From The Horse's Mouth - Mark Van Deventer

Below is a list of the Western Cape – 2025/26 Champions, announced at Kenilworth on Saturday.

Career top speed scores are provided.

Champion 2yo Male – Red Spice s/s 100

Champion 2yo Filly – Grapes Of Wrath s/s 88 ++

Champion 3yo Male – Note To Self s/s 114

Champion 3yo Filly – Wish List s/s 112

Champion Older Male – See It Again s/s 113

Champion Older Female – Double Grand Slam s/s 110

Champion Sprinter – Outlaw King s/s 108

Champion Miler – Questioning s/s 114

Champion Middle Distance – Wish List s/s 112

Champion Stayer – Holding Thumbs s/s 101

Champion Jockey – Richard Fourie

Champion Trainer – Justin Snaith

Champion Apprentice – Sifisokuhle Bungane

Champion Owner – Mr Nick Jonsson

Champion Breeder – Drakenstein Stud (Nom: Mrs G A Rupert)

Horse Of The Year – Wish List s/s 112.

Keagan de Melo was on fire at Greyville on Friday, riding five winners. Best rating went to Louis Goosen’s in- form sprinter Blazing Fury s/s 99+ who de Melo rousted to nab Kythera s/s 98 on the post. The runner up is unsound but can make amends when next tried on the Poly as trainer Andre Nel confirmed she does her best work on that surface.

Trainer Robert Barrett continues to improve upon horses he’s taken over. Entering them in the correct spots is helping boost his strike rate and he was again on the money with Born to Master s/s 92. This one streaked through from off the pace as O Fellow stopped to a walk, going on to win by a wide margin.

Top speed figure on the day went to veteran Oliver s/s 102 who just pipped Pink Pigeon s/s 101 and All About Al s/s 101. The first and third horses are trained by Adam Marcus who has been churning out a steady recent stream of winners and placed horses. 

Reece’s Wish s/s 93 romped in the opener at Turffontein earning the day’s highest speed figure without undue fuss. She cut the corner down the inside and romped way clear to win as she liked for the Dawson’s.

Candice and Tammy Dawson notched a double when Set To Music s/s 91 won Race 5. Together with second placed Hemisphere s/s 90 these were the only runners to make it into the 90’s on Sunday, which featured some short fields and rather modest racing. 

But the money is worth the same whether punting high-class award-winning thoroughbred’s or winners at the lower levels of the game.