Graeme Hawkins

With the Cape Summer Season now gathering momentum, the older horses get a chance to strut their stuff in tomorrow’s R350 000 Cape Mile (Gr3) at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth in preparation for the R3-million L’Ormarins Kings Plate (Gr1) over 1600m on 4 January and the R5-million World Sports Betting Cape Town Met (Gr1) over 2000m on 25 January.

Last year’s Cape Mile (Gr3) saw Montien deny Royal Aussie by a neck, and both reappear in tomorrow’s 2024 renewal. This time around Royal Aussie is 2kgs better off, but Montien has had the benefit of a recent run when just failing to make all in the Matchem Stakes (Gr3) over 1400m back in September. Regular pilot Anthony Andrews retains the ride on Montien and there is every chance that similar catch-me-if-you-can tactics will be employed as the big-striding 5yo son of Louis The King is a resolute galloper.

Royal Aussie has not been seen finishing a good third in the Mercury Sprint (Gr1) over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Greyville at the end of July, prior to which he scored a brilliant win over Cousin Casey in the IOS Drill Hall Stakes (Gr2) over 1400m at the same venue. Royal Aussie gets the services of Richard Fourie, and the Champion Jockey enjoys a wonderful record aboard the 5yo son of Royal Mo.

Dual Grade 1 winner, Gimme A Prince, tackles 1600m for the first time in his career and there is every reason to be cautiously optimistic that Dean Kannemeyer’s charge will prove effective over the extended trip. Back in 2023, Gimme A Prince finished second over 1400m in both the IOS Drill Stakes (Gr2) and the Matchem Stakes (Gr3), when narrowly beaten by Charles Dickens, and on each occasion he left the impression that 1600m could well be within his range.

Gimme A Prince was then sidelined for nearly a year due to injury before re-appearing in this season’s renewal of the Matchem Stakes when finishing fourth, less than two lengths adrift of Montien. Gimme A Prince is likely to have come on since that excellent comeback run and is favourably treated by the conditions of the Cape Mile. If the trip does not pose a problem, then Gimme A Prince could well be the one they all have to beat.

It’s been 924 days since Zapatillas last tasted victory, but the classy son of Master Of My Fate has this third run after being rested and gelded and he should be cherry ripe. He was just a nose behind Gimme A Prince in the Matchem and the pair meet again on the exactly the same weight terms. Rascallion makes his seasonal debut but goes well fresh and his form this year has been of the highest quality. He finished second in the WSB Cape Town Met back in January following which the now 7yo son of Vercingetorix took out the Variety Club Mile before finishing third in the Legal Eagle Stakes over 1800m. High-flying Gavin Lerena is in town to partner Vaughan Marshall’s stable stalwart.

Sugar Mountain can never be underestimated and should again make his presence felt in this high-quality line-up while Hluhluwe has a point to prove following a disappointing end to his 3yo career. Solar Power, Promettere and Itsrainingwilliam all face a tough task at these weights, and it would come as something of a surprise to see any of this trio make the frame.

Not an easy race to nail one’s colours to the mast but Royal Aussie gets my vote to edge out Montien and Gimme A Prince. However, exotic bet players are advised to cast their net a little wider and possibly include Rascallion, Zapatillas and Sugar Mountain in Jackpot and Pick 6 calculations.

Bankers are not easy to find on yet another competitive Kenilworth card and punters may have to take their chances with the rapidly improving Shipindani, a 3yo daughter of One World who lines up in the eighth race, a Class 5 Handicap (F&M) over 1200m. With 61,5kgs to shoulder, victory is no foregone conclusion for Shipindani but the competition in this low-grade handicap is limited while Andre Nel’s charge looks progressive and may prove equal to the task.

Snow Pilot has side-stepped the Cape Mile in preference for the third race, a Progress Plate over 1400m, and last season’s Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas (Gr1) winner looks set to go back-to-back after beating One Stripe in a similar contest a month ago. In receipt of 8kgs, the promising Bjorn Ironside, a 3yo son of Gimmethegreenlight, appears to be the principal danger. Bjorn Ironside has Guineas aspirations of his own and he should relish stepping up to 1400m for the first time in his career. William Iron Arm debuts for the Dean Kannemeyer stable and the 4yo son of William Longsword, who was placed in both the Gauteng Guineas (Gr2) and SA Classic (Gr1), is certainly one to keep an eye on.

