Turf Talk Newsletter – 14 October, 2026

Race Coast

One of Cape Town’s most celebrated summer occasions returns to Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday, 9 January 2027, when the 166th running of the L’Ormarins King’s Plate brings together world-class racing, signature blue-and-white style and one of the city’s great social traditions.

Steeped in history and synonymous with the Cape summer, the L’Ormarins King’s Plate has evolved into far more than one of South Africa’s most prestigious race days. It is an occasion where racing, fashion, food, entertainment and celebration come together, transforming Hollywoodbets Kenilworth into a spectacular sea of blue and white.

At the heart of the day, however, remains an extraordinary racing tradition.

More than 150 years of history have seen some of the greatest thoroughbreds in South African racing add their names to the King’s Plate honour roll, including Charles Dickens, Sea Cottage, Politician, Jet Master and four-time winner Pocket Power.

Won in 2026 by The Real Prince, the 2027 renewal is already shaping up as another exceptional contest. See It Again, Eight On Eighteen, Note To Self, Jan Van Goyen and Questioning are among the current stars likely to lock horns over the famous Hollywoodbets Kenilworth mile, adding another chapter to one of South African racing’s most celebrated contests.

The L’Ormarins King’s Plate Gr 1 (1600m) also carries international significance, with the winner earning an invitation to the FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile in the United States, providing a pathway from Cape Town to one of racing’s biggest global stages.

The action extends well beyond the headline race. The day features three elite Group 1 contests, with the World Pool Cape Flying Championship Gr 1 (1000m) and Cartier Paddock Stakes Gr 1 (1800m) joining the L’Ormarins King’s Plate on an outstanding programme of racing.

Away from the track, the event’s unmistakable blue-and-white theme has become part of Cape Town’s summer identity, with thousands of racegoers embracing the dress code and turning the lawns and hospitality areas of Hollywoodbets Kenilworth into a showcase of style.

Fashion will once again play a major role, with prizes for Best Dressed and Best Hat, while food, entertainment and hospitality will ensure there is plenty to experience between races and beyond the final event of the day.

Guests can choose from a range of experiences, from Style Village and the atmosphere of the lawns to premium hospitality offering exceptional dining, exclusive lounges and prime views of the racing.

As the afternoon moves into evening, the racing may finish, but the celebration does not. Music and entertainment will carry the festivities into the night, continuing a tradition that has made the L’Ormarins King’s Plate as much a fixture on Cape Town’s social calendar as it is on its sporting one.

Whether you come for the champions, the fashion, the food, the friends or simply the unmistakable atmosphere of a Cape Town summer day, the L’Ormarins King’s Plate offers something beyond the ordinary.

World-class racing. Iconic style. Cape Town in summer. More Than Just Racing.

The 166th L’Ormarins King’s Plate takes place at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday, 9 January 2027.

For more information: lormarinskingsplate.co.za

Tickets are on sale now from Computicket.

See It Again wins the Gr 1 HKJC World Pool Premier’s Champions Challenge, which is run on Champions Day, which is one of 4Racing’s designated Marquee Race Days (JC Photos) 

Johannesburg, South Africa —4Racing is pleased to announce our comprehensive Raiding Trainer Incentive Programme for 2026/27.

The programme incorporates winning incentives, transport subsidies and seasonal accommodation support to encourage owners and trainers from across the country to support key Gauteng meetings during our feature race season.

Under the Standard Raider Incentive, applicable to races at non-marquee meetings from Allied Steelrode – Onamission Charity Mile Day (31 October 2026) through to the Championships Finale (24 April 2027), the owner and trainer of a winning raider will each receive an incentive of R20,000.

Enhanced incentives will apply at 4Racing’s designated Marquee Race Days, namely:

· Allied Steelrode – Onamission Charity Mile Day – 31 October 2026

· Betway Summer Cup Day – 28 November 2026

· Gauteng Guineas Day – 6 February 2027

· Classic Day – 6 March 2027

· Champions Day – 3 April 2027

· Championships Finale – 24 April 2027

On these marquee race days, the connections of winning raiders in races carrying stakes of less than R600,000 will be eligible for R50,000 each for the trainer and owner.

For races carrying stakes of more than R600,000 on showpiece race days, a R50,000 incentive will be payable to the winning trainer only.

In addition to the winning incentives, transport subsidies will be available to raiders competing in Grade 1 through Listed races, subject to the applicable terms and conditions.

Transport subsidies will be assessed on a province-by-province and case-by-case basis, with final determinations made at the time of entries.

4Racing will also provide seasonal accommodation support to raiding trainers who elect to base themselves in Gauteng for the season through to the Championships Finale.

Complimentary rental accommodation will be available at selected venues, subject to availability and the applicable terms and conditions.

