Gimme A Prince wins the Gr 1 HKJC World Pool Cape Flying Championship back in January this year (Picture: Wayne Marks)
Flagship Cape Sprint Now A Breeders’ Cup Qualifier
A big carrot for the winner!
A trio of world-class races at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth in South Africa will anchor a blockbuster qualifying day on Saturday 10 January for the 2026 Breeders’ Cup World Championships via the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series: Win and You’re In.
Horses from around the globe will qualify for the 43rd running of the World Championships through the Win and You’re In program, which will enter its 20th year in 2026.
Consisting of 14 Grade 1 races run during a two-day festival worth purses and awards of more than $34 million, the 2026 World Championships will be held on 30 and 31 October at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, the Horse Capital of the world.
The World Pool Gr1 Cape Flying Championship, a 1000-metre weight for age race, will serve as an automatic qualifier for the Prevagen Gr1 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint.
The race joins the L’Ormarins Gr1 King’s Plate , a one-mile race for 3-year-olds and up which provides a free berth to the FanDuel Gr1 Breeders’ Cup Mile, and the Cartier Gr1 Paddock Stakes Gr1, an 1800m race for fillies and mares 3-year-olds & up that is an automatic qualifier for the Maker’s Mark Gr1 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf.
As part of the benefits of the Challenge Series, Breeders’ Cup will pay the entry fees for the winners of the three South African races to start in the respective Breeders’ Cup divisions.
“Breeders’ Cup Limited is pleased to continue the expansion of our international Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series with the addition of the World Pool Cape Flying Championship,” said Dora Delgado, Executive Vice President and Chief Racing Officer of Breeders’ Cup Limited.
“We’re grateful for the collaborative efforts that brought this partnership to fruition and look forward to welcoming top South African contenders to the World Championships.”
“The inclusion of the World Pool Cape Flying Championship in the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series is a landmark moment for South African racing,” said Justin Vermaak, Executive Racing & Bloodstock, Race Coast.
“Hollywoodbets Kenilworth has long showcased some of the sport’s most thrilling performances, and we are honoured that our flagship sprint now serves as a gateway to the Breeders’ Cup World Championships. This partnership reflects the growing stature of South African racing on the world stage, and we look forward to seeing our horses compete at Keeneland alongside the best in the world.”
Breeders’ Cup will also provide a travel allowance for all starters based outside of North America to compete in the World Championships.
The Challenge winner must be nominated to the Breeders’ Cup program by the pre-entry deadline of 19 October 2026, to receive the rewards.
