Important Update: Hollywoodbets Kenilworth Race Meeting Abandoned – 16 August 2025
PUBLISHED: August 16, 2025
Please note: A track inspection has been conducted following the showers we have had this morning. The feedback is that the track is now inconsistent and unsafe for racing. Today’s race meeting at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth 16 August 2025 is therefore abandoned.
Please note: A track inspection has been conducted following the showers we have had this morning. The feedback is that the track is now inconsistent and unsafe for racing. Today’s race meeting at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth 16 August 2025 is therefore abandoned.
South African Quartet Pools with fractional betting offered at Bath and Newbury (UK) – 16 August 2025
PUBLISHED: August 16, 2025
Please Note: South African Quartet Pools with fractional betting offered at Bath and Newbury (UK) – 16 August 2025
Please Note: South African Quartet Pools with fractional betting offered at Bath and Newbury (UK) – 16 August 2025
A Wander-ful filly to take note of
PUBLISHED: August 15, 2025
Warren Lenferna There are eight races coming out of Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday which are sure to get the adrenaline flowing. The opening event is set to go off at 1:00 PM, a Maiden Plate for Fillies and Mares over 1000m. When looking at the breeding of some of the debutantes here, Xtines Princess has […]
Warren Lenferna
There are eight races coming out of Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday which are sure to get the adrenaline flowing. The opening event is set to go off at 1:00 PM, a Maiden Plate for Fillies and Mares over 1000m.
When looking at the breeding of some of the debutantes here, Xtines Princess has to catch the eye. She is by Kingman out of a Rip Van Winkle mare that could be anything. Keep an eye on the market trends as race time approaches. Pennys Choice from the Marshall yard will be the one to beat. She is making great strides of progression every time she comes to the races and is clearly paying more attention to the task at hand. Trainer Greg Ennion has his string in a good space and he has opted to take valuable weight off the back of Marketa, who is screaming for the win.
In Race 2, the Place Accumulator opener, Beach Verse looks to be a confident banker. She is out of the champ Beach Beauty and this daughter of Vercingetorix looks cherry-ripe for the victory. She has improved with each run and should relish every inch of the extra 200 metres she gets this afternoon.
The first leg of the Pick 6 is competitive, as it should be, being an A Stakes event. Sugar Mountain is on an incredible winning streak and looks set to continue, but it is nowhere near as easy as that. A case can be made for most here.
The Fourth on the program is the Winter Country Championship 2000 Final, and conditioner Piet Botha holds a strong hand with Baton Rouge and Ariovistus. Richard Fourie clearly gets a tune out of Baton Rouge and will be looking to win another with him. It must be noted that Fourie also rode stablemate Ariovistus for his last two victories but if he was given the choice, he’s elected to go with Baton Rouge.
The Fifth is the Winter Country Championship 1400 Final where Apprentice Brevan Plaatjies will be looking to go one better with Nile The Boss. The ace gate will aid his chances. KZN rider Cole Dicken makes the trip to Cape Town and partners Golden Angel, who is never far from the winners and can serve up some cheek. Interesting runners are Dive Bomber and Happy Verse. Huge efforts can be expected from this pair.
The Sixth is the 1000 Final, and October Storm could be hard to beat. He is a handsome colt that looks to have plenty more to offer. His debut win was breath-taking and his second run was attractive when he finished 5th, only 2.20 lengths behind Escarpment. He can be followed with confidence. She’s My World from the Snaith barn gets Muzi Yeni up, and this filly is ultra-consistent and can go very close. A must for all bets.
Race 7 is the penultimate race on the program and it’s the Winter Country Championship Final over 1200m. Sun Dazed went very close to recording his fifth career success last time, but was only beaten a short head into third place. It was a great run. Kelp Forest could be the lurker for the minor cash positions.
The last race is at 5:05 PM over 1200m and it is a Class 4, where the suggested best bet on the card is, Wander Dune. This regally bred daughter of Zoustar won as she like on debut over 1200m despite showing signs of weakness. She looked an absolute beast in the mounting barn on parade and took one’s breath away when going to the start like a consummate professional. Corne Orffer must have been smiling from ear to ear while sitting in behind the pace with a few hundred meters to go, and it was evident for all to see that the moment he asked her to go, she would win. She could be very well treated, having been given an official mark of 88. She appears to be a filly to follow for the future and this race will tell us a lot more. She is a confident selection to close off the meeting.
Important Notice to All Customers: Malaysia (Selangor) – Change in Minimum Increment Amounts
PUBLISHED: August 15, 2025
Please note: As of the next Malaysia (Selangor) meeting, which is scheduled for Sunday, 17th August 2025, the minimum bet increments for Trifecta will change from a R1-00 minimum to a R10-00 minimum.
Please note: As of the next Malaysia (Selangor) meeting, which is scheduled for Sunday, 17th August 2025, the minimum bet
increments for Trifecta will change from a R1-00 minimum to a R10-00 minimum.
