Jan Van Goyen, A Small Horse Who Has Everybody Talking
Jan Van Goyen, now a twice Gr 1 winner, runs out a convincing winner of one of South Africa’s biggest stallion producing races. (Picture: Wayne Marks)
The Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas is often a decider of where the strength of the three-year-old form lies and the Mike and Mathew de Kock-trained Jan van Goyen stamped the form of two Highveld three-year-olds, himself and Trust, as the best in the country on Saturday as he made short work of the Cape three-year-olds in the icnonic race and won convincingly under Callan Murray.
It was a particularly meritorious win because he had made his seasonal reappearance just two weeks earlier, when narrowly defeated by Trust in the Gr 2 Jackpot City Dingaans, and had then faced the arduous journey down to Cape Town on Tuesday last week in order to arrive about three days before the big race at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth.
The De Kock yard are famous for leaving no stone unturned and the small Master Of My Fate colt who possesses a magnificent action duly traveled well.
He was steadily backed on the day to start at 17/10 with the well-related but unexposed Gimmie Rules, the original favourite, drifting out to 4/1 as support also came for Happy Verse who shortened from 8/1 into 7/2.
Murray managed to find the rail from draw four and the Master Of My Fate colt settled in a position just forward of midfield as Good For You set the pace.
Good For you was soon a spent force in the straight and it was the handy horses making their runs down the inside, Star Major, Pay The Palace and Roland Garros, who emerged as contenders.
Gimme Rules, coming from midfield, and Happy Verse, coming from near the back, were unwinding strong runs towards the outside.
Randolph Hearst, who had sat two positions behind Jan Van Goyen in the running on the rail, was running on strongly down the inside rail.
Meanwhile, Murray had been ever so confident on Jan Van Goyen after turning for home.
He was content to sit behind Pay The Palace until the 400m mark and then began driving with the reins.
Jan Van Goyen took a couple of seconds to reach top gear.
However, by the time he had reached the 200m mark he was stretching out beautifully and was on the quarters of the leader Star Major.
It was clear he was superior to this field as Murray had not even called for the stick.
When he did the athletic colt continued to stretch superbly.
He made the rest look laboured as he has a very quick action, but it is an uncomplicated an economical one and he does not look like he is under any pressure when he at full tilt.
He left the nearest challengers, Happy Verse and Gimme The Rules, chasing shadows and won by 2,75 lengths.
Happy Verse finished second with Randolph Hearst 0,30 lengths further back in third, Gimmie Rules another 0,30 lengths back in fourth and Fox On The Run running on well to be a shorthead further back. Star Major was a shorthead further back in sixth.
There have been many small horses in history who have been great, with the mighty Northern Dancer being an example, but Jan Van Goyen is more reminiscent of the great English horse of the 1930s, Hyperion, a small unimposing horse with a magnificent action.
Mike de Kock had won the Cape Guineas five times on his own and now has another one together with his son Mathew.
The De Kocks never get carried away by three-year-old success and usually take the conservative view.
However, Mathew said he felt Jan Van Goyen still had improvement in him and had a very exciting future.
He admitted that on ratings Jan Van Goyen had actually just run the race expected of him as his 118 rating put him 8 points higher than any of the opposition.
However, he added the yard were now keen to take on older horses and see exactly where Jan Van Goyen stood.
Jan Van Goyen is duly the 4/1 joint favourite for the Gr 1 L’Ormarins King’s Plate together with Equus Horse Of The Year Eight On Eighteen and that price should be snapped up considering the latter is at his best over further and will also be making his seasonal reappearance in that race.
The interesting point is whether the connections of Dingaans winner Trust will be tempted to supplement him for the L’Ormarins King’s Plate.
Jan Van Goyen will be taking on his stablemate, the former Equus Horse Of The Year Dave The King, in the King’s Plate and the latter will be a threat, having won the Gr 2 Green Point Stakes over 1600m on Saturday, also under Murray.
