David Thiselton

Hollywood Racing proved just how big their racing ambitions are when managing to land a share in the country’s best three-year-old colt, the Vaughan Marshall-trained One Stripe, as even they admitted he had not been on the market before the deal was struck.

Owner Rikesh Sewgoolam was asked about overseas ambitions for One Stripe after the One World colt had become the first three-year-old since the great In Full Flight to do the King’s Plate/Cape Guineas double and he replied conservatively, “We haven’t really decided. I leave all of it to Vaughan. There’s been a lot of interest, but as Vaughan said to me yesterday, we’ve waited our entire lives for a horse like this … Vaughan fortunately has had some brilliant horses over time, but I haven’t. So, we’ve waited all our lives, we’ve done the hard work with him, so why just simply hand him over to someone else? So, for now, no real plans.”

However, a deal was struck just under two week later whereby Rikesh retains a share in the horse. 

One Stripe runs in his colours in his final start in South Africa in the R5 million Big Cap before running in the Hollywood colours overseas.

Common ground must have been found by Rikesh and Hollywood Racing.

This can be seen in the words of Hollywood Racing’s racing manager Anthony Delpech.

He said to the Sporting Post, ““What an honour it is to have shaken hands in this transaction with a passionate racing man like Rikesh Sewgoolam, who shares many of the ideals and harbours the dreams that we at Hollywood Racing do for the sport in South Africa. One Stripe was not on the market, but we are pleased to have clinched a mutually beneficial deal that works for both parties,” added a delighted Delpech, who said that the plan was to travel One Stripe to the USA, as they had done with champion sprinter Isivunguvungu in 2024, to take on the world’s best at the Breeders Cup in November.

One Stripe also holds an invitation for the LONGINES Hong Kong International races in December this year.

Delpech continued, “In the space of under twelve months One Stripe has gone from a runaway maiden 1200m winner to a dual Grade 1-winning 3yo miler, with outstanding scope to go further, and he literally has the world at his feet. Hollywood Racing wish to showcase the quality and class of SA bloodstock to the world and the Breeders’ Cup remains a goal for the team for 2025. Horseracing is about dreams and reaching for the stars and who knows where One Stripe could land up as a stallion prospect? Hollywood Racing invite all racing fans to join us on this incredible journey.”

Rikesh told Sporting Post, “I look forward to beginning our shared journey with such a phenomenal and special racehorse. It will be remiss of me not to mention the gratitude I have toward Vaughan Marshall and the VHM Milnerton team for the ongoing mentoring of One Stripe and the invaluable time and care invested in turning this special colt into a multiple Gr1 Champion, and to Owen and Devin Heffer, and Anthony Delpech, I say thank you for the confidence and belief in One Stripe. May he have a safe and successful international journey.”

One Stripe’s form could be given a boost in this weekend’s Gr 1 wfa R5 million WSB Met by any of Eight On Eighteen, runner up in the Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas, or Montien and Royal Aussie, who were close up in the L’Ormarins King’s Plate. Oriental Charm, Atticus Finch, Al Muthana and See It Again were well beaten in the LKP and are also running in the Met, so they could give his form a boost too.

Meanwhile, Isivunguvungu is in Florida and is not far off his next run, which will be in preparation for his engagement on Dubai World Cup night. He will likely run in the Gr 1 Al Quoz Sprint over 1200m on the turf in the latter meeting.

On Saturday at the WSB Met meeting, Hollywood Racing will have three chances to make amends for last year’s disappointment when Isivunguvungu was scratched at the start of the Gr 1 Cape Flying Championship (this year’s race is sponsored by the HKJC World Pool).

They run Asiye Phambili, who is drawn 13 with Richard Fourie up, Ziyasha, who is drawn five with Raymond Danielson up, and Cruise Control, who is drawn two with Muzi Yeni up. 

Asiye Phambili, who is trained by Duncan Howells in KZN and by Gareth van Zyl in the Cape, has come into her own and has won the Gr 3 WSB Southern Cross Stakes over 1000m and the Gr 2 Cartier Sceptre Stakes over 1200m in her last two starts.

