Pedigree Profiles Of The 2025 Guineas Winners
Quickstepgal is led in after winning the Gr 1 WSB Cape Fillies Guineas (Picture: Wayne Marks)
The 2025 WSB Cape Fillies Guineas and Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas winners’ pedigree profiles
Sarah Whitelaw
The G1 World Sports Betting Cape Fillies Guineas and G1 Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas remain two of South Africa’s most important contests for three-year-olds.
This year’s winners Quickstepgal and Jan Van Goyen both made big impression when winning those respective features.
Both Quickstepgal and Jan Van Goyen have Jet Master as a grandsire, with that champion the broodmare sire of Quickstepgal and the sire of Master Of My Fate, the sire of Jan Van Goyen.
Pedigree Profile – Quickstepgal
Quickstepgal, who provided connections with a fairytale result in the World Sports Betting Cape Fillies Guineas, is certainly bred to be classy. Winner of last season’s G3 Tote Strelitzia Stakes and Listed Ridgemont Devon Air Stakes, Quickstepgal is the second Cape Fillies Guineas winner, and 14th G1 winner, for her sire Vercingetorix. The latter is also responsible for 2021 winner Chansonette.
South Africa’s Champion Sire, Leading Sire of 2YOs and Leading Sire of 3Yos in 2024-2025, Vercingetorix was responsible for 23 individual stakes winners last season.
The son of Silvano is again heading the South African General Sires premiership for 2025-2025, with Vercingetorix also heading the country’s Leading Sires of 3YOs premiership.
Among Vercingetorix’s black type winners in 2025-2026 are the graded stakes winners Quickstepgal, Callmegetrix, The Ultimate King, and Princess Of Gaul. The latter ran fourth to Quickstepgal in the World Sports Betting Cape Fillies Guineas.
His daughter Quickstepgal, a full-sister to the winning Lady Loxton and half-sister to the winners Ziva La Winter and Victorious Diva, is out of the smart racemare Victoriana. The latter won three times, up to 1200m, and ran second, on her just her third start, in the G3 Champagne Stakes.
Rated good enough to contest the 2008 G1 Avontuur Estate Cape Fillies Guineas, Victoriana is a half-sister to 2014-2015 Equus Champion Older Filly/Mare Hammie’s Hooker (by Trippi) and Gem King.
The latter, a Master Of My Fate three-parts brother to Victoriana, won both the G3 World Sports Betting Variety Club Mile and G3 World Sports Betting Legal Eagle Stakes in 2022. The latter race saw Gem King account for subsequent July winning champion Winchester Mansion by three-parts of a length.
Victoriana’s dam Gem Queen, a twice winning daughter of Damascus Gate, was produced by the winning Mr Justice mare Just Susan. The latter was a half-sister to a trio of stakes winners led by G1 South African Fillies Sprint winner Susan’s Dream.
Gem Queen hails from the same female line as dual July winner Pamphlet.
Victoriana was sired by seven time South African Champion Sire Jet Master, whose more than 70 stakes winners included the G1 Cape Fillies Guineas winners Ebony Flyer and In The Fast Lane.
Pedigree Profile – Jan Van Goyen
Jan Van Goyen, South Africa’s Champion 2YO Colt of 2024-2025, is one of three Equus Champions, thus far, sired by G2 Premier Trophy/G2 Peninsula Handicap victor Master Of My Fate.
The latter, whose progeny include 34 black type winners and a further 37 stakes placed runners, is also the sire of last season’s Champion 2YO Filly Golden Palm, with Master Of My Fate son Tempting Fate crowned Equus Champion 2YO Colt of 2019-2020.
To date, Master Of My Fate has been responsible for six G1 winners with this tally headed by the aforementioned champions.
His other G1 winners are 2024 Betway Summer Cup winner Atticus Finch, 2020 Premiers Champion Stakes winner Sentbydestiny, and 2021 Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes winner Zarina.
His brilliant son Jan Van Goyen, also winner of last season’s G1 World Pool Moment Of The Day Premiers Champion Stakes, is out of the twice winning Oratorio mare Daydream Believer.