Veale, Zackey Get Time For Summer Cup Rides
Sean Veale will have to take 14 days over the New Year period, but will be able to take the ride on Gladatorian in the L’Ormarins King’s Plate as the suspension ends the day before (Candiese Lenferna Photography)
Sean Veale had a day to forget on Betway Summer Cup day, collecting a total of 21 days in suspensions, including 14 days for an incident in the Summer Cup itself.
Craig Zackey copped a ten day suspension for his ride in the Summer Cup.
In the Gr 1 Betway Summer Cup an inquiry was opened into the incident which caused On My Honour to fall and two jockeys, Serino Moodley and Jarryd Penny, to consequently be dislodged and to sustain injuries.
There was also an inquiry opened into why Son Of Raj and My Best Shot were bumped and eased at approximately the 1800m.
The NHA have completed the inquiries and added the below addendums to their stipendiary reports about the Summer Cup incidents:
Permission was granted for Jockey S Veale to sign an admission of guilt.
Jockey S Veale was charged with a contravention of Rule 62.2.7 in that he, as the rider of ANDFIELD’S ROCKET, failed to ensure that he did not cause interference at approximately 300m when he shifted out obtain a run that was unavailable on the outside of MY BEST SHOT (R Fourie) .which resulted in ANDFIELD’S ROCKET bumping and turning SON OF RAJ’S (K Matsunyane) hindquarters outwards, which resulted in ON MY HONOUR (S Moodley) clipping the heels of SON OF RAJ (K Matsunyane), dislodging Jockey S Moodley and falling.
Jockey S Veale signed an Admission of Guilt and is suspended from riding in races for a period of fourteen (14) days.
Suspension dates: 27 December 2025 to 9 January 2026 (both days inclusive).
Permission was granted for Jockey C Zackey to sign an Admission of Guilt.
Jockey C Zackey was charged with a contravention of Rule 62.2.7 in that he, as the rider of MADISON VALLEY, failed to ensure that he did not cause interference to SON OF RAJ (K Matsunyane) and MY BEST SHOT (R Fourie) when he shifted in at approximately the 1800m. Jockey C Zackey signed an Admission of Guilt and is suspended from riding in races for a period of ten (10) days. Suspension dates: 12 December 2025 to 22 December 2025 (both days inclusive), except for the 13 December
2025.
Veale’s seven day suspension for which he signed an Admission Of Guilt on the day, was due to an incident in the Gr 3 New Turf Carriers Merchants:
Leaving the 400m, BARBARESCO (G Lerena) had to ease to avoid the heels of FUTURE VARIETY (S Veale), which shifted out when insufficiently clear.
Jockey S Veale was charged with a contravention of Rule 62.2.7 in that he, as the rider of FUTURE VARIETY, failed to ensure that he did not cause interference to BARBARESCO (G Lerena) when he shifted out at the 400m. Jockey S Veale signed an Admission of Guilt and is suspended from riding in races for a period of seven (7) days.
Suspension dates: To be advised.
He appears to be taking those seven days right now from the 11th of December to the 18th, so will be back for Friday night’s meeting at Hollywoodbets Greyville.
Fourth Graded Victory For Dave The King
Dave The King is stopping late but he just managed to hold on in the Gr 2 Ridgemont Green Point Stakes (Picture: Wayne Marks)
Cape Breeders
Ascot Stud’s multiple graded stakes winning sire Global View made news at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday.
Global View’s star son Dave The King, South Africa’s Horse Of The Year and Champion Older Male in 2023-2024, picked up the fourth graded win of his career when he won Saturday’s G2 Ridgemont Green Point Stakes (1600m) over a star studded field.
Trained by Mike and Mathew De Kock, the evergreen six-year-old was given a fine ride by Callan Murray in Saturday’s R600 000 feature.
Murray had Dave The King in behind pacemaker Snow Pilot and they were well clear of the rest. Murray quickly took Dave The King to the front in the straight and Dave The King kept finding gamely with his massive stride and held on by a long neck.
Bred by Gary Player Stud (Pty) Ltd, Dave The King races for his breeder in partnership with Larry Nestadt and Ralphs Racing.
The six-year-old, who is out of the Jet Master mare Touche, has won nine of 28 starts, with Dave The King’s victories including the G1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge (in 2024 and 2025) and 2024 G1 The HKJC Champions Cup.
