This weekend’s racing spotlight falls on two world-class fixtures: a superb meeting brimming with feature races at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday and Hong Kong’s 2025 Turf World Championships on Sunday. There’s a R500,000 Pick 6 carryover at the Cape Town meeting with the pool expected to total R3 million, and on Sunday all TAB bets on the four Group 1 features at Sha Tin (Races 4, 5, 7 and 8) go into the Hong Kong World Pool. Buckle up - it’s going to be a magic journey!
Alan Greeff and Richard Fourie could dominate a tricky meeting with in-form runners Amanatto (Race 2), Whatever Next (Race 6) and Diamond Jim (Race 7). But two smaller yards could get among the winners. Emmanuel Kaknis should win Race 1 over 1200m with Focal Point, who finished second to smart sort Buffalo Bill last June and is expected to run well fresh. And Duncan McKenzie and Jeffrey Syster offer value with well-drawn Greenlight Dancer (Race 4) and Piton De Neige (Race 8), who handles the Polytrack well.
With six weeks until the UAE 2000 Guineas, Godolphin’s Devon Island can advertise his claims for the opening classic of the season by winning Race 8, a conditions race for two-year-olds over 1600m on dirt. Trained by Charlie Appleby, Devon Island caught the eye on his local debut when defeating re-opposing Brotherly Love and nine others in a maiden at Meydan last month. Always handy, he stayed on strongly and confirmed the promise shown on debut at Kempton in August. He looks well above average.
The powerful stables of Dean Kannemeyer and Mike and Mathew de Kock face off in the headline event, the Grade 1 Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas (Race 7).
The Kannemeyer family has won the race 10 times and seek an 11th win with Gimmie Rules. Mike de Kock has won it five times and will be looking for another success with Jan Van Goyen, his first Guineas runner in partnership with his son.
The two colts could suffice in the Pick 6, but it may prove wise to pay attention to jockey Andrew Fortune’s comment on Thursday about Justin Snaith’s Happy Verse. “He is the horse to beat,” enthused Fortune who rode the colt in work.
The best potential banker in the carryover Pick 6 is Andre Nel’s capable grey gelding Zeitz, who lines up in Race 8, the Grade 3 Peninsula Handicap over 1800m. Many punters expected Zeitz to win his previous start (fourth to Legal Counsel), but Nel said this week that he was not fully tuned there because the Peninsula was his target. Under only 54kg, he should give punters a big run for their money. There are two Jackpots (Races 5-8; Races 6 to 9), which will suit punters who like to take Jackpots as cover for their Pick 6 bets.
Leg 1: 1, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10
Leg 2: 1, 5, 8, 9, 10, 13, 16, 17
Leg 3: 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 13
Leg 4: 2, 4, 7
Leg 5: 3
Leg 6: 3, 4, 5, 7, 11
Trainer Olly Murphy’s five-year-old They Call Me Hugo has been a model of consistency with two wins and three places from five starts. He is a strong contender in Race 6, the Grade 2 Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle over 4800m. They Call Me Hugo reunites with jockey Sean Bowen, who rode him to victory on 9 November and said after the race, “He travelled strongly and jumped very well. He’s a nice, big horse and he’s maturing now. It’s exciting going forward with him.”
Former Australian galloper Battle Cry looks ready to break his Malaysian duck in Race 7 over 1200m at Kuala Lumpur. Well-backed on his local debut on 8 November, he showed eye-catching early speed to cross and lead from a wide draw over 1300m. But those exertions told late and he was reeled in and beaten into second. Fitter now, he should produce a bold showing. The meeting starts at 06:10.
There are four terrific Group 1 contests on Hong Kong’s biggest raceday, the Longines International Races Turf World Championships. In the HK Gold Vase (Race 4, 2400m) Al Riffa looks ready to score. He was far from disgraced in the Melbourne Cup, giving away plenty of ground under top weight before closing strongly to finish seventh. His Irish St Leger and Curragh Cup wins showcase his talent over 2400m and beyond.
Ka Ying Rising aims to become the seventh dual winner of the HK Sprint (Race 5, 1200m) and is in fearsome order, fresh off his historic victory in The Everest in Australia and then his most dazzling display yet in the recent Jockey Club Sprint.
Luke Ferraris and My Wish have a good chance at Group 1 glory with an ideal barrier two in Race 7, the HK Mile. Romantic Warrior made history last year as the first horse to win three editions of the HK Cup (Race 8, 2000m) and is well placed to extend that record in 2025 after a sensational comeback-from-injury victory in the Jockey Club Cup. Don’t miss this meeting which starts at 06:25.
Former champion jockey Keagan de Melo has ridden just one winner since his return to South Africa from Hong Kong last month, but his fortunes are set to change. He has five top rides at this meeting, starting with hard-knocking maidens Eastern Highlands (Race 2), Mr McDonald (Race 3) and Thought Control (Race 4). Following that trainer Vengi Masawi’s Greatest Hit (Race 5) looks set to follow up on an impressive maiden win over this distance last month and Dean Kannemeyer’s Mphaka (Race 8) drops in class following a string of places against stronger opposition.