Jan Van Goyen looks to be full of class and could set the Cape Summer Season alight (Candiese Lenferna Photography)
Sarah Whitelaw
Last season, the Western Cape played host to a memorable Cape Summer Season.
The memorable Summer Festival Of Racing was anchored by eight exceptional race meetings, with the Summer Festival having taken place from November 2024 until March 2025.
The first of the G1 race days to take place in the Western Cape this season is World Sports Betting Cape Fillies Guineas day, which is scheduled to be held at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on December 6th while Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas day will take place the following week.
Visiting trainers are a regular fixture in the Western Cape at this time of year, and a number of the country’s top trainers are set to, once again, grace the Cape with their presence in 2025-2026.
Race Coast have confirmed that Clinton Binda, Peter Muscutt, Sean Tarry, and Stuart Ferrie have either arrived or are expected to arrive early next month, while Mike and Mathew De Kock have also confirmed that they will be participating in the Summer Festival this season.
A few potential visiting horses to look out for could include:
JAN VAN GOYEN: 3 c Master Of My Fate -Daydream Believer
Last season’s Equus Champion 2YO Colt looked hugely exciting at two, with the scope to improve further at three. After romping home on debut, Jan Van Goyen followed up a runner up effort with back to back wins. The colt concluded his two-year-old campaign with a near three and three quarter length win over Tin Pan Alley in the G1 World Pool Moment Of The Day Premiers Champion Stakes. The runner up has subsequently franked that form when winning the G2 Betway Joburg Spring Challenge in good style, while Premiers Champion Stakes third Chronicle King made a winning seasonal debut on Saturday.
COGNAC: 3 c Rafeef -Tiffindell
Rafeef looks to have a cracking crop of three-year-olds this season, with this crop including the likes of Cognac. A fluent winner on debut, Cognac made it two wins from two starts when winning convincingly at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday, and he looks to have a bright future ahead of him. The well bred Cognac is out of the twice winning Silvano mare Tiffindell, whose dam Gluwein dead-heated for first place in the 2010 G1 Klawervlei Majorca Stakes.
GOLDEN PALM: 3 f Master Of My Fate -Croisette
Crowned last season’s champion two-year-old filly, Golden Palm won four of five starts, winning her four races by an aggregate of more than 20 lengths. After finishing third on debut, Golden Palm went on to break her maiden by five and a half lengths. The Alan Greeff trained filly went on to reel off a hatrick of feature race wins, culminating in a facile win in the G1 Douglas Whyte Thekwini Stakes.
ANOTHERDANCEFORME: 3 f Master Of My Fate -Destiny Dancer
Unbeaten in six starts, with her victories including the G2 SplashOut Golden Slipper, Anotherdanceforme looks to be a very exciting prospect for the season ahead. After winning all five starts at two, the Master Of My Fate filly made an eyecatching return to the track when she won the Racehorse Owners Association Plate. Under regular rider Richard Fourie, Anotherdanceforme won well despite being very fresh beforehand, and there should be plenty more to come from her.
DIRECT HIT: 3 f Canford Cliffs -Wrecking Ball
Yet another top-class prospect for the Alan Greeff stable, Direct Hit was an exceptional performer at two, when her wins included a convincing win in the G1 Allan Robertson Championship, and a defeat of males with a two and three quarter length win in the G3 SplashOut Cape Of Good Hope Nursery. (Her beaten rivals in the Nursery included subsequent G1 Gold Medallion winner Good For You). Direct Hit made a pleasing return to the track when she scored a comfortable win over 1200m at Fairview. A filly with tremendous cruising speed, Direct Hit promises to be one of the stars of the season.
GLADATORIAN: 6 g Vercingetorix -Harvard Crimson
One of South Africa’s top rated thoroughbreds (his official rating is 127), Gladatorian had a wonderful season in 2024-2025, winning four races. He was a great credit to his connections, with Gladatorian winning both his first race of last season and his last outing. The Vercingetorix gelding ended the season with a well deserved first G1 win when he beat G1 Hollywoodbets Durban July winner The Real Prince to claim the G1 HKJC Champions Cup. Gladatorian looks primed to be a contender for both the G1 L’Ormarins King’s Plate and G1 World Sports Betting Cape Town Met.
QUICKSTEPGAL: 3 f Vercingetorix -Victoriana
One of the best two-year-olds seen out last season, Quickstepgal made an impressive seasonal reappearance when she won handsomely at Hollywoodbets Greyville recently. The Tienie Prinsloo trained filly won three of five starts at two, including both the G3 Tote Strelitzia Stakes and Listed Ridgemont Devon Air Stakes, and ended her two-year-old campaign with a runner up finish, to Anotherdanceforme, in the G2 Splashout Golden Slipper. Quickstepgal’s Devon Air win was particuarly eye catching as she gave runner up, and subsequent G1 Douglas Whyte Thekwini Stakes second place finisher, Tina Lovelace 2kgs and beat her by more than two and a half lengths.
I AM GIANT: 6 g Querari -Vars Honour
I Am Giant caused a 25-1 shock when he won last season’s G3 Post Merchants. Merchants fourth place finisher Buffalo Storm Cody subsequently won the G1 Mercury Sprint, while Merchants also-rans Questioning and Royal Aussie have also both won feature races subsequently. I Am Giant himself recently put up an eye catching performance when he won at Hollywoodbets Greyville, and he looks primed for a good season this year.
ASIYE PHAMBILI: 6 m What A Winter -Cast A Spell
One of the best sprinters in South Africa in 2024-2025, Asiye Phambili will be looking to duplicate the success she enjoyed in the Cape last season. After winning both the G3 World Sports Betting Southern Cross Stakes and G2 Cartier Sceptre Stakes, Asiye Phambili went on to show high-class form in G1 contests. The daughter of What A Winter was beaten just a short-head when second in the G1 South African Fillies Sprint before she went on to finish third in the G1 Mercury Sprint.
