Drakenstein Stud bred the trifecta as Vaughan Marshall saddled his sixth Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas winner courtesy of champion One Stripe, who asserted his authority in dramatic style to win the prestigious and time-honoured R2 million Grade 1 classic at a sun-drenched Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday.
One Stripe enjoys a superbly judged ride from Gavin Lerena (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
Backed into 6-10, One Stripe enjoyed a superbly judged ride from national log-leading rider Gavin Lerena, who rode a peach of a race, drifting to the centre off the heels of Great Plains around the turn, before allowing his mount to drift wide out to hug the outside rail up the summer course home straight.
The visual deception of having the favourite wide out with Richard Fourie setting Eight On Eighteen alight down the inside had the One Stripe supporters holding their breath momentarily.
But the astute Lerena grabbed his personal first Cape Guineas trophy as he clearly knew what he had under him and it was plan come together as One Stripe endorsed his prospects as South Africa’s most exciting 3yo, powering home in a time of 97,74 secs.
Having only his second start this term, Eight On Eighteen stamped his Cape Derby prospects with a big effort over the mile to hold second.
Vaughan Marshall and Gavin Lerena enjoy the aftermath of a big victory (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
His stablemate Great Plans (20-1) ran a cracker in third, with Plattner Racing’s O’Tenikwa (80-1) staying on for fourth, after fighting Corne Orffer around the turn in his first try at a mile.
Mike de Kock’s formerly undefeated raider Heather’s Boy looked a picture in the pre-race, and only ran out of steam late in the race to run fifth. Alongside runner-up Eight On Eighteen, he is a 2025 WSB Cape Town Met entry.
One Stripe’s victory marked a maiden Grade 1 success for owner Rikesh Sewgoolam, who watched the action from Australia, as well as for SA Freshman champion sire of last season, One World – a son of Captain Al who was saddled by Vaughan Marshall to win this race in 2000.
One Stripe took his stakes bank to R2 380 513 with his fifth win and a place from seven starts.
The R1,4 million sales-topper at the 2023 Cape Racing Ready To Run And Unbroken Two Year Old Sale, One Stripe is out of the three-time winning Silvano mare Silver Stripe, who stayed well and won up to 2450m.
More interesting times ahead!