The new initiative forms part of 4Racing’s ongoing efforts to enhance the competitiveness and appeal of the Highveld racing programme, while creating opportunities for owners and trainers from across South Africa to participate in some of the country’s showpiece race meetings.

The programme will take effect from Charity Mile Day on 31 October 2026 and run through to the Championships Finale on 24 April 2027.

ENDS.

Connor Randolph has been going to track for about a week at Summerveld having joined the South African Jockey Academy in January (Picture Supplied) 

Connor Randolph started his apprenticeship at the South African Jockey Academy (SAJA) in January and will be bidding to follow in he footsteps of his July-winning jockey father Stuart Randolph.

He used to watch his father riding and attended the July a few times with him, although when Stuart won it in 2015 on the Dean Kannemeyer-trained Power King he was only roundabout five or six years old and was not on the racecourse.

He revealed, “When I was in Grade 8 my Dad introduced the jockey Academy idea and from then onward I started watching racing and going to racing with him and I started developing a passion for riding.”

Stuart is already having an influence on Connor’s riding style.

Connor said, “He has influenced my style quite heavily. He comes down to the Academy quite often and teaches me all these nicks and tricks I can use on  horses while I am on the equicizer.”

Last week was a milestone week for Conor and some of his other SAJA contemporaries as they went “to track”” for the first time.

This is when they make themselves available to trainers at Summerveld to ride work.

The first years appearing at track wear white caps  and in the common language of the Summerveld fraternity, “A white cap means danger!”

The trainers try and give them as easy rides as possible, although some trainers avoid using “white caps”, so it is not an easy time for the youngsters.

Connor has had about 16 training rides so far and all of them have provided him with enjoyable experiences except for one horse who gave him “a bit of a rough time.”

Connor explained, “If the trainer is used to you he will probably put you on a nice horse, but if the trainer does not know you too well he will put you on a quiet, relaxed horse who doesn’t pull much.

Connor explained what he was taught at SAJA before attending track, “We were taught how to hold the horse, how to keep the horse calm and relaxed and just a few tricks. We ride around the ring and there is a small track there that we use and also the equicizer to practice on.”

Connor’s first goal is to start race-riding in about April next year.

He will have a hard act to follow as Stuart was an exceptionally successful apprentice and finished his time in January 1991 with 110 winners and the plaudit of a July ride aboard Sand in 1990 while still an apprentice.

Connor’s ultimate aim is to be a Champion Jockey and once again he will have a hard act to follow.

Stuart  amassed close to 1800 career wins and a very respectable number of Gr1 wins.  He also rode the winner of  Zimbabwe’s biggest race, the Castle Tankard on Circle of Life, and also had winners in Mauritius, Dubai, Macau and France. He was Champion Jockey in Mauritius. He listed the legendary Jet Master (1998 Cape Guineas) as one of the best horses he rode. He also partnered horses like This England (1992 Administrators’ Stakes), Eldoriza (1996 Nissan Challenge) and Arabian Lass (1997 Style Fillies Challenge). He also won what used to be KZN’s, if not the country’s, second most prestigious race, the Gold Cup, on Cereus in 2001.

Connor certainly has the right genes for jockeyship and those who remember the skills of his father will be following his career with particular interest.

Classy gelding HAH LAH LAH looks to be a very exciting prospect. From the first crop of champion Hawwaam, the lightly raced four-year-old has won four of just five starts, with HAH LAH LAH having followed up a facile two and a half length debut victory with three wins from his next four starts.

For decades a globally acknowledged leader in the field of thoroughbred breeding in South Africa and staffed by experienced professionals, Ridgemont is located in the fertile, lime rich Robertson valley and the home of champions extends over 300 hectares.

Lot 75: HARMONY – Vercingetorix f Takingthepeace
Harmony is a daughter of multiple champion sire Vercingetorix, whose progeny continue to dominate both on the track and in the sales ring. Responsible for no fewer than 21 individual stakes winners last season, Vercingetorix, who is once again heading the South African General Sires premiership, has sired some outstanding fillies led by champions Double Grand Slam, Mrs Geriatrix and Palace Of Arvernia.

His daughter Harmony is a half-sister to the useful Golden Rule and a full sister to debut winner Take No Prisoners. The trio was produced by the brilliant racemare Takingthepeace, winner of two legs of the Wilgerbosdrift-sponsored Triple Crown: the Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic Gr 1, Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas Gr 2 and the Victory Moon Stakes Gr 3.

Harmony hails from a great filly family with her relatives including the likes of Brave Mary, Fanzene and Joan Ranger.

For more information on the aforementioned filly, please contact Julia Kieswetter on (063) 667 5383.

