The return of the prestigious Ridgemont Highlands brand to big race sponsorship is further good news in the countdown to the stakes-boosted Hollywoodbets Gr1 Cape Guineas day at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday 17 December.
South Africa’s leading sportsbook operator, Hollywoodbets, and local racing operator, Cape Racing, recently announced that our greatest sire-producing contest, and the country’s leading classic race, will enjoy a stakes increase from R750 000 to R2 million for the 2022 renewal, with the popular purple brand adding their trademark energy and sparkle for the first time this year.
Charles Dickens – Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas leading light (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
Coupled with the massive boost in prize money, a vintage 3yo crop, headed by the likes of the unbeaten Charles Dickens, Gr1 winner Cousin Casey, and Gauteng fairytale flyer Anfields Rocket, amongst others, are set to make the 2022 Hollywoodbets Gr1 Cape Guineas a clash of the sophomore titans.
The Ridgemont Highlands team (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
An important support feature on the big day’s undercard is the R400 000 Ridgemont Highlands Gr2 Peninsula Handicap, an historically strategic stepping stone into the major features in January.
“We are very excited to be a part of the 2022 Hollywoodbets Guineas spectacular and are delighted to be partnering Hollywoodbets and Cape Racing on such a traditional day in the Cape Season. Throughout the years Ridgemont Highlands has always enjoyed being affiliated with the thoroughbred industry in the Cape – and after a short absence we feel now is the perfect opportunity, with the exciting new leadership and direction at Cape Racing, to bring our brand back,” said Ridgemont Highlands’ Craig Kieswetter.
The internationally acknowledged breeder added that with all the innovative initiatives being introduced into the Cape Racing calendar it is inevitable that racing and breeding can only go from strength to strength in the Western Cape.
“For us, that journey is very much something we are looking forward to being a part of,” he concluded.
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Hollywoodbets Brand & Communications Manager Devin Heffer endorsed Craig Kieswetter’s comments and welcomed the Ridgemont Highlands team as a partner on the major raceday.
“There is an existing partnership where the Hollywood Syndicate race many well-bred Ridgemont Highlands horses, and joining forces on such an important day on the South African horseracing calendar is a natural evolution of the association that exists between like-minded entities that have the very best interests of the sport at heart. The various marketing teams are hard at work in our collective goal of making it a memorable day in a watershed year for all stakeholders,” added Devin Heffer.
- Entries for the Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas day features close at 11h00 on Monday, 5 December, on which date the weights will be published.
- Supplementary entries close at 11h00 on Friday, 9 December.
- Declarations are due by 11h00 on Monday, 12 December.
