Captain Arrow, pictured winning at HWB Durbanville, has won two races over 1000m and was raised six points to a 98 merit rating when a strong-finishing and somewhat unlucky second in the Listed City Of Cape Town Sophomore Sprint over the tough Hollywoodbets Kenilworth 1200m last time out (Picture: Wayne Marks)

The Candice Bass-Robinson-trained Captain Arrow is the dark horse in the Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas after catching the eye running on strongly over 1200m last time out and now stepping up to a mile for the first time.

The yard also have two other runners including the only filly in the race Red Palace, who has been working with Malan du Toit to sort out her starting stall issues.

Candice said about the Klawervlei Stud-bred Captain Of All gelding Captain Arrow, “Obviously we don’t know whether he is going to get the trip or not but on pedigree he should do, most of them go a mile in that family. He’s a little bit of a dark horse in the race. He was unloucky not to win the 1200m race the other day. He has been working well. We are taking a bit of a gamble but if he does get the trip he will certainly be in the mix.”

Captain Of All was an Equus Champion Sprinter but gets them to stay further with a good example being Linebacker, who was unlucky to not win the Cape Guineas and he went on to win the Gr 1 Cape Derby and Gr 1 Daily News 2000.

Captain Arrow is out of Trippi mare  In Other Words, who won seven races from 1200m to 1600m and who finished second in a Listed race over 1600m. Caughtintheslips (Caesour), who won the SA Fillies Classic over 1800m when it was a Gr 2, Captain’s Knock, who won Mauritius’ biggest race the Maiden Cup over 2400m), and Goat (Labeeb), who won the Gr 2 Gold Circle Oaks over 2400m, are some of the members of the family.

Stable jockey Aldo Domyer rides Captain Arrow from draw six out of eleven.

Red Palace, who is a Terry and Annabel Andrews homebred by Potala Palace, has had to be scratched at the start in her last two outings.

She kicked the back of the gate and got her foot caught in her penultimate outing, apparently due to a horse walking in behind her. The memory of that incident saw her refusing to load when more fancied for the Gr 1 WSB Cape Fillies Guineas than her stablemate Beach Bomb was, and the latter went on to win it.

However, Candice believes this talented filly will be alright on Saturday after the work done on her by renowned “horse whisperer” Malan du Toit. Furthermore, Du Toit will be at the start on Saturday to help her in the loading process.

Red Palace  won her maiden in her fourth career start by 5,25 lengths when stepped up to 1600m and could have won her next start, in a MR 82 Handicap over 1600m, by many more lengths than the official 3,50 length margin had she not been eased up way before the line. She was running off an 85 that day and it was not surprising the handicappers gave her a maximum raise for a handicap of eight points.

Anthony Andrews rides Red Palace for his parents from draw nine.

Bass-Robinson also runs Jerusalema Rain, a Keivan Stud-bred Captain Of All gelding, who has not shone in two starts in Cape Town to date over 1400m and 1200m respectively. He came with a big reputation having finished second to Guy Gibson, beating Hawkbill, finishing second to Lucky Lad, beating Sandringham Summit and finishing second to Main Defender in five previous starts from 1000m to 1300m when trained by Ashley Fortune.

Candice said, “He hasn’t been showing a lot since he’s been down here but he improved in his second run. He’s definitely turned the corner a bit and is doing much better than what he was. Whether he is quite in that class I’m not sure.”

Raymond Danielson rides Jerusalema Rain from draw three.

Candice’s last big race day was a real roller coaster.

First the yard’s superstar Charles Dickens was beaten in the Gr 2 WSB Green Point Stakes, then Red Palace was scratched at the start and then Beach Bomb came from nowhere to get up in the Gr 1 WSB Cape Fillies Guineas.

She said about the disappointing run of Charles Dickens, “He was hanging quite a bit in that run so we did some work with him and he strode beautifully this morning so I think I should have him right on L’Ormarins King’s Plate day.”