The first of ten races, a Maiden Plate over 1200m, gets under way at 12:00 and Cork Bay is fancied to beat Elsinore, Gimmeathrill and Charlie Bucket.

RACE 1

5 CORK BAY comes back to the races after being gelded on the 18th of October 2024, he ran a cracker last time behind Bagatelle Flash when finishing second, he is still improving and should go very close to winning. 14 ELSINORE absolutely took off to run a great second behind Shipindani in his last start, he should relish the step up in trip to 1200m, there is no doubt he will be a huge danger to them all late. 4 CHARLIE BUCKET showed plenty speed on debut when finishing a decent third, he was only beaten just over four lengths by a smart type, he should improve with every start, watch him closely. 2 GIMMEATHRILL should appreciate racing up the straight at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth, he is improving with every start and could sneak into the Quartets at a decent price. (Brandon Bailey: 5 – 14 – 4 – 2)

RACE 2

5 RICH FOLKS HOAX ran a lovely race when finishing second behind Major Master, that was his first run in the Western Cape, he will improve tremendously with every start and should go very close to winning this race. 3 MARINE MERCHANT is very well related, he drops back in trip to 1400m, from a good draw he should get the run of the race, include him into all bet types. 8 LANDOFTHERISINGSUN has been rested and gelded, the yard think highly of this individual, he will be right there in the finish on his best form. 12 REAL STUNNER improved nicely from his first run to his second run, he quickened up smartly on that occasion from a long way back, he will love the step up in trip, watch him closely. (Brandon Bailey: 5 – 3 – 8 – 12)

RACE 3

3 SNOW PILOT won a super race last time beating One Stripe, he is a serious colt with tons of ability, with similar front-running tactics again, he will be extremely hard to catch. 7 INFRARED quickened up beautifully to win well last time, he will need to step up again to be competitive in this tricky looking race, but his progressive and will be running on late, include him. 5 BJORN IRONSIDE needed his last run badly when running on strongly for second behind Dumbledore, he should appreciate the step up in trip, on his best form with a low weight on his back, he should be amongst the places again. 1 WITHOUT QUESTION comes back to the races after a long break, he is extremely talented and must be respected. (Brandon Bailey: 3 – 7 – 5 – 1)

RACE 4

2 POWERANDTHEGLORY has been rested for 167 days, he is a beautiful looking colt with all the ability in the world, he won his maiden with authority, from a good draw in this race, he will be very hard to beat. 5 SOLOMONS SEAL really enjoys this trip of 1400m, his recent form has been super consistent, if he doesn’t need the run badly, he should be right there in the finish. 9 SAN PEDRO enjoys racing up on the speed, he ran a good race behind Rascova last time, if he can beat the tricky draw, he could easily earn again for the connections. 12 BIG UNIT had absolutely no luck behind Aristotle, unfortunately he has a poor draw to beat here, if the race works out for him, he could flash up and finish in the Quartets. (Brandon Bailey: 2 – 5 – 9 – 12)

RACE 5

3 SONG TO THE MOON quickened up smartly to win going away last time, he is a beautiful looking gelding that is getting better and stronger with every start, he should love the step up in trip, on his best form he will take some beating again from a good draw. 1 JOIN THE DOTS has done everything right of late, he has won two super races in succession, this race will require further improvement to win again, but his doing things right and should remain competitive. 6 GIMME MORE TIME carries top weight, he has been very consistent through his career, there is no doubt he will be amongst the places. 4 MAGIC VERSE is slowly starting to drop in the ratings, he ran a lovely race last time from a wide draw, include him into all bets. (Brandon Bailey: 3 – 1 – 6 – 4)

RACE 6

5 GROOVEJET finished powerfully in his last start to finish second behind Join The Dots, this looks to be the perfect race for him to be in the winner’s box for the second time in his career, with some luck in running, he will be extremely hard to beat. 2 COMMANDER GREEN was only beaten just under three lengths in his last start, from a good draw he could improve sharply and give them a big fright in the finish, watch him closely at a decent price. 7 TOTHEMOONANDBACK has been in good form of late, at this level he must be respected, he tries hard and will give a good account of himself again. 8 CONTINENTALEXPRESS will love the step up in trip, he stays well and could sneak into the Quartets. (Brandon Bailey: 5 – 2 – 7 – 8)

