Owning One Stripe Is Surreal

Popular owner Rikesh Sewgoolam is still basking in the reflected glory of his wonder colt One Stripe’s victory in the R3-million Gr 1 L’Ormarins King’s Plate over 1600m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth. Sewgoolam has been an owner since 2006 and has become a staunch supporter of the industry, admitting to having become involved through “love for the horse and what the horse brings with it”.

His first graded race victory was with Seeking The Stars, who won the Gr 3 Cape Classic in 2020, beating Linebacker and Rascallion in a Vaughan Marshall 1-2-3, and that eight-time winner holds a special place in the Cape Town owner’s heart. It also indirectly led Sewgoolam to One Stripe.

Sewgoolam takes up the story. 

“I had become fond of the Ready To Run Sales concept as it gives you a better chance to identify the horse you have in mind as your next treasure. My first buy at this type of sales concept was Seeking The Stars in 2019 (where he paid R425,000). For this reason, I have gone back annually to this sale and in 2023 One Stripe was Mr Marshall’s top pick. He went as far as to tell me that it was one of the better gallops (if not the best gallop) he had ever seen at this kind of sale. That was enough to convince me that One Stripe was our 2023 sales horse and a day later, we secured him for R1.4m and he moved across to his new home at VHM Stables in Milnerton.”

Reflecting on a horse who has captured the country’s attention, winning the land’s most prestigious weight-for-age Grade 1 mile event, making it six wins from eight starts and earnings over R4m, Sewgoolam spoke of the blessing of owning One Stripe, a son of the irrepressible sire One World.

“We all dream of owning a horse such as One Stripe and it is simply surreal and a privilege. Winning the Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas was a humbling moment for me, having tried for many a year to have a horse that could at least place in a Grade 1, without success. To have finally achieved it in December was such a momentous moment, and I couldn’t help but break down in tears the moment One Stripe went across the finish line. 

“I was in Australia and it was 1am in the morning when he won the Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas. I returned in time to watch the L’Ormarins King’s Plate at home with my family. It was such a humbling moment to witness this young colt achieve what appeared a daunting task for him. It’s an amazing journey for all associated with One Stripe and we remain hopeful and are looking forward to seeing what the future brings for him.”

He can be sure that the entire horseracing community is also looking forward to seeing what happens next. – Gary Lemke