Horse Racing News | Gold Circle Horse Racing And Betting

The Real Prince crowned King

PUBLISHED: January 11, 2026

David Thiselton In racing there is the saying, “It takes just one horse” and the one horse in the ownership career of owner/breeder Lady Christine Laidlaw is the current Equus Champion Broodmare mare Real Princess, who on Saturday became the mother of two multiple Gr 1 winners when the Dean Kannemeyer-trained Gimmethegreenlight gelding, The Real […]

David Thiselton

In racing there is the saying, “It takes just one horse” and the one horse in the ownership career of owner/breeder Lady Christine Laidlaw is the current Equus Champion Broodmare mare Real Princess, who on Saturday became the mother of two multiple Gr 1 winners when the Dean Kannemeyer-trained Gimmethegreenlight gelding, The Real Prince won the country’s most prestigious weight for age mile, the L’Ormarins King’s Plate.

It was a fourth L’Ormarins King’s Plate/Queen’s Plate win for the Kannemeyer yard and his last two have been for Lady Laidlaw’s Khaya Stables, although unlike her 2014 winner Capetown Noir this one was homebred.

The Real Prince will now attempt to become the eighth horse in history to have won both the Hollywoodbets Durban July and Cape Town’s traditional biggest race, the Gr 1 wfa WSB Met over 2000m, although Kannemeyer called the King’s Plate South Africa’s greatest wfa event after Saturday’s victory and not many would disagree with him, especially considering it now carries a “win and you’re in” condition for the Gr 1 Breeders’ Cup Mile.

Kannemeyer said in the build up to the King’s Plate that The Real Prince had come on from his run in the Green Point and had come on further with an 800m sharpening gallop at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on the Tuesday, twelve days ahead of the race.

He said there was still the Met to come, but reckoned he had done enough work to run a big race in the King’s Plate.

He initially shortened on Saturday to become second favourite behind the hot favourite Jan Van Goyen, but he then began drifting out alarmingly and started 25/2.

The betting drift was not a reflection of stable confidence, because Craig Zackey afterwards said that he had no doubt The Real Prince was the best miler in the country.

There were many who believed he would win the Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge last season after his eye-catching 1,35 length fourth from a wide draw in the Gr 2 IOS Drill Hall Stakes, not knowing that Kannemeyer and Khaya Stables racing manager Jehan Malherbe would decide to protect his Hollywoodbets Durban July weight by missing the Gold Challenge and going straight for the July.

Many felt the latter was a high risk decision that could well backfire, considering The Real Prince had a stamina doubt over the 2200m trip, being a full brother to the champion sprinter Gimme A Prince, and he would also be having his second run after a rest in the July. However, the two stalwarts were vindicated.

Today the decision looks full of wisdom, because as a gelding there was always going to be plenty of opportunity for The Real Prince to win Gr 1 weight for age miles and other wfa races, whilst there was only ever going to be once chance for him to go into the July with a relatively light weight.

The Real Prince was held back by Zackey on Saturday after jumping from draw six out of 14 and this allowed him to find the rail near the back. Dave The King set a strong pace with Jan van Goyen and Legal Counsel a few lengths behind him.

There was then a gap of a few more lengths back to the rest, who were led by Sail The Seas with The Real Prince traveling comfortably about five lengths behind the latter.

Dave The King and Jan Van Goyen were soon spent forces with The Real Prince eating up the ground on the inside rail and it appeared that he just needed the gaps to open to win the race. It looked like he was going better than Sail The Seas, who was about to hit the front.

However, the confidence in The Real Prince’s winning chances momentarily dissipated when 50/1 shot Questioning suddenly appeared on the outside, having come from near the back. Questioning looked all over the winner going through the 200m as he was closing fast.

However, The Real Prince had managed to thread his way between the tiring Legal Counsel and Sail The Seas and having done so he then found extra.

He managed to somehow repel Questioning to win by a shorthead and thus deny Vaughan Marshall a second successive King’s Plate.

