Graeme Hawkins

“One Stripe is super fit and very well within himself,” the words of Vaughan Marshall as the 3yo son of One World heads into the Grade 1 R3-million L’Ormarins King’s Plate (WFA) over 1600m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth today. Unbeaten over the course and distance, One Stripe has won five of his seven starts to date including the R500 000 Cape Punters Cup (Gr2) in November and the R2-million Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas (Gr1) three weeks ago, and in the process has banked nearly R2,4-million in prize money.

But arguably the biggest clue to his chances of beating the older brigade in the 2024 King’s Plate came when he ran second to Snow Pilot in a Progress Plate over 1400m at Hollywoodbets Durbanville back in October. On that occasion One Stripe met the former Guineas winner on 7,5kgs worse terms than weight-for-age and was only a length in arrears of Justin Snaith’s charge at the line. One Stripe is now 6kgs better off with Snow Pilot and there is every reason to believe that Marshall’s runner holds a clear advantage over Snow Pilot, particularly given that the latter is drawn widest of all.

The ante-post betting market suggests that Oriental Charm and See It Again, along with Snow Pilot, could pose the biggest threat to One Stripe. Neither Oriental Charm nor See It Again are necessarily at their very best over 1600m, but Oriental Charm began his 4yo career on the front foot when beating five rivals in the R600 000 World Sports Betting Green Point Stakes (Gr2) over a mile. Brett Crawford reports that Oriental Charm has progressed nicely from that auspicious seasonal debut and the son of Vercingetorix should have every chance from a handy draw. “The WSB Cape Town Met over 2000m on 25 January remains his principal target, but Oriental Charm is in a very good space and his chances in the King’s Plate cannot be underestimated,” added Crawford. 

See It Again finished second to Charles Dickens in last year’s renewal of the King’s Plate and is also a former winner of the WSB Green Point Stakes. The 5yo son of Twice Over was gelded on 23 August after a slightly disappointing KZN Champions Season and he won his comeback run over 1600m on 3 November with consummate ease before finishing a highly creditable fifth under top weight in the R6-million Betway Summer Cup (Handicap) over 2000m at Turffontein. He was shipped to Cape Town directly from Johannesburg and Michael Roberts is more than happy with See It Again’s condition coming into the race. “See It Again is doing really well, and I expect him to make his presence felt in a big way,” commented Roberts. With Piere Strydom having been injured a few days ago, Rachel Venniker has been confirmed to partner See It Again and winning her first Grade 1 in one of the country’s “majors” will be a dream come true for the world-class rider.

Gimme A Prince has very strong claims and Dean Kannemeyer is cautiously optimistic that the 6yo son of Gimmethegreenlight will go very close to winning. “He is flying at home, and I have always been of the belief that he has the class and the versatility to win a King’s Plate. We were denied the opportunity last year when Gimme A Prince suffered a knee injury after finishing a close second to Charles Dickens in the 2023 Matchem Stakes, but he has come back strong from a year off the track and his prep has been flawless,” added Kannemeyer.

Visiting Champion jockey, Oisin Murphy, rides Royal Aussie for the Snaith team and the combination could take home share of the prize money while At My Command’s run in the Merchants, when he was drawn on the wrong side of the track, is best ignored. On best form he could get into the mix. Great Plains, the only other 3yo in the 13-strong line-up, is very smart and progressive but he should be safely held by One Stripe.

To summarise, I am in the camp of One Stripe to provide Vaughan Marshall with his first ever victory in the King’s Plate, but with plenty of respect for all the aforementioned, in particular Gimme A Prince, See It Again and Oriental Charm.

The R1-million Cartier Paddock Stakes (F&M) (WFA) (Gr1) over 1800m has attracted a field of 11 runners, including two three-year-olds – Little Suzie and World of Alice. On varying formlines, a strong case can be made for all of Double Grand Slam (Fourie), Red Palace (Zackey), Saartjie (Orffer), Rascova (Lerena) and Silver Sanctuary (Murphy) and I believe the race to be a little more competitive than the ante-post market would suggest.

