Johannesburg, South Africa — The 2026 East Cape Awards were held in the Bold Silvano Room at Fairview Racecourse on Saturday, 5 September 2026.
This year’s judging panel comprised Henk Steenkamp, Nico Kritsiotis and Neil Pretorius.
Alan Greeff’s powerful Halo Stables was the big winner on the night, going home with the Champion Two Year Old Colt/Gelding award with U S Ranger (Act Of War – Rainbow Rock), Champion Three Year Old Filly and Champion Polytrack Filly/Mare honours with Anotherdanceforme (Master Of My Fate – Destiny Dancer), the Champion Polytrack Colt/Gelding title with Mercantour (Var – Winter Wood) and, lastly, taking home his sixteenth East Cape Champion Trainer title.
Dean Smith crowned a stellar first season by lifting the trophies for Champion Older Colt/Gelding, Champion Sprinter and the coveted Horse Of The Season award with Mr Clive Murphy’s Kingdundee (The United States – Miss Marmalade).
Mauritian apprentice Bavish Soodoo earned a standing ovation for winning the East Cape Champion Apprentice award as well as being crowned the region’s Champion Local Jockey.
A full list of the categories and award winners follows:-
CHAMPION 2 YEAR OLD FILLY
Marchland
CHAMPION 2 YEAR OLD COLT/GELDING
U S Ranger
CHAMPION 3 YEAR OLD FILLY
Anotherdanceforme
CHAMPION 3 YEAR OLD COLT/GELDING
Buffalo Bill
CHAMPION OLDER FILLY/MARE
Epikleros
CHAMPION OLDER COLT/GELDING
Kingdundee
CHAMPION SPRINTER
Kingdundee
CHAMPION STAYER
Bad Medicine
CHAMPION POLYTRACK COLT/GELDING
Mercantour
CHAMPION POLYTRACK FILLY/MARE
Anotherdanceforme
CHAMPION WORK RIDER
Sibongile Liyaba
CHAMPION APPRENTICE
Bavish Soodoo
CHAMPION LOCAL JOCKEY
Bavish Soodoo
CHAMPION JOCKEY
Richard Fourie
CHAMPION TRAINER
Alan Greeff
CHAMPION OWNER
Mr P J Moor
HORSE OF THE SEASON
Kingdundee
CHAMPION GROOM
Tabiso Ayavuma Gabelana