She said about her chances in the Gr 3 Splashout Victress Stakes over 1800m and the Gr 3 Ridgemont Peninsula Handicap over 1800m on Saturday, “I think I have chances in both races from good draws. Gold Poker Game has improved as a four-year-old, although Brett’s filly (Enemy Territory) is obviously quite decent. The Peninsula is an open race but Sugar Mountain is very consistent.”

The Bass yard have had 60 Gr 1 wins since Candice’s father Mike started out in 1976, but Charles Dickens last year was their first ever win in the Cape Guineas.

Hluhluwe (pink cap) fends off the late rally of Snow Pilot (blue cap) after coming from last to win the Gr 2 Cape Punters Cup over the Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas course and distance last time out (Picture: Wayne Marks)

Justin Snaith will be out to land South Africa’s probable greatest sire producing race, the Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas, for the third time at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday.

The yard are bullish about the chances of their pair Hluhluwe (Trippi) and Snow Pilot (Lancaster Bomber), who finished one-two in the Gr 2 Cape Punters Cup over the same course and distance as the Cape Guineas last time out.

Jonathan Snaith said, “Hluhluwe continues to improve and furnish into a serious colt. He’s bred to get a trip and relished the mile last time out. In the Punters Cup he sat dead-last in a slow run race and quickened off that slow tempo to win going away. Trippi’s know how to win Gr1 races and he’s been the standout stallion of 2023 with Charles Dickens, Jet Dark, Winchester Mansion and Trip of Fortune flying his flag. Will Hluhluwe be the next of his produce to shine? Time will tell.”

The Drakenstein Stud-bred Hluhluwe is owned by Nick Jonsson. The Snaith/Jonsson combination will be going for a second Cape Guineas together having won it in 2021 with Twice Over colt Double Superlative.

Jonathan continued, “At first glance there seems to be pace in this field so one can expect a true run race with a fair result for all.”

He said about Snow Pilot, who is a Drakenstein Stud homebred, “He has gone up another level since running second to stable mate, Hluhluwe, in the Punters Cup. His mother, Snowdance, won the Cape Fillies Guineas and it would be wonderful if Snow Pilot could follow in her footsteps while giving Lancaster Bomber a Guineas double!”

Smart Lancaster Bomber filly Beach Bomb won the Gr 1 WSB Cape Fillies Guineas on December 2.

Jonathan said about the dangers to Hluhluwe and Snow Pilot in Saturday’s big race, “Green with Eny is the clear and obvious danger when catching the eye last time out – Dean Kannemeyer is no stranger to the Cape Guineas winners enclosure either. The rest of the field seem pretty held on their last meeting in the Punters Cup and would need to make up at least two lengths to turn the tables.”

He added, “There has been plenty of talk about the only filly in the race, Red Palace, but historically the fillies have proven to come unstuck against the boys in this Gr1 event. She also has proven to be rather fractious, having not jumped in both her last two starts. Terry Andrews has had tremendous luck of late with some of his homebreds, mostly with non-commercial sires.”

Jonathan pointed out, “The field has been criticised as not being as strong as in previous years. The classic 3-year-olds have been setback this season by heavy rains and delays in getting back to Hollywoodbets Kenilworth. Do not underestimate the strength of this field and dont be surprised to see the winner of this race take his or her place in the 2024 L’Ormarins Kings Plate.”

Stable jockey Grant van Niekerk stays aboard Hluhluwe and JP van der Merwe stays aboard Snow Pilot and they jump from draw four and five respectively.

Green With Envy is a progressive sort who should show further improvement on Saturday in the Gr 1 Hollywoodbets cape Guineas, but he does have a tough draw to overcome. (Picture; Wayne Marks) 

The Kannemeyer stable will be bidding for a tenth Cape Guineas, sponsored on Saturday by Hollywoodbets, and they go in to Saturday’s race on a high having won the Gr 2 Cape Merchants over 1200m on Sunday with the five-year-old Gimmthegreenlight gelding Cosmic Highway.

Dean’s father Peter won the Cape Guineas three times and Dean has won it six times.