The latter is a half-sister to G3 Byerley Turk winner Phantom Fighter and speedy Listed Umngeni Handicap winner Barbosa.
Phantom Fighter, like Jan Van Goyen’s own sire, was sired by Jet Master.
Jan Van Goyen’s granddam was the classy racemare Fine Feather, winner of seven races including the G3 Strelitizia Stakes.
A half-sister to the high-class producer Kindling (whose progeny include the graded stakes winning full-sisters Captain’s Flame and Fragrant Al), Fine Feather is directly descended in female line from English Oaks winner Ghuznee.
The latter is the ancestress of a host of top-class performers including unbeaten US superstar Flightline.
Resolution of Legal Dispute Between the NHA and Mr RJ Bloomberg
Robert Bloomberg, a longtime staunch supporter of South African racing as an owner and in a number of other roles, is pictured in the winner’s enclosure after his useful Paddy Kruyer-trained sprinter The US Of A won the Listed Southeaster Sprint on November 2 this year (Picture: Wayne Marks)
On 22 April 2025, the National Horseracing Authority (NHA) issued a press release confirming that Mr RJ Bloomberg had issued summons against the organisation, as well as its National Board of Directors, for inter alia, claims of alleged defamation, and that the NHA intended seeking the dismissal thereof accompanied by an appropriate punitive cost order.
The subject of the civil lawsuit instituted by Mr Bloomberg was a complaint brought against Mr Bloomberg at the behest of the NHA with the Legal Practice Council (LPC).
The LPC dismissed the complaint in toto against Mr Bloomberg, stating that there had been no misconduct whatsoever on his part. The NHA fully accepts and endorses this finding.
The NHA has, unconditionally and unreservedly, sincerely apologised to Mr Bloomberg, and has expressed its regret for any stress it may have caused him or his family in connection herewith.
This matter has now been settled between the parties, the terms of which will remain strictly confidential.
Mark Currie
Chair: National Horseracing Authority
Duly authorised by the NHA Board
Exactly How Good Is Jan Van Goyen?
Jan Van Goyen will be difficult to assess until he faces older horses in the Gr 1 L’Ormarins King’s Plate (Picture: Wayne Marks)
Small horses are every now and then able to overcome their lack of size withffiv other special attributes. The Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas Gr 1 winner, Jan Van Goyen, appears to be such a type.
His special attribute is his fine action in which he has a good length of stride and a very quick stride. It was actually stride frequency which separated the great Winx from the rest as she was able to do 170 strides per minute compared to the average racehorses 130 to 140 per minute.
It will be interesting when the sectional timing data is out to check the number of strides statistic relating to Jan Van Goyen.
What is without question though, is his ability to relax in the running and to quicken seemingly effortlessly.
He does not look under any stress whether just relaxing in the running, accelerating or going at full tilt.
This points to a horse with a magnificent action i.e it covers plenty of ground in quick time while being uncomplicated and smooth.
It can be described as a machine-like action, with each stride the same as the other and it has a rhythmical frequency.
However, it is always easy to get carried away when a three-year-old wins an iconic, stallion-producing race like the Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas Gr 1 covincingly.
The one man who is not getting carried away at all by the current three-year-old crop is one of the country’s most respected racing analysts, Karel Miedema.
Previous examples of Ability Ratings (AR) Karel has given Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas Gr 1 winners are 109 for One Stripe last year, 97 for Snow Pilot in 2023, 110 for Charles Dickens in 2022, 113 for Double Superlative in 2021 and 99 for Russian Rock in 2020.
He has only awarded Jan Van Goyen an AR of 100 for Saturday’s run.
Jan Van Goyen ran a better time in the Guineas than Dave The King did over the same 1600m distance in the Ridgemont Green Point Stakes Gr 2 with both carrying 60kg, but interestingly Karel awards Dave The King an AR of 110 for his win.
Jan Van Goyen is currently the 3/1 favourite for the L’Ormarins King’s Plate Gr 1 and his fans will be snapping that up as he does look to potentially be a special horse.
