Cape Racing has announced an expansion of its highly successful juvenile programme.
Historically, early juvenile races would gather field sizes of six or seven runners. Introducing the new juvenile programme completely broke the mould of poor participation in these races!
For example, at the end of November 2022, at least thirty participants ran in the opening juvenile races, running over 900m.
The juvenile racing last summer was exciting! (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
The Cape juvenile programme is headlined by the three-legged “Summer Juvenile Series”. The three races forming the series are the Trippi Stakes, the Summer Juvenile Stakes and the Cape Of Good Hope Nursery.
Two new races were incorporated into the programme on Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas Day last December, namely the Commonwealth Cup and the Summer Coronation (for fillies). These two races were introduced at a stake of R200 000 each. Twenty-seven participants went to the starting gate across the two races.
In Cape Racing’s continuing efforts to boost juvenile fields, these races are set for prize money increases. The Commonwealth Cup has been increased to R250 000, while the Summer Coronation has been boosted to R225 000.
The “Summer Juvenile Series” legs were run for a combined stake of R1.6 million in the 2022/ 2023 season.
This Summer, the three legs will be run for a combined R2 million, an increase of 25%.
The series opener is the Trippi Stakes which is run on L’Ormarins King’s Plate Day.
The opener gets a boost to R400 000, up from R350 000 last Summer.
The World Sports Betting Cape Town Met Day hosts the second leg, the Summer Juvenile Stakes. This listed race receives a lift from R500 000 in 2023 to R600 000 in 2024.
Finally, the Cape of Good Hope Nursery gets boosted from R750 000 in 2023 to a substantial R1 million in 2024.
The series finale is run on SplashOut Cape Derby Day.
The Futurity Plate will kick off the juvenile season.
Two new events have been added to the juvenile programme. To stretch the juvenile season, and also encourage earlier participation, the Futurity Plate is added to the programme in mid-November. The 800m race will be the season opener for young colts and fillies. It will carry a stake of R200 000.
Inaugural Cape Racing Sales Slipper for WSB Cape Town Met Day.
The Cape Racing Sales Slipper will be run for the first time in 2024. Restricted to graduates of the CRS Premier Yearling Sale powered by Tattersalls, the race holds a stake of R1.25 million.
It is sure to add interest and excitement to the Summer season. The “Slipper” will be run on World Sports Betting Cape Town Met Day.
The second running of the R7.5 million “Gold Rush” is the other showpiece event for Cape Racing Sales graduates on the day.