Delpech said about Asiye Phambili, “She is drawn on the outside which is probably not the best part of the course at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth, but I think they are going to be going a hundred mile and hour and she is going to be coming from behind, so she will just need a bit of luck in the running. It is obviously her toughest task to date.”   

Ziyasha and Cruise Control are fast horses drawn on the right side and Delpech felt they would be competitive too.

One of Hollywood Racing’s biggest goals is to land the SA owners championship. They have lacked the Gr 1 fire power to oust the champions for the last three seasons, Drakenstein Stud, but they were less than R1 million behind last season and this season they are more than R2 million ahead of Drakenstein just before the halfway point. It is the big meetings like the WSB Met meeting and Hollywoodbets Durban July meeting where Drakenstein usually rake in the winning amounts, but this season they are not looking as strong as usual and it might be Hollywood Racing’s season.

RACE 1     

4 SHES EVERYTHING 11 HEARTS ON FIRE 1 DEVILISHLYGORGEOUS 6 INSTANT ATTRACTION

Preview: 4 SHES EVERYTHING is drawn well and looks the one to side with on form over a trip which should suit. 11 HEARTS ON FIRE enjoyed the step up in trip last time and can do so again. 1 DEVILISHLYGORGEOUS had respectable Cape Town form and can improve on her Highveld debut. 6 INSTANT ATTRACTION is usually thereabouts and can earn again. (4-11-1-6) 

RACE 2     

5 KALEESH CYBORG 9 GIFT OF ROYAL 4 BEYNAC 6 SANTIAGO’S PRIDE

Preview: 5 KALEESH CYBORG is knocking on the door and will enjoy the step up in trip. 9 GIFT OF ROYAL has gone close in his last two and tries this further. 4 BEYNAC is in hard-knocking form and tries a step up in trip which might work well as his Var dam won over 1600m and was placed over 2000m. 6 SANTIAGO’S PRIDE is a fair stayer but his best recent run was over 2000m so he should enjoy this 1800m trip. (5-9-4-6)

RACE 3     

2 ONLY A POET 3 NUCLEAR FORCE 5 FLAG BEARER

Preview: 2 ONLY A POET is hard-knocking and distance suited and jumps from a plum draw. 3 NUCLEAR FORCE is capable and has come down two points so could bounce back. 5 FLAG BEARER is a galloping sort who is in fine form and he only has to overcome a three point raise for his last win. (2-3-5)

RACE 4     

5 ONE RELIGION 1 MOUNT ETNA 4 FETCHING FLYER 2 I AM REGAL

Preview: 5 ONE RELIGION has won her last two attempts at this trip and has a good draw off a mark just four points higher than her last win. 1 MOUNT ETNA was going for her third win in a row last time in a Listed race and although she finished unplaced she wasn’t disgraced and can do better. 4 FETCHING FLYER looks well held by One Religion here but has some fair form. 2 I AM REGAL is capable of popping up but has to bounce back from two below par runs after winning two from three starts before that. (5-1-4-2)

RACE 5     

3 SNEAK PREVIEW 4 FREE IN SEATTLE 5 POPLAR PARK 2 KEY WORKER

Preview: 3 SNEAK PREVIEW is knocking on the door and has a fair draw over a suitable trip. 4 FREE IN SEATTLE ran a cracker last time in second time blinkers and should be thereabouts from pole position. 5 POPLAR PARK won easily when stepped up to middle distances and has been given a lenient merit rating. 2 KEY WORKER has some useful form over middle distances and should be in the shake up. (3-4-5-2)

RACE 6     

7 ONE MORE STAR 3 KUDZU  9 ON TARGET 10 GUY ALEXANDER

Preview: 7 ONE MORE STAR has some good formlines and this promising sort is drawn in pole over a step up in trip he should relish. 3 KUDZU is knocking on the door and has a fair draw over an ideal trip.  9 ON TARGET should relish the step up in trip but does have a tough draw. 10 GUY ALEXANDER is in fine form and will be out to defy the handicapper again. (7-3-9-10)

