Sugar Mountain comes back from a short layoff in the Winter Mile (Picture: Wayne Marks)
Race Coast
The abandonment of racing in Cape Town last Tuesday due to a waterlogged track has necessitated the feature races to move to what would be an ordinary Sunday at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth. The card suddenly has a classy look and racing fans could have some fun with some individuals who decided to stay at home this winter rather than head to Durban where they would be capable of competing with the best.
The Winter Mile, race 6 over 1600m sees Sugar Mountain well weighted in a field which has cut up to five runners and he has a big chance despite not having been seen since February 28 when running well below par in the Litsed Jet Master Stakes.
Beware The Bomb has been whispered about lately. She could be a filly to follow in the coming months. She was rested for nearly a year between May 2025 and April 2026 so to suggest that she would have needed her last run would be an understatement. It was a neat effort when she ended up 4,5 lengths behind Café Culture in the Champagne Stakes over 1200m. Café Culture nearly won a Grade 2 at Hollywoodbets Scottsville a few weeks later while Beware The Bomb would have found that 1200m distance too short. She will come on further with this run under her belt but one can expect a good showing under Andrew Fortune.
Chasingtherainbow wrote his trainer and owner one of the stories of the year when he won last time. He recently transferred to the yard of Rob Barrett who took out his license a few months ago. He was Barrett’s first runner and he won with ease, possibly delivering his career best in the process. He is owned by Barrett’s grandfather. There was not a dry eye in the house. Richard Fourie retains the ride. Life is a little harder at the weights but there is no reason to suggest that he cannot win.
The Us Of A could be in the right place at the right time in the supporting feature, the Winter Sprint, race 7 over 1200m. Being a feature, this will be down the straight. He has a blistering turn of foot. He has showed his effectiveness at this level and Richard Fourie gets the most out of him. His main rivals have their claims but valid reasons why they might be vulnerable for now.
His last run was a superb effort finishing second behind Café Culture over this course and distance in the same Listed Champagne Stakes highlighted by Beware The Bomb. The Us Of A must be in good heart because there was a desperate plea from his connections to reschedule this race which was never up for debate.
All The Rage could ultimately end up being the best horse in the field. The three-year-old had little chance at the weights in the Khaya Stables Diadem Stakes last time but he was not disgraced finishing sixth behind Questioning who has had an unreal 2026. He is back from a break and not being seen in nearly four months suggests he will step forward with the run. This is not his “cup final” and his bigger picture could be revealing.
There are two apprentice races on the card which are always worth a watch. Race 1 over 1200m could point to Royal Clinton under Eduan Muller who is based in Cape Town. Muller rode him to nearly his career best last time over this course and distance when he finished 1,45 lengths behind Lava Strike. He finished nearly three lengths ahead of the lightly raced Coffee Crunch on that occasion who has a 4,5kg beneficial swing of the weights. Coffee Crunch will surely be most effective over further so despite his best run to date being on the cards, he might come into his own with another run under his belt.
The final apprentice event is race 8 over 1000m. Worldly is such a tricky horse to follow. He does his worst out of the stalls but his best work at the finish. If Dezahn Louw can get him somewhere close to the pace and in the mood for his late flourish at the end of the race, he must be considered. He is 5kg better off with Palace Gift for five lengths. Worldly was typically his own worst enemy on that occasion over this course and distance.
Heritage Ridge has run her socks off since moving to Michelle Rix. She is due her next career win and it could materialize in race 2 over 1200m. Her penultimate start came over this course and distance and it was her best run for a while when she was beaten by less than a length by Easy Money. Hampstead Heath must be regarded as her main danger.
There is a lengthy list of chances in race 3 over 1600m. Blind Date appears to be on the up after his last win when he turned over Chance Encounter over this course and distance. It was a simple restart after summer with a sprint in his penultimate run where he was not disgraced. He followed up naturally and logically as far as procedure after a rest is concerned. Andrew Fortune takes the ride.
Baton Rouge has the widest gate of No 8 to overcome in race 4 over 1950m but his biggest threat is gatespeed which he could use to his advantage. He has been banging at the door of late and he would be deserving of his next career win. He is proven over this trip while some of his rivals need to answer any stamina doubts.
Speaking of overdue horses. My Only Weakness must count as a horse who must get the job done now. She runs in race 5 over 1500m under Mickaelle Michel. She has been very close to the winners of late. Potentially, all she needs is some confidence to finish the task. Her dangers include Vroom Vroom who needed her last run badly and she should come on and Apricity who loves this middle distance range on a soft track.
