Glen Kotzen’s exciting Gr1 winner Cousin Casey will make his season debut on a bumper multi-feature ‘punter centric’ raceday at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday in the newly baptised R500 000 Gr2 Punters Cup.
A Riyo Stud-bred son of leading sire Vercingetorix, Cousin Casey has not seen track action since winning the Gr1 Premiers Champion Stakes at Hollywoodbets Greyville last term.
He has had a grass gallop in the past few weeks and has impressed his trainer, who expects to have him in fighting trim for the R2 million Hollywoodbets Gr1 Cape Guineas on 17 December. On the terms of the race, the 113-rated colt is set to give 2kgs to the balance of the sixteen-strong field.
Owner Ravi Naidoo and trainer Glen Kotzen – the fun starts again on Saturday when Cousin Casey makes his seasonal debut (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
His nearest rated challenger is Brett Crawford’s recent Gr3 Cape Classic runner-up At My Command (107), who has, as his name would ironically suggest, drawn in the Youngsfield Military base at 15.
The field:
1st R296875, 2nd R95000, 3rd R47500, 4th R23750, 5th R11875, RCIS R25000
CAPE PUNTERS CUP (Grade 2)
For 3 year-oldsNo Apprentice Allowance
| 1 | 1 | Famous And Rich | 58 | 96 | A | Calvin Habib | Glen Kotzen | |
| 2 | 2 | Formagear | 58 | 103 | A | Ryan Munger | Peter Muscutt | |
| 3 | 3 | Allez Moris | 58 | 96 | A | Muzi Yeni | Brett Crawford | |
| 4 | 4 | Pas De Nom | 58 | 97 | A | Grant Behr | Dean Kannemeyer | |
| 5 | 5 | Countdown | 58 | 100 | A | Juan Paul v’d Merwe | Glen Kotzen | |
| 6 | 6 | Light Speed | 58 | 108 | A | Richard Fourie | Justin Snaith | |
| 7 | 7 | Dave The King | 58 | 105 | A | Corne Orffer | Vaughan Marshall | |
| 8 | 8 | Cousin Casey | 60 | 113 | A | Grant van Niekerk | Glen Kotzen | |
| 9 | 9 | Triple Time | 58 | 90 | A | #Rachel Venniker | Justin Snaith | |
| 10 | 10 | Imposing | 58 | 102 | A | Diego De Gouveia | Glen Kotzen | |
| 11 | 11 | Port Louis | 58 | 105 | A | Kabelo Matsunyane | Brett Crawford | |
| 12 | 12 | Marvel William | 58 | 92 | A | Sean Veale | Vaughan Marshall | |
| 13 | 13 | Le Morne | 58 | 94 | A | Luyolo Mxothwa | Brett Crawford | |
| 14 | 14 | Money Heist | 58 | 90 | A | Piere Strydom | Gareth van Zyl | |
| 15 | 15 | At My Command | 58 | 107 | A | Keagan de Melo | Brett Crawford | |
| 16 | 16 | Grinkov | 58 | 104 | A | S’manga Khumalo | Glen Kotzen | |
| Same Trainer | ||||||||
| (1,5,8,10,16) (3,11,13,15) (6,9) (7,12) | ||||||||
At first glance the name, the Cape Punters Cup, may sound strange, but in fact the 1600m contest has a well-entrenched history in the Cape as a Guineas ‘trial’, having been run for decades as the Selangor Cup, in conjunction with the partners of the time, the Malaysian Turf Club.
In recent years, sponsorship by Concorde saw it run as the Concorde Cup.
An enthusiastic KR Head Of Racing Operations Justin Vermaak, said that the team was looking forward to the newly-styled and configured Hollywoodbets Kenilworth Summer Racing Festival.
“Saturday’s raceday is the first of nine Festival meetings. Every one of our meetings has a core theme built around it and the team at Cape Racing felt that this would be the perfect event to position as a day for our punters. It will be punter centric, and naming the headline event after the initiative, led to a decision to rename the Selangor/ Concorde, the Cape Punters Cup. We look forward to this day becoming our Festival opener each year and we intend building on it as the event grows.”
Vermaak went on to point out the stakes increases for the Festival days.
“We are pleasingly seeing more than 13 runners a race on average for our first Festival card. The on -track experience has also been ramped up. Incorporating themed days like this for each meeting is contributing to elevating the pleasure of the on-course experience as well,” enthused Vermaak.
A spokesperson for the Cape Racing team said that they are creating an amazing experience for the 1881 Lounge.
So the highlights of the day include:
- Free Entry to the racecourse with cash prizes to be won.
- Entertainment throughout the day from @Kai Liam Connor.
- Live performances by Matthew Mole & Choccy Chox after the last race!
- The whole family is welcome with a designated kids area provided.
Book hospitality at www.caperacing.co.za
“Those that prefer A La Carte can book in the Pocket Power, which has price options for everyone – and the ground floor food spectrum boasts a big variety, including the great news that the popular Buddy is back with her popular Indian menu!”
The first of eight races is off at 12h40.