RACE 7     

5 CORRUPT 1 DIWALI ROCKET 8 PRIMAL QUEST 

Preview: 5 CORRUPT has a nice big action and will relish the step up in trip so can follow up on his maiden win off a reasonable merit rating. 1 DIWALI ROCKET has a wide draw but has always done well with blinkers fitted and could be in the shake up. 8 PRIMAL QUEST won well in the maidens and Craig Zackey rides. (7-1-8)

RACE 8     

5 INAFIX 8 DANCING DORA 6 WRITTEN IN STONE 9 TIME FOR CHARITY 

Preview: 5 INAFIX is a bit in and out but enjoys this course and distance and has a good draw. 8 DANCING DORA is ultra consistent off her current mark and has Lerena up from a good draw. 6 WRITTEN IN STONE is evergreen and earns a cheque most times he runs. 10 TIME FOR CHARITY is a capable sort and could earn from pole position. (5-8-6-9) 

Hollywoodbets Kenilworth Net Pick6 C/Over: R 2 Million Estimated Pool: R10 Million on Saturday, 25 January 2025 Race 4 off at 13h35.

Hollywoodbets Kenilworth Net Quartet C/Over: R 500 000 Estimated Pool: R 2 Million on Saturday, 25 January 2025. Race 8 off at 16h05. (WSB CAPE TOWN MET)

Hollywoodbets Kenilworth 3rd Jackpot Net C/Over: R 500 000 Estimated Pool: R 2 Million on Saturday, 25 January 2025 Race 9 off at 16h45.

Graeme Hawkins

Promettere turned in a career best performance when storming to victory in Saturday’s headliner at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth, the “Buy Tickets to WSB Cape Town Met on Quicket” Class 3 Handicap over 1600m. Ridden by Richard Fourie for trainer Vaughan Marshall, the 5yo son of Pomodoro accelerated smartly over the final 200m from some way off the early speed and drew clear to beat Future Turn by more than three lengths.

Future Turn (28/10) stayed on gamely from a handy position but was simply no match for Promettere (5/1) in the closing stages. Hat’s Pride (11/2) moved up threateningly approaching the final 200m but failed to sustain his effort and at the line was a neck adrift of Future Turn in third spot. Promettere was the second leg of a double for Fourie on a day when current log-leader Craig Zackey drew a rare blank. With Gavin Lerena riding a treble at Turffontein, the title chase looks as follows by the close of business on Saturday – Craig Zackey 119; Gavin Lerena 115 and Richard Fourie 114. With Fourie and Zackey getting the plum rides for trainers Alan Greeff and Gavin Smith in the Eastern Cape,  Lerena faces an uphill battle to maintain his momentum and stay in touch.

Fourie’s first winner came aboard Okavango in the second race, a Class 5 Handicap over 1600m, for the Justin Snaith team, their sole winner over the 10-race programme. Okavango was backed to the exclusion of the field and justified odds of 7/10 with a bloodless 4-length victory over Cosmic Rhythm. Owner Nick Jonsson was on hand to lead in his 3yo son of Master Of Fate who was winning at only the fourth time of asking and may yet have scope for further progress.

Glen Kotzen would have left Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday with a smile on his face. Over the past few months his Woodhill Racing Team, based near Paarl, have been fighting a lingering virus and generally the horses have been performing well below par. But his six runners on Saturday yielded two winners, one second and two thirds, including saddling the Exacta in the third race, a Maiden Plate over 1200m. The lesser fancied of the pair, Tripping Thunder (Chad Little), held a clear advantage with 200m left to race, but his more favoured stable companion Circumbendibus (JP van der Merwe) was now in full cry and got up in the shadow of the post to win going away.

Chad Little had his moment in the sun in the seventh race, a Maiden Plate over 1800m. Little confidently took Bombers In The Sky forward from the start and the 3yo son of Lancaster Bomber was never headed, reaching the finishing post with nearly two lengths to spare over Future Frequency and Landoftherisingsun.