See It Again flew from near the back of the field to be beaten just 0,25 lengths into third, a neck ahead of Sail The Seas.

The 67/1 outsider Cosmic Speed was a 3,45 length fifth narrowly ahead of Sugar Mountain and Gladatorian.

The best decision of the Kannemeyer and Malherbe brains trust was to buy the Trippi filly The Real Princess for R2.7 million, because not only was she a Gr 1 winner, but to date she has produced the three-time Gr 1-winning champion sprinter Gimme A Prince, the twice Gr 1 winner The Real Prince and one other Graded winner plus the highly promising Gimmie Rules and there are more to come.

There was a dream result in the Gr 1 World Pool Cape Flying Championship as the East Cape raider Kingdundee, a Clive Murphy-homebred four-year-old gelding, blitzed them from the highest draw of all in the 14 horse field to lead from start to finish under Calvin Habib.

He gave Dean Smith his first Gr 1 winner just a few months after he had taken over the yard from his late father Gavin and it was also a first Gr 1 winner for the Galileo sire The United States.

Kingdundee beat home the Stuart Ferrie-trained I Am Giant by 0,75 lengths with Outlaw King next best followed by Asiye Phambili, Surjay and Cafe Culture, while the hot favourite Buffalo Storm Cody could only manage a 2,35 length seventh.

The Gr 1 Cartier Paddock Stakes saw the Justin Snaith-trained Maine Chance Farms-bred Legislate filly Wish List producing a sustained finished under veteran jockey Andrew Fortune to prevail by half-a-length from fellow three-year-old Reet Petite. Rainbow Lorikeet, Double Grand Slam and Minogue were next best. Wish List is owned by Nancy Hossack and JI Bloch and it was an eighth win in this iconic race for Justin Snaith and a second Gr 1 winner for Legislate.

Turffontein Standside Sunday 11 January 2026 – Comments by David Thiselton

PUBLISHED: January 10, 2026

RACE 1 1 VOLCANIC HEAT 3 GRISELDA 5 RUBY WHISPER 6 SECRETARY BIRD Preview: 1 VOLCANIC HEAT won well on debut and can follow up. 3 GRISELDA is an Erik The Red first-timer out of a Silvano mare and is running in the famous Beck colours. 5 RUBY WHISPER was beaten 1,70 lengths […]

Trust gets the Greenlight

PUBLISHED: January 10, 2026

David Thiselton The Gr 3 Got The Greenlight Stakes over 1400m heads the ten race meeting at Turffontein Standside today and Trust can prove how good he is a day after the L’Ormarins KIng’s Plate and ahead of the Gauteng Triple Crown series. There are also two Listed raced, the Betway Mother Russia […]

David Thiselton

The Gr 3 Got The Greenlight Stakes over 1400m heads the ten race meeting at Turffontein Standside today and Trust can prove how good he is a day after the L’Ormarins KIng’s Plate and ahead of the Gauteng Triple Crown series.

There are also two Listed raced, the Betway Mother Russia Stakes , in which the Frikkie Greyling-trained raider Amelia’s Legacy makes appeal, and the Wolf Power 1600, where the unbeaten three-year-old Grand Empire could beat his older rivals.

