Eight On Eighteen could be the Justin Snaith yard’s leading Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas contender (Picture: Wayne Marks)
The Justin Snaith yard have plenty to be excited about at present, but the heartfelt words of Jonathan Snaith late on Sunday is a reflection of just how buoyant the industry is at present.
Justin has three entries in the Gr 1 WSB Cape Fillies Guineas to be run on December 7 and four entries for the Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas to be run on December 14.
On Sunday Jonathan was the biggest buyer at the Cape Racing Sales 2024 Mixed Sale Featuring Nadeson Park.
In the Cape Fillies Guineas the yard have the Gr 2 Western Cape Fillies Championship runner up, Beware The Bomb (Lancaster Bomber), the horse who was a close up sixth in the latter race, Little Suzie (Trippi), and also easy recent maiden winner Goodnessgraciousme (Gimmethegreenlight).
In the Cape Guineas they have Eight On Eighteen (Lancaster Bomber), Sail The Seas (Vercingetorix), Great Plains (Danon Platina) and Powerandtheglory (Gimmethegreenlight).
Beware The Bomb would appear to be their chief hope in the Cape Fillies Guineas, but Jonathan said, “Little Suzie is a runner too. Things didn’t go her way last time out and she’ll be far more effective over the mile.”
Beware The Bomb, Little Suzie and Goodnessgraciousme have drawn five, six and seven out of the 13 entries.
Great Plains, Eight On Eighteen, Powerandtheglory and Sail The Seas have drawn three, ten, eleven and eighteen in the Cape Guineas.
Jonathan rates Eight On Eighteen as the yard’s chief Cape Guineas runner.
He said, “He is a serious horse.”
He added, “Sail The Seas hasn’t put a hoof wrong, but hasn’t been tested against a higher level yet. He won two class 4 races so needs to step up now and has a mountain to climb from the 18 gate.”
Jonthan concluded, “One Stripe looks a hard nut to crack from the one draw.”
At the CRS Nadeson Sale Jonathan spend R1.1 million on three lots, purchasing the All Too Hard mare Roman Royalty for R450,000 together with her Gimmethegreenlight colt at foot; Roman Royalty’s Gimmethegreenlight yearling colt for R400,000; and the Captain Al mare Bright Eyed Girl, who is out of Galileo mare Sidera, for R250,000 together with her Soqrat colt at foot.
Roman Royalty is a well-related Australian-bred one time winner and has been covered by Sharp Frank.
Bright Eyed Girl won the Gr 3 Fillies Mile and the Starling Stakes and has also been covered by Sharp Frank.
Jonathan said, “The yearling we purchased was an impressive colt and I believe he was the finest specimen available.
We purchased his mother, Roman Royalty, based on her pedigree, but equally important was the appearance of the Gimmethegreenlight yearling and Gimethegreenlight foal she has produced.”
He continued, “The market was moderately strong, considering the draft that was for sale.
This is a positive indication of the overall strength of the market.
In the past twelve months, I’ve received more inquiries about horse ownership than I have in the last thirty years. We are immensely grateful to Greg Bortz, Hollywoodbets, and the Cape Racing Team for their efforts. They have helped bring our sport back into the spotlight after a fifty-year decline. As a result, breeders should start seeing profits, reflected in the increased sales averages over the past two years. This trend will lead to more investment in the breed, which should enhance both the numbers and quality of thoroughbreds.”
Jonathan concluded, “I am very excited about the future of our province.”
