Malmesbury Missile wins the Byerley Turk under Muzi Yeni (Picture: Race Coast)
Cape trainers fired the first salvos of the Champions Season at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Friday night.
The Champions Season officially starts on the first weekend of May, but the Gr 3 Byerley Turk and Gr 3 Umzimkhulu Stakes, both over 1400m, are always used as springboards into the famous three month long racing festival.
In the Byerley Turk the Justin Snaith-trained Malmesbury Missile had won the Listed Hollywoodbets Sharks Gatecrasher Stakes over course and distance as a two-year-old before running second over the same course and distance in the Gr 2 Omoda Golden Horseshoe.
His next three runs, culminating in a last place finish in the Gr 1 Holywoodbets Cape Guineas, were disappointing.
However, Justin Snaith revealed that he had initially not listened to Richard Fourie when the latter had recommended Malmsebury Missile be gelded.
Malmesbury Missile was gelded after the Cape Guineas, by which time it was clear he had become heavy in front and unathletic.
The result is he has immediately bounced back to his best form, despite not having run since the Cape Guineas.
Local star Wild Justice started favourite at 5/2 with Sophomore Sprint winner Green Gateway at 28/10 and the 1400m specialist I’m A Fireball at 4/1.
Malmesbury Missile shortened into 11/2 and there was also interest in Fortress Of Fire, who shortened from 20/1 to 8/1.
Wild Justice led with I’m A Fireball getting a nice tow, while Malmesbury Missile was the fourth horse on the line of horses on the rail, so had a bit to do turning for home under Muzi Yeni.
I’m A Fireball had soon joined Wild Justice in the front in the straight but the latter fought on courageously.
Meanwhile, Malmsebury Missile was winding up and had soon hit top gear, displaying a big action.
He swept past I’m A Fireball just after the latter had mastered Wild Justice.
Malmsebury, Missile passed the line a length clear of I’m A Fireball and Wild Justice was two lengths further back with Ascolon Dancer and Intensity next best.
The handsome Gimmethegreenlight gelding was bred by Drakenstein Stud and is out of the 2018/19 Equus Champion 2yo filly Gabor, a daughter of the late Kingsbarns.
Now a winner of 3 races with 5 places from 11 starts and stakes of R809 063, Malmesbury Missile originally sold for R900 000 at the 2024 CRS Cape Premier Yearling Sale.
In February 2025 he was purchased for R2,2 million by Jonathan Snaith at a short-notice partnership dissolution sale out of the Glen Kotzen yard. He then transferred to the Snaiths with World Sports Betting partnering with original co-owners, Itssa It & Business Solutions (Pty) Ltd.
In the Umzimkhulu Stakes the Dean Kannemeyer-trained Keukenhof had hardly ever cracked a good draw before in events against her own age group, but had often caught the eye with strong finishes.
She once again had a wide draw of nine, but was receiving 6kg from the Gr 1 WSB Cape Fillies Guineas winner Quickstepgal and 3kg from the Gr 2 Cartier Sceptre Stakes winner Gimme What I Want.
Quickstepgal (2-1) led for some way, while Gimme What I Want (4-1) was handy and Keukenhof (3-1) had managed to slot into a one out and four back position with cover.
Gimme What I Want got the better of Quickstepgal in the straight but just when it looked like she had a chance Keukenhof swept on to the ecene on the outside under Craig Zackey to win by length from Gimme What I Want.
Quickstepgal was beaten 2,80 lengths into third and next best was Limitless Sky and Infinity Edge.
Raced by leading Grade 1-winning owner Henk Leyenaar in partnership with his daughters Daniela Erasmus & Louisa Huntingford, the winner was a R350 000 BSA National Yearling Sale purchase.
Bred by Wilgerbosdrift & Mauritzfontein, Keukenhof is a daughter of Moutonshoek’s Galileo kingpin The United States (IRE) out of the twice-winning Trippi mare, Dawn Calling by Trippi.
Now a winner of 2 races with 3 places from 11 starts, Keukenhof has earned R353 283.
