David Thiselton

The Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas to be run at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday is the focus of SA Racing fans at present and the question is being asked whether the Highveld form or the Cape form will emerge on top.

The Mike and Mathew de Kock-trained Equus Champion colt Jan Van Goyen is the only representative of the Highveld, but he represents the form of the horse many view as the best three-year-old in the country, Trust, who has a devastating turn of foot and he used it to beat Jan Van Goyen in the Gr 2 Jackpot City Dingaans.

Jan Van Goyen arrived in Cape Town on Wednesday and hopefully he travelled well, which is not a given especially with there currently apparently being a lot of roadwork delays. The Dingaans did not pan out well for him as he was kept wide by Trust. It told late in the race as he was unable to match the latter’s late gear change and he also likely needed it as it was his first start since winning the Gr 1 World Pool Moment Of The Day Champion Stakes over 1600m at Hollywoodbets Greyville at the end of July in easy and impressive fashion. Nevertheless, Jan Van Goyen showed a tremendous burst of speed in the Dingaans and this will stand him in good stead in Saturday’s race from a great draw of four. He will have come on from the run and will be out to give the De Kock yard a sixth Cape Guineas victory.

Justin Snaith is going for a fourth Cape Guineas success and Happy Verse could be his best hope. This horse has always oozed class but has not always had the best of luck. He should be cherry ripe to deliver and should be turning it on in the straight.

Gimmie Rules also has a fine turn of foot as he displayed last time when toying with older rivals despite coming around them from last on the Old Course. This full brother to Gimme A Prince and The Real Prince possesses speed and class and should pass his acid test. He will be out to give Dean Kannemeyer a seventh Cape Guineas success and the Kannemeyer yard a tenth as Dean’s father Peter won it three times.

Good For You is a Gr 1 winner over 1200m but showed last time he gets this trip when winning the Gr 2 Race Coast Cape Punters Cup over 1600m. Some say he was lucky to keep the race as he caused interference late, but he was giving the rest of the field 2kg , so should beat them again. Against him is his wide draw, as opposed to draw two in the Punters Cup, and it won’t be easy to get into his front-running or handy position from there.

Vapour Trail will be out to give Vaughan Marshall a seventh Cape Guineas success and he will be out to repeat the feat of his half-brother One Stripe, who won it last year. He is not as good as One Stripe, but is on the up and can prove the mile is no problem for him.

Randolph Hearst was the narrow runner up in the Punters Cup when running on strongly and he could be a contender here as he is improving.

Aristocratic never really saw daylight in the Punters Cup and was beaten 3,35 lengths but he has given the impression that if having the room to unwind he could produce a powerful finish, so he can’t be ignored from draw six with the good tactician Muzi Yeni up.

Roland Garros has beaten Randolph Hearst over 1500m before and is not out of it under Andrew Fortune, although he has a tricky draw of nine.

Beware is well out at the weights but has caught the eye as one capable of making the step up to this class, but he does have a tough draw.

Star Major is held in good regard and was not disgraced in the Punters Cup, beaten 2,45 lengths into fifth, but he has a tricky draw again.

Pay The Palace plugged on into third in the Punters Cup and could earn again.

Absolutely Yes could be dangerous from a good draw as he is effective when things go his way in the front.

Aversator looks held but could help ensure a good pace.

Malmesbury Missile disappointed last time over 1200m and does look well held by Jan Van Goyen, but he is drawn in pole and has the ability to earn a cheque.

Fox On The Run is well regarded and can do better than he did in the Punters Cup, but he does have the widest draw of all.

Jan Van Goyen faces a tough task, considering the Dingaans was just two weeks ago, but he looks to possess a tremendous amount of class and he is taken to beat Happy Verse with Gimmie Rules, Good For You and Vapour Trail next best.

Warren Lenferna

The Woodruff Racing Syndicate Class 2 over 1500m provided a thrilling finish at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth yesterday, where 33/1 outsider Ardabil got up in the shadow of the post to snatch victory from the more fancied Legal Counsel. Both horses are trained out of Justin Snaith’s Philippi barn, with the winner ridden by the extremely talented Nicola Yuen and the runner-up by Callan Murray.