Aldo Domeyer’s comments after the Guineas were interesting, as his mount Happy Verse had moved up well and he confirmed, “I had a great deal of confidence entering the final two furlongs.” He concluded by saying, “He (Jan Van Goyen) won like a really good horse, I believe a decent horse beat us today.”
Mathew de Kock believes there is improvement to come from Jan Van Goyen, so was looking forward to seeing where he stood by taking on older horses.
The proof of the pudding is in the eating, but the three-year-old vs older horse debate in this year’s L’Ormarins King’s Plate Gr 1 will pivot around Jan Van Goyen and it is going to be a particularly fascinating race.
See It Again has burst right back into the picture too after losing ground at the start and storming through to finish a 0,35 length third. Every cloud has a silver lining and trainer Michael Roberts and owner Nick Jonsson might now be glad See It Again’s loading shenanigans cost him participation in the Betway Summer Cup Gr 1, as the humid conditions in which the latter race was run seemed to take a lot out of many of the runners, not to mention the oft stated difficulty of traveling to Johannesburg and then down to Cape Town. Instead they have a fresh horse who has two big races in Cape Town plus a R10 million carrot (the Hollywoodbets Durban July Gr 1) to look forward to.
Garrix was a much talked about horse last season and he proved his supporters correct by producing a flying finish in the Green Point Stakes Gr 2 to be beaten just a long neck in his second run of the season.
Eight On Eighteen makes his seasonal reappearance in the L’Ormarins King’s Plate Gr 1 and has drifted to 9/2 second favourite, which is not surprising considering it is on the sharp side for him, while See It Again and Garrix are 6/1 joint third-favourite.
Dave The King is 7/1 along with Green Point Stakes Gr 2 fourth-placed Sail The Seas.
The best value is Gladatorian at 17/1. He can be forgiven for running below par in his first run at Hollywoobets Kenilworth and this usually ultra consistent horse should bounce back. It seems a bit of a knee jerk reaction by the bookmakers to have written him off so quickly.
Dave And Jan Stay On The Same Merit Ratings
The 128-rated Dave The King is led in after just holding on in the Gr 2 Ridgemont Green Point Stakes over 1600m and he remains on 128 (Picture: Wayne Marks)
NHA Press Release
Handicapping Ratings Update
Hollywoodbets CAPE GUINEAS (Grade 1)
JAN VAN GOYEN’S official merit rating remains unchanged at 118 following his commanding victory in the Grade 1 Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas over 1600m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday. The Handicappers noted that JAN VAN GOYEN, who entered the race at least eight merit rating points superior to any other runner, did not need to improve on his pre-race figure to secure the win under level weight conditions. As a result, he was used as the line horse to assess the race, and his rating stays at 118.
To establish the correct pecking order, the Handicappers applied merit‑rating increases based on each runner’s proximity to the winner and line horse:
- HAPPY VERSE (2nd): raised from 103 to 113
- RANDOLPH HEARST: increased from 106 to 112
- GIMMIE RULES: lifted from 102 to 111
- FOX ON THE RUN: adjusted from 95 to 110
- STAR MAJOR: moved from 101 to 109
- BEWARE: up from 91 to 103
Three horses received merit‑rating reductions following this contest:
- MALMESBURY MISSILE: lowered from 110 to 108
- ARISTOCRATIC: dropped from 103 to 101
- ABSOLUTELY YES: reduced from 103 to 100
RIDGEMONT GREEN POINT STAKES (Grade 2)
The official merit rating for DAVE THE KING remains unchanged at 128 following his gutsy victory in the Grade 2 Ridgemont Green Point Stakes over 1600m. The Handicappers were of the opinion that DAVE THE KING was the most suitable line horse for assessing this race, hence his unchanged rating.
