York Ebor Festival – Wednesday 20 August to Saturday 23 August 2025.
PUBLISHED: August 17, 2025
The York Ebor Festival is here – a World Pool event with massive global betting pools! Bet with Race Coast, either online via our TOTE website or at one of our betting shops. The 2025 UK Flat Season now turns to the York Ebor Festival, showcasing a strong international presence. Japan’s Danone Decile takes aim at the Juddmonte International on Wednesday, while Australian sprinter Asfoora returns […]
The York Ebor Festival is here – a World Pool event with massive global betting pools! Bet with Race Coast, either online via our TOTE website or at one of our betting shops.
The 2025 UK Flat Season now turns to the York Ebor Festival, showcasing a strong international presence. Japan’s Danone Decile takes aim at the Juddmonte International on Wednesday, while Australian sprinter Asfoora returns for another crack at the Nunthorpe Stakes on Friday.
Across four thrilling days (Wednesday 20 – Saturday 23 August 2025), 28 races will unfold on the Knavesmire, including 10 Group races and 4 days of World Pool betting.
Don’t miss a moment – watch it all live on GallopTV!
South African Quartet Pools with fractional betting offered at Southwell (UK) – 17 August 2025
PUBLISHED: August 17, 2025
Please Note: South African Quartet Pools with fractional betting offered at Southwell (UK) – 17 August 2025
Please Note: South African Quartet Pools with fractional betting offered at Southwell (UK) – 17 August 2025
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) |
Break through season for Dillon
PUBLISHED: August 12, 2025
David Thiselton Donovan Dillon, a stalwart Gr 1-winning graduate of the South African Jockey Academy, is all set for a breakthrough season in Australia and he has made a good start. He has been in Australia since June 2022 but his first ride as a permanent resident in Australia was only on January 2 this […]
David Thiselton
Donovan Dillon, a stalwart Gr 1-winning graduate of the South African Jockey Academy, is all set for a breakthrough season in Australia and he has made a good start.
He has been in Australia since June 2022 but his first ride as a permanent resident in Australia was only on January 2 this year and he accumulated 29 wins in the seven months that were remaining of the season and did it at a decent strike rate of 12% and had a place strike rate of 34% for overall earnings of Aus$964,700.
Donovan previously rode exclusively for the small racing yard at the famous Arrowfield stud farm where he was based and rides were few and far between and he was also out for a long time with a serious thigh injury.
He can now look forward to a full season and will be hoping to draw the attention of the Metropolitan yards.
He has made a fine start to the 2025/2026 season as he has already had three wins, two seconds and a third in just 12 starts for a win strike rate of 25%, place strike rate of 58.3% and earnings of Aus$89,725.
His 29 wins last season put him in 229th position on the Australian log and this season his early three wins have put him in 52nd place.
He is obviously mathematically on his way to beating his rank of last season comfortably.
He said a couple of years ago he believed he could make it to the top in Australia and he is going about it in the right way.
He is based in New South Wales.
On the same page of the stats as Donovan last season were some other names who will be known to South African fans:
Heavelon van der Hoven did well with 31 wins at a strike rate of 11.6% for earnings of Aus$1,327,575. He was battling in Cape Town at one stage, although he did take home one of the biggest riding cheques in South African history when winning the 2016 CTS Million Dollar on the Glen Puller-trained Illuminator having got the ride only on the morning of the race thanks to a sore back causing Weichong to book off. Heavelon earned a cheque of about R630,000 for that chance ride.
He is also based in New South Wales and has had one win in eight rides this season.
Brandon Lerena is based in Brisbane in Queensland and had 31 wins at 13% last season for earnings of $914,885. He has had two wins in 16 rides this season.
Karl Zechner, who is also based in Queensland, had 30 wins at a strike rate of 8.3% last season for earnings of Aus$866,185. He has had two wins in 19 rides so far this season.
Jaden Lloyd, son of legendary South African jockey Jeff Lloyd, had 27 wins last season at 11.7% for earnings of Aus$1,279,570. He is also based in Queensland and has had one win in eleven rides this season.
Jeff’s sensational younger son Zac finished in 21st position on the Australian log last season with 97 wins at 1.3% and earnings of $14,566,360. He is based in New South Wales and had had one win in eleven starts so far this season.
Keagan Latham had a fine 2024/2025 season with 81 wins at a strike rate of 14.9% for earnings of Aus$3,462,050 which put him in 39th position on the Australian log. He is based in New South Wales and has had one win so far this season in 15 rides.
Sean Cormack was in 56th position with 73 wins at a strike rate of 13.2% for earnings of $2,086,130. He is based in Queensland and has had four wins in 27 rides this season.
Chad Schofield had 51 wins at 12.2% last season but had big earnings of $11,675,865 as he was associated with the top horse Ceolwulf, who won two Gr 1s last October, including the King Charles III Stakes which alone earned the connections Aus$3,060,000. He is based in New South Wales and hasn’t had a winner yet in seven rides this season.
Mark Du Plessis had 22 wins last season at a 22% strike rate for earnings of Aus$1,568,175. He is based in Queensland and hasn’t ridden since a nasty fall at Ipswich on July 3.
Callan Murray had 19 wins at 7.4% last season in Australia for earnings of Aus$766,555 before returning to South Africa. That was a good decision as his career has taken off again out here and he has already added three more Gr 1 victories to his CV in the three months he has been back.
Chris Taylor had seven wins last season at a 10.8% strike rate for earnings of Aus$116,362. He is based in Queensland and has only had two rides this season for one third.
Marnu Potgieter rode in some work riders races in South Africa, making his debut at the Vaal in December 2012. He had 42 rides in Australia last season for three wins at 7.1% for earnings of Aus$173,010. He was based in Queensland and has not had a ride since October last year.