Dean said about this year’s contender for the yard, the Khaya Stable homebred colt Green With Envy, “He ran a very good race (staying on 0,45 length third) in the Gr 2 Cape Punters Cup (over 1600m). Craig (Zackey) said in his first time at Kenilworth he was a bit lost going around that turn. He came into the straight and pulled him out for a run and the winner (Hluhluwe), who was on his inside, actually went a length clear of him going through the 400m. Craig said he (the horse) didn’t know what it was all about and started looking around. He only flattened out in the last furlong. He was closing in and only got beat a neck, neck. So come Saturday, I think he will be a little bit sharper. He is drawn ten (out of eleven) but he’s not a horse who is going to be sitting up there in the first four anyway.”

Green With Envy has only had five career starts to date and is merit rated 108.

Craig Zackey has ridden him in all four of his starts this season, so knows him well.

Green With Envy will be out to give Khaya Stables’ owner Lady Christine Laidlaw a third Cape Guineas winner. She won it with the Kannemeyer-trained Noordhoek Flyer (SNL) (Pivotal) and the Kannemeyer-trained Capetown Noir (Western Winter) in 2009 and 2012 respectively.

Dean added, “I also have Ponte Pietra (Vercingetorix) in the Peninsula. He’s well drawn and carries 53kg. He’s had two prep runs and will be spot on.”

Purple Pitcher finds another gear late to nab Gimmeanotherchance on the line (Picture: Michael Bega (The Citizen))  

Turffontein trainer Robyn Klaasen said the most likely route for her Gr 2 Jonsson Workwear Dingaans winner Purple Pitcher (New Predator) would be the WSB Triple crown series, although she has not ruled out a trip to Cape Town (where the big race options for him would be the Gr 1 L’Ormarins King’s Plate, the Gr 1 WSB Met and/or the Gr 1 Cape Derby.

She said about the Bush Hill Stud-bred Mr “Stincky” Pooe-owned colt, “The goal was always the Triple Crown, so probably not looking elsewhere for now, but things can change we never know.”

She said Purple Pitcher had come out of his Dingaans win well and he would probably have a preparation run in one of the minor three-year-old features before tackling the Gr 2 WSB Gauteng Guineas on February 3.

Robyn admitted she believed Purple Pitcher “was beat” by Gimmeanotherchance in the Dingaans as they neared the line.

He had chased the latter for the length of the straight and made steady inroads, but still had two lengths to make up with just 50 metres to go.

Kabelo Matsunyane then changed whip hands and the colt changed legs and took off to get up by a quarter of a length.

Robyn said, “He looks like a very nice horse and I’m very lucky to have him. I think he will be better over further. As could be seen in the Dingaans he only got going in the last couple of hundred metres.”

She felt the Guineas would actually be the hardest leg for him.

“If he can win the Guineas, I don’t see much who can beat him in the next two.”

Sandringham Summit will be the obvious danger in the Gr 1 WSB SA Classic over 1800m, but Robyn believes Purple Pitcher is better suited to the Turffontein Standside track than the latter is.

She believes Sandringham Summit has “a bit of a short run in” and questioned whether he was able to maintain it, although she admitted she might be wrong in that assessment.

Purple Pitcher is a half-brother to the Crusade sprinter-to-1400m horse Miss Daisy, but there is stamina further down the pedigree. He is from the family of Met winner Alastor as well as Cape Derbyo winner Eyes Wide Open.

Meanwhile, the yard were happy with Second Base’s 4,75 length eleventh in the Betway Summwer Cup, believing it was an improved run. However, they believe he had developed a habit of siitting too far back early and they want to find a way of getting him to put himself in the race earlier.

Craig Bantam got the best out of the Andries Steyn-trained 20/1 shot Wylie Jack in a 1000m event last week at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth (Picture: Wayne Marks) 

Turf Talk-sponsored jockey Craig Bantam has deservedly been getting better support lately and hopefully he can build on the five winners he has had to date this season.

