The inaugural running of the R5 million CRS Big Cap at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on 16 March, the final day of the inaugural Cape Racing Sales Festival, is set to host what could be the final local appearance of internationally-bound dual Gr1-winning 3yo star One Stripe.
Gavin Lerena takes Big Cap candidate One Stripe through his paces at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Wednesday (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
The Vaughan Marshall – trained One Stripe put in a nice gallop at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Wednesday morning, with Gavin Lerena jetting in to partner him.
The 1400m Big Cap is open to all CRS sales graduates.
With massive stakes paid down to sixth finisher, and the race conditions dictating that no merit rating penalties will be incurred for the placed and unplaced runners, there is every incentive for owners and trainers to take their chances.
There are still slots available at R325 000 per gate.
Current slot-holders:
- Hollywood Racing
- Snaith Racing (The Grey King)
- Snaith Racing (Makazole)
- Snaith Racing (Great Plains)
- Rikesh Sewgoolam
- Dayalan Chinsammy Racing
- Triple 8 Clothing
- MF de Kock Racing Stables
Kaiboy is at 11 on the big race log (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
The Big Cap headlines the Cape Racing Festival Sales Day, a high value racemeeting that will offer bumper stakes racing from R6,5 million this year, increasing to R10 million over the initial three years.
The Big Cap was modelled on the Everest concept introduced in Australia, and has been featured successfully previously in South Africa when run as the ‘Gold Rush’.
Here are the Big Cap weights conditions:
Open to Graduates of all Cape Racing Sales
Benchmark at 53,0 kg = 96
Maximum Weight to be 62,0 kg
Penalties for 3-year-olds:
In addition, further penalties to accrue as follows for races won in the period 13 months prior to the date of issuing of weights –
Winner of a Grade 1 . . . . . . . . . 2,5 kg
Winner of a Grade 2 . . . . . . . . . 1,0 kg
Maximum Weights:
3-year old C and G . . . . . . 60,0 kg
3-year old Fillies . . . . . . . . 57,5 kg
4yo & over C and G . . . . . . 62,0 kg
4yo & over F and Mares. . . 60,0 kg
Penalties not cumulative
There will be no rating increase for placed & unplaced horses.
Sex Allowance of 2,0 kg for Fillies and Mares
Justin Vermaak – ‘plenty of excitement and anticipation as we count down to 16 March’ (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
Cape Racing Executive: Racing & Bloodstock Justin Vermaak explained that the CRS Big Cap will be run as a handicap, with conditions, but that importantly, there will be no merit rating penalties for placed horses.
“With the massive drawcard of champion 3yo One Stripe (132) in the mix, it’s clearly a consideration for lower-rated runners to take their chances. As we found with a race like the recent SplashOut Gr1 Cape Derby, that attracted only six opponents to take on the standout 127-rated Eight On Eighteen, connections are wary of accruing big penalties,” said Vermaak, who added that the large spread at the weights will ensure that a vast group of graduates come into the race with a chance.
“You will appreciate that as the Big Cap offers a more extended spread, it creates a more level playing field, as handicap racing is intended to do. At only R325 000 a slot, we still have slots open, and it opens up a broader list of potential slot owners. In keeping with our philosophy of acknowledging a very important sector of the horseracing eco-system, the groom of each runner will receive a payment of R12 500.”
Here is the latest log:
| Age | Sex | Horse | MR | WEIGHTS | |
| 1 | 3 | C | ONE STRIPE | 132 | 60,0 |
| 2 | 4 | F | FRANCES ETHEL | 117 | 60,0 |
| 3 | 3 | C | ALL OUT FOR SIX | 112 | 58,0 |
| 4 | 3 | G | GREAT PLAINS | 112 | 58,0 |
| 5 | 4 | G | COASTAL COMMANDER | 106 | 58,0 |
| 6 | 3 | F | VJ’S ANGEL | 119 | 57,5 |
| 7 | 3 | G | BJORN IRONSIDE | 110 | 57,0 |
| 8 | 3 | G | BOUNDLESS ENERGY | 109 | 56,5 |
| 9 | 3 | F | ALMOND SEA | 112 | 56,0 |
| 10 | 4 | G | INFRARED | 101 | 55,5 |
| 11 | 3 | G | KAIBOY | 106 | 55,0 |
| 12 | 3 | G | MAKAZOLE | 106 | 55,0 |
| 13 | 4 | F | PASSCHENDAELE | 104 | 55,0 |
| 14 | 3 | G | TALK TO THE MASTER | 105 | 54,5 |
| 15 | 3 | C | TAXI TO THE MOON | 105 | 54,5 |
| 16 | 4 | F | JUST BE LEKKER | 103 | 54,5 |
| 17 | 3 | G | MUSICAL SCORE | 104 | 54,0 |
| 18 | 4 | G | THE GREY KING | 98 | 54,0 |
| 19 | 4 | G | THE SHEPHERD | 98 | 54,0 |
| 20 | 3 | F | LITTLE BALLERINA | 104 | 53,0 |
| 21 | 3 | G | MASTER CASPER | 98 | 53,0 |
| 22 | 3 | G | CAPTAIN WEST | 97 | 53,0 |
| 23 | 3 | G | GOLDEN RULE | 97 | 53,0 |
| 24 | 4 | G | CONNERY | 96 | 53,0 |
| 25 | 3 | C | EMPIRE STATE | 96 | 53,0 |
| 26 | 4 | G | THE ABDICATOR (IRE | 96 | 53,0 |
| 27 | 3 | G | MISTER SPEAKER | 95 | 53,0 |
| 28 | 4 | F | MISS HANNIGAN | 97 | 51,5 |
| 29 | 3 | F | SORCERESS SUPREME | 101 | 51,0 |
| 30 | 3 | F | I’M SO PRITTI | 100 | 51,0 |
Entries for the Big Cap are due by 11h00 on Friday 7 March, on which date weights will be published.
Declarations are due by 11h00 on Monday 10 March.
The final field of a maximum 16 runners with up to 6 reserve runners, will be determined by the CRS Big Cap Committee at their sole discretion at final acceptances.
The field will be embargoed and announced on Monday 10 March 2025 at an event to be announced and where the barrier draws will be done.
