Picture: The Cape Summer Season moves tomorrow to its flagship racecourse, Hollywoodbets Kenilworth (Cape Racing).

Kenilworth Racing Company, Cape Racing Brand

The non-business orientated might have been left wondering lately what the difference is between Kenilworth Racing and Cape Racing.

The answer to that question is Kenilworth Racing and Cape Racing are simply the company name and the brand name respectively of the same entity.

Kenilworth Racing (PTY) Ltd was recently bought by bookmaking firm Hollywoodbets and GBM Investments, a private equity company headed by leading racehorse owner Greg Bortz.

The complex deal was worth R330-million and has ultimately seen Bortz being installed as executive chairman of Kenilworth Racing, which manages racing in the Western Cape.

Kenilworth Racing owns Hollywoodbets Kenilworth and Hollywoodbets Durbanville as well as the Milnerton and Phillippi training centres.

Bortz explained that those four entities on their own were a bit limiting as a reference when compared to the goal of the company.

The current goal of Kenilworth racing is to uplift, rejuvenate and reinvigorate Cape racing in its entirety to a level where it a jurisdiction that has a local and international blend and becomes a focal point of SA racing.

Among other goals, Cape Racing aims to “weaponise” local trainers to make it easier for them to attract clients and they have various plans in place to increase the active racehorse population of the Western Cape, which will have various spinoff effects including driving betting turnover upward.

Cape Racing is thus the all encompassing brand name used to drive the company Kenilworth Racing upward.

Picture: A full field of horses for a low grade staying race in KZN storm past the post for the first time (Candiese Lenferna).

Bortz On Increasing The Cape’s Horse Population And The Kenilworth Facelift

Greg Bortz has explained that the programming of racing in the Western Cape to cater for lower rated horses and thus stop the “bleed” of horses away from the jurisdiction was a “chicken and egg” situation so would not be easy to implement.

He also explained that the time period of a year set aside to give Kenilworth racecourse a facelift was a precautionary measure and he hoped it would be completed sooner.

Because of the previous bleed of racehorses away from the Western Cape, there are relatively few lower rated horses in the jurisdiction when compared to jurisdictions like the Highveld where a sound mid-60’s merit rated horse can look forward to a long career.

The programming in the Western Cape is thus going to have to put on enough lower rated races to enable the population of lower rated horses to build and to prevent them from leaving for greener pastures.

The various incentives put in place will help the cause.

Keeping maiden winners in the Cape will also be vital.

Cape Town has a much higher volume of two-year-olds than any other province, so keeping those horses in the jurisdiction as three and four-year-olds will be the key to increasing the population.

Keeping the maiden winners of a class not previously seen as good enough to be competitive in Cape Town will likely be the immediate key to building the population of lower rated horses.

The common overseas practice, but rare South African one, of running maidens in handicaps could also help.

Bortz has already explained earlier this week that there were not going to be many cosmetic changes to Hollywoodbets Kenilworth that would be immediately visible to racegoers, but instead there would chiefly be necessary infrastructure changes like fixing rooves as well as addressing plumming issues and making sure the multi-million rand generators are in good working order etc.

He reckoned Cape Town’s flagship racecourse would look like a construction site through November, but hopefully by the time of Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas day the scaffolding etc. would no longer be necessary.

Picture: Molly tips Hithemhardsunshine to win The Need For Speed Sprint and he would be an appropriate winner (Wayne Marks).

Molly’s Suggestions For Tomorrow’s Hollywoodbets Kenilworth Meeting

Charles Dickens can follow the script in Cape Classic

Candice Bass-Robinson’s unbeaten runner is the favourite for the grade 3 race at Kenilworth

David Mollet (Business Day)

It’s a simple fact: most top horses in the sport have strong names. One who falls into that category is Charles Dickens named after the famous British writer (1812-1870).

Coolmore always name their horses well. Four who spring to mind are Dylan Thomas, Rip Van Winkle, Order Of St George and Rock Of Gibraltar.

An inmate of the Candice Bass-Robinson stable — which has 21 runners at Kenilworth on Saturday — Charles Dickens is unbeaten and hot favourite at 11-20 for the grade 3 Cape Classic.