Yeomanstown Stud’s Lope de Vega Bought by Blandford Bloodstock

Blandford Bloodstock’s Richard Brown secured Yeomanstown Stud’s LOPE DE VEGA colt for 650,000 guineas. The colt was bred by the farm out of the Listed Marygate Stakes placed mare SILK BOW, who was bought at the Tattersalls December Mares Sale for 50,000 guineas in 2016. She is the dam of the Listed placed WINGS OF A DOVE, and last week’s winner SHARADD, who is now two wins from two runs for William Haggas and is already BHA rated 99.

“I thought he was an outstanding individual walking around the outside ring,” said Brown. ” You love seeing them in there and judging if they act like a professional or not.”

Expanding on the colt’s appeal, he said: “The mare has done it over and over again. He comes from a very good nursery in Yeomanstown Stud, and hopefully he is the sort of colt who will be running this time next year and then develop into a smart three-year-old.”

The price was a pleasant surprise for Yeomanstown Stud’s David O’Callaghan, who said: “We thought he’d sell very well, but I didn’t think he’d reach those heights. He is an exceptional horse, and the mare has done very well. She has produced a number of highly rated horses and the two-year-old looks very smart. For a Lope de Vega, he looks very forward and mature.”

Explaining the mating decision, O’Callaghan said: ” We usually try to buy foals by outside stallions to mix it up, but actually we are now probably sending more mares to outside stallions than we used to. We need to mix it up and appeal to everybody.”

He concluded: “The mare is an absolute beauty, built like a tank with a big walk. If you want to produce good looking yearlings, you need good looking mares, and she is most certainly one.”

Croom House Stud’s Blue Point Filly Heads to America 

American bloodstock agent David Ingordo went to 600,000 guineas for Croom House Stud’s BLUE POINT filly, signing the docket stood alongside Determined Stud’s Matt Dorman. Out of the 2YO Listed-placed mare SHAPES, the filly hails from the family of Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes and Group 1 Lockinge Stakes winner BELARDO.

“She’ll go to America and she’ll end up with Cherie DeVaux,” said Dorman. “We love the stallion. We got a couple last year by Blue Point and he just keeps performing and delivering. This filly has a great physical, so she checked all the boxes. This is our first purchase this week in Book 2, and it was always the plan to stay on for Book 2.”

Of the trade at Park Paddocks he said: “It has been very strong for the good physicals and good pages. Some of these horses could have been in Book 1, and we were hoping to get a little bit more value! We were outbid on five or six already this week, but you’ve got to be disciplined. We are really happy with the five that we got last week also.”

Of plans for this filly, he outlined: “We are big fans of the turf programme in the US, and we’re also commercial breeders with a farm. Touch wood these purchases are going to run really well, but if they don’t, they can join the farm’s broodmare band. This is definitely a long-term project.”

Rabbah Bloodstock Secure Lope de Vega Colt for 525,000 Guineas 

Ballyhimikin Stud’s excellent sale continued with Rabbah Bloodstock purchasing their LOPE DE VEGA colt for 525,000 guineas. Exceptionally well bred, the colt is out of the dual Group 3 winner TICKLED PINK, making him a half-brother to the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf winner VICTORIA ROAD. He hails from the talented family of Group 2 winner CASSANDRA GO which features Group 1 Irish 1000 Guineas winner HALFWAY TO HEAVEN, Champion older mare MAGICAL, triple Group 1 winner RHODODENDRON and four-time Group 1 winner and exciting young stallion AUGUSTE RODIN.

The colt’s breeder is Trevor Stewart, who has enjoyed a tremendous sale thus far, having sold a BLUE POINT filly for 1,100,000 guineas in Book 1 to Godolphin. He exclaimed: “I have to say, I did not expect that so it’s a lovely surprise. I was very nervous this afternoon, but it was worth waiting for.”

“I kept thinking, is this real?”, Stewart laughed. “The worry goes out when you get to that level. My wife will be happy again! Luckily, I kept her expectations well down, so she’ll get a big surprise now”.

Successful purchaser Jono Mills was acting on behalf of Rabbah Bloodstock and said: “He is a lovely colt, by a top stallion, from a leading farm. We are delighted to get him, and no training plans have been made yet.”

Well Related Sea The Stars Filly Makes 440,000 Guineas 

Stauffenberg Bloodstock’s SEA THE STARS filly went the way of Paddy Twomey Racing for 440,000 guineas. She is out of the Listed winning mare ROSE RIZED, making her an own sister to the triple Group 3 winner and Group 1 placed ROSSCARBERY, trained by Twomey himself. Her granddam is the Group 1 Preis der Diana winner ROSENREIHE.

“Obviously she’s a sister to a very good horse, and I think she was a very developed filly,” said Philipp Stauffenberg. “I prepped her for the breeder Gestüt Wittekindshof and she was going down very well. They are very happy with the price.”