Trust has two give 2kg to the rest of the field in the Got The Greenlight as the winner of the Gr 2 Jackpot City Dingaans, but that should not stop him. He has an exhilarating turn of foot and from draw three will have every opportunity to relax in a good position in the running and then turn it on in the straight. His regular rider Serino Moodley is still on the sidelines after his Betway Summer Cup fall, but he has a good replacement in Ryan Munger, who was good before he went to Canada and has been on a continually upward trend since arriving there two-and-a-half years ago. One Eye On Vegas could be the chief danger as he won well over this trip last and is progressive, so could do well from pole position under Callan Murray. Agoge is way out at the weights on official merit ratings but caught the eye as one with plenty of scope when drawing away to win his maiden over 1600m, having gone close on debut over this trip. However, he does have a tricky draw of seven. His Lucky Houdalakis-trained stablemate Wayne looks promising too, so he could be involved despite also being out at the weights and having a wide draw. Charming Cheetah has proved himself up to his 110 rating and has a plum draw of two with Gavin Lerena up. He was unplaced in two starts beyond sprints but that was in a Gr 2 and Gr 1 respectively and on pedigree he should get this trip. Splittheeights was a beaten odds-on chance last time over 1160m first time out the maidens, but has promise judged on his good maiden win over 1160. The form of that maiden has worked out well and he is by Vercingetorix and is a half-brother to William Robertson, so should enjoy the trip. Yippee Kayay was not disgraced in the Grand Heritage off a 101 rating, but does have the widest draw to overcome. Shadowfax has 3,10 lengths to make up on Yippee Kayay on 1200m form and 5,40 lengths to make up on Trust, although he is 2kg better off this time. Golden Warrior had fine juvenile form but needs to bounce back from two poor runs this season.

In the Listed Mother Russia Stakes the Frikkie Greyling-trained Amelia’s Legacy is by Vercingetorix out of the smart Dynasty mare Hashtagyolo and has lived up to her pedigree to date with an eye-catching maiden win over this trip and then two close up finishes to the classy older filly Ladyofdistinction, including a 0,25 length defeat to her last time in the Listed Flamboyant Stakes over 1600m when receiving just 1,5kg. Amelia’s Legacy will relish the Standside track with it’s long straight and has a fair draw of four out of nine with Andrew Fortune up. Warm Reception also looks classy and this half-sister to the classy but ill-fated Heather’s Boy should make a bold bid, although she has a wide draw. Tina Lovelace can feature if bouncing back to her best form as a juvenile, but she does have a wide draw. Al Greenga has been eye-catching in two wins over this trip, but also has a tough draw. Mamlambo has shown class and her two wins have been over this trip, so she could have a shout from draw three.

In The Listed Wolf Power over 1600m the unbeaten three-year-old Grand Empire is officially 2kg under sufferance off his 102 merit rating, but he looks to be going places after three easy wins from 1160m to 1600m and he is also drawn well in barrier two. Chronicle King has proven class and represents an in-form yard so should make a bold bid over an ideal trip, but he does have a tricky draw of eight to overcome. Choisaanada has plenty of class and looks ideally distance suited, but he does have another tough draw to overcome, so might have to go to the front. Aristotle ran well last time over this trip from a wide draw and now has a good draw. Anfield’s Rocket was unlucky in the Summer Cup and will like this trip. Pressonregardless, Buster Barnes and Obsidian have to be considered too.

In the first leg of the Pick 6 over 1000m Stoneywood is a full-brother to Dyce and caught the eye last time so could be a banker, although the number one draw is always a concern down the Turffontein Standside straight even in a small field like this. Rockabilly is the back up.

In the fifth over 2000m Aladdin’s Lamp interestingly ran a time about a second quicker than the Summer Cup on the same day and this progressive sort is thus taken to progress again. Olivia’s Way ran a cracker in the Summer Cup, although this is likely a preparation outing for the WSB Met, while Busstoptohounslow proved his class in the Summer Cup too, although he has likely been freshened up since as it was a tough race.

In the ninth over 1160m Barbaresco was most unlucky last time and can make amends from another nice high draw at the expense of the Gr 1-winner William Robertson.

In the first leg of the exacta over 1000m the ultra quick Heath House can likely give 5kg and more to the rest of the field and still prevail.

In the first leg of the PA Princess Of All and Varachino’s Champ can get punters through.

In the first race over 1000m Volcanic is 3kg worse off with Ruby Whisper for a 1,70 length win, but looks good enough to win it from a nice high draw.

In the tenth over 1000m Abound has turned the corner and can fight it out with the hard-knocking His Lordship and Saketini caught the eye in his maiden win.