Silver Sanctuary’s only previous visit to Hollywoodbets Kenilworth was when finishing a close second to Beach Bomb in last season’s WSB Cape Fillies Guineas. Her run in the Betway Summer Cup was too bad to be true but she re-appeared three weeks ago when a close second behind stable companion White Pearl over 1600m. This course and distance looks ideal for Silver Sanctuary and she looks fair each-way value at her current odds.

Red Palace makes her debut for the Kannemeyer stable and Dean reports that her work has been solid leading into the race. She is marginally better off with Saartjie than when narrowly beating Andre Nel’s runner in the Gold Bracelet (Gr2) over 2000m back in July. The market leader Double Grand Slam has been a model of consistency for the last 12 months and was a good winner of the Summer Bowl over 1600m in November. She steps up to 1800m for the first time in her career which is perhaps a slight question mark, depending on how the race is run. There has never been much to choose between Double Grand Slam and Rascova and they race off the identical mark of 119.

Little Suzie and World Of Alice are interesting as both are very progressive and likely to appreciate going 1800m for the first time in their fledgeling careers. While an intriguing contest, this is not the deepest renewal of the Cartier Paddock Stakes, and I would not be surprised to see either Little Suzie or World Of Alice step up to the plate and defy their long odds.

The first of an exceptional nine race programme is due off at 12:25, with the L’Ormarins King’s Plate slated to jump at 16:10. There is a Pick 6 carryover of R1-million and the opening leg, the Cartier Sceptre Stakes (Gr2) over 1200m, is scheduled to get under way at 14:15.

RACE 1

3 PARENTAL GUIDANCE really quickened up smartly to win a good race on debut, he should improve lengths from that performance and must have a good winning chance again. 5 BLACK CHEETAH was heavily backed on debut when sprinting away from the field in good fashion, he will come on quite a bit from that performance and he should be right there in the finish. 7 ORBIT fought hard to win a good race on the 7th of December, he looks to be way above average and must be respected in this tricky looking contest. 1 CLAIRE DE LUNE moved up well on debut to run a great second behind Orbit at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth, she will improve with every start, watch her closely here. (Brandon Bailey: 3 – 5 – 7 – 1)

RACE 2

3 CORK BAY ran a lovely race out of the maidens behind Arctic Wizard last time, the yard think highly of this individual, he is clearly improving with racing and must be respected in this race. 4 KELP FOREST really enjoyed the sprinting trip on the 11th of December, he quickened up smartly to win a super race, they should go a decent pace here and he will be low flying late, include him into all bets. 13 TENANGO tried hard in his last start behind Elusive Winter, he has some solid form to his name and should be involved in the finish again. 6 TOUGH TERRAIN likes to be switched off completely in his races and then comes with a powerful finish late, he could be some decent value in this wide open race. (Brandon Bailey: 3 – 4 – 13 – 6)

RACE 3

5 MEU CAPITANO is much better than his last run in the Grade 2 Cape Merchants, he is a very nice sprinting type that should bounce back to form here, watch him closely at a decent price. 10 LION RAMPART won extremely well last time over 1200m, he is a beautiful looking colt with tons of ability, he will be right there in the finish again. 4 KAIBOY ran on strongly to win going away at the line in his last start, he is progressive, with no weight on his back, he should have a nice each way chance in what looks a strong field. 8 ZIYASHA is a quality sprinter, he was given a great ride by jockey Raymond Danielson last time to win a super race, he will give them all something to think about here. (Brandon Bailey: 5 – 10 – 4 – 8)

RACE 4

4 ASIYE PHAMBILI finished like a rocket to win a great race on the 7th of December, she ran a close up second in this race last year behind October Morn, there is no doubt she has a serious winning chance this year. 8 GIMMIE’S COUNTESS will love the drop in trip to 1200m, she is a serious filly with a striking turn of foot, with some luck in running, she will be flying at them late. 3 BAVARIAN BEAUTY has changed stables, she comes back to the races from a long break of 168 days, at her best, she will trouble a field like this quite comfortably, include her into all bets. 5 SYMPHONY IN WHITE has run some great races against some of the best three year old fillies in the country, she has tons of ability and must be respected now that she drops in trip. (Brandon Bailey: 4 – 8 – 3 – 5)