In her post-race interview with on-course Race Coast presenter Grant Knowles, Yuen mentioned that Ardabil is an “extremely tough horse” who travelled very well all the way to the line — a gutsy and impressive performance.

The front few were strung out one behind the other, with Captain West setting his own fractions out in front under Keagan de Melo. Legal Counsel enjoyed a dream run in second and, when Murray produced him, it looked all over bar the shouting. But Yuen had other ideas, lifting Ardabil late to grab first prize. Captain West stayed on for third, and Gallic Dream finished fourth, having kicked on menacingly along the inside rail.

There were two other victories worth highlighting on the day. The first was Cassandra in the third race, from the bang-in-form Glen Kotzen yard, who was given an exceptionally strong and well-timed ride by Richard Fourie. He got this daughter of Act Of War to slice through the field and lift herself off the canvas to win by a head. An impressive win, an impressive ride, and a filly who looks set to go on and win races. She looked unlikely to finish in the first four early in the straight but delivered in no uncertain terms, treating punters to a grandstand finish. The race was a Maiden Plate for fillies over 1600m.

Demanding Dave captured the seventh race, a Middle Stakes for speedsters over 1000m, and this son of Horizon added to Andrew Fortune’s growing tally of winners for the afternoon. Fortune had a tip-top day, and his post-race interviews remain an entertaining treat. Demanding Dave is trained off the beach at Noordhoek by Mike Stewart, and the gelding’s connections have long maintained that he has real ability and is a proper sprinter. They are being proven right: he raced off a merit rating of 94 yesterday and is now a three-time winner from only eight starts.

RACE 1

2 KORCULA 3 MATTER OF TRUST 4 CHICKASAW 11 LIEFLING

Preview: 2 KORCULA is improving and with inform Lerena up should be right there. 3 MATTER OF TRUST disappointed last time when well beaten by Korcula but on earlier form could earn. 4 CHICKASAW ran well last time over 1800m and had some fair Cape Town form so should be in the shake up. 11 LIEFLING improved when stepped up in trip second time out and should relish this further step up in trip. (David Thiselton 2-3-4-11)

RACE 2

7 AGOGE 1 MILAN’S WORLD 4 DISTRICT ATTORNEY 10 LANCE ALOT

Preview: 7 AGOGE made a fine debut and is the one to beat with expected improvement. 1 MILAN’S WORLD has been knocking on the door and from pole position over a trip which should suit he has a chance. 4 DISTRICT ATTORNEY comes from some fair formlines and could earn. 10 LANCE ALOT is capable of improving over this trip. (David Thiselton 7-1-4-10)

RACE 3

1 SKY PILLAR ROCK 2 HOPSCOTCH 5 COMMANDER OF ALL 6 BOB LEE SWAGGER

Preview: 1 SKY PILLAR ROCK is consistent and will relish this step back up in trip. 2 HOPSCOTCH bounced back last time and is a contender with a repeat. 5 COMMANDER OF ALL won well last time and his four point raise is alleviated by a 2,5kg claimer now being up. 6 BOB LEE SWAGGER is capable of better than his latest and from a good draw he can’t be ignored. (David Thiselton 1-2-5-6)

RACE 4

4 BEYNAC 3 CHESTNUT BOMBER 7 JORDAN 9 FLASHY APACHE

Preview: 4 BEYNAC beat Chestnut Bomber last time and is now better off with him at the weights. 3 CHESTNUT BOMBER is capable of staying on well and is coming into his own again. 7 JORDAN will enjoy this trip and can be involved if at his best. 9 FLASHY APACHE can earn if repeating his last start. (David Thiselton 4-3-7-9)