Craig said, “Things are picking up and I have been getting a few chances.”

In fact in the last two Cape Town meetings he has had twelve rides.

This included riding the top class Justin Snaith-trained Without Question in  the Gr 2 Cape Merchants on Sunday.

Over too sharp a trip the The United States gelding ran only 3,90 lengths back.

Craig said, “It was his second run from a break and he ran a very good race.”

He is obviously hopeful of keeping the ride but admitted it was unlikely.

The one Snaith horse he has become associated with is “the miracle horse” Rule Of Thumb, who has four pins in  one of his lower legs.

Craig has ridden him four times this season and won on him three times.

Another trainer who has been giving him support is Andries Steyn.

Craig drives to the latter’s private farm to ride work.

Having ridden a number of places for the Steyn yard he was glad to reward them for their support by riding Wylie Jack (Wylie Hall) to victory in a 1000m contest a week ago.

He said he felt he had a place chance on the 20/1 shot and elaborated, “I definitely thought I had a chance to run in the money. When I rode him that good I said ok defnitely I can now win this race and I was just waiting on the split.”

Craig had relaxed his mount at the back of the field and he consequently had a ton in hand as they reached the business end.

The split did happen and he burst through like a hot knife through butter and won by a comfortable 1,75 lengths.

Craig is hardworking in  the morning and rides for Gareth van Zyl as well as the Snaiths and Piet Botha, Shane Humby, Greg Ennion.

He said, “I am just keeping my head down and working hard and hopefully I can ride a big winner this season or something. Rule Of Thumb is progressing nicely and I hope they keep me on the horse.”

Craig looks up to Richard Fourie  and admitted, “I enjoy watching him ride.”

The increased number of rides Craig is getting is helping his confidence and he concluded, “I definitely feel much better as a rider, I feel I have improved.”

Famous Lady wins comfortably under S’Manga Khumalo (Picture: 4Racing)

Freshman sires Talk Of The Town and One World both had their first winners at Turffontein Standside today.

Talk Of The Town has a hundred percent career record to date as his first runner was the Alson Ndzilana-trained Famous Lady.

She was backed in from 10/1 to 4/1 and won in eyecatching fashion under S’Manga Khumalo in the 800m event.

She showed good natural speed, a nice big action and she produced a kick to win by 0,75 lengths from outsider You Bring Me Joy (Erupt) with the rest of the field well beaten.

She is out of High Chaparral  two-time winner Lady Val.

Talk Of The Town is an unusual stallion in that he had five career starts and does not have any black type. He won third time out over 1400m and followed up with two handicap wins over 1400m and 1600m respectively.

Pippa Mickelburgh said about him earlier this year before the sales, “Racecourse performance is important and rightly so, but he was favourite for a big sales race and broke down the Thursday before. Capetonians know good he was, but it isn’t on his record. I truly believe if Talk Of The Town’s yearlings were by the like of Vercingetorix or Var we would be home and hosed. They are magnificent! His yearlings are top drawer. If he had a big win under his belt, we would be smiling. ”

Besides Talk Of The Town’s race record, he “ticks all the boxes”.

Taegan’s Champ makes it two from two and gives Dennis Schwarz and Fabian Habib a double together (Picture: 4Racing)

Dennis Schwarz rode a double for Fabian Habib at Turffontein Standside today.

Craig Zackey added another double having ridden a four-timer at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Sunday.

Zackey goes to 52 wins for the season at a strike rate of 9.74%.

Schwarz is on 24 wins at 8.70%.

Habib is on 22 wins at 14.77%.

The Syd Laird-trained Ocean City was one of four Gr 1 winners produced by the immortal Laird-trained racehorse Sea Cottage.

Ocean City won the 1973 Cape Guineas at Milnerton under Johnny Cawcutt  by an easy 2,25 lengths from the subsequent Cape Derby, Natal Derby and Queen’s Plate winner Sword Dancer, while Ocean City’s stablemate, the subsquent Queen’s Plate, July and Met winner Yataghan, was third.