Equus ’25 – Celebrating Our Stars
PUBLISHED: August 15, 2025
Justin Snaith was crowned SA Champion trainer for the sixth time and enjoyed the honour of celebrating his seventh SA Horse Of The Year title, courtesy of the outstanding Eight On Eighteen, as South African horseracing and breeding personalities gathered to celebrate the past season’s stars at the Equus Awards held at Hollywoodbets Greyville in […]
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Justin Snaith was crowned SA Champion trainer for the sixth time and enjoyed the honour of celebrating his seventh SA Horse Of The Year title, courtesy of the outstanding Eight On Eighteen, as South African horseracing and breeding personalities gathered to celebrate the past season’s stars at the Equus Awards held at Hollywoodbets Greyville in Durban on Thursday evening.
The sport is about horses and people and an evening of glitz and glamour in the beautifully appointed The Silver Ring formed the backdrop as opponents on the track, and in the breeding paddocks, mingled and shared the golden thread of a love and passion for the horse, while celebrating the equine stars and human champions of a glorious season.
There was no surprise as polished MC Alistair Cohen announced the Drakenstein Stud-bred Eight On Eighteen as the winner of the prestigious SA Horse Of The Year award. The treble Grade 1-winner was the standout sophomore last season, and lost no credit when going down narrowly to the year older The Real Prince in the Hollywoodbets Durban July, his final start as a 3yo.
Raced by Nick Jonsson and Johann Rupert, Eight On Eighteen was also crowned Champion 3yo Male and Middle Distance Horse, and he remains an exciting prospect with the 2026 Gr1 L’Ormarins King’s Plate and Gr1 Cape Town Met his targets, with an overseas campaign a possibility thereafter.
A special award was presented to Eight On Eighteen’s Groom Philip Sengeza, who drew rousing applause after a moving speech that demonstrated his passion and love of his champion charge.
After another outstanding season, Drakenstein Stud was named Champion Breeders for the second time, and in addition to Eight On Eighteen’s three trophies, the Rupert’s nursery of champions also drank a celebratory toast to the exported One Stripe’s Champion Miler award.
The son of One World is now based at trainer Graham Motion’s Fair Hill Training Centre in Maryland. One Stripe won six races in the care of trainer Vaughan Marshall, with his CV including sensational victories in the Hollywoodbets Gr1 Cape Guineas and the L’Ormarins Gr1 King’s Plate from only nine starts, for career earnings of close on R4,2-million. The $2 million FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile on 1 November at Del Mar will be One Stripe’s main target this year.
The stirring reception for the Special Achievement Awards handed to two champion sons of the Eastern Cape, endorsed the popularity and enormous esteem and respect which Piere Strydom and Alan Greeffcommand in their respective disciplines.
An international competitor, Piere Strydom bowed out of an illustrious career in the saddle at the age of 59 on the last day of the 2024/25 season.
A gentleman of the game, ‘Striker’ Strydom closed the chapter on an extraordinary riding career that spanned 43 years, six national championship titles, over 5600 winners, including 97 Grade 1 successes. The living legend said that he had so many people to thank and added emotionally that he was grateful and appreciative of having been able to choose to step down, a choice many riders have not had the privilege, in what is a dangerous profession.
Multiple Eastern Cape Champion trainer Alan Greeff enjoyed an extraordinary season of feature successes across South Africa.
While he put the cherry on the top with Golden Palm’s runaway victory in the Gr1 Douglas Whyte Stakes on the final major day of last term, Greeff’s away feature successes included the Gr1 Allan Robertson Championship at Hollywoodbets Scottsville and the Gr3 SplashOut Good Hope Nursery at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth, both won by Direct Hit.
He also enjoyed his first Hollywoodbets Durban July day success when the unbeaten Anotherdanceforme won the SplashOut Gr2 Golden Slipper. Golden Palm’s victory in the Douglas Whyte crowned her Turffontein Gr2 Wilgerbosdrift SA Nursery victory, to bookend a glorious season for Halo Stables.
The Varsfontein Stud-bred Golden Palm was crowned Champion 2yo Filly on a special evening for owner Peter Moor and the Greeff family!
Varsfontein Stud celebrated a second champion on the evening when Double Grand Slam won the Champion Older Filly/Mare title. A winner of the Cartier Gr1 Paddock Stakes and Ridgemont Gr1 Garden Province Stakes, the daughter of Vercingetorix will stay on in training this season, with ‘unfinished business’ at hand, in the words of trainer Justin Snaith.
Father-and-son Mike and Mathew de Kock have only been training in partnership for six months, and were delighted to share their maiden Equus trophy courtesy of World Pool Moment Of The Day Gr1 Premier’s Champion Stakes winner Jan Van Goyen who was awarded Champion 2yo Male. The son of Master Of My Fate is raced by passionate life-long owner Henk Leyenaar in partnership with his daughters Daniela Erasmus and Louisa Huntingford.
Dean Kannemeyer enjoyed his fourth Hollywoodbets Durban July victory last month when Khaya Stables’ The Real Prince achieved a career peak success, but it was in the Champion Sprinter category that the Milnerton maestro and his loyal clients received their 2025 Equus moment via superstar speed demon, Gimme A Prince.
