Trainer Justin Snaith runs HAPPY VERSE in Race 7 – the RACE COAST CAPE PUNTERS CUP (Grade 2) at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday 22 November 2025 (Picture: Wayne Marks)
Alistair Cohen (Race Coast)
Some massive names are in action at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday as the official start of the Cape Summer Festival Of Racing gets underway. There is nothing quite like the best of the best facing off. Although the table is only being set for the Grade 1 races which are very close to the shore, to have Double Grand Slam, Tenango, Snow Pilot and Good For You in action is worth coming to Hollywoodbets Kenilworth for.
The Grade 2 Race Coast Cape Punters Cup has attracted an interesting field, perhaps made more interesting because we head into the Grade 1 Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas on December 13 with fewer ideas of standouts compared to recent years. Everybody knew that Charles Dickens and One Stripe were a cut above in recent years, while this crop has a far more open spread of possibilities.
Happy Verse and Randolph Hearst hail from the Justin Snaith yard and they both have endless promise but they need to step forward and claim some silverware. Happy Verse could have the slightest edge this time in what is simply a chapter rather than a full stop on the three-year-old timeline.
Happy Verse has not raced since late August but he did have a gallop which is documented on the Race Coast YouTube channel. It was an impressive workout and he seems to have filled out and matured during his time off. He looks to have legitimate classic race attributes. From four starts, he has won three times. He tasted defeat in the Grade 3 Langermann in June but there were valid excuses. He fell over as he was being saddled, noted in the Stipes Report from that day. Although passed fit to race, that would have taken some edge off. Plus, the pace set was nothing faster than a Sunday stroll.
His three wins have been appealing to the eye. As a two-year-old, he was one of the first from his crop to face older opposition and win. That was in late May when he turned over Firingonallengines when he was in good heart. That was the first sign of Happy Verse having the tools to be a smart sort.
This is the highest level he has raced at which is common for a few of his rivals. He has the trouble of jumping from draw No 11 but he seems to have a good head and he could turn out to be adaptable to any running style. Aldo Domeyer is carded to ride.
Randolph Hearst has made a good impression and he looks like he could be a serious horse. He has a worse draw of No 12 to overcome. He beat Happy Verse in the Langerman by 1,5 lengths when the slow pace compromised his easy action. The lingering thought is that he is going to be even better when on the summer course which is being utilized for the first time in a few months. He also has a run under his belt this season in the Grade 3 Cape Classic over 1400m at the start of the month at this course. He was not disgraced when doing his best work late, finishing 2,5 lengths behind Vapour Trail in third. He has plenty going for him and he would not be a shock winner. JP van der Merwe is carded to ride.
Fox On The Run has been nowhere near feature race level but he struck a chord when winning his most recent start. He is very much in the “could be anything” category. He scythed through late to get the better of the solid Boogiefied over 1400m at Hollywoodbets Durbanville. He caught the eye of many well-respected racing people. Richard Fourie sticks with this son of Canford Cliffs. He will show exactly where he fits in among some quality three-year-olds.
One would be silly to write off Good For You. He is a Grade 1 winner taking out the Gold Medallion at Hollywoodbets Scottsville over 1200m. He still needs to prove that he can see out this trip. He has the trophy on the mantle that nothing else has yet.
Better Man could be best equipped for the Lucky Fish Cape Derby over 2000m in February but he has earned his chance. He is looking for his third win on the trot and he gets Gavin Lerena in the irons. There is enough to like about his chances.
The Futurity Plate over 800m is the first baby race in the country this season. It is a Non Black-Type feature. The market is the best guide. Snaith gets his babies ready and all three of his first timers have galloped at the course. So too did Michelle Rix’s pair of babies in the line-up. On the same morning, Glen Kotzen had Catwalk King gallop and he was particularly green while Kelly Mitchley is raiding from Gqeberha with Fyfield Legend.
The blood flows quickly in race 2 over 1600m with the Summer Bowl. It serves as the return of Double Grand Slam and Rainbow Lorikeet. They renew rivalry from 12 months earlier when Double Grand Slam turned her over by 0,5 lengths. Although they are of the same age and they have big wins to their names, they are totally different mares. Double Grand Slam is a great miler while Rainbow Lorikeet comes into her own over further. If they face off in the Grade 1 Cartier Paddock Stakes on January 10, it could be some showdown with Red Palace, likely to be involved too. Perhaps a few from out of town too. Double Grand Slam is preferred here.
All The Rage could be exactly that in the Listed Sophomore Sprint over 1200m, race 6. He turned over Good For You at Hollywoodbets Durbanville over 1250m, no mean feat considering it was his first run over a three-month layoff, granted against a horse who had been off for five months. He has to shoulder joint top weight but that looks earned. He looks like a serious sprinter in the making and he ought to be hard to beat.
Malmesbury Missile is a good horse in his own right but he returns from a break since July. He might be a step better over slightly further but coming out fresh could give him a slight edge. He has already accepted for the Guineas next month when he has Keagan de Melo declared.
Tenango emerged as a high-class sprinter last season, growing from strength to strength. He won the Grade 2 Golden Horse Sprint at Hollywoodbets Scottsville in impressive style. Race 8, the Bantry Bay Stakes, is his seasonal return but if he continues his upward trajectory, he could be the sprinter for the season countrywide. He should be better than his rivals.
Although not a feature, race 5 over 1400m sees the return of Sail The Seas, the winner of last season’s Grade 2 World Sports Betting KZN Guineas over 1600m. He looks set to be a Grade 1 L’Ormarins Kings Plate candidate and he could get his engines started with a win. Muzi Yeni takes the ride for Justin Snaith. Snaith also saddles Snow Pilot who has been off since January. The winner of the 2024 Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas is of high quality and he is an interesting horse to keep an eye on in the coming months.
Theleia was awfully green on debut, but she found a late flourish, finishing second, 1,5 lengths behind Innerbloom at this course over 1200m. She is back on the same track and trip in race 3. If she has learned anything from that introduction, she should be tough to beat. Serino Moodley is in the irons for Andre Nel.
There was plenty to like about how Umfula hit the line in his last start that he must have what it takes to step forward and win race 4 over 1800m. He should appreciate this course more than
Hollywoodbets Durbanville and there is little doubt that this trip is also preferred. He finished third 1,05 lengths behind Tenpenny last time from a distance position. He looks like he could be capable of getting into feature race company soon enough and a good performance would take him closer to the promised land.
Future Free is a half-brother to Eight On Eighteen. He looks exciting and he should provide stiff opposition for Umfula.
Carriacou could have the edge over some unexposed, promising three-year-olds in race 9 over 1400m. He has been ousted by top three-year-olds Happy Verse, Viva’s Liberte and Fox On The Run in his last three runs. All of those horses look solid while the opposition here looks a little more immature despite hopes of getting higher up the ladder. He is due to take advantage at some stage at Class 4 company.
Touched By Angels looked to have endless ability when winning his maiden over this course and distance last time and he could complete back-to-back wins in race 10. Trainer Peter Muscutt has a good string of horses in Cape Town and he could have the goods to go through the divisions.
