The mighty One Stripe will likely have his last spin around a South African racecourse on Sunday at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth. He has dominated his division, seen off the best horses in the land in South Africa’s Premier Weight For Age race and now with his immediate future likely to be in USA, his supporters are encouraged to be part of what should be an easy win in the HSH Princess Charlene Big Cap over 1400m.
It takes a top horse to win the Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas, but it takes a special three-year-old to regather itself and dominate the L’Ormarins Kings Plate just three weeks later. A few three-year-olds have won the Kings Plate, but to salute in both these Grade 1 1600m events in the same season has not been done since the 1970s. The Big Cap is a race restricted to horses bought off CRS Sales through 2022 and 2023, so his opposition is diluted. He has the hard ask of giving weight away, but off his merit rating of 132, that is surely justified. He carried the same 60kg to win the Cape Guineas.
Gavin Lerena has partnered this son of One World in his last five starts. Vaughan Marshall has done a great job picking his races. One must bare in mind that this race was a natural target. The Kings Plate became a reality after the Cape Guineas. The fact that he has been off the course for two months should not be a huge concern because he had a gallop at the racecourse about two weeks before raceday. Simply put, he is the best horse in the race. He is nearly if not the best horse in South Africa. Despite the weight to shoulder, he should have more than enough.
Stable companion All Out For Six gave One Stripe a huge fright when they met in the Grade 2 Cape Punters Cup over 1600m in November. He is 2kg better off for a 1,75-length beating. All Out For Six was probably riper for that race than One Stripe was. Plus, the race was run on the shorter straight, so All Out For Six was able to get away. He has lost some of his shine since that run, but for a R5-million purse, the shine could be back which might make him a dangerous rival.
Empire State is developing into a very smart sprinter, but he will be challenged over this distance. He has a lot of good things to come and his talent could get him into the top three. He has just 53kg to carry. Although the race will need to be run according to his preference if he takes home a cheque.
Holding Thumbs has a ton of upside to him. Trainer Glen Kotzen has gone on record saying he will target the Hollywoodbets Durban July and the HKJC World Pool Gold Cup later in the season. If he holds those aspirations, he should win the Listed Monaco Sport Of Kings Kenilworth Cup over 2400m. He has not put many a hoof wrong this season, but it was his last win that was most taking. He slammed Call To Unite by 1,75 lengths over 2000m in a dominant performance. He could have won more easily than that. Sean Veale gets the most out of him and he is carded to take the ride.
The other feature on the card is a strong Cape Racing Sales Slipper over 1200m, race 2. Interesting dynamics are at play because some of these two-year-olds have been faultless but have queries about going the extra distance. Dreamworld has a huge reputation and his debut win was workmanlike. He showed pace and fought to take victory, pulling clear again at the end. Lerena and Marshall team up with Dreamworld and this could set the tone for their day.
Malmesbury Missile has a lot to come himself. He won his last start impressively, beating Vapour Trail by one length. Pay The Palace, who came third, won last Saturday. He is regarded as a big chance in the Slipper too. This is his first run for trainer Justin Snaith.
Meu Capitano might not have reached 1600m at his last start when he finished tamely behind The Real Prince. His last run over 1400m yielded an impressive win over Grade 1 winner Snow Pilot, where he ran far above his rating. Returning to the distance he seems most effective over could be key and he is the horse to recommend in race 9.
Although not a feature, race 5 over 1100m is a high-quality event. Tenango is well on his way through the divisions and he has a feature written all over him. As a youngster, he had a few breathing issues but since those were ironed out, he has performed with aplomb. His turn of foot is a huge asset. Andrew Fortune is carded to take the ride for Candice Bass-Robinson. Fortune has some of the best hands in the business.
Follow Your Heart put up an encouraging debut a month ago and that evidence should be enough to see him just about win race 1 over 1000m. Over the same course and distance, he found his stride late but the winner, Spacebound had run away. He looked more “ready” for that assignment. With natural improvement, Follow Your Heart should have enough unless a first timer has something about them.
Rattlesnake crossed the line in front in his last start but he was demoted in the boardroom. The margin of a short head counted against him as he was deemed to have bumped Bluff On Bluff enough for the Stewards to reverse the result. The handicappers did not increase his rating which they might have done had he kept the race. As a result, he is selected to win race 3 over 1000m.
Race 4 over 1000m is a swirl and punters are recommended to include as many as they can. Some of these have met on numerous occasions and beaten each other so to get a gauge is easier said than done. First Masterpiece could be the right horse now, seeking a hat-trick of wins. She was given a five-point penalty for his most recent win. If the handicapper has not got her number, she could win again. JP van der Merwe is carded to ride and he would have had the choice between First Masterpiece and Mai Sensation, who has a chance. Others in the picture are Miss Marguerite, Blue Holly, Babelicious and Furious Queen.
Ahead Of The Facts won impressively at his last run when he came from a mile back to chase down Umfula, who won himself and he reopposes. They meet on identical terms for the 1,25 lengths between them over 2000m last month. It must be noted that the race was run at insane sectionals so it was always going to suit a horse coming from far back. He hit the line with a lot in hand, though. He is strongly considered in race 6 over 2200m.
Green Garnet has been a revelation since relocating to Cape Town and his current form is hard to ignore. Again, punters are at the mercy of the handicapper but he has been fluent in his wins and he could take the honours in race 10 over 1400m. Lerena is on board. He beat the highly regarded Regulation by 0,75 lengths in his last start. Other chances include Honor Of Kings, Sail To The Moon, Boogiefied, King’s Quest and Industrialstrength.
