in distance, nor the weight turnaround with Great Plains, will prove enough to stop One Stripe from closing out his South African campaign on a high!

It’s going to be an emotional afternoon for trainer Vaughan Marshall and jockey Gavin Lerena. One can only imagine what will be going through Vaughan’s mind as he walks towards his Champ to saddle him for the final time. And then to give Gavin Lerena his final leg-up and then to watch him canter down. Experience has taught Vaughan that however much the odds are stacked in your favour, victory in racing cannot be taken for granted and his emotions will no doubt give way to anxiety as the gates are sprung! As true horse racing fans we can only hope that everything goes according to plan for One Stripe and Gavin Lerena, and that at the winning post Vaughan’s anxiety will transform into exhilaration and champagne-popping celebration for him, the Owners and his legion of fans and supporters in the grandstand and around the country.

The R1,5-million Cape Racing Sales Slipper for juveniles over 1200m,  a race restricted to graduates of the Sponsor, sees a rematch between Clair de Lune and Black Cheetah, both from the stable of Champion Trainer Justin Snaith. Black Cheetah is unbeaten from two starts and Clair de Lune has yet to win from three starts but there was only a neck between the pair when they met on King’s Plate day. That was over 1000m, and I believe that over the extra 200m on Sunday Clair de Lune will have every chance of reversing the order with Black Cheetah, but that is certainly no foregone conclusion.

Dreamworld scored in workmanlike fashion on debut when strongly supported in the market and the son of One World appears to have plenty of scope for further improvement. Military Command was a dominant winner of his second start and should go well here for Craig Zackey and trainer Peter Muscutt and, while two-year-olds can improve rapidly from one run to the next, I do believe the winner should emerge from amongst this quartet.

The R200 000 Monaco Sport of Kings Kenilworth Cup (Listed) over 2400m has attracted a small but competitive 7-horse field with five of the runners coming from the stables of Justin Snaith and Glen Kotzen. Holding Thumbs is in very good form and goes well for Sean Veale and he could record back-to-back victories, but he is rising in the handicap, and he may not have matters all his own way. Triple Time looks ready to produce his best and should give a good account of himself, but he must concede 4,5kgs to Holding Thumbs and only the race will show whether the eye-catching grey is up to the task.

Nebraas showed signs of life when third behind Holding Thumbs last time and is now 1kg better off with Kotzen’s runner. Otto Luyken recently joined the back-in-form Brett & James Crawford team, and the son of Flower Alley is weighted to turn the tables on Triple Time. Bombers In The Sky and Groovejet are interesting off bottom weight of just 50kgs, although both race under sufferance in terms of official ratings. That said, Groovejet is bred on strong staying lines and could relish the trip which he tackles for the first time. Blackberry Malt makes up the field but will need to step up on his recent showings.

Not an easy race and the pace, or lack thereof, will as always play a role in the outcome, but preference is for Holding Thumbs who is still on the improve as he matures into his large frame.

RACE 1

10 FOLLOW YOUR HEART ran a lovely race on debut when finishing second behind Spacebound, he is a beautiful looking colt that will improve quite a bit in his second start, he will be hard to beat here. 2 CAPTAIN JON SNOW stayed on well for second behind Winter Snap on the 18th of January, he will keep improving with every run, include this colt into all bets. 5 NORTH POINT changed stables on the 7th of March, he was only beaten just over two lengths in his last start, he looks like the type that will get better with racing, on his best form, he should be in the places. 3 SLENDER SILHOUETTE was very green on debut behind Military Command, she is a well-bred filly that should improve here, watch her closely. (Brandon Bailey: 10 – 2 – 5 – 3)

RACE 2

2 MILITARY COMMAND quickened up like a smart sort in the making when winning his maiden by just over two lengths on the 26th of February, he will love the step up in trip to 1200m, he should go very close in this competitive race. 3 DREAMWORLD won his debut exceptionally well on the 15th of February at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth, he arrived at the course with a massive reputation and delivered in good style, there is no doubt he will be right there in the finish. 11 BLACK CHEETAH comes back to the races from a small break of 71 days, he has won two very good races in succession, the yard thinks highly of this individual, he must go into all bets. 4 MALMESBURY MISSILE changed stables on the 25th of February, he fought hard to win a good race last time, he should be running on strongly late. (Brandon Bailey: 2 – 3 – 11 – 4)

RACE 3

3 RATTLESNAKE unfortunately lost his race in the boardroom last time, his recent form is really good, he loves the 1000m trip up the straight at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth, he must have a good winning chance here. 2 NIGHT TIGER ran a fair race on the 15th of February behind Empire State, on his best form at this level, he could certainly be very dangerous in the finish. 5 TOUGH TERRAIN carries a massive weight on his back for this race on Sunday, he ran a lovely race last time behind Bluff On Bluff, if the race works out for him and he gets some cover early, he will be flying at the finish, watch him closely. 9 GO IT ALONE ran a much-improved race on the 8th of February behind Un Bel Di, unfortunately he was penalised three points for running third, despite the negative, if he can build on that last performance, he could be some value in this tricky race. (Brandon Bailey: 3 – 2 – 5 – 9)

