Grapes Of Wrath, a Gimmethegreenlight half-sister to Charles Dickens lived up to pedigree expectations on debut to open the Lucky Fish Cape Derby day, winning for breeder Gaynor Rupert of Drakenstein Stud impressively under Aldo Domeyer. Racing for the same connections of Charles Dickens – the filly being trained by Candice Bass, she is a half sister to two other Black types in Charles and Somerset Maugham, this being the family of War Command and Major Hero. Charles Dickens stand at Drakenstein Stud.

The What A Winter gelding Tenpenny, a R600 000 purchase at the 2023 National Yearling Sale where he was bred and consigned by Camargue Stud, claimed the Listed Masks Of Fire Kenilworth Cup for owners Greg and Gina Bortz. Trained by Patrick Kruyer and partnered by Juan Paul van der Merwe, the full brother to Pretty Penny brought up his sixth career win and his first feature success with the victory. This is the family of Diamond Prince and Jungle Ruler.

Varsfontein stallion Erik The Red (Captain Al) produced the first two past the post in the RIDGEMONT CAPE OF GOOD HOPE NURSERY (Grade 3), lead by the Terry Andrews-bred Red Spice, owned by Messrs T Gujadhur, J M Lim Fat, R M Sewgoolam & Wernars Family. Ridden by Keagan De Melo, the Piet / Elbert Steyn-trained 2yo gelding has won his second race in a row from four starts and two places. Out Right Approach mare Ikebana, this is the family of Shoe Shac, World Focus and Green Keeper.

Beach Verse, the Vercingetorix half-sister to South African Gr1 and American Gr2 winner Beach Bomb and stallion Wild Coast, proved victorious in the Listed OTT Cape Fillies Classic over 1800m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth. Trained by Candice Bass for owner-breeder Gaynor Rupert of Drakenstein Stud, Beach Verse stayed on strongly under Aldo Domeyer to secure the win. Out of the phenomenal Dynasty mare Beach Beauty, Beach Verse recorded the third victory of her career and has now earned in eight of her nine starts, including three runner-up finishes.

Princess Of Gaul, a Vercingetorix half sister to Gr1 winner Kingdundee bred by Clive Murphy, wins the SplashOut PRIX DU CAP (Grade 3) for trainer Dean Kannemeyer and owners Alac (Pty) Ltd (Nom: Mr A L A Crabbia), under jockey Craig Zackey. From the immediate female line of Hawwaam, Rainbow Bridge and Golden Ducat, Princess Of Gaul wins for the fourth time and its her third Graded Stakes win to date. She is out of Miss Marmalade, by Duke of Marmalade.

Questioning, bred by Mr AN Foster and trained by Vaughan Marshall for owners Greg & Gina Bortz, T Gujadhur and the Wernars Family, won the KHAYA STABLES DIADEM STAKES (Grade 2) emphatically under jockey Richard Fourie over 1200m. By Querari out of Captain Al mare Wheredowego, the five year old gelding ran second to The Real Prince in his penultimate start in the Gr1 L’Ormarins Kings Plate and this is his eighth career win. He is a half brother to Senso Unico, from the family of Flight Alert and Señor Santa.

Wish List (Legislate), a R700 000 graduate of the 2024 National Yearling Sale bred and consigned by Maine Chance Farms, produced an outstanding performance to win the Gr1 Lucky Fish Cape Derby, the only filly in the race.. Out of the Silvano mare Wind Chill, the talented filly gave owners Mr J I Bloch and Nancy Hossack both first and second in the prestigious race, with Note To Self finishing runner-up.

Trained by Justin Snaith and ridden by Richard Fourie, Wish List registered her second consecutive Gr1 victory and became the first filly to win the Cape Derby this century. Interestingly, the last filly to win the race was Dog Wood in 1999, a daughter of Fort Wood, who happens to be the paternal grandsire of Legislate who is himself a winner of the Cape Derby, trained by Justin Snaith. Wish List descends from the family of Grey Arrow and Winter Passion.

Beaumont Stud-bred Jet Force (Master Of My Fate) captured the Listed Play ‘N Go Jet Master Stakes to record the fifth victory of his career. A R350 000 graduate of the 2023 November 2YO Sale, the gelding is out of the Var mare Ooh La Var, a half-sister to multiple Gr1 winner Legal Eagle.

Trained by Des A McLachlan and ridden to victory by Grant van Niekerk, Jet Force scored for owners Messrs Denis Le Breton & A L Taylor, Mr K & Miss K Geemooi and Mrs G C Hutchinson.

Images: Chase Liebenberg