The three-year-old is a son of Trippi owned and bred by Drakenstein Stud. They will be hoping he can scale the same heights as another of this sire’s progeny, Jet Dark.

The defeats of Baaeed and Nature Strip last weekend reminded fans there is no such thing as a racing certainty. Bookies will be looking to We’re Jamming, Port Louis and At My Command to upset the favourite.

We’re Jamming was bought out of the Piet Steyn yard by Greg Bortz and Gina Goldsmith after winning the Grade 3 Cape Racing Cape Of Good Hope Nursery. The Ridgemont Highlands-bred initially cost just R15,000. In six starts, the son of Duke Of Marmalade has earned close to R500,000.

Brett Crawford’s string is in the same sort of form as Charlie Appleby in the UK and the stable has two noteworthy representatives in Port Louis and At My Command.

Louis Mxothwa will be happy with his favourable draw on Port Louis while Keagan De Melo — right now the William Buick of SA racing — is drawn wide on the Kyaya Stables owned son of Querari.

The joker in the pack could be Glen Kotzen’s runner, Imposing, who disappointed on Durban July day but has since won two races with Calvin Habib in the saddle.

In the supporting feature — the Southeaster Sprint — Vaughan Marshall’s four-year-old, Safe Return, can give punters a good run for their money. The gelding was friendless in the market on his recent comeback run (4-1 to 10-1) and was beaten by his stablemate, Ambiorix.

While Ambiorix is another good mount for Habib, the main threat to Safe Return is likely to be Dean Kannemeyer’s three-time winner, Gimme A Prince. The four-year-old has fewer miles on the clock than any of his rivals.

Future Prince — looking a good buy at R150,000 — and Surjay are two Crawford runners with each-way chances with all of Barzalona, Bereave and Fifty Fiver very much in the mix.

Judged on his second behind Charles Dickens, Hithemhardsunshine — the slogan of ace tipster Shaheen Shaw — could be a Pick Six banker in the sixth race. The three-year-old is out of the five-time winning Trippi mare, Agra.

Tough Terrain is a strong contender from the Snaith yard and should go well reverting to the minimum trip.

KENILWORTH PICK 6 SELECTIONS

4th Race: (9) Allende (8) Jazzbella (1) Typeface (3) Sunlit From Heaven

5th Race: (6) Hold My Hand (2) Inara’s Dynasty (8) Golden Hostess (7) Who Do You Love

6th Race: (7) Hithemhardsunshine (5) Tough Terrain (8) Red Impact (3) Trompie

7th Race: (4) Safe Return (12) Gimme A Prince (5) Future Prince (2) Ambiorix

8th Race: (5) Charles Dickens (8) We’re Jamming (2) Port Louis (10) At My Command

9th Race: (2) The Second Wave (5) Transact (8) Ragnar Lothbrok (1) Dragonfly

Picture: Charles Dickens … another step towards stardom?

Cape Guru Mark Van Deventer Analyses The Cape Classic

Mark van Deventer

High-class Trippi colt, Charles Dickens is 5/10 odds on to stay perfect in the Grade 3 Cape Classic over 1400m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday.

Candice Bass Robinson’s runner has won all three starts showing the desired attributes of tractability, positional speed and finishing power so ought to be extremely hard to beat. Aldo Domeyer sticks solid on the chestnut who romped at both his juvenile runs, then came out after a freshening to saunter home in a Graduation Plate. He has already recorded stellar speed figures of 105 + and if maintaining that level must be a principal candidate for the Cape Guineas.

Brett Crawford saddles two horses trying to topple the favourite – Port Louis and At My Command.

The latter is drawn widest of all at ten but can get across under Keagan de Melo and try dictate the pace from the front. He is progressive and has a similar speed figure of 96 + to his consistent and talented companion, Port Louis. They clashed back in May 2022 with a narrow nose verdict going At My Command’s way.

We’re Jamming is an exciting prospect for Snaith Racing who comes back after a rest and gelding. The Nursery winner hints at serious potential having run as high as 98 in mid-June and it’s conceivable that, with added maturity, he breaks through the century mark which would bring him into the reckoning for Classic honours.

Dave the King really blotted his copybook last time at Durbanville when eased out the race to finish tailed off. Prior to that, he showed sustained pace to win his first two starts impressively with speed scores in the mid 90’s.