From the same female line as breed shaping sire Storm Bird, Global View (South Africa’s Leading First Season Sire of 2019-2020, is bred on the same Galileo/Storm Cat cross as such G1 winners as Churchill, Clemmie, Gleneagles, and Decorated Knight.
Rafeef And Legislate Have More Graded Winners
Outlaw King fends off I Am Giant to win the Gr 2 Splashout Cape Merchants for a second year in succession (Picture: Wayne Marks)
Cape Breeders
Ridgemont’s red hot sire Rafeef enjoyed another good day at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday, while Legislate has another stakes winner on his record.
Rafeef, a son of Redoute’s Choice, had two winners on Saturday’s card, with Rafeef gelding Outlaw King landing Saturday’s G2 SplashOut Cape Merchants (1200m) for a second year in a row.
Trained by Dean Kannemeyer, five-year-old Outlaw King, who was ridden by Craig Zackey, got up close home to prevail in a thrilling finish and score by a neck.
Bred by James Armitage, Outlaw King races for the DK Racing Syndicate.
Outlaw King, who is out of the Greys Inn mare Way Of Escape, has won six of 18 starts with Saturday’s win pushing the gelding’s earnings to R1 481 532.
The gelding’s previous victories include the 2023 G2Tabgold Umkhomazi Stakes.
Outlaw King,a R300 000 buy from the 2022 National Yearling Sale, was one of two winners for Rafeef on Saturday.
The Ridgemont resident also came up with a good looking two-year-old winner in the form of Champagne Castle.
The latter, third on debut, made all the running to capture Saturday’s Light and Wonder Commonwealth Plate (1000m) by two and a quarter lengths.
Trained by Justin Snaith, Champagne Castle was ridden to victory by Richard Fourie.
The filly, who was bred by Maine Chance Farms, races for Jonathan Bloch, Mukund Gujadhur and the Wernars Family.
Out of the Querari mare Camika, Champagne Castle was a R900 000 buy from the 2025 Premier Yearling Sale.
South Africa’s Leading First Season Sire of 2020-2021, Rafeef has sired 24 stakes winners including such G1 winning sires as Master Archie and Thunderstruck.
Sukhumvit Set The Ball Rolling For The Raiders
Sukhumvit strides clear to win the Gr 3 1Voucher Victress Stakes over 1800m (Picture: Wayne Marks)
The Alec Laird-trained five-year-old mare Sukhumvit at last fulfilled her potential when romping home in the Gr 3 1Voucher Victress Stakes over 1800m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday to gain richly deserved bold black type.
She won by an easy 3,25 lengths under Philasande Mxoli, although she was running off a 94 merit rating and was thus only carrying 51kg in the merit rated band conditions event and she was receiving 9kg from the runner up Rainbow Lorikeet.
However, Sukhumvit has always had potential and in fact had previously run a Gr 3 second, two Listed seconds and a Listed third.
She had also had to be given a layoff of more than nine months from halfway through her four-year-old season.
She is now the mighty Silvano’s 109th stakes winner.
Alec clearly did a fine job of taking care of her during her long layoff, because she came back in October this year to run a head second at odds of 25/1 to the smart Gr 2-winning three-year-old colt Chronicle King in a Graduation Plate over 1450m.
She followed that up with a fine half-a-length third in the Listed Betway Summer Pudding Handicap over 1600m and although she was receiving 7kg from the first two, Kisshoten and Mocha Blend, the latter franked the form in no uncertain terms by winning the Gr 1 Betway Summer Cup.
Alec said in the interview on Saturday that Sukhumvit had learnt to settle batter as she had matured and that was likely the key to her finally becoming a black type horse.
Sukhumvit jumped from draw ten of ten and after being reined back was caught wide so Mxoli cleverly allowed her to go forward in the hands all the way up to second place.
Although she had no cover she was well settled and looked to still have plenty in hand turning for home.
She hit the front at the 400 mark but still hadn’t been asked and she duly found plenty.
The running on Rainbow Lorikeet had no chance of catching her.