A full-brother to the younger The Real Prince, Gimme A Prince ran only five times last season, for a third in the L’Ormarins Gr1 King’s Plate and victories in the Gr1 Cape Flying Championship and Gr2 Diadem Stakes.
A dual Gr1 winner last term, New Predator’s daughter Fatal Flaw, bred by leading owner Laurence Wernars, was crowned Champion 3yo Filly, while Gareth van Zyl’s top notch Duke Of Marmalade gelding King Pelleswas a shoo-in for the Champion Stayer title!
In a glorious moment for a relatively small yard, Summerveld trainer Stuart Ferrie crowned only his second full season with the Erasmus Thoroughbreds-bred Gladatorian winning the Champion Older Colt/ Gelding award. The winner of the HKJC Gr1 Champions Cup is raced by a Mauritian partnership of the Late Agasthamuni Gujadhur, E G Hart de Keating, M L Jean Hardy and now retired Gold Circle CEO, Michel Nairac.
In a soaring rise from humble beginnings with a first winner at the Equus venue over 20 years ago, Hollywood Racing celebrated a maiden Champion Owner title after a stellar season under the management of former multiple champion jockey Anthony Delpech. The team enjoyed winners countrywide, and clearly have another exciting season, both locally and internationally, ahead of them.
A high work-rate, plenty of travelling and dedication to keeping his eye on the prize saw Gavin Lerena mark his second SA Champion Jockey title. Lerena rode 277 winners last term at a strike-rate of 24,8% and total stakes of R36 724 998 to beat reigning record-breaking champion Richard Fourie by 18 wins.
A rising star on the SA racing landscape, Brevan Plaatjies proudly received his Champion Apprentice title, crediting his move to the Cape in April as a major factor in his growth. One of five children, the former Ixopo schoolboy became a jockey when a family member suggested the career choice. The 20 year old admits that he has never looked back!
The competitive Media awards categories again provided some serious consideration and reflection for the judges.
But it was the well-travelled KZN-based Candiese Lenferna who came out tops in the Still Photography section for the third time, while veteran Gary Lemke’s feature on record-breaker Richard Fourie in the ‘378 Tribute’ magazine secured him the Print accolade.
The Broadcast Media award attracted a number of high-class submissions, and it was Emma Finney who accepted her first Equus trophy for her well-crafted production of ‘Charles Dickens’, which told the story of the champion racehorse.
As the final curtain came down on a glittering evening of spirited celebration and camaraderie, MC Alistair Cohen bid guests farewell with a message: “Keep loving the sport. It will love you back.”
We couldn’t have said it better. Thanks to the judges and congratulations to all the winners and nominees. Here’s to another superb season!
THE FULL LIST OF WINNERS
TWO-YEAR-OLD FILLY:
Nominees: Anotherdanceforme; Direct Hit; Golden Palm Champion: GOLDEN PALM
TWO-YEAR-OLD MALE:
Nominees: Good For You; Jan Van Goyen Champion: JAN VAN GOYEN
THREE-YEAR-OLD FILLY:
Nominees: Fatal Flaw; Fiery Pegasus; Mom Petit Cherie; Quid Pro Quo; Spumante Dolce Champion: FATAL FLAW
THREE-YEAR-OLD MALE:
Nominees: Eight On Eighteen; One Stripe Champion: EIGHT ON EIGHTEEN
SPRINTER:
Nominees: Buffalo Storm Cody; Gimme A Prince; Mia Moo; Tenango; William Robertson Champion: GIMME A PRINCE
MILER:
Nominees: Cosmic Speed; Dave The King; Double Grand Slam; One Stripe Champion: ONE STRIPE
MIDDLE DISTANCE:
Nominees: Eight On Eighteen; Fire Attack; Gladatorian; The Real Prince Champion: EIGHT ON EIGHTEEN
STAYER:
Nominee: King Pelles Champion: KING PELLES
OLDER FEMALE:
Nominees: Asiye Phambili; Double Grand Slam; Mia Moo; Rascova Champion: DOUBLE GRAND SLAM
OLDER MALE:
Nominees: Dave The King; Gimme A Prince; Gladatorian, The Real Prince Champion: GLADATORIAN
CHAMPION STALLION:
Vercingetorix
CHAMPION BROODMARE:
Real Princess (Trippi-Pagan Princess by Fort Wood)
SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS:
Alan Greeff Piere Strydom
MEDIA AWARDS:
Print Media: Gary Lemke
Still Photography: Candiese Lenferna
Broadcast Media: Emma Finney
HUMAN AWARDS:
Champion Apprentice: Brevan Plaatjies
Champion Jockey: Gavin Lerena
Champion Trainer: Justin Snaith
Champion Owners: Hollywood Racing (Nom: Mr A Delpech)
Champion Breeders: Drakenstein Stud (Nom: Mrs G A Rupert)
HORSE OF THE YEAR:
Eight On Eighteen Groom: Philip Thengeza Owners: Mr N Jonsson & Mr JP Rupert Breeders: Drakenstein Stud (Nom: Mrs G A Rupert) |
