Now sponsored for the third consecutive year by Hollywoodbets, the 2024 renewal of the R2 million Grade 1 Cape Guineas has attracted a quality first entry of 21, including the exciting filly Gimmie’s Countess, the sole representative of the fairer sex in the opening entry line-up.
Widely acknowledged as South Africa’s premier classic, the Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas features as the headliner on the Kaapse Klopse Voorsmakie raceday at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on 14 December, and is the third in the series of eight Summer Festival Of Racing events, which commences this coming Saturday.
Snow Pilot (JP van der Merwe) wins the 2023 Hollywoodbets Gr1 Cape Guineas (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
The Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas has a long and proud history dating back to 1955 when it was run as the Cape of Good Hope Guineas.
The mile classic has been a launch-pad of champions and a stallion-maker over many decades.
Modern-day winners of the classic include champions of the ilk of Horse Chestnut, Jet Master, Captain Al, Variety Club, Capetown Noir and Charles Dickens, to mention a handful of equine stars.
Dean Kannemeyer’s decision to enter recent Gr2 Western Cape Fillies Championship fourth-placed flyer Gimmie’s Countess in both the World Sports Betting Cape Fillies Guineas and the colts’ race a week later may well have been a psychological antidote against the yard’s recent bout of wide draws.
Ironically the Khaya Stables star pulled a pole position gate against the males, after drawing 12/13 in the fairer sex contest on 7 December.
There will be some consolation that both Guineas are run on the Hollywoodbets Kenilworth summer course, with its longer run-in.
Hollywoodbets Gr1 Cape Guineas
| 19 | Air Raid | Candice Bass-Robinson | 92 | |
| 20 | All Out For Six | Vaughan Marshall | 107 | |
| 21 | Artist’s Model | Mike de Kock | 96 | |
| 9 | Bjorn Ironside | J A Janse van Vuuren | 110 | |
| 17 | Boundless Energy | Candice Bass-Robinson | 109 | |
| 10 | Eight On Eighteen | Justin Snaith | 110 | |
| 15 | Empire State | Candice Bass-Robinson | 89 | |
| 5 | Fire Attack | Alec Laird | 111 | |
| 8 | French Flame | Dean Kannemeyer | 98 | |
| 13 | Garrix | Piet Steyn | 87 | |
| 1 | Gimmie’s Countess | Dean Kannemeyer | 111 | |
| 3 | Great Plains | Justin Snaith | 110 | |
| 6 | Greaterix | Mike de Kock | 105 | |
| 7 | Heather’s Boy | Mike de Kock | 96 | |
| 16 | Legend Of Arthur | Sean Tarry | 111 | |
| 14 | Maphaka | Dean Kannemeyer | 94 | |
| 4 | On My Honour | Glen Kotzen | 108 | |
| 2 | One Stripe | Vaughan Marshall | 112 | |
| 11 | Powerandtheglory | Justin Snaith | 95 | |
| 18 | Sail The Seas | Justin Snaith | 97 | |
| 12 | The Specialist | Sean Tarry | 113 | |
| (21) | ||||
Fillies generally do not have an outstanding record in the Cape Guineas, although a few outstanding fairer sex gallopers have triumphed over the close on six decades.
In 1965 the brilliant Renounce became the first filly to win the colts’ Guineas.
In 1991 Star Effort became the only filly to ever register the dual sex Guineas double. That is unlikely to be equalled in era where the two races are just a week apart.
Empress Clubs wins the 1992 Gr1 Cape Guineas (Pic – Supplied)
In 1992 Empress Club beat the boys in the Guineas, while in 1993 Little Ballerina beat Fair Model to make it a fairer sex exacta. She is the last filly to win the colts’ race!
All of Sean Tarry, Mike de Kock, Alec Laird and Johan Janse van Vuuren hold away entries, while local ‘Guineas Captain’ Vaughan Marshall will be bidding for a sixth victory in the ‘classic of kings’.
Supplementary entries for the Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas close at 11h00 on Friday 6 December. Declarations close at 11h00 on Monday 9 December.