Two horses received merit‑rating increases:
- GARRIX: raised from 118 to 123
- JET FORCE: raised from 93 to 120 after finishing 6th in a field averaging 122, a performance well above his pre-race ranking where he had been rated to finish last
The following horses received merit‑rating drops:
- COSMIC SPEED: reduced from 126 to 125
- SNOW PILOT: reassessed from 125 to 122
SplashOut CAPE MERCHANTS (Grade 2)
OUTLAW KING has earned a revised rating of 118, up from 115, after successfully defending his Grade 2 SplashOut Cape Merchants title over 1200m. In this event, third‑placed O’TENIKWA was deemed the most suitable line horse for assessing the race, and his rating remains unchanged at 118.
The runner up, I AM GIANT, increased from 122 to 124 for finishing a full length ahead of the line horse.
No fewer than three horses received merit‑rating reductions in this race:
- CAFE CULTURE: lowered from 122 to 120
- DANCE VARIETY: reduced from 113 to 112
- AIR RAID: dropped from 97 to 94
1Voucher VICTRESS STAKES (Grade 3)
SUKHUMVIT has had her rating increased from 94 to 100 following her victory in the 1Voucher Victress Stakes (Grade 3) over 1800m. Although she achieved a higher performance figure in this race, her rating was capped at 100 in accordance with the race conditions, which prevent Handicappers from raising the winner by more than six points. The Handicappers identified the runner‑up, RAINBOW LORIKEET, as the most suitable line horse for assessing the race, leaving her rating unchanged on 113.
LITTLE SUZIE and TIME FOR LOVE received two points drops each, from 113 to 111 and from 104 to 102 respectively.
OWNPAY PENINSULA HANDICAP (Grade 3)
REGULATION has had his merit rating adjusted from 99 to 105 following his victory in the Grade 3 OwnPay Peninsula Handicap over 1800m. Third‑placed ZEITZ was identified as the most suitable key horse for assessing the race, and his rating remains unchanged on 101.
The runner‑up, MAJOR MASTER – who was 1 point (0.5kg) under sufferance at the weights and finished three lengths ahead of the line horse – was raised accordingly from 96 to 102.
PROMETTERE was the only runner to receive a drop in the ratings, going down to 100 from 101.
Enquiries:
The Handicapping Team
Fire Attack Takes On An Alternate LKP Prep Plan
The crack Fire Away colt Fire Attack is pictured winning the Gr 1 HKJC World Pool Champions Challenge over 2000m at Turffontein Standside last season (JC Photos)
Highveld Horse Of The Year Fire Attack was scratched from Saturday’s Ridgemont Green Point Stakes, but is still very much on track for his L’Ormarins King’s Plate and WSB Met targets.
Trainer Alec Laird said on Sturday morning, “He’s been staving off a virus this week and is not ready to race in today’s prep race for the L’Ormarins King’s Plate. His blood reading has come down the right way, but not enough to run today.”
Fire Attack’s SAA reading this morning was 55.
He was thus scratched with an official reason “Elevated SAA.”
Alec added, “Besides him recovering from a virus that should run its course in a couple of weeks, having taken out our stable just before the Summer Cup, he had also missed some crucial workouts due to the excessive rain in Johannesburg.”
Alec continued, “The good news is that he’s going to be fine by next week. To run today would have set him back for his ultimate missions in fours weeks time and seven weeks time respectively. The new plan is to run in a 1000m race on December 24 at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth and then gallop him with Sunset Riot at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on January 3 in preparation for the King’s Plate a week later.”