Royal Victory should take the salute

PUBLISHED: January 10, 2026

Andrew Harrison Royal Victory ran well below par in the soft in the Gr1 Betway Summer Cup on the Highveld, a race that he had won before, but can make amends when he lines up in the Michael Roberts Stakes at Hollywoodbets Scottsville today. Nathan Kotzen’s charge has had his mental issues, at times refusing […]

Andrew Harrison

Royal Victory ran well below par in the soft in the Gr1 Betway Summer Cup on the Highveld, a race that he had won before, but can make amends when he lines up in the Michael Roberts Stakes at Hollywoodbets Scottsville today.

Nathan Kotzen’s charge has had his mental issues, at times refusing to go to the start, but a ‘re-education’ by horse behavioralist – read ‘horse whisperer’ – Glyn Redgrave, Royal Victory has learnt to behave.

This time around, in spite of top weight and the widest draw, he is the class act in the race and best weighted in the field by a long chalk. The 1750 m may be a touch on the sharp side but if he behaves his class should see him home comfortably.

If there is to be an upset it could come from another veteran galloper in Cape Eagle. He too did not take his trip to the Highveld well and back over a course where he has smart form he could be a threat. In the absence of injured stable rider Serino Moodley, Andre Nel has ‘imported’ Gareth Wright from the Cape which is an indication that they fancy their chances.

Imilenzeyokududuma appears to be the pick of the Hollywood Racing’s runners if Sean Veale’s choice is anything to go by although he is way out in the handicap while Mike Miller will have a busy afternoon with a plethora of runners but Narina Trogon is always dangerous. It appears that he has been set up for this race and the step up in trip will suit.

In the first leg of the Place Accumulator Camogie has shown up well in both starts to date and was beaten by the promising Son Of Rafeef last time out. He started favourite on debut and with two runs under his girth he should know what’s it’s all about and could be a banker. Sargasso Sea disappointed last run when looking like a million dollars in the canter past. After an improved second start she has a light weight and can do better. Levitator has consistent form to his name and started favourite last time out. His recent form has been on the poly but he does have a light weight. First timer Etzabeth boasts a cracking pedigree and maybe he can cheer up his suspended namesake.

There is a tough start to the Pick 6 but Saudi Sweep could fit the bill. She was withdrawn from her last intended start on Stipes permission and has been in smart form since joining Louis Goosen. This could be her day. Coccolina is lightly raced but caught the eye last run on the poly and could finally be coming to hand. Past Is Prologue made a fair debut at Hollywoodbets Durbanville last time out and makes her local debut. She started at long odds but is one to watch along with stable companion and first timer Scarlet Starlet the mount of S’Manga Khumalo, Gareth van Zyl’s go-to rider.

The fifth is another tricky handicap but Past And Present made a promising debut for his new stable and judged on his previous Cape form the step up in trip will suit. Stable companion Dee Dee’s Delight has improved with each outing and drops back in trip where she has done well before. Strutting was due to run on the poly at Hollywoodbets Greyville last Wednesday. She was run out of it late last time out and this trip from a plum draw should see her close if she makes the line-up.

The sixth is another competitive handicap. Jeanne Darc has been dropping rapidly in the handicap and although shouldering top weight she is down in class and possibly off a more competitive rating. Saint Brigid won well last time out and has come on progressively since arriving in KZN. She is 1.5kg better off with De Vlugge on their last meeting and should be able to confirm that form. Treasure Island looks to be coming to hand again and with a light weight and her best form she will be competitive.

Tristan Godden has jumped ship on Cleartherunway to partner Plazza Accord but Mark Dixon’s runner has only had three outings and was close-up in a strong field in his handicap debut. He looks more than capable of going in again. Plazza Accord has steady form over the trip but has to give Cleartherunway 3.5kg which may prove too much. Riccardo is down in class with a light weight and he could go all the way.

In the last of the exotics, Cowboy Country won well on debut and followed up with a smart handicap debut. He has a light weight and Tony Rivalland’s runner looks the part in this line-up. Mark Dixon will be hoping for a double as he sends out Captain’s Christy. The mare is never far back and is in good form of late as is the stable. First Origin has a big weight but is four-points down in the handicap and has not been far back of late.