Sukhumvit will have to face some of the vanquished on much worse terms if she is given a crack at the Gr 1 Cartier Paddock Stakes over 1800, but she showed her class on Saturday and being by Silvano might turn out to be a late bloomer who can go on to bigger things.
She was actually chosen by Jonathan Snaith at the Sales and is owned by Nick Jonsson.
She was purchased at the BSA National Yearling Sale for R500,000.
BSA Success At HWB Kenilworth On Saturday
Henk Leyenaar and family lead in Jan Van Goyen. Leyenaar named the horse after the street of his birth in Heemstede in Holland (Picture: Wayne Marks)
Bloodstock South Africa celebrated another big win on Saturday when BSA graduate, and Equus Champion, Jan Van Goyen ran out a brilliant winner of the G1 Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth.
Last season’s Equus Champion 2YO Colt turned Saturday’s 1600m classic into a one-horse race. Under Callan Murray, the Mike and Mathew De Kock trained Jan Van Goyen unleashed a fine turn of foot which saw the colt storm home to claim the second G1 win of his career by two and three quarter lengths. In the process, Jan Van Goyen took his tally of wins to four, from just six starts, and his earnings to R2 403 888. Raised at Boland Stud, Jan Van Goyen, a R600 000 buy from the 2024 KZN Yearling Sale, was bred by Mr and Mrs Trotter, Rob Alexander and Bruce Campbell. A son of Varsfontein Stud’s increasingly successful homebred stallion Master Of My Fate, Saturday’s winner races for Henk Leyenaar, Daniella Erasmus and Louisa Huntingford. Jan Van Goyen, whose Guineas success confirmed his status as one of South Africa’s most exciting gallopers, is out of the twice winning Oratorio mare Daydream Believer. The colt was one of three BSA sold thoroughbreds to win feature races at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday.
BSA purchase Sukhumvit made a big impression when she won Saturday’s G3 1Voucher Victress Stakes, with fellow BSA buy Outlaw King winning the G2 SplashOut Cape Merchants for a second year running.
Trained by Alec Laird, five-year-old Sukhumvit claimed the biggest win of her career when storming home, under Philasande Mxoli, to win the Victress Stakes as she liked by three and a quarter lengths. The Normandy Stud bred mare, who races for Nick Jonsson, was a R500 000 purchase from the 2022 National Yearling Sale. A full-sister to G1 ARF Commemorative Cape Derby runner up Sachdev, Sukhumvit has won or been placed in ten of 12 starts with the daughter of Silvano having earned R393 594.
Classy sprinter Outlaw King, a R300 000 purchase from 2022 National Sale, made it back to back wins in the G2 Cape Merchants when he won Saturday’s contest in scintillating fashion. Under Craig Zackey, the Dean Kannemeyer trained gelding stormed home to claim the SplashOut sponsored feature by a neck. Bred by Sandown Stud, and owned by the D K Racing Syndicate, Outlaw King has now won six of 18 starts for earnings of R1 481 532. A son of Ridgemont’s prominent stallion Rafeef, Outlaw King is out of the four time winning Greys Inn mare Way Of Escape.
HK's Superstars Steal The Show
Ka Ying Rising made it 16 wins in succession leaving him one short of equaling the legendary Silent Witness’ 17 in a row (Picture: HKJC)
Hong Kong’s three equine heavenly kings shine on the world stage at LONGINES Hong Kong International Races
The Hong Kong Jockey Club’s Chief Executive Officer Mr Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges has hailed the 2025 LONGINES Hong Kong International Races (HKIR) as “a very, very special day” after an afternoon of history and world-class racing at Sha Tin on Sunday (14 December).
As Hong Kong racing glistened on the international horseracing stage with the history-making feat of Romantic Warrior to win a record fourth G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup and the victories of Ka Ying Rising (G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint) and Voyage Bubble (G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile), Mr Engelbrecht-Bresges said the competition was “absolutely world-class.”
Mr Engelbrecht-Bresges said: “Today was, in our view, a very, very special day where we saw tremendous sport. We are really proud that we attracted a record number of international and Chinese Mainland visitors of 13,370, double last season’s HKIR. The attendance today included almost 10,000 Mainland visitors – an increase of more than 50 percent on last year. This season alone, the number of tourists to Sha Tin is more than 110,000.