RACE 4

3 FIRST MASTERPIECE quickened up smartly to win going away in her last start on the 26th of February, her last two wins in succession have been impressive, she absolutely loves the sprint trips up the straight at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth, even though she has gone up in the ratings, she must have a good winning chance again. 4 MAI SENSATION disappointed last time in the Listed Olympic Duel Stakes, she is much better than that performance, if she can build on that bad run, she could easily bounce back and be competitive here at a good price. 9 BABELICIOUS ran a lovely race behind her stable companion on the 11th of February, her form is good with the blinkers on, she must be respected. 5 BLUE HOLLY has done nothing wrong of late, she has been nice and consistent, she likes to race up on speed, include her into all bets. (Brandon Bailey: 3 – 4 – 9 – 5)

RACE 5

2 TENANGO ran on powerfully to win a super race on the 8th of February, he looks to be a smart sprinter in the making, this race is undoubtedly his toughest test to date, but he looks talented and should go very close to winning again. 6 LION RAMPART has been rested and gelded, he was very disappointing in the Winchester Sprint Cup last time, but a nice horse with lots of quality, if he doesn’t need the run badly, he will be right there in the finish. 3 FUTURE VARIETY had absolutely no luck in his last start, he has run with lots of credit against some of the best sprinters in the land, this looks to be a nice race for him to go close. 4 UN BEL DI won well on the 8th of February, his form is good, he is still improving and can sneak into the places with no weight on his back. (Brandon Bailey: 2 – 6 – 3 – 4)

RACE 6

4 AHEAD OF THE FACTS quickened up from a long way back to win his maiden in style on the 5th of February, he will love the step up in trip to 2200m, there is no doubt he will have a big winning chance in this race. 3 UMFULA won his maiden well enough on the 26th of February, he looks like the type that will improve with every start, he should be staying on strongly late over this trip, include him into all bets. 7 ALADDIN’S LAMP ran a fair race behind My Bestie last time, he likes to race up on speed and then he grinds hard all the way to the line, on his best form, he could sneak into the places. 2 REPETITION ran a great race out of the maidens in his last start, he is still improving and he stays well, he could earn for the connections from a good draw. (Brandon Bailey: 4 – 3 – 7 – 2)

RACE 7

4 TRIPLE TIME stayed on well late in the Grade 3 event on the 25th of January, even though he carries top weight for this Listed race, he is a quality stayer and should go very close to winning with champion jockey Richard Fourie in the saddle. 5 HOLDING THUMBS never runs a bad race, he is as consistent as they come, jockey Sean Veale knows him well, there is no doubt he will have a serious winning chance on his best form. 1 NEBRAAS returned to form nicely on the 15th of February, even though he is eight years old, he stays well and should run a big race from a good draw. 3 BOMBERS IN THE SKY carries no weight on his back on Sunday afternoon, even though he will need to improve quite a bit to win a race like this, he is nowhere near the finished article, he could sneak into the places. (Brandon Bailey: 4 – 5 – 1 – 3)

RACE 8

2 ONE STRIPE comes back to the races from a small break of 71 days, his last win in the Grade 1 King’s Plate was nothing short of breath taking, he is a real super star and should win this race quite easily. 3 THE GREY KING ran a lovely race on the 25th of January behind his stable companion Let It Be Said, the form of that race has worked out well, Jockey Craig Zackey knows him well, he will be chasing hard. 8 ALL OUT FOR SIX ran a fair race in a strong field last time, he is a strong front runner on his day, there is no doubt he will be in it for a long way, include him into the places. 7 GREAT PLAINS has been rested for 71 days, he is much better than his last run, he should be stalking the speed and running on strongly late. (Brandon Bailey: 2 – 3 – 8 – 7)

RACE 9

9 MEU CAPITANO made up good ground late behind The Real Prince on the 22nd of February, unfortunately he has drawn wide again on Sunday for this race, but he will be switched off early and should be low flying late, with the right run in transit, he will be hard to beat. 7 GALLIC DREAM was given a great ride by Gavin Lerena on the 22nd of February, he quickened well and won impressively, with no weight on his back here, he will be a massive threat to all of them in the finish. 6 PROMETTERE barged his way through to win exceptionally well on the 18th of January, he was given seven points for that victory which means life will be tough for him now, but if he runs a similar race again on Sunday, he should be competitive. 2 BILLY BOWLEGS should be cherry ripe for this race, from a good draw, he must be respected. (Brandon Bailey: 9 – 7 – 6 – 2)

RACE 10

6 GREEN GARNET showed massive heart to win well last time, he went to the front and fought all the way to the line, he was given three points for that victory, from a decent draw, he should remain competitive in this tricky race. 1 INDUSTRIALSTRENGTH has been rested for 88 days, he ran a much better race last time on the 18th of December, he has tons of ability this individual, from a good draw, he must be included into all bets. 9 BOOGIEFIED ran a great second behind Please Be True on the 11th of February, with a similar performance in this race, he would have a massive winning chance. 7 HONOR OF KINGS ran well out the maidens last time, he looks progressive and must be respected. This looks to be one of the most difficult races on the card, you will need to go wide. (Brandon Bailey: 6 – 1 – 9 – 7)

Hollywoodbets Scottsville recorded 32mm of rainfall overnight. This morning’s penetrometer readings are 33 on the Inside Track and 32 on the Standside Track.

With further showers expected today and tomorrow, the race meeting scheduled for Saturday, 15 March, has been postponed to Wednesday, 19 March 2025.

New Race Times: Race 1 – 12h:40, Race 2 – 13h:15, Race 3 – 13h:50, Race 4 – 14h:25, Race 5 – 15h:00, Race 6 – 15h:35, Race 7 – 16h:10, Race 8 – 16h:45