Cape champion! Green With Envy (Craig Zackey) wins the SplashOut Gr1 Cape Derby (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
The star colt Green With Envy was crowned Cape Racing Horse of the Year at their annual awards gathering at the weather impacted Hollywoodbets Durbanville racemeeting on Saturday, headlining a day where 16 different category winners were honoured.
Green With Envy was a double-winner, also being named Champion Three-Year-Old Colt.
He won five times in the 2023/24 season in the colours of owner Lady Laidlaw’s Khaya Stables and is trained by Dean Kannemeyer.
Khaya Stables Manager Jehan Malherbe with Green With Envy’s Award (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
Green With Envy’s three-year-old season was dotted with wins, including the Gr3 Schweppes Politician Stakes, Gr1 SplashOut Cape Deby and the Gr1 Daily News 2000 and he started favourite for the Hollywoodbets Durban July.
Other category winners included two Grade One winners who featured earlier in the season.
Charles Dickens put a full stop to his racing career in style when winning the Gr1 L’Ormarins King’s Plate before being retired to stud, while Beach Bomb won the Gr1 Cartier Paddock Stakes before being exported to the United States to continue her career.
Kevin Sommerville of Drakenstein received Charles Dickens’ award (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
In paying tribute to the winners, Justin Vermaak, Cape Racing: Executive Racing & Bloodstock, said: “Well done to all the winners and indeed to everyone who contributed to the success of the 2023/24 Cape Racing season.The winners are recognised by the panel as the best in their categories and they represent some of the finest in their fields in the country. Particular mention must be made of Champion Trainer Justin Snaith, Champion Jockey Richard Fourie and Champion Owner Drakenstein Stud, all of whom won Equus awards earlier in the week, which saluted them as leaders in their fields,” added Vermaak.
He went on to say that Cape Racing is fortunate to oversee the best of the best when it comes to the equine racing industry.
“While we reflect on the 2023/24 season that has ended, albeit it in the midst of one of the wettest Cape winters on record, we want to thank all our patrons and staff and the public for making it the success that it was. We are working hard to ensure that 2024/25 will be just as memorable and successful as a region,” Vermaak said.
Jenny Jones and Vaughan Marshall received One Stripe’s Champion 2yo Male award (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
Double category winners on the day were Green With Envy and Charles Dickens, while trainer Andre Nel enjoyed success with owner and breeder Plattner Racing when they won Champion Older Female with Saartjie, and Champion Stayer with Master Redoute.
All the winners:
Juvenile Male
One Stripe
Juvenile Female
Kinda Wonderful
Three-Year-Old Male
Green With Envy
Three-Year-Old Female
Beach Bomb
Older Male
Charles Dickens
Older Female
Saartjie
Champion Sprinter
Surjay
Champion Miler
Charles Dickens
Champion Middle Distance
Double Superlative
Champion Stayer
Master Redoute
Champion Work Rider
William Bambiso
Champion Jockey
Richard Fourie
Champion Trainer
Justin Snaith
Owner of the Year
Drakenstein Stud (Nom: Mrs GA Rupert)
Horse of the Year
Green With Envy