Realistically though, he is amongst a group of hopefuls including Countdown (s/s 98), Lord William, Le Mans, Wiccan Warrior and Imposing who will need to run way faster than they’ve ever done before to trouble the main protagonists – with Charles Dickens, in particular, setting a dauntingly high bar.

Picture: Lady Christine Laidlaw, the owner of Khaya Stables, leads in Delta Queen and Keagan de Melo a couple of years ago ( Chase Liebenberg)

Khaya Stables Extends Invaluable Partnership With Cape Racing For 2023 Season

Khaya Stables will be continuing their generous three-pronged sponsorship through the Cape Summer Festival of Racing, commencing with the first of the Graded races at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on 22 October 2022.

Khaya Stables’ Star Grooms initiative will acknowledge the unsung heroes of the sport with the Top Five grooms in all Graded and Listed races to receive cash incentives: 1st place: R5000; 2nd place: R2000; 3rd place: R1500; 4th place: R1000; 5th place: R500. The winning groom of each big race will also be awarded a trophy.

Grooms play an integral role in caring for thoroughbreds during their racing careers, so it is only fitting that their contribution to the sport is properly recognised.

Their labours are carried out far away from the limelight, yet they are essential workers.

A groom usually will take responsibility for three thoroughbred horses by feeding and watering, providing regular grooming of the horse, conducting physical inspections to detect soundness problems, plus treating smaller physical problems based on veterinary advice.

Grooms clock in early – commencing their routines before five o clock in the morning and their day of physical toil can extend into the evening hours. A normal working schedule involves being at stables six days a week, including weekends, with additional duties on race days.

Because most of this work is done behind the scenes, grooms rarely receive the public acknowledgement they deserve.

The Khaya Stables Star Grooms campaign was conceived to place them in the spotlight and reward them for their tireless dedication.

Khaya Stables have also renewed, indeed boosted, their sponsorship of the Graded Diadem Stakes – a prestigious 1200m sprint event at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth catering for South Africa’s fastest speed merchants. The total stakes for the 2023 edition will be R600 000. Hollywoodbets Kenilworth – a widely expansive, galloping track set in a beautiful location, is the oldest racecourse in South Africa and has AAA Grade Heritage status.

The Jockeys and Work Riders Challenge is a pioneering collaboration that has been exceptionally well-received since inception. It will again be staged on Cape Derby Day 2023 as the final race on the program, though with a slight tweak. This time, Jockeys and Work Riders will pair up in teams drawn out of a hat to rachet up the level of competition.

Khaya Stables benevolent support is perfectly opportune as Cape Racing is presently going through an exciting revival with R350 million rand allocated to uplifting the industry, and R35 million to be spent on venue upgrades.

The RaceCape powered by Hollywoodbets program has pumped in R15 million to reward owners/trainers for running their horses, which will increase fields sizes and boost betting turnovers – key to making the game sustainable. Together with stakes/prize money being significantly ramped up, these incentives have already piqued the interest of visiting trainers and 300 additional horses are expected to swell the local population, adding to the drama and spectacle.

Nine special race days over a four-month period between mid-November and end February ‘23 will form the Cape Summer Festival of Racing – a high quality offering which will appeal to racing fans around the globe who want an attractive product to bet on.

However, it’s not only about growing the sport – more broadly, Cape Racing will use extensive exposure to simultaneously market Cape Town as a highly desirable destination to domestic and international tourists – with massive positive economic impact on the Western Cape hospitality industry.

-ends-

Cape Racing’s Cape Summer Season feature program:

