It’s the Royal Race Day at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Sunday and the meeting is headed up by the R5-million HSH Princess Charlene Big Cap over 1400m.
It will also be an emotional for racing fans as this race will be the final appearance in South Africa of the runner who captured the imagination of the racing public this season – One Stripe.
The Royal Raceday stems from a partnership between Cape Racing and the Monaco Sport Of Kings Group, founded by passionate and energetic racing enthusiast Mike Wittstock - father Princess Charlene of Monaco.
The Monaco Sport Of Kings Group underscores its dedication to both horseracing and charitable causes by participating in The Royal Race Day and, as a result, two deserving charities - namely The Earth Centre and Sisters Incorporated - are set to benefit.
Vaughan Marshall-trained One Stripe won the Grade 1 Cape Guineas in December before becoming just the second sophomore this decade to win the L'Ormarins King's Plate in early January - both wins over 1600m, and with title-chasing jockey Gavin Lerena aboard.
This son of One World, himself a former stable star, concedes weight to all nine rivals but is impossible to oppose, even over the shorter distance. Lerena retains the partnership and will have the run of the race from gate No 2.
The second renewal of the R1.5-million CRS Cape Slipper (Race 2) promises to be one of the highlights of the day with 11 graduates of the 2024 Premier Yearling Sale accepting for the 1200m event.
Justin Snaith has a particularly strong hand in the race and two of his runners, being undefeated Querari colt Black Cheetah and well-related Trippi filly Clair De Lune (runner-up in all three starts) seem likely to dominate the outcome.
For the stayers, the 2400m Listed Kenilworth Cup (Race 7) carries a R200,000 gross stake with more than R100,000 going to the winner. Glen Kotzen holds the aces with three of the seven runners in the race, spearheaded by last-start winner Holding Thumbs whose progress it could pay to follow.
Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 3 Slender Silhouette, 2 Captain Jon Snow, 10 Follow Your Heart, 7 Demanding Dave
Race 2: 11 Black Cheetah, 3 Dreamworld, 1 Clair De Lune, 2 Military Command
Race 3: 5 Tough Terrain, 3 Rattlesnake, 7 Night Tiger, 10 United Nation
Race 4: 10 All Is Green, 9 Babelicious, 3 First Masterpiece, 4 Mai Sensation
Race 5: 6 Lion Rampart, 8 Seeking The Stars, 2 Tenango, 5 Mufasa
Race 6: 4 Ahead Of The Facts, 2 Repetition, 3 Umfula, 7 Aladdin's Lamp
Race 7: 5 Holding Thumbs, 4 Triple Time, 2 Otto Luyken, 1 Nebraas
Race 8: 2 One Stripe, 7 Great Plains, 8 All Out For Six, 3 The Grey King
Race 9: 9 Meu Capitano, 6 Promettere, 7 Gallic Dream, 3 San Pedro
Race 10: 7 Honor Of Kings, 6 Green Garnet, 3 Sail To The Moon, 13 Circumbendibus
BEST BET
Race 8 No 2 One Stripe
VALUE BET
Race 4 No 10 All Is Green
BEST SWINGER
Race 1 2x3
BIPOT
R288
Leg 1: 3, 11
Leg 2: 3, 5
Leg 3: 3, 4, 9, 10
Leg 4: 6, 8
Leg 5: 2, 3, 4
Leg 6: 2, 4, 5
PLACE ACCUMULATOR
R216
Leg 1: 3, 5
Leg 2: 3, 9, 10
Leg 3: 6, 8
Leg 4: 2, 3, 4
Leg 5: 4, 5
Leg 6: 2
Leg 7: 6, 7, 9
PICK 6
R1440
Leg 1: 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10
Leg 2: 2, 5, 6, 8
Leg 3: 2, 3, 4, 7
Leg 4: 2, 4, 5
Leg 5: 2
Leg 6: 2, 3, 6, 7, 9
JACKPOT 1
R48
Leg 1: 2, 5, 6, 8
Leg 2: 2, 3, 4, 7
Leg 3: 2, 4, 5
Leg 4: 2
JACKPOT 2
R120
Leg 1: 2, 4, 5
Leg 2: 2
Leg 3: 2, 3, 6, 7, 9
Leg 4: 1, 3, 6, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15