Hollywoodbets to sponsor South Africa’s premier classic Cape Guineas

Widely acknowledged as South Africa’s premier classic, the stakes-boosted R2 million Grade 1 Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas will headline a bumper feature programme at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth, on Saturday, 17 December 2022.   

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Sponsored for the first time by leading sports betting operator, Hollywoodbets, the prize money for the time honoured 3-year-old clash has been increased from R750 000 in 2021 to R2 million for the much anticipated 2022 renewal.

The mile showdown of the super sophomores will thus be contested for an all-time record stake at the height of the Cape Summer Festival.   

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Run at Milnerton for the first time in 1955 as the Cape of Good Hope Guineas, the Cape Guineas has been a proud platform of champions and a stallion-maker over many decades. Modern day winners of the classic include champions of the ilk of Horse Chestnut, Jet Master, Captain Al, Variety Club and Capetown Noir, to mention a handful of equine stars.   

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With a host of visiting trainers from all corners of South Africa expected to follow the glorious Cape summer sun, the substantially increased stakes, and the innovative attractions of the RaceCape incentive, the fairest Cape is set for a bumper season of high-class horseracing.   

Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas the richest classic on the calendar

“We are thrilled that Hollywoodbets have again stepped forward to inject their power brand of magic into one of the great feature events of the Cape Summer Festival. The substantially increased stakes prize of R2 million makes the Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas the richest classic race on the national calendar and we can be assured that every top 3yo in South Africa will line up on 17 December,” said Head of Cape Racing Operations, Justin Vermaak.   

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The Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas undercard includes two key supporting races in the R400 000 Grade 2 Hollywoodbets Peninsula Handicap, with prize money increased 100% from R200 000 in 2021, and the R250 000 Grade 3 Hollywoodbets Victress Stakes, which has also been boosted 100% from the R125 000 stake in 2021.

Entries open in early December

This superb raceday will also feature the R200 000 Commonwealth Cup Plate and the R200 000 Summer Coronation Plate, which will be run for the colts/geldings and fillies respectively, at juvenile plate conditions.  

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Hollywoodbets Brand & Communications Manager, Devin Heffer said: “As the purple brand expands its horse racing coverage in the Cape, developing a feature day to match the likes of the L’Ormarins King’s Plate and the WSB Cape Town Met is a challenge the Hollywoodbets team is ready to tackle.  

“For us this will be our first Grade 1 feature day in the Cape, and it’s exciting that we get to leave our mark on another prestigious race day. We are privileged to be in a position where we are able to invest back into a sport that we are so passionate about, and we look forward to making it a day that will be memorable for the punting public, families and racing’s stakeholders.  

“Increasing the stakes to R2 million reaffirms our belief in the quality of this race, and the prestige that comes with winning it. You only get one shot at the Guineas, and it’s right that the winning connections get duly rewarded. We will be looking at including other partners to join us in the naming of races, as we did for the Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge, and we will announce these in due course.”

Entries for the R2 million Grade 1 Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas open on 6 December 2022.  

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