October

22 October: Cape Classic (G3)

22 October: Southeaster Sprint (Listed)

November

5 November: Cape Mile (G3)

5 November: Woolavington Stakes (Listed)

5 November: Laisserfaire Stakes (Listed)

12 November: W Cape Fillies Championship (G2)

19 November: Selangor Cup (G2)

19 November: Sophomore Sprint (Listed)

December

3 December: WSB Cape Fillies Guineas (G1)

3 December: WSB Green Point Stakes (G2)

3 December: Southern Cross Stakes (G2)

3 December: Cape Summer Stayers Handicap (G3)

11 December: Cape Merchants (G2)

17 December: Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas (G1)

17 December: Hollywoodbets Peninsula Handicap (G2)

17 December: Hollywoodbets Victress Stakes (G3)

January

7 January: L’Ormarins Kings Plate (G1)

7 January: Cartier Paddock Stakes (G1)

7 January: Premier Trophy (G2)

7 January: Chairman’s Cup (G3)

7 January: Cartier Sceptre Stakes (G2)

14 January: Jamaica Handicap (Listed)

21 January: Politician Stakes (G3)

28 January: WSB Cape Town Met (G1)

28 January: Cape Flying Championship (G1)

28 January: Majorca Stakes (G1)

28 January: Western Cape Stayers (G2)

28 January: Summer Juvenile Stakes (Listed)

February

25 February: Jonsson Workwear Cape Derby (G1)

25 February: Khaya Stables Diadem Stakes (G2)

25 February: Cape Of Good Hope Nursery (G3)

25 February: Prix Du Cap (G3)

25 February: Cape Oaks (Listed)

25 February: Jet Master Stakes (Listed)

Picture: Lot 43

Jan’s Millstream Offers Three Peaches

Jan Mantel’s Millstream Farm is producing, quality drafts year after year. Millstream is sending three lots to the 2022 Cape Racing Ready To Run and Unbroken 2-y-o sale on 29 October, all having been prepared by trainer Piet Botha, and looking the part.

Botha furnished comments on the trio and expressed his satisfaction with their preparation.

Lot 43 (pictured above headline) is a filly by Potala Palace out of New Money, an unraced mare by ace broodmare sire Captain Al from the close family of Cinnamon Sugar and Greenacre. Botha reported: “She is very forward, has a lot of pace and moves well. I am excited about her, I think she will gallop well and is the type of filly that will win early.”

Lot 57 – Queen Lagertha, a filly by Royal Mo out of Sukiwarrior, by Power. “She is a nice, low-actioned filly, covers decent ground. She is sweet and sensible and does everything right, but still a baby and will need a few more months. She is a stunning filly, nice and strong and moves well.”

Lot 71 is Big Fella, a colt by William Longsword out of the G3 Nursery winner Hot Affair by Jay Peg. “He is quite forward and ready to do a lot. He has a very nice action, a good mover that covers ground and has pace, he is sensible and is another that should come early, doing well,” Botha said.

Millstream’s Lot 70 has been withdrawn from the sale.

Picture: Cat Daddy winning the Listed Algoa Cup under Morne Winnaar in October 2019.

Glen Kotzen’s Soldier Cat Daddy Makes A Bit Of History

The Glen Kotzen-trained seven-year-old Ideal World gelding Cat Daddy, bred by the Gary Player Stud, became an eight-time winner today when producing a storming run from off the pace to win the Non-Black Type Nelson Mandela Bay Racing Poly Challenge over 1600m under Luyolo Mxothwa.

His stablemate My Bestie (Querari), also bred by the Gary Player Stud, finished a half-a-length second.

Included in Cat Daddy’s wins are a Listed win on the Fairview turf over 2000m, a Listed win on the Hollywoodbets Greyville poly over 1600m and a Listed win on the Hollywoodbets Greyville turf over 1600m.

Today he surely became the first horse in history to have won feature races on both surfaces at Hollywoodbets Greyville and both surfaces at Hollywoodbets Fairview.

He still has plenty of zip and does not show signs of slowing down with age.

He has been a fine horse to own for The Great 8 Stables and LLC Syndicate (Nom :Mr D H Barton).

Picture: The subject of the question (wikipedia).

Today’s Question

Which great rider made the following statement: “When you’re riding, only the race in which you’re riding is important.”

Hollywoodbets Kenilworth Fields

Hollywoodbets Greyville Turf Fields

Picture: Legendary jockey Bill “Willie” Shoemaker shown here on War Allied in 1981. (Rasmussen, Associated Press).

Today’s Question Answer

The quote is from American jockey Bill Shoemaker, who for 29 years held the world record for total professional jockey victories – 8,833 (which included four Kentucky Derbys, two Preakness wins and five Belmont Stakes wins among other major race victories).

Turf Talk Newsletter – 21 October 2022