Aqua Calidae (Vercingetorix) was a huge disappointment in the recent Gr 3 Cape Classic, but was reported to have been making a respiratory noise and he was not striding out. Hopefully the Eric Sands-trained colt can bounce back (Picture: Wayne Marks)
Sarah Whitelaw
From November 2026 to February 2027, Hollywoodbets Kenilworth comes alive with the Cape Summer Festival of Racing – six feature race days celebrating world-class racing, Cape Town’s summer lifestyle and the excitement of a season like no other.
The Summer Festival hosts some of South Africa’s top feature races, including the G1 World Sports Betting Cape Fillies Guineas, G1 Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas, G1 L’Ormarins King’s Plate, G1 World Sports Betting Cape Town Met, and the G1 Swiss Derby.
Punters will be treated to some of the finest equine athletes shining in the Cape this season, and there will be, no doubt, particular interest in some of the exciting sophomores set to grace the Hollywoodbets Kenilworth turf this season.
Potential stars of the 2026-2027 Cape Summer Festival could include:
Continue The Dream: 3 c Gimmethegreenlight -Real Princess
A full-brothter to three graded stakes winners, notably Equus Champion Gimme A Prince and dual G1 winner The Real Prince, this well bred colt (who also hails from the immediate family of 2026 G3 Cape Classic winner Kalahari King) has shown plenty of potential in his brief career thus. He won his first two starts in style. After making a winning debut over 1400m at Hollywoodbets Durbanville, Continue The Dream maintained his unbeaten record when landing a C Stakes over 1400m. While the form of Continue The Dream’s maiden win has not worked out, he remains a colt of considerable promise.
Rain In France: 3 g Futura -Imvula
Lightly raced, the half-brother to Wilgerbosdrift Triple Tiara winner and dual Equus Champion Rain In Holland made a big impression when breaking his maiden at just the second time of asking. The flashy grey, whose dam is a half-sister to a famous grey in the form of Dancer’s Daughter, strolled home to win by nearly ten lengths when victorious over 1400m at Hollywoodbets Durbanville. This gelding should only get better when stepped up in trip.
Note To Self: 4 g Futura -Guiding Light
One of the more progressive three-year-olds seen out last season, Note To Self ended his three-year-old campaign with a win in the G1 Hollywoodbets Durban July. He made a highly encouraging four-year-old debut when running second, conceding weight to the top-class winner Legal Counsel, in the G3 Cape Mile over a trip short of his best.
Questioning: 6 g Querari -Wheredowego
South Africa’s reigning champion miler, Questioning enjoyed an outstanding season in 2025-2026, with the son of Querari winning five of his eight starts including the G1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge. Questioning was also just touched off when second in the 2026 G1 L’Ormarins King’s Plate and connections would no doubt love to see him go one better this time round.
Kalahari King: 3 g Vercingetorix -Really Royal
Out of a stakes winning full-sister to G1 Cape Guineas winning sire William Longsword, Kalahari King showed the benefits of a gelding operation when accounting for some highly regarded rivals in the recent G3 Cape Classic. His irrepresible rider was quick to compare Kalahari King to Variety Club in the post-race interview, although Kalahari King has a long way to go match that champion’s feats.
Over My Shoulder: 3 f Vercingetorix -Sempre Libre
One of the best bred fillies currently in training in South Africa, this daughter of Vercingetorix is a half-sister to Eight On Eighteen, South Africa’s Horse Of The Year in 2024-2025. Over My Shoulder made an eye catching debut when she won over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth, and duly followed up next time out when scoring a hard-fought win at Hollywoodbets Durbanville. She then caught the eye when running on strongly for fourth, beaten less than three lengths by champion Palace Of Arvernia, in the G2 Western Cape Fillies Championship. Over My Shoulder returned from her run in the Fillies Championship with a cut to her right hind leg.
Wreath Of Snow: 3 c Vercingetorix -Snowdance
A R9 000 000 Premier Sale buy, Wreath Of Snow has a long way to go to live up to his illustrious pedigree, but he has done little wrong in a brief career thus far. Bred on similar lines to the aforementioned Over My Shoulder, Wreath Of Snow is a half-brother to Drakenstein young sire, and G1 Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas winner, Snow Pilot. After finishing fourth on debut, when racing over a trip well short of his best, Wreath Of Snow went on to break his maiden next time out when beating subsequent winner Legal Dancer by two lengths. Wreath Of Snow went on to win again next time out.
As a half-brother to a Guineas winner and out of a Fillies Guineas winner, Wreath Of Snow certainly has the pedigree to make his mark.
Eight On Eighteen: 5 h Lancaster Bomber -Sempre Libre
The champion ended his five race campaign at four with a decisive win in the G1 HKJC Champions Cup, beating Horse Of The Year See It Again a shade cosily by over a length. Eight On Eighteen showed he has not lost his zest for racing when he made a winning five-year-old debut at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth at Hollywoodbets Durbanville. Eight On Eighteen appeared to have something in hand when he held off the highly rated Hah Lah Lah to win by a deceptive short-head.
Rich Man’s World: 3 c One World -Sommersonne
One of the best two-year-olds seen out last season, he won his first three starts by an aggregate of nearly 15 lengths. This streak included a seven and a half length romp in the G3 Tote Godolphin Barb Stakes. Rich Man’s World ended his two-year-old campaign with a gallant second in the G1 Gold Medallion, when going down by just a long neck. He made a very encouraging three-year-old debut when scoring a comfortable win at Hollywoodbets Durbanville.
Aquae Calidae: 3 c Vercingetorix -Bela-Bela
By a champion out of a champion, and closely related to both Over My Shoulder and Wreath Of Snow, Aquae Calidae showed huge promise at two. After finishing second to Kalahari King on debut, the blue blood went on to win his next two starts with a five length maiden win (over a subsequent winner) followed by a smooth, two and a quarter length win in the G3 Langerman (where his beaten rivals included Kalahari King), a race long associated with unveiling future champions. His jockey reported that Aquae Calidae was making a respiratory noise and not striding out after running last of six in the G3 Cape Classic, but remains a colt of considerable potential.