Expanding on the filly’s breeders, he said: “Gestüt Wittekindshof is very successful and has bred several Derby winners and Oaks winners. We also sold her full sister Rosscarbery for them. She made 130,000 guineas and I thought this filly had more substance and is a very good walker.”

Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale continues at 10am on Wednesday, 14th October.

Flying World has been tipped to win the day’s headliner. the sixth race, a MR91 handicap for fillies and mares over 2000m (JC Photos)

The Turffontein Inside meeting on Thursday is headlined by a MR 91 handicap over 2000m for fillies and mares and Flying World could be the one to side with.

The One World filly made it two wins in succession last time out over 1700m and did it easily and fluently after coming from the back. She was raised seven points, but looks to be on the up and could rise above her current 80 merit rating. Craig Zackey keeps the ride and will help her oercome a wide draw.

Littlemisssplendid from the in-form Robyn Klaasen yard could be the main danger. The Act Of War filly carries just 53kg having come down three points in the merit ratings after her last start. She has her third run after a layoff and has a fair draw of five out of ten. She came last of seven last time over 1700m but was simply outpaced in the sprint for home after being droppped out from a wide draw and sitting in last place at a nice relaxed gait. She will appreciate the step up in trip and will have come on from that run. She should be closer to the pace from this fair draw.

Azaleas For All is in hard-knocking form and has a good draw over a suitable trip. She should be right there, although a downside is that she finished lame last time and was found to not be striding out in the race before that.

Surprise Party beat Littlemisssplendid over 1700m recently but is 1,5kg worse off that 3,50 length beating and in her next outing she was well beaten after the jockey reportedly felt something amiss.

Art Nouveau won over this trip last time, but is now three points higher in the merit ratings and has a wide draw of ten out of ten.

Those are the five who make most appeal, but none of the runners can be written off and it could be a race to include the whole field in the Pick 6.

In the first leg of the Pick 6 Eight Hats is in consistent form and should be flying at the fiinish after being dropped out from a wide draw of eight. God’s Country went close off a two point lower merit rating last time having won his maiden in the race before that. He has a tricky draw of five out of eight, but should be right there with this same 2,5kg claimer up. Michael Faraday has ability, but often flatters to deceive. However, he has a plum draw and with Calvin Habib up the drop in trip might be what he has been looking for.

The next leg over 1000m is hard to assess with there being question marks over a number of runners heads. Antonio Gaudi is one of the joint best-weighted and if able to get over from a tricky draw he should go close. Quantum Theory has a tough draw, but is capable of running on well and in this field his class should carry him close. African Prince is drawn in pole and has the ability to be in the shake up. Kamensky is capable of a strong late finish and over a trip on the sharp side should be right there. Exocet has talent, but has had issues and his last run is a touch off-putting.

In the fifth over 2000m Be The One is by Futura so should be improving all the time and he might enjoy the step up in trip too. His Trippi dam only won once over 1450m, but she is a half-sister to Gr 2 Premier Trophy (1800m) winner Red Rake. Highway Heiress was staying on well over 1400m last time having won over 1600m before that. She should go close despite having to jump from draw nine as she looks likely to enjoy this trip, although she is not a certainty to do so on pedigree. Elisa Mbali is in fine form and drew clear easily last time when stepped up to 1800m. She was raised six points but has a chance of landng a hattrick. Me And You also goes for a hatrick and this unexposed sort might enjoy the step up in trip being by Querari out of a Dynasty mare, although she does have a tricky draw. Rosy Lemon is an honest sort who can never be ignored.

In the seventh over 1450m Got The Look cruised in over 1400m last time and even a maximum eight point raise and a wide draw might not stop him from following up. Jack’s Legacy looks talented too and should be running on after being dropped out from a wide draw. Fire In Her Soul has a fair draw and should go close as she improved with blinkers last time and has a fair draw over a suitable trip with Craig Zackey up.

In the last race over 1450m Secret Life is knocking on the door and has a plum draw, so is the one to beat. Lightinthewoods went close last time off this same mark when chasing a hattrick. This time she jumps from pole position and should go close. Late Bloomer should relish the step back up in trip and from a fair draw should be in the shake up.

The second race looks to be tricky with the obvious form choice, Nixie Girl, having to contend with a wide draw. However, she can be dropped out as she is capable of running on well. The Bachelorette should run well from a good draw and hs first-timer stablemate Thundering Hooves is interesting being by Vercingetorix out of Graded winner Witchcraft.

In the first over 1200m Amberforgo has the best form of those to have raced as she was beaten 3,40 lengths on debut and should improve. Tiger’s Captain has run some fair races and if at his best he could earn, while Erik The Red colt Baldur makes the most appeal of the first-timers.