Cape Dreams News from in and around the Cape
The Candice Bass-trained Major Master will be the favourite in Race 6 on the Winter Course
15 June 2026 – The Dare to Dream Syndicate Middle Stakes (Race 6, off at 15h45) is the headliner on Tuesday’s card at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth.
It features a field of eight, half of whom are trained by Justin Snaith, with Candice Bass saddling ROCCAPINA and MAJOR MASTER, who have drawn the inside two posts.
ROCCAPINA is one of the best two-time winners you’ll currently encounter in South Africa. She placed third in the 2025 Maine Chance Farms Majorca Stakes Gr 1, only to be suspended for bleeding in April the following year. Her peak subsequent start was the penultimate when second to QUEEN REGENT over this 1400m course and distance, conceding five kg’s to that rival. She is officially top of the weight classification, five points ahead of her stablemate.
Whether she runs to her lowered official merit rating of 107 (116 was her highest OMR) is debatable. At her last start, she was reported to have made a respiratory noise, which was not a factor for STOMWATCH.
By contrast, MAJOR MASTER is a totally dependable 4YO gelding, using a sharp turn of foot to propel himself into finishes, be they over 1400m or 1800m. He should get a good trip stalking the pace on the inside. He does, however, now race off a career high mark (OMR 104).
Bass and jockey Aldo Domeyer team up at a 28% win and 59% place strike rate, so they must always be shortlisted on genuine contenders. MAJOR MASTER is quoted as a weak favourite at around 3/1 in ante-post betting.
Michelle Rix sends out HANDSOME PRINCE. Strictly at the weight turn around with MAJOR MASTER on their December clash, he would have a squeak. But he is yet to make the top two on soft going, and his overall strike rate of two wins from 22 starts is a deterrent.
Rob Barrett is the latest trainer trying to revive BILLY BOWLEGS, who has not made it into the No.1 box for 1241 days. It will take a dramatic resurgence for this 6YO son of The United States to get involved. He is listed as the 30/1 rank outsider in early markets.
What to make of Justin Snaith’s four entries? MENTE ET MANU could be the dominant speed, getting over from draw 8 under Richard Fourie, who has won three times on this powerful Lancaster Bomber galloper. He does, however, rate far below most of his rivals with an OMR of just 88.
POMP IT UP appears more interesting. He suffered a hellish trip behind CAFÉ CULTURE down the straightaway last time and is more accurately assessed on a fine running-on effort behind JET FORCE in the Variety Club Mile.
A solidly paced 1400 on soft ground could suit ideally, and he rates a principal contender. Keagan de Melo rides.
GOLD GIBOSKI needed his comeback run badly yet still flashed home willingly behind FLYING FINLEY a month ago in a 1000m scuttle. He should strip much fitter, and stretching out to 1400 again could prove the answer, after being restricted to sprinting, for this maturing Gold Standard youngster making the 12th start of his career. Blinkers have been removed for this dip over a longer trip.
SCOTTISH KISS ran out of his socks behind SNOW PILOT in January over this C/D in a deep field. Of concern is that he’s been coughing after two of his most recent three (dull) starts, where he’s failed to hit the frame. If reverting to his previous best, then he is worthy of respect at 14/1. Not only is he in excellent hands with Snaith Racing, but he came to light this time last year, has a good record on a soft track and responds positively to Sean Veale’s riding style.
In summation, a few soundness quibbles are hanging over a few of these, combined with distance queries compounded by the likelihood of a heavy track.
In addition, the possibility of a false run affair looms with only MENTE ET MANU as a confirmed leader.
Maybe Snaith’s talented 3YOs GOLD GIBOSKI and POMP IT UP, who have slightly hidden form and come with the most upside potential, are the two to home in on.
Players of exotics may prefer to go even deeper, given the puzzling nature of this wide-open betting contest.
TEXT: Mark van Deventer PICTURE: Race Coast