“In summarising, when we look at the racing itself, it was absolutely world-class. The LONGINES International Jockeys’ Championship (on Wednesday, 10 December) was a wonderful prelude but today was the absolute pinnacle of what we could have hoped for.
“We believe this was one of the greatest days of Hong Kong racing.”
For the second year in a row, Hong Kong’s three heavenly kings – Ka Ying Rising, Romantic Warrior and Voyage Bubble – claimed Group 1 glory, watched by attendance of 48,494 as Sosie triumphed for the visiting brigade in the LONGINES Hong Kong Vase.
“We saw an outstanding Vase with the winner Sosie being a wonderful stayer and last year winner Giavellotto as runner up, which has confirmed the quality of the Vase, and both horses repeated their Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe form. I would like to send my appreciation and thanks to Andre Fabre, who had his birthday this week and hopefully this is a little birthday present for him and wife who was here,” said Mr Engelbrecht-Bresges.
Mr Engelbrecht-Bresges described Ka Ying Rising as one of Hong Kong All Time Greats after the gelding’s devastating LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint victory for David Hayes and Zac Purton.
“I call it poetry in motion, I call it the best horse I have ever seen at least in the sprinting distances. He’s not from this planet — the way he dominated from the gate and left other world-class horses trailing in his shadow was simply extraordinary,” Mr Engelbrecht-Bresges said.
“Coming to the Mile, only two times in the history of Hong Kong racing, we have only two winners of the Triple Crown and that Voyage Bubble is able to beat a top-class horse in Soul Rush, who beat Romantic Warrior in Dubai, is incredible. The way he showed tremendous eagerness and determination to catch Soul Rush in the final 50 metres was remarkable. I congratulate Zac and Ricky.
“To see a horse in Romantic Warrior winning for the fourth time – it’s never happened in history – in the LONGINES Hong Kong Cup and in emphatic style is amazing and he is now on HK$240 million in prizemoney and Danny Shum and James McDonald are incredible team with this champion horse.
“For us, it is extremely satisfying to see with a population of 1,350 horses, which is 0.7 percent of the world’s horse population, that we have horses of this class. I would also like to congratulate our three trainers for their outstanding training performance. It is gratifying to see two-home grown talents able to be successful on the highest level.
Mr Engelbrecht-Bresges praised the entertainment performances of Rain and Now United as Hong Kong shimmered on the world stage with the successful staging of the Club’s flagship meeting. He also thanked LONGINES’ great sponsorship for the flagship event.
Mr Andrew Harding, Executive Director Racing, The Hong Kong Jockey Club, said: “We have a saying that Winfried coined some years ago of ‘One club, one team and one vision’ and the LONGINES Hong Kong International Races is the embodiment of that.
“So today, is not just the result of the efforts of the Racing Division, but colleagues right across the Club and we’ve seen just extraordinary and how excellent they are.
“This year has generated a level of international attention that has been quite exceptional and the Club is grateful for all of that.”