RACE 5

1 BUFFALO STORM CODY 2 WILLIAM ROBERTSON 4 TAXI TO THE MOON 7 KARATE KID

Preview: 1 BUFFALO STORM CODY is a top class sprinter who is getting better and better and will take a power of beating. 2 WILLIAM ROBERTSON has the class to be a runner here and should be cherry ripe in his third run after a layoff. 4 TAXI TO THE MOON ran a cracker last time in a Listed race and can earn with a repeat. 7 KARATE KID has plenty of ability and can run on into the places. (1-2-4-7)

RACE 6

3 ARGO ALLEY 1 TEXAS RED 2 MUSICAL SCORE 7 THAT’S MY BABY

Preview: 3 ARGO ALLEY is distance suited and well drawn and can do well with a nice galloping weight. 1 TEXAS RED is distance suited too and will go close if repeating his last start. 2 MUSICAL SCORE has talent and should progress this season. 7 THAT’S MY BABY seems to reserve her best for Hollywoodbets Greyville but was not disgraced last time and can earn with a repeat. (3-1-2-7)

RACE 7

4 MASTERSHIP 9 DYLAN’S CHAMP 6 PALACE PRINCE 7 CARE FORGOT

Preview: 4 MASTERSHIP is talented and from pole position will be a big runner. 9 DYLAN’S CHAMP won well last time and has a chance with a repeat. 6 PALACE PRINCE ran a cracker last time and 7 CARE FORGOT has the class to be a contender if bouncing back. (David Thiselton 4-9-6-7)

RACE 8

6 STREISAND 4 GERBERA 2 BAKWENA 1 DOITWITHDIAMONDS

Preview: 6 STREISAND is progressive and should make a bold bid from a fair draw. 4 GERBERA can go close if producing her best. 2 BAKWENA ran a cracker last time the form was franked in no uncertain terms by Mocha Blend winning the Summer Cup. 1 DOITWITHDIAMONDS has a chance of earning here if producing her best. (David Thiselton 6-4-2-1)

RACE 9

3 RINGA RINGA ROSES 6 GRACE’S KISS 7 OPERA FAN 8 THE MIGHTIEST

Preview: 3 RINGA RINGA ROSES is in fine form and can progress again over a step up in trip that will suit. 6 GRACE’S KISS can get closer to Ringa Ringa Roses and should also handle the step up in trip. 7 OPERA FAN split the former pair last time and should be involved again. 8 THE MIGHTIEST is capable of earning here from a plum draw. (David Thiselton 3-6-7-8)

RACE 10

10 VAVA VEGAS 5 SHEETS AND GOGGLES 3 MICHAEL FARADAY 1 GUERILLA WARFARE

Preview: 10 VAVA VEGAS is knocking on the door and has a good opportunity here although the draw makes it tough. 5 SHEETS AND GOGGLES has a good draw and is capable of a lot better than her last three runs. 3 MICHAEL FARADAY has the ability to win this from a good draw with Lerena up, although he is none too reliable. 1 GUERILLA WARFARE can earn if producing his best. (David Thiselton 10-5-3-1)

South African Quartet Pools with fractional betting offered at Chelmsford City and Newcastle (UK) – 11 December 2025.

 

Soccer10 Friday 12 December 2025. ADD-IN R200 000. Estimated Pool: R2 Million. Pool Closes at 21h00.Sport 8 and Pool 1.

Soccer6 Saturday 13 December 2025. ADD-IN R100 000. Estimated Pool: R600 000. Pool Closes at 17h00.Sport 3 and Pool 2.

Soccer10 Saturday 13 December 2025. ADD-IN R200 000. Estimated Pool: R2 Million. Pool Closes at 14h30.Sport 12 and Pool 1.

Soccer Any 13Xtra Saturday 13 December 2025. C/Over: R100 000. Estimated Pool: R500 000. Pool Closes at 15h00. Sport 13 and Pool 1

Soccer SCORES C/Over: R 99 911. Saturday 13 December 2025. Pool Closes at 15h00. Sport 73.

Soccer CORNERS C/Over: R 7 479. Saturday 13 December 2025. Pool Closes at 16h30. Sport 74.