RACE 5

6 RASCALLION is as honest as they come, he would have needed his last run when coming back to the races from a long break and fighting hard to win the Grade 3 Cape Mile over 1600m, he should tighten up quite a bit from that performance and will be competitive again. 5 MAGIC VERSE couldn’t have been more impressive in his last start when powering away from the field to win by 5 lengths, this is undoubtedly a much stronger race for him, but he is improving with every start and must be respected. 4 OTTO LUYKEN ran a much better race last time when dropping in trip to 1800m, he is a solid individual that will give of his best again, watch him closely from a good draw at a good price. 7 FUTURE SWING caught the eye late behind The Futurist on the 14th of December, jockey Oisin Murphy has been booked to ride, he could be the value in the race. (Brandon Bailey: 6 – 5 – 4 – 7)

RACE 6

8 DOUBLE GRAND SLAM won the Summer Bowl with absolute ease on the 23rd of November, she steps up in trip to 1800m now which shouldn’t be a problem, she is very classy and will be hard to beat here. 3 SAARTJIE was very disappointing in the Grade 3 Victress Stakes behind Rainbow Lorikeet, she is much better than that performance, if she can bounce back to her best form, she will be a major threat. 7 RED PALACE has changed stables, she didn’t find much under pressure in her last start behind Double Grand Slam, she is much better than that, include her into all bet types. 1 RAINBOW LORIKEET has done everything right of late, she has been in tremendous form, from a good draw here, she will have a nice each way chance. (Brandon Bailey: 8 – 3 – 7 – 1)

RACE 7

3 ORIENTAL CHARM won the Grade 2 Green Point Stakes impressively on the 7th of December, he is a star colt that enjoys racing handy and then fights hard to the line, from a good draw, he will have a good winning chance again. 5 ONE STRIPE showed his class when winning the Grade 1 Cape Guineas on the 14th of December at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth, he travelled well in the race and then picked the field off one by one to win in style, he is packed with ability and is definitely one of the leading lights here. 13 SNOW PILOT is a gorgeous looking colt with a magnificent action, he unfortunately has a poor draw in this quality Grade 1 event, he likes to race freely up in front, if he doesn’t do too much work from that poor barrier gate, he will be very hard to catch. 8 SEE IT AGAIN always has a chance, he is super consistent at this level, with the right run in transit, he could trouble them all. (Brandon Bailey: 3 – 5 – 13 – 8)

RACE 8

7 DAIMYO was given a perfect ride by young Joshwin Solomons in the Listed Woolavington Stakes on the 9th of November, he carries absolutely no weight on his back again for this Grade 3 event, if he gets cheap sectionals up in front, he will be very hard to peg back. 6 LOVE IS A ROSE must have a good winning chance here, she flew late to run a great second behind Holding Thumbs last time, she stays really well and she is very consistent, include her into all bets. 11 HOLDING THUMBS has matured into a lovely staying type, he will be hitting the line hard late, watch him closely. 4 NAVY STRENGTH could do enough for the Quartets, he enjoyed the step up in trip in his last start, with a similar performance again, he should remain competitive. (Brandon Bailey: 7 – 6 – 11 – 4)

RACE 9

15 GARRIX will need all the luck in the world from a poor draw in the lucky last, he has a big reputation and is packed with class, if he can overcome the wide draw, he will be hard to beat. 9 OLIVER is much better over this trip of 1400m, jockey Grant van Niekerk knows this individual well, he will be stalking the speed and then work into the race late. 2 O’TENIKWA ran a great race in a Grade 1 last time, he is a smart gelding that will be given every chance from a good draw, he definitely has a big winning chance here. 5 BIG UNIT is consistent, he really enjoys this trip of 1400m, he will be doing some good work late, watch him closely at a decent price. (Brandon Bailey: 15 – 9 – 2 – 5)

Rugby 8 Win Margin on Saturday, 4 January 2025 C/Over R 44 966 Pool Closes 15h30 Sport 65

Soccer10 ADD-IN: R200 000 on Saturday, 4 January 2025 – Pool Closes at 15h30, Sport 16 Pool 1 – Estimated Pool: R2 Million

Soccer Any 13Xtra C/Over: R200 000 on Saturday, 4 January 2025. Pool Closes at 14h30. Sport 13 and Pool 1. Estimated Pool: R500 000

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.

