HOLLYWOODBETS KENILWORTH - SATURDAY 31 JANUARY 2026
CARRYOVER: R1 MILLION - LIKELY POOL: R7 MILLION!
Leg 1 (13:35): Race 4 – 1200m LEPAS C STAKES
An open sprint contest with any number of winning chances, but perhaps a good opportunity for under-achievers 5 SPIRIT and 10 RHYDIAN to rise to the occasion on the big day. SPIRIT has flattered to deceive, but there are two runs behind smart higher division sprinter All The Rage that show his true ability. He’ll be in the money if he can keep closer order early. RHYDIAN, too, has shown flashes of respectable form and holds SPIRIT, 4 PARATROOPER and 16 STEADFAST on their run to Showgirl last November. 9 KELP FOREST had eight of these rivals behind him when he won over the course and distance on King’s Plate day but has been given a three-point penalty, which gives rivals like 6 MIRACULOUS (3.5kg better off for a narrow beating) and 18 MAURITIUS KESTREL (5.5kg better off) realistic chances of reversing the result. Cases can be made for several others and Pick 6 players may do best to opt for the field in the opening leg.
Leg 2 (14:10): Race 5 – 1100m SCHWEPPES WINCHESTER SPRINT CUP
Another trappy race to be approached with caution. On most collateral form lines there is little to choose among consistently good Grade 2 and Listed performers 1 THE USA OF A, 3 DANCE VARIETY, 6 KAIBOY, 7 ELUSIVE WINTER and 10 TEFLON MAN. The race that may produce the winner, however, is the recent Grade 1 Cape Flying Championship in which 8 SURJAY and 11 CAFÉ CULTURE were not far off Kingdundee in fifth and sixth. Over the extra 100m expect massive runs from both, with a preference for very capable Café Culture, who is best weighted off his 122 rating and set to blossom in his peak run. At the risk of having to contemplate the field again, it could pay to take a chance on elder statesmen Surjay and Café Culture.
Leg 3 (14:45): Race 6 – 1400m SABC A STAKES
It doesn’t get any easier and one can make a case for any of the five highest-rated runners, namely 1 TENANGO, 3 O’TENIKWA, 9 ROYAL AUSSIE, 10 SNOW PILOT and 14 GREAT PLAINS. Pacey Tenango and O’Tenikwa look ready to progress to this extended sprint trip, Royal Aussie and Snow Pilot are capable at best and Great Plains is highly effective over this 1400m and boasts a recent win over Cape Town Met runner Sail The Seas. Among the lower-rated runners, 5 GEM KING makes some appeal as he often pops up with a good run in top company and comes from a shrewd stable. 13 GALLIC DREAM is a competitive sort who will benefit from Rachel Venniker’s claim and is another with upset potential.
Leg 4 (15:20): Race 7 – 1600m MAINE CHANCE FARMS MAJORCA STAKES (WFA) (Grade 1)
A race packed with quality, but champion mare 10 DOUBLE GRAND SLAM was just a fraction below her brilliant best in the recent Paddock Stakes. She is better suited to 1600m and looks set to redeem herself in her peak run. Rising three-year-old star 12 QUICKSTEPGAL is the obvious second choice, but the older mare is unbeaten under Andrew Fortune and there is every reason to believe that she will produce the kind of run that made her famous.
Leg 5 (16:05): Race 8 – 2000m WORLD SPORTS BETTING CAPE TOWN MET (Grade 1)
The two most recent races to consider as guides to the outcome are the Grade 1 King’s Plate (won by 6 THE REAL PRINCE, who had 1 COSMIC SPEED, 2 EIGHT ON EIGHTEEN, 3 SAIL THE SEAS, 4 GLADATORIAN, 5 GARRIX, 7 LEGAL COUNSEL and 10 SEE IT AGAIN behind him); and the weaker Grade 2 Premier Trophy (won by 11 OKAVANGO with 8 NATIVE RULER and 9 THE EQUATOR behind him). Versatile THE REAL PRINCE could confirm his superiority, but is 0.5kg worse off with COSMIC SPEED, EIGHT ON EIGHTEEN, SAIL THE SEAS, GARRIX and LEGAL COUNSEL and this race is 400m further with a different pace and riding tactics coming into play. EIGHT ON EIGHTEEN, in particular, will strip a much fitter horse than in the King’s Plate and has a fair chance of turning the tables on THE REAL PRINCE and following up on his 2025 Met win. The one they all have to beat, however, is SEE IT AGAIN, the fastest finisher in the King’s Plate. Justin Snaith’s six-year-old is in a much better frame of mind than he was last year when fourth to EIGHT ON EIGHTEEN and is a whopping 5.5kg better off for a 1.10-length beating.
Leg 6 (16:45): Race 9 – 1800m HKJC WORLD POOL POLITICIAN STAKES (Grade 3)
Well ahead of the big day, all the talk here has been for Justin Snaith’s up-and-coming three-year-old 2 HAPPY VERSE, who ran on steadily for second in the Grade 1 Cape Guineas and has the comfortable beating of 1 PAY THE PALACE, 4 RANDOPLH HEARST, 6 FOX ON THE RUN and 8 STAR MAJOR on that form. He’s talented and progressive, and looks the part.
SUGGESTED R266 PICK 6 PERM (Leg 1 Race 4 @13:35):
Leg 1: FIELD (1-19)
Leg 2: 8, 11
Leg 3: 1, 3, 5, 9, 10, 13, 14
Leg 4: 10
Leg 5: 10
Leg 6: 2
SUGGESTED R120 QUARTET PERM for the Met (Race 8 @16:05):
BANKER 10 to WIN with 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 11 for second, third and fourth.