The almost inevitable Pick 6 “bomb” landed in the fifth race, a Maiden Plate (F&M) over 1200m, when the formless Princessontherun (with an official merit rating of 41) fought off the attentions of Lhasa (7/1) to score by a head at odds of 100/1. Following the shock victories at similar odds by Gem King and It Is My Time at the previous two race meetings, this was the third consecutive race meeting at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth to deliver such a turn-up for the books. While the remaining five legs of the Pick 6 all delivered favourable results, Princessontherun’s complete reversal of form resulted in a Pick 6 dividend of more than R500 000.

One of the more impressive winners on the day was the Des McLachlan-trained Shesgotclass (9/2) who raced away to an easy victory in the fourth race, a Maiden Plate (F&M) over 1200m. Having only her second career start, the 3yo daughter of Querari was never in danger of defeat under Morne Winnaar and, as her name suggests, she could be a cut above the average. Keep an eye on the runner-up, Sugarbush, who ran on steadily from off the speed and the well-bred daughter of Trippi should not be long in shedding her maiden ticket.

Alltheboysiveloved attempted 1400m for the first time in her fledgeling career in the ninth race, a Class 4 Handicap (F&M), and the Lucinda Woodruff inmate passed the test with flying colours. Ridden patiently from a wide draw by Grant Van Niekerk, Alltheboysiveloved made rapid headway from the rear and drew clear of the favourite Swiatek to score by the better part of two lengths. Swiatek has now been runner-up in her last three outings and her next career victory cannot be too far away.

Graeme Hawkins

Oriental Charm, ante-post favourite for the R5-million World Sports Betting Cape Town Met at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday 25 January, cracked Gate 3 when the final field of seventeen runners was revealed on Wednesday evening. Oriental Charm who showed great courage when winning the 2024 Hollywoodbets Durban July (Gr1) will be partnered by regular pilot JP van der Merwe. Oriental Charm is one of two runners from the Crawford team, the other being Zapatillas who was less fortunate and has drawn the widest berth of all.

Champion Trainer Justin Snaith is bidding for his third consecutive “Met” victory and has five strings to his bow. Richard Fourie has been booked to partner the only three-year-old in the field, Eight On Eighteen, who will jump out of gate 10. The progressive Eight On Eighteen is currently the second choice in the betting market following his good second behind One Stripe in the Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas (Gr1). Rachel Venniker has been booked to ride the enigmatic Pacaya while Grant Van Niekerk will be aboard Future Swing. The Snaith quintet is completed by Royal Aussie (Kabelo Matsunyane) and Magic Verse (Aldo Domeyer).

Last year’s runner-up, Rascallion, comes into the race in very good form but no doubt trainer Vaughan Marshall will be disappointed that his veteran campaigner is drawn out wide in Gate 16. Sean Veale knows the 7yo son of Vercingetorix inside out and will likely attempt to go forward and find a position one off the fence not too far behind the pacesetters.

See It Again (Piere Strydom) and Green With Envy (Craig Zackey) come into the race having blotted their copybooks badly in their most recent outings but, aside from Oriental Charm and Eight On Eighteen, are the only other two runners quoted in single figures. Red Palace, the only filly in the race, will jump out of pole position and is to be partnered by high-flying Gavin Lerena.

The WSB Cape Town Met, due off at 16:05, has been billed as the eighth race on a bumper 12-race programme. Races 6 through 12 have been declared as World Pool events which will lead to massive tote pools and huge International interest for these races. The first race on Saturday 25 January, The R600 000 Heineken Sumer Juvenile Stakes (Listed) over 1100m is due off at 11:50 and gates open at 10:00.

Latest Betting from the Sponsors:-

33/10 Oriental Charm

9/2      Eight On Eighteen

5/1      See It Again

11/2   Green With Envy

12/1   Red Palace

14/1   Rascallion

20/1   Future Swing; Magic Verse; Montien

22/1   Atticus Finch; Royal Aussie

33/1   Litigation; Baratheon

55/1   Pacaya

66/1   Master Redoute; Zapatillas

75/1   Al Muthana.