December Stats

As we take our first few steps into 2025, racing’s growth in the Western Cape is further highlighted in the statistics from December’s seven racemeetings held under the Cape Racing banner. Month-on-month, there was more representation when it came to winners across areas such as jockeys, sires, stud farms, owners and trainers compared to November. 

There were 63 races held over seven racemeetings at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth. Winners came from 30 different sires representing 33 stud farms. There were 19 different jockeys who found their way to the winner’s box and 114 different owners, excluding those in syndicates who aren’t the nominee. 

It would have been a good punting month for those who follow the statistics: Most successful trainer (Justin Snaith), jockey (JP van der Merwe), owners Greg Bortz and Gina Goldsmith, breeders Drakenstein Stud and the sire Vercingetorix.

Winners that included at least three of those elements were Native Ruler, Oriental Charm, Lickety Split, Wild Wild Green, Groovejet and Absolutely Yes while Magic Verse (7th December) was represented by the full house of most successful jockey, trainer, owners, breeders and sire for the month.

There was also a boost for the trainers syndication scheme when Dean Kannemeyer’s DK Racing Syndicate won the De Grendel Grade 2 Cape Merchants with Outlaw King.

The list of “Top 5’s” category wins for December is (November in brackets):

30 (24) Sires

19 (17) Jockeys

33 (32) Studs

114 (100) Owners

18 (15) Trainers 

JOCKEYS

11 JP van der Merwe

8 Aldo Domeyer

7 Richard Fourie

7 Grant van Niekerk

7 Craig Zackey

SIRES

10 Vercingetorix

7 Gimmethegreenlight

5 Querari

4 Danon Platina

3 Captain Of All, Master Of My Fate, One World, Rafeef, What A Winter

BREEDERS

10 Drakenstein Stud (Nom: Mrs GA Rupert)

6 Hemel ’N Aarde Stud

6 Varsfontein Stud

5 Wilgerbosdrift & Mauritzfontein

3 Klawervlei Stud, Ridgemont Highlands

OWNERS

8 Greg Bortz and Gina Goldsmith

5 Etienne Braun

5 Drakenstein Stud (Nom: Mrs GA Rupert)

4 Nick McCall, Val McCall, GJ Player

TRAINERS

18 Justin Snaith

10 Candice Bass-Robinson

5 Brett & James Crawford

4 Lucinda Woodruff

3 Greg Ennion, Dean Kannemeyer, Adam Marcus, Eric Sands