Cape Awards: Big Winners & Some Snappy Redemption

The right time for a review of the Equus process may have been highlighted in no uncertain terms when the Ridgemont-bred Dynasty filly Make It Snappy was crowned Champion 3yo Filly in both the racing and breeding sections of the Cape Racing and Cape Breeders Awards at a festive function at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth Racecourse on Friday night.

Friday was a celebration of the Cape’s superstars and the benefit of the hindsight power of the results are not intended as an Equus bashing exercise.

But the jury has been out on the Equus process of the combination of a points and panel system, coupled with the undisclosed quantum of a public vote, that saw a few surprise results, amongst others, Bless My Stars, gain the national champion 3yo filly title over the only dual Gr1 winning filly of last season, Make It Snappy, in Johannesburg on 23 August.

Stalwarts! Mike and Carol Bass attended the awards (Pic – Wayne Marks)

Equus Awards count as value-changers for breeders and owners, and when results don’t make sense, it detracts from the credibility of what should be the ultimate accolade in SA horseracing.

In the inevitably simplified environs of a more peer-driven process at the Cape Regional Awards, the Hollywood Syndicate-raced Make It Snappy, who won the Gr1 WSB Cape Fillies Guineas and then beat four Gr1 winning older horses in the Gr1 Cartier Paddock Stakes, including Equus Horse Of The Year Captain’s Ransom, came out ahead of the Varsfontein Stud-bred Gimmethegreenlight filly Bless My Stars, who won the Gr 1 Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic and the Gr 2 Riding High Together Gold Bracelet.

Bless My Stars, a top filly, also finished third in the Hollywoodbets Durban July, a ‘super Grade 1’ in the Equus hierarchy.

Champion Charles Dickens (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)

Drakenstein were again to the fore on the evening in both sections of the awards, and celebrated six trophies in the racing section, highlighted by the exciting dual Equus star Charles Dickens’ Horse Of The Year accolade.

In the breeders section, the Rupert operation picked up nine awards, including Breeder Of The Year and Special Achievement for the outstanding Trippi.

The Sean Tarry-trained Maine Chance Farms-bred Flower Alley mare Princess Calla, who was deservedly installed SA Horse Of The Year at Equus, repeated the award in the breeders section.

Princess Calla won three Gr1’s last term over distances ranging from 1200m to 1800m. The two against the girls, over 1200m and 1600m respectively, were both weight for age events. She took on the boys in the open WFA Gr 1 HKJC World Pool Champions Cup over 1800m and won that easily.

Dean Kannemeyer won three awards, courtesy of Khaya Stables’ Gimme A Prince (Champion Sprinter in both sections) and Rafeef colt Outlaw King, Juvenile Male of the year. Passionate DK Syndicate member Martin Holland travelled all the way from Wiltshire in England to attend the event!

Interestingly, Varsfontein’s Lucky Lad got the vote over Equus hero Sandringham Summit, from the same farm, in the Cape Breeders Champion 2 Year Old Colt category.

Paarl people! Kuyan and Mom Kathi Kotzen were there (Pic – Wayne Marks)

Richard Fourie and Justin Snaith were crowned champion jockey and trainer respectively, and now that the power duo have gone their separate ways, as Fourie chases the national title, that race becomes interesting in the season ahead.

The talented Joshwin Solomons’ solitary winner last season saw him crowned Cape Champion Apprentice for the third consecutive year. In his first season Solomons won the title with 20 winners, the next with 3, and now 1 winner earns the trophy.  This award probably needs a relook as apprentice jockeys really don’t ride much in the Cape.

The inaugural Hollywoodbets Workriders Series winner, and James Maree graduate, Siphiwo Feni was the Work Rider champion.

Greg Bortz addresses the gathering (Pic -Wayne Marks)

Cape Racing Chairman Greg Bortz, bordering on the controversial in a positive way, but focussing on equine welfare, got the tongues wagging and received a solid round of applause for his address. But more on that soon.

CAPE RACING AWARDS:

Winners are highlighted in BOLD RED.

• JUVENILE MALE 

– My Golly Molly

– Outlaw King

– Underworld

• JUVENILE FEMALE 

– Beach Bomb

– Distant Winter

– October Morn

– Winter Cloud

– Rascova

• 3YO COLT

– Charles Dickens

– Cousin Casey

• 3YO FILLY

– Ciao Bella

– Make It Snappy

– Golden Hostess

• OLDER MALE

– Al Muthana

– Gimme A Prince

– Jet Dark

– Trip Of Fortune

– Winchester Mansion

• OLDER FEMALE 

– Going Up

– Kwinta’s Light

– Marina

• CHAMPION SPRINTER

– Bereave

– Gimme A Prince

– Rio Querari

• CHAMPION MILER

– Al Muthana

– Charles Dickens

– Trip Of Fortune

• CHAMPION MIDDLE DISTANCE 

– Jet Dark

– Winchester Mansion

• CHAMPION STAYER

– Baratheon

– Crome Yellow

– Navy Strength

– Salvator Mundi

– Thefutureisbright

• WORK RIDER

Mr S H Feni

• CHAMPION APPRENTICE

Mr J M Solomons

• CHAMPION JOCKEY

Richard Fourie

• CHAMPION TRAINER

Justin Snaith

• OWNER OF THE YEAR 

Drakenstein Stud (Nom: Mrs G A Rupert)

• HORSE OF THE YEAR 

– Charles Dickens

– Gimme a Prince

CAPE BREEDERS AWARDS 2022-23