RACE 7

7 SUGAR MOUNTAIN comes back to the races from a 70-day rest, he ran a cracker over 1250m last time, he loves the 1600m trip, on his best form he will be right there in the finish. 9 ROYAL AUSSIE will need lots of luck in running from a tricky draw, he has run with some of the best horses in South Africa, his last run in the Grade 1 was exceptional behind Surjay, if he doesn’t need the run badly coming back from a rest, he will be one of the horses to beat in this tricky looking race. 2 RASCALLION never runs a bad race, he is as honest as they come, from a good draw he must be respected. 10 GIMME A PRINCE would have needed his last run badly, he stayed on strongly late, he now steps up in trip from a terrible draw, watch him, he can finish very strongly. (Brandon Bailey: 7 – 9 – 2 – 10)

RACE 8

5 VERONIQUE gets the services of champion jockey Richard Fourie, she always tries her best, at this level she must be respected and included into all bet types. 1 ROYAL LYTHAM ran a much better race last time behind Captain’s Destiny, the yard is in good form at the moment, she can earn again. 4 LADY LOXTON gets a further rating drop, she ran a much-improved race behind Prince Of Tibet, if she moves well down to the gates, she will go very close to winning. 7 SHIPINDANI won her maiden well, she is a speedy filly that will keep improving with every start, with a similar performance of her last run, she will have a nice each way chance. (Brandon Bailey: 5 – 1 – 4 – 7)

RACE 9

5 BABELICIOUS has been rested for 63 days, she is way above average, her form is very good, and she will appreciate the drop in trip to 1200m, if she doesn’t need the run badly, she will be right there in the finish. 3 I’M SO PRITTI has won her last two starts very impressively, she is certainly doing things the right way, if she can replicate her Hollywoodbets Durbanville form at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth, she will be hard to beat. 2 CAPTAIN’S DESTINY quickened up beautifully to win going away in her last start, she enjoys being held up in her races and then comes with a storming finish late, include her, she can absolutely win a race like this. 9 ALLTHEBOYSIVELOVED is highly rated by the stable, her form is excellent, she warrants huge respect in a very competitive race. (Brandon Bailey: 5 – 3 – 2 – 9)

RACE 10          

14 CATCH A PENNY got really worked up behind the gates in her last start and still managed to run a terrific second behind Pink Pigeon, she is way above average, if she settles moving down to the gates and the race works out for her in this big field, she will be very hard to beat. 11 WILD APPLAUSE is way better than her most recent run behind Garden Of Eden, watch for sharp improvement now that she is back in trip and sprinting again. 5 BACK AT THE GEORGE never runs a bad race, she is well tried in the maiden ranks, if she bring that run behind Beware The Bomb to the races on Saturday, she will have a huge winning chance. 4 BEACH QUEEN is very well bred, she should improve tremendously from her debut run, watch her closely. (Brandon Bailey: 14 – 11 – 5 – 4)

David Thiselton

The Turffontein Standside twilight meeting today is headed by the Listed Summer Pudding Handicap over 1600m and Andi’s Girl could be the one to beat.

The Mike and Adam Azzie-trained Fire Away filly looked hard to beat last time out in a MR 94 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1450m having finished close to Back In Business and Fiery Pegasus in respective starts over that trip. She looked to have been baulked for a run late in that race but running room appeared and she surged through to win by a length. It was an easier win than the bare form suggests, so she could go in again off a five point higher merit rating of 93. Lady Fallon is 1,5kg better off with Sukhumvit for a 2,25 length beating over 1800m, but she now has a plum draw and will appreciate the step down in trip, whereas the latter now has a wide draw. Donna Mo was tailed off last time after being backed, but was brushed at the start from a wide draw and was found to not be striding out. If bouncing back she has a chance as she is 1,5kg better off with Andi’s Girl for a one length beating. Sukhumvit has some class and has her third run after a layoff over a trip which when she last tried saw her beaten just 4,50 lengths by Barbaresco. Key Element ran a cracker last time out in the Gr 2 Betway Jo’Burg Spring Fillies And Mares Challenge and makes most appeal of the rest, although Soldier’s Eye could also be considered as she is better than her run in that same race.

The first leg of the Pick 6 Basingstoke is on the up and could claim a hat-trick off a five point higher mark with Lerena staying aboard over the same 1000m trip from a fair draw of five, although it’s never easy against the boys. Chieftain is 1,5kg better off with King Of Venus for a quarter-length beating on Tuesday over this course and distance. He also has a nice high draw while King Of Venus is drawn low. Kindred Heart ran a fine race last time over this trip behind two fair sorts but her low draw is a concern over this course and distance and she is up against the boys. Captain Efficient should be thereabouts from a nice high draw.