The field Fire Attack faces on December 24 is shown below:
1st R62000, 2nd R22000, 3rd R17250, 4th R13000, 5th R13000, 6th R13000, 7th R13000, 8th R13000, RCIS R8750
WISHING YOU A MERRY FESTIVE SEASON CONDITIONS PLATE
For all Horses with at least one win
| 1 | 1 | Fire Attack | 54 | 126 | A | Calvin Habib | Alec Laird | |
| 2 | 2 | Elusive Winter | 56 | 98 | TBA | *Sifisokuhle Bungane -4.0 | Michelle Rix | |
| 3 | 3 | Tenango | 59.5 | 126 | A | Aldo Domeyer | Candice Bass | |
| 4 | 4 | Winter Snap | 51.5 | 108 | A | Juan Paul v’d Merwe +1.0 | Candice Bass | |
| 5 | 5 | Kaiboy | 55.5 | 109 | T A | Andrew Fortune | Candice Bass | |
| 6 | 6 | Un Bel Di | 52 | 99 | A | Muzi Yeni | Justin Snaith | |
| 7 | 7 | Lucky Lad | 61 | 123 | TBA | Richard Fourie | Sean Tarry | |
| 8 | 8 | Mexican Pete | 53 | 84 | A | *Dezahn Louw -3.0 | Herman Brown | |
| Same Trainer | ||||||||
| (3,4,5) | ||||||||
Trust Will Not Be Tempted To Travel To Cape Town
Trust defeats Jan Van Goyen in the Gr 2 Jackpot City Dingaans, but won’t be tempted to go for the L’Ormarins King’s Plate (Candiese Lenferna Photography)
Many have been wondering whether the connections of Jan Van Goyen’s conqueror in the Gr 2 Jackpot City Dingaans, the Candice and Tammy Dawson-trained Trust, will be tempted to supplement him for the Gr 1 L’Ormarins King’s Plate considering Jan Van Goyen has been priced up favourite for the prestigious weight for age mile event after his easy Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas victory.
However, the connections have confirmed they have no intention at all of diverging from their original agenda. which did not include the L’Ormarins King’s Plate.
Jan Van Goyen is one of five three-year-olds entered in the King’s Plate alongside Happy Verse, Gimme Rules, Good For You and Vapour Trail and he comfortably beat all four of the others on Saturday in the Guineas.
Duchess Of Paloma Can Make It A Hattrick
Duchess Of Paloma is a progressive sort who should enjoy the 2000m course and distance of race 6 and she has been tipped to land a hattrick (JC Photos)
There is a nine race meeting at the Vaal Classic track on Thursday and it should provide punters with some opportunities.
Duchess Of Paloma is a progressive sort who followed up on her maiden win over 1600m with a fluent win over 1800m and she can follow up again in a MR76 Handicap for fillies and mares over 2000m. The James Crawford-trained Royal Mo filly is out of a mare by stamina influence Black Minnaloushe and should enjoy the further step up in trip to 2000m and she has not only landed a good draw of two, but the five point raise she was given is alleviated by 4kg claimer Savanna Valjalo being aboard. Sigfrid Swing is by William Longsword out of a Trippi mare whose two wins were from 1400m to 1600m, but she was not disgraced in the Listed East Cape Oaks over 2000m, so the hard-knocking Sigfrid Swing should enjoy the step up in trip. AnnwithanE is distance suited and has the form to be right there. She has 2,25 lengths to make up on Duchess Of Paloma and is 2,5kg better off if the apprentice claim is ignored. Gavin Lerena stays aboard and they now jump from draw three compared to draw ten last time. Scarlett Heart is also 2,5kg better off if apprentice claims are ignored and that is for just a 1,90 length beating by Duchess Of Paloma, but she has another wide draw to overcome, although Muzi Yeni stays aboard and is an expert at overcoming wide draws. Ethical goes for a hattrick and is distance suited and only three points higher for her last win. Furthemore, Callan Murray, who was aboard Duchess Of Paloma last time, now takes the ride. However, she has a tricky draw of six and is held by Duchess Of Paloma on a line through Surprise Party.
The highest rated race at the meeting is the second, a MR 93 Handicap over 2000m for fillies and mares, and the progressive Nkwenkwezi looks the one to beat. She comes off a hattrick and relished the step up in trip to 2000m last time, so she can overcome a five point raise and looks capable of rising above her current merit rating of 78. She sneaks into the handicap with the minimum weight of 52kg and Muzi Yeni takes over from Calvin Habib. Boom Boom also looks to be on the up and can be a threat from draw two in the small field over a suitable trip. Arctic Silver will enjoy the step back up in trip and Savanna Valjalo, who rides 1kg overweight, will ensure she gets an effective 3kg claim. Habib switches to Free In Seattle who is better than her last run and can bounce back. Woman’s World is 1kg better off with Boom Boom for a 0,70 length beating, so has a chance too.