Rodeo Drive Could Take The Ipi Tombe
Rodeo Drive has 0,70 lengths to find on Callmegetrix from the Allied Steelrode-Onamission Charity Mile, but she will likely be ridden a touch more conservatively. (JC Photos)
Turffontein Standside Tuesday Formguides And Selections
RACE 1
1 INSPIRATION 3 TAKING A RISK 2 PRINCESS OF ALL 7 GIRL IN VERDITE
Preview: 1 INSPIRATION has good form and should go close under Richard Fourie. 3 TAKING A RISK has the form to be right there. 2 PRINCESS OF ALL has shown ability and can do well with a 2,5kg claimer up. 7 GIRL IN VERDITE needed her last run and can earn if reproducing her debut effort. (1-3-2-7)
RACE 2
7 MAGIC CARPET RIDE 5 STONEYWOOD 1 SECOND TO NUNN 8 WINTER BELLE 6 TROMBOLINES
Preview: 7 MAGIC CARPET RIDE has the form to be a contender in this uninspiring race. 5 STONEYWOOD is a full-brother to Dyce and can do better than his debut. 1 SECOND TO NUNN has shown some ability and has a chance or earning here. 8 WINTER BELLE can earn if running to her best. (7-5-1-6)
RACE 3
2 DELAWARE RIVER 7 AQUARIUS 10 PALACE SCRIPT 1 KORTVANDRAAD
Preview: 2 DELAWARE RIVER is improving and can go one better than her second place finish last time. 7 AQUARIUS has run two god races behind promising types an has a chance with Lerena up. 10 PALACE SCRIPT has run two fair races and can improve. 1 KORTVANDRAAD can earn if reproducing her best efforts in Cape Town. (2-7-10-1)
RACE 4
4 SHADOWFAX 6 ONE EYE ON VEGAS 8 TINA LOVELACE 1 ARISTOTLE
Preview: 4 SHADOWFAX has class and has an easier assignment here than in the Dingaans so looks the one to beat from a good draw over an ideal trip. 6 ONE EYE ON VEGAS has shown good ability and will be a threat. 8 TINA LOVELACE is a Gr 1 runner up and from pole position will be dangerous. 1 ARISTOTLE will appreciate the step back in trip and could earn. (4-6-8-1)
RACE 5
2 MONKEY PUZZLE 3 CLARKSON 7 FOSTINOVO 10 BLOOMINGTON
Preview: 2 MONKEY PUZZLE is in fine form and is the one to beat. 3 CLARKSON won well last time and from another plum draw over the same trip category can be involved off a three point higher mark. 7 FOSTINOVO could earn of at his best. 10 BLOOMINGTON is capable of popping up off an attractive merit rating if able to overcome a wide draw. (2-3-7-10)
RACE 6
2 CORRUPT 4 DUAL PROPHECY 1 JORDAN 3 DOUGLAS DRAGON
Preview: 2 CORRUPT is an up and coming stayer who is the one to beat. 4 DUAL PROPHECY this half-brother to See It Again has shown glimpses of potential and might well enjoy the trip. 1 JORDAN should enjoy this trip and could be a threat. 3 DOUGLAS DRAGON is an honest sort who will see out the trip so has a chance. (2-4-1-3)
RACE 7
2 ROYAL INVITATION 1 TEO TORRIATTE 4 KEY WORKER 7 MOUNT ETNA
Preview: 2 ROYAL INVITATION is knocking on the door and has a good opportunity here. 1 TEO TORRIATTE has come into her own and is capable of better than last time. 4 KEY WORKER is a full sister to Gr 1-winning Surcharge and has a chance if producing her best. 7 MOUNT ETNA is capable of earning in this line up. (2-1-4-7)
RACE 8
5 RODEO DRIVE 4 MINOGUE 3 KISSHOTEN 2 CALLMEGETRIX
Preview: 5 RODEO DRIVE ran a cracker in the Charity Mile and is the one to beat with a repeat. 4 MINOGUE has always struck as one with class and has blossomed recently so a hattrcik would be no surprise. 3 KISSHOTEN the form of her last win has been well franked and she should go close. 2 CALLMEGETRIX has the ability to be a contender here. (5-4-3-2)
RACE 9
2 SPLITTHEEIGHTS 6 ANTONIO GAUDI 7 ROMILLY 11 SPY STORY
Preview: 2 SPLITTHEEIGHTS won in fine style last time and can follow up. 6 ANTONIO GAUDI is knocking on the door and is distance suited. 7 ROMILLY has been disappointing but Lerena stays aboard and he could bounce back. 11 SPY STORY ran a cracker over course and distance last time and can go close with a repeat. (2-6-7-11)
RACE 10
8 OLD FASHIONED 4 BANYAN 2 TOP DIVISION 10 LONELY AS A CLOUD
Preview: 8 OLD FASHIONED won in fine style last time and could progress again. 4 BANYAN has potential and should begin to improve. 2 TOP DIVISION has the form to be a contender. 10 LONELY AS A CLOUD could earn if reproducing his last run. (8-4-2-10)
Today's Question
FIELDS, Tuesday, 16 December
Today’s Question Answer