Teaque Gould only had 14 rides in Australia last season, but had two wins for a strike rate of 14.3% and earnings of Aus$48,035, so hopefully he gets more chances this season. He is based in New South Wales and has not had a ride this season yet.
Donovan Yeo had one win in Australia last season in 18 rides at 5.6% for earnings of Aus$50,400. He is based in New South Wales and has not returned a win in two rides this season.
Lyle Hewitson had three rides in Australia last season during the Hong Kong off season and had three wins at 11.5% for earnings of $104,890.
Peter yard confirms Little partnership
PUBLISHED: August 11, 2025
David Thiselton Chad Little is joint top of the national jockeys log at present and he will have a chance of maintaining his lofty position, because the powerful Tony Peter yard have confirmed his partnership with them on Saturday was not just a temporary arrangement. The Peter yard gave Warren Kennedy a high percentage of […]
David Thiselton
Chad Little is joint top of the national jockeys log at present and he will have a chance of maintaining his lofty position, because the powerful Tony Peter yard have confirmed his partnership with them on Saturday was not just a temporary arrangement.
The Peter yard gave Warren Kennedy a high percentage of his winners for his two national championships and the arrangement with Little will be similar in that he will not be based on the Highveld but will travel for rides.
Paul Peter said, “It will be more less the same as it was with Warren, but we do also have Gavin (Lerena) up here and it must be remembered Chad can’t ride most weights, whereas Warren could ride anything from 50kg upwards, so it’s a bit tricky with Chad but we are going to give him a chance.”
On Saturday he had five rides for the yard for a win, a second, a third, a fourth and an unplaced run.
The yard obviously rate Chad and Paul Peter confirmed, “Chad is different class, he is a top, top jockey. He rode for me in the past for a long time and he is very close to our hearts, he is close to the family, he is a very good man and is a proper horseman. He has got great hands, he gives great feedback, good out the gates, very strong in a finish, he is an all rounder and we are very blessed to have him, it is just a pity he can’t ride lightweights.”
Chad’s official restricted weight in 56,5kg.
He has also formed a good association with Juan Nel in Gqeberha and, on top of his association with Glen Kotzen, he delivered five winners in his last five rides for the Lucinda Woodruff yard in KZN. The latter will likely be keen to use him in Cape Town.
His chief loyalty will always be with Glen Kotzen, who set Chad on the path to unleashing the potential he was always known to possess.
The winner Chad rode for Tony Peter on Saturday was a Suzette and Basie Viljoen-owned Hawwaam filly called Perfect Miracle, who waltzed in by 6,25 lengths at 33/10 odds and never looked threatened by the 5/10 favourite Quiet Winter, who could only manage third place in the end.
The Klawervlei Stud-bred filly might turn out to be a bargain buy for the Viljoens. At the Cape Racing Sales Winter Mixed Sale of 2023 they purchased Perfect Miracle’s dam, the Tiger Ridge mare Freddy’s Sister, who won four times from 1200m to 1400m, for R25,000 and at the same time bought the weanling Perfect Miracle for R90,000.
Their Hopes And Dreams stud then put Perfect Miracle on the BSA National Yearling Sale and she seems to have been a buy back as she was purchased by Peter Racing for R425,000.
Hawwaam’s progeny were quiet in his freshman season, but the impressive win by Perfect Miracle suggests the Silvano stallion could reach the heights expected of him.
Paul Peter said, “We’ve got a few Hawwaams and they are all showing ability. They take a little bit of time and we don’t push them too quick, because remember Hawwaam had a bit of a temperament. So especially as she is a filly we took our time with Perfect Miracle. It is paying dividends now and she will reward us. She showed us decent work, but we never thought she was that good. Chad was very impressed with her.”
The yard are also looking forward to the campaigns of some other top horses this season.
Their Gr 1 Mercury Sprint winner Buffalo Bill Cody is in fine fettle and Paul said, “He has taken his campaign to Durban very well. He just wants to get on with it, we were trying to give him a break but after one week we had to bring him back to track, he was just getting out of hand. Tony plans the campaigns with the owners so I’m not sure what his program will be. He is a better horse around the turn at this stage, but with a bit more experience he will produce it down the straight, because he has won down the straight. He is a very young horse mentally-wise, he is very immature, and he will just keep on improving. That is why I think he is so special.”
The yard’s imported Galileo entire The Equator’s stallion credentials for owners Willem Ackerman and advocate Nigel Riley of Heversham Park have been bolstered by his three-parts sister, the Frankel filly Lake Victoria, who added to her three Gr 1 wins as a two-year-old (Breeders Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, Moyglare Stakes, Cheveley Park Stakes) by winning this year’s Gr 1 Irish 2000 Guineas.
The Equator also bolstered his sire potential by winning his second start in South Africa, a Pinnacle event over 1800m, by two lengths at Turffontein Standside under Gavin Lerena and he is being targeted at the Betway Summer Cup.
Paul said, “He won well and took the race very well. I think it is just onwards and upwards with him. He might be a five-year-old (by Southern Hemisphere measures) but he didn’t have much racing in Ireland and the U.K. and he was still a little bit green and spooky and the first-time blinkers last time out just settled him down. In Durban he was very green and running away from the grandstand. I think there is a lot of improvement to come. His pedigree will come out, he is so well bred, and he has got a huge action. He is just a natural.”
Paul also mentioned The Ultimate King, who was a Hollywoodbets Durban July entry last season.
He said, “He is also very decent. He is also a bit immature and we will see the best of him this season. He is running on Saturday if the field stands up.”