In the first leg of the Pick 6 over 1000m Inspector James has not raced since early August, but has the form to be a big runner and he has a favourable high draw. Monkey’s Wedding ran well second time out and should improve, so looks to be the chief threat. Of the first-timers Sabrage is by Canford Cliffs and is a half-brother to Old Fashioned, who has won his last two starts, so he should run well.
In the fifth race over 2400m,Asiah’s Tiara is knocking on the door and should be right there over a trip she could well enjoy. Euphrates is proven over this trip and has a chance. Emerald City ran a cracker when stepped up to this trip last time. Cuzzie has shown some ability and being by Futura he might enjoy this trip. Future Success is also by Futura and could improve.
In the seventh over 1200m Xenophon is a promising sort who should progress. Antonio Gaudi won two days ago and has a good draw over an ideal trip off a three point higher mark. Mister Wilsson should beat Antonio Gaudi on formlines but has a tough draw. Bright And Brazen is in with a chance from a fair draw. Fully Loaded is consistent and has a chance.
In the eighth over 1700m Palace Attack has a form chance in this line up and has a good draw. Olympian Gold is capable of being in the shake up and is drawn in pole with 4kg claimer Savanna Valjalo up. Mocha Frappe has a lot of talent but is not straightforward, so his improved comeback run after a long layoff was encouraging. Bellerephon ran well over 1800m last time and has a chance here from a good draw. Jabari Thimba won his maiden easily when stepped up to 1500 and will enjoy this trip to so can do well from a good draw off a reasonable mark of 84.
In the ninth over 1500m Actuary improved last time and will relish the step up in trip. Stokesy disappointed last time but if reproducing his penultimate start he has a chance. Red Sunsrise has a good form chance here. Codeword is capable of improvement and will be staying on. Hurricane Power is drawn in pole and was third at long odds over 1000m last time, so is an interesting runner here because this Vercingetorix filly is out of an Encosta de Lago mare whose only win was over 1600m.
In the first leg of the PA over 1000m the hard-knocking Master’s Lady looks hard to beat.
In the first race over 1500m Flying World can win this if reproducing her run over 1450m in August and she gets a fair draw for a change.
Bass/Domeyer Four-Timer At Midweek Meeting
Wyze Declaration, a half-sister to Gr 1 winner Bohica and to Gr 1 runner up Bartholdi, swoops late to win the second race (Picture: Wayne Marks)
Candice Bass and Aldo Domeyer dominated the Hollywoodbets Kenwilworth meeting with a four-timer together.
La Patrona by the German sire Alson got the ball rolling for them in Race 1, a Maiden over 1800m. The Maine Chance Farms homebred three-year-old filly only just got the better of Woman In Gold, winning by a short-head after going for a run down the inside.
They won the second race, a Maiden over 140om with Wyze Declaration, a three-year-old daughter of Declarationofpeace out of Wysiwyg, which makes her a half-sister to Gr 1 winner Bohica (Capetown Noir) as well as to narrow Gr 1 runner up Bartholdi (Act Of War). Wyze Declaration was bred by Bloomhill Stud of Mooi River in KZN and is owned by Wilgerbosdrift (Pty) Ltd (Nom: Mrs M Slack).
In the eighth race over 1400m, Bass and Domeyer combined with Astronomical Boy, an 84-rated Gimmethegreenlight three-year-old gelding who is a half-brother to Gr 1 winner Cosmic Speed. Astronomical Boy only just got the better of Money Extraction. Astronomical Boy was also bred by Maine Chance Farms and is owned by Khaya Stables.
Bass and Domyer won the last race over 1400m with the Drakenstein Stud homebred Lancaster Bomber filly Diamond Bomber, who ran out a comfortable 1,75 length winner off a 75 merit rating.
Domeyer is now on 16 wins for the season achieved at a strike rate of 18.60%.
Bass is on 29 wins at 10.98%.
Maine Chance Farms bred three winners on the day in total.
Today's Question
FIELDS, Thursday, 17 December
Today’s Question Answer