In the second leg of the Pick 6 Cosmic Star should be cherry ripe having his third run after a layoff and he is drawn on the right side with Lerena up. Halbardier has good form and has the best draw. Rollwiththepunches has plenty of speed which could enable him to overcome a low draw and he has reached a comfortable handicap mark, so can go close again. 

In the fifth race over 1160m Mia Moo is 4kg better off at the weights than any other horse according to official merit ratings so is the one to beat, although draw four out of eight makes it a little bit tricky. Kommietjie Storm won well second time out and could follow up considering she is a full sister to Kommetdieding, but she does have a low draw. Miss Scaletta has talent and is drawn on the right side over a trip on the sharp side, but she is running fresh after a layoff of close to six months. Bakwena can bounce back over a course and distance she should enjoy. Lady Soul is interesting from a high draw over a trip too sharp after a three month layoff.     ]

In the seventh race over 2000m Birthright is a scopey sort who should be coming into his own and he can get it right here over a step up in trip which should suit, although he has a tricky draw. Celtic Rush has been knocking on the door and should go close from a fair draw, although his 2,5kg claimer rides 2kg overweight. Strewn Sky has the form to be involved here.

In the last race over 1400m Palace Dancer looks promising and for an in form yard is drawn well with Lerena up over a suitable trip. Kissing Machine should be course and distance suited and is ultra consistent but does have a tough draw. Coffeeberry is drawn wide and this will be tougher than Zimbabwe where he had hard-knocking form. Greenhouse has run two good races but does have a wide draw. Coral Blaze could make his presence felt from pole position.

In the first leg of the Bipot over 1400m Exceedingly Glam has a lot in her favour.

In the first leg of the PA Chabal looks the one to beat after a fair debut and expected improvement.

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David Thiselton

The Betway Summer Cup’s final pointer race, the Gr 3 Betway Victory Moon Stakes, has been run and the next step in the R6 million saga is to see whether there are any supplementaries on or before the final entry stage of November 18.

The final field announcement will be on Wednesday November 20. 

The most obvious horse for a late supplementary entry is the Victory Moon winner Greeting My Master.

However, that is unlikely to happen as he will face an impossible task with the Victory Moon  runner up Main Defender and also with the fifth-placed Purple Pitcher.

Greeting My Master beat Main Defender by half-a-length, but would face him on 6kg worse terms in the Summer Cup.

Greeting My Master beat Purple Pitcher by four lengths, but would face him on 11kg worse terms in the Summer Cup.

Purple Pitcher was used as the line horse in the Victory Moon and that allowed Main Defender to escape with a one point merit rated raise, which takes the latter to 130.

Purple Pitcher was 3kg under sufferance with Main Defender and was only 3,50 lengths behind him.

Greeting My Master was raised three points to 110, so as things stand would be 5kg under sufferance if entered in the Summer Cup.

Nothing has happened over the weekend to cause a major shake up of the final log.

However, Thunee Playa, who was one of the outside looking in horses on the log, did run fourth in the Victory Moon, which might warrant him for consideration despite his lowly merit rating of 93, which went up four points to 97.

Rule By Force also won a MR 106 Handicap over 1800m in good style on Monday.

Future Pearl finished last in the Victory Moon and Pure Predator was third last so their positions in the final field might be questioned, despite them both having been in the top 20 on the final log.

Furthermore, the number one on the final log, Dave The King, was said by Mike de Kock to not be running in the Summer Cup. He had him running in a Pinnacle event in December in preparation for the L’Ormarins King’s Plate.

So the certainties in the final field could be See It Again, Royal Victory, Winchester Mansion, Main Defender, Purple Pitcher, Barbaresco, Frances Ethel, Silver Sanctuary, Beating Wings, Hotarubi, Atticus Finch, Puerto Manzano, My Soul Mate, Madison Valley and Safe Passage and also Greeting My Master if he is supplemented.

Those fighting for the last four or five places will be , Pure Predator, Future Pearl, Rule By Force, Thunee Player, Zeus, Litigation, Son Of Raj, Meridius, Aragosta, Shoemaker, Cape Eagle, Red Maple, Nebraas, Indian Ocean, The Futurist, East Coast, Marauding Horde, River Romeo, Atarime and Pomodoro’s Jet.