Good For You just held on in the Race Coast Cape Punters Cup and opinion is divided on whether an objection against him should have been overruled (Picture: Wayne Marks)
The Glen Kotzen-trained Gr 1 Gold Medallion winner Good For You passed his stamina acid test at Hollywodbets Kenilworth on Saturday by winning the Gr 2 Race Coast Cape Punters Cup over 1600m despite giving 2kg to the rest of the field, although he had to survive an objection from runner up Randolph Hearst’s trainer and he also caused interference to eventual fourth-placed Happy Verse.
Good For You is now third favourite for the Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas at 8/1 with the sponsor behind Gimmie Rules at 5/2 and Jan Van Goyen at 5/1.
Good For You broke well on Saturday and used his natural speed to claim the rail from draw two and he then dictated the pace. He switched towards the centre in the straight off a narrow 1,5m false rail and kept on going well. The challengers on the inside, Star Major, Absolutely Yes and Fox On The Run, made little impression, while Happy Verse had been caught wide throughout which blunted his finish on the outside. Pay The Palace, who had sat behind Happy Verse out wide in the running, came through the centre with a strong finish, although none were finishing stronger than Randolph Hearst, who had come from last.
Good For You shifted inward after taking the lead and this caused Chad Little to change whiphands, because he was not clear of Pay The Palace, who had a rails run.
After he had changed whiphands, and used the whip, Good For You began to hang outwards.
This caused Happy Verse to be squeezed out between Good For You and the fast-finishing Randolph Hearst, who was on the outside of runners.
Happy Verse was just behind Pay The Palace at the time of the incident but was plugging on, so was still in contention for third place.
Thereafter, Good For You made contact with Randolph Hearst, who had looked the winner as he was sweeping past runners with big strides.
Good For You just held on by the shortest of short-heads, but Justin Snaith lodged an objection on behalf of Randolph Hearst.
Before going into the details of the objection it should be said that Star Major held on for fifth place, beaten 2,45 lengths, with his possible excuse being that he had to be used up early to overcome a wide draw before slotting into second place in the running behind Good For You.
Better Man stayed on from the back for a 2,85 length sixth, but he could not match Randolph Hearst’s acceleration and looks to be more of a Derby type.
Aristocratic got the rail from draw six which was unfortunate in the end because he was stuck behind the slowing horses on the inside. It looked as if he was never able to fully unwind, so he should not be written off for the Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas, which will presumably have a wider false rail in place.
The stipendiary report gives insight into the decision to overrule the objection, with one crucial point being that the severe bump happened after the line according to their judgement.
It is a decision that will be debated, but one thing that is without doubt is that Good For You was the deserved winner, because he was carrying 2kg more than the rest of the field and still crossed the line first.
The stipendiary steward reports on the objection said, “In the latter stages, GOOD FOR YOU (C Little) shifted out away from the crop which resulted in HAPPY VERSE (A Domeyer) having to check and losing position. Thereafter, GOOD FOR YOU (C Little) continued to shift out and made contact with RANDOLPH HEARST (JP van der Merwe) shortly before the finish. GOOD FOR YOU (C Little) and RANDOLPH HEARST (JP van der Merwe) then came together and bumped heavily after the finish line. The Stewards called for a race review after which Trainer SJ Snaith lodged an objection on behalf of the 2nd placed horse RANDOLPH HEARST (JP van der Merwe) against the 1st-placed horse GOOD FOR YOU (C Little) on behalf of interference in the latter stages. The Objection Board, after giving regard to the evidence put forward, reviewing the patrol films and taking into account the proximity to the finish line, could not be satisfied that RANDOLPH HEARST (JP van der Merwe) would have finished ahead of GOOD FOR YOU (C Little) had this incident not occurred and therefore overruled the Objection. Trainer SJ Snaith’s deposit was refunded. Jockey C Little was charged with a contravention of Rule 62.2.7 in that as the rider of GOOD FOR YOU, he failed to ensure that he did not cause interference to HAPPY VERSE in the latter stages. Jockey C Little signed an Admission of Guilt and is suspended from riding in races for a period of 10 days. (Dates: 30 November 2025 to 10 December 2025, excluding 6 December 2025)”
Bred by Oldlands Stud, Good For You is by Legislate (Dynasty), who won this race eleven years, out of the Indigo Magic two-time winner, Slightly Blonde.
The winner, a R300 000 National Yearling Sale purchase, has now won 3 races with 7 places from 10 starts and stakes of R1 523 163.
Earlier, Dean Kanemeyer, trainer of Equus Champion Sprinter Gimme A Prince, looks to have another top sprinter on his hands in the form of Gimmethegreenlight colt Green Gateway, who came from last under Craig Zackey in the Listed Sophomore Sprint over 1200m to win by a neck from Roland Garros. The favourite All The Rage moved up well but was beaten 1,20 lengths into third in the end, although he was giving 2kg to the winner.
The Justin Snaith-trained Double Grand Slam was the meeting banker and duly obliged under Andrew Fortune, winning the Non-Black Type Summer Bowl over 1600m by a head.
Snaith scored a five-timer, whilst JP van der Merwe had four winners.
Andrew Fortune and Vaughan Marshall both scored doubles.