All systems go on 1 January 2025

Horseracing in KwaZulu-Natal took the next step to the dawn of a new era with the publication on Thursday of a revitalized racing programme and the news of the introduction of incentives and stakes adjustments that will align the province with the status quo in the Cape.

The introduction of the new-look programme and policies on the East Coast comes into play as a result of the proposed acquisition of Gold Circle by the Hollywood Sportsbook Holdings group, which now hinges on the required approval of the KZN Economic Regulatory Authority (KZNERA).

Whilst the outstanding approval of the KZNERA is critical to the transaction, and will be the final step in transferring ownership, Hollywoodbets and its appointed Chairman Designate of Gold Circle, Greg Bortz are in management and strategic decisions during the interim period, with Hollywoodbets investing funds at its own risk to ensure the continuity of horse racing in KZN, and the survival of Gold Circle.

Programme and related reading matter, click here.

Subject to the fulfillment of other outstanding conditions precedent, the deal effectively unlocks a R500 million rescue injection from Hollywoodbets, and a takeover of the sport in the holiday province, which is set to include track upgrades and other infrastructural and operational initiatives.

The new KZN programme covers the period 1 January to 28 February 2025 and introduces the stakes-boosted class racing structure to the province, while unveiling financial incentives via the RaceCoast incentive scheme with the ultimate aim of improving racehorse ownership in KZN and achieving enhanced field sizes with the knock-on vital lifeblood of increased betting turnovers.

Down South, the RaceCape incentive programme has proven a winner and has underscored the unprecedented turnaround in Cape horseracing by providing further opportunities for the local racing community and increased employment prospects for grooms and work riders, as well as raising the bar for all related and ancillary horse racing services.

“We are very excited about future plans for KZN racing,” Cape Racing Executive: Racing & Bloodstock Justin Vermaak told the Sporting Post on Thursday, as he outlined broad plans to revolutionise the appeal of the sport across the board for all stakeholders in KZN.

“We need to provide owners and trainers with an even and attractive playing field that makes them want to race. Stakes and rewards need to be meaningful. That ultimately leads to better field sizes, more exciting racing and improved betting turnovers. Punters are key to the success of the process. We are implementing a first world reform in terms of transparency when it comes to information. Items like horse weights, for example, will be published. They are, after all, a form assessment tool. Horses working at our training centres and tracks will all have easily identifiable bar-coded saddle-cloths. So, there are no secrets. If Oriental Charm or One Stripe is on track, the public will share in it,” added Vermaak, who confirmed that barrier draws after acceptance was another operational change which would be implemented on 1 January 2025.

Veteran KZN trainer Garth Puller, who attended a recent stakeholder’s meeting at Summerveld hosted by Greg Bortz, Justin Vermaak, Gold Circle and Hollywoodbets officials, enthused that he was thrilled by the news of the takeover by business-minded racing people who were brave and bold enough to step in and turn the ship around.

“This has come very late for me at my age, but it’s a lifechanger and the future is brighter than it was yesterday,” reflected a delighted Puller as he told the Sporting Post that the adjusted stakes and ‘very welcome’ incentives would boost cash-flows,  while also making it so much easier to help him and his colleagues market the basic ownership product.

“And we are getting draws after acceptances. Wonderful! I was calling for that 25 years ago at Hollywoodbets Durbanville. Bigger fields mean a faster pace, means better form, means better truer results. It’s an ecosystem of positivity. It all feeds on itself,” added the horseman who is never scared to pass an opinion.

Puller said the repair of the Polytrack at Hollywoodbets Greyville was ‘definitely quite overdue and welcome news’.

“That’s our stage. The track must be safe for horse and rider, be true and competitive, and have credibility with all role-players. That’s not a negotiable.”

On the ‘abolition’ of the committee structure to facilitate decision making and policy, Puller said that he was so pleased to hear that all reasonable suggestions will be considered by management.

“Wonderful! So there are no more long-winded committees to hide behind and to dither over. How refreshing.  I believe every stakeholder in this sport in KZN needs to doff a cap to Hollywoodbets and Mr Bortz. This investment and takeover is a brave move. But we know that with the passion for horse racing of the local population in this province, we can make it work. And by putting the structures in place they are making sure we have no excuses. Let’s look forward and get on with rebuilding KZN racing. I am absolutely thrilled. This is good news,” he concluded.