Press Release from 4Racing
2026 THE CHAMPIONSHIPS FINALE
Johannesburg, South Africa — The Highveld Feature Race Season concludes with the 2026 Championships Finale on Wednesday, 28 April. The card boasts seven features of which there are four Gr2 contests (TAB Senor Santa Stakes, TAB Colorado King Stakes, TAB Camellia Stakes, TAB Igugu Stakes), two Gr3 contests (TAB Protea Stakes, TAB Pretty Polly Stakes) and the TAB Gold Bowl (Listed).
TAB SENOR SANTA STAKES
The Senor Santa Stakes is named in honour of that game little galloper, Senor Santa, remembered as one of South Africa’s greatest sprint champions.
A bright chestnut with a white blaze, the colt bred by Dr. Frank Freeman’s Boland Stud from the Mexico II mare, Mexican Charm, was arguably the finest son of Summerhill’s champion sire, Northern Guest.
Selected by Tony Rivalland at the National Yearling Sales, the little horse raced in the interests of Messrs. F.P. and H.J. Cawdry. The colt was trained by Rivalland for his 2 and early 3 year career before passing into the care of Willie Pieters.
He raced for 7 seasons, proving effective from 1000m to 1600m, winning at five different racetracks: Clairwood Park, Gosforth Park, Greyville, Scottsville and Turffontein, retiring as a 15-time winner. He is remembered for wins in the G1 Smirnoff Plate, the Gr1 Computaform Sprint (twice), the Gr1 Star Sprint (twice), the Gr1 Natal Flying Championship (now the Mercury Sprint), and the Gr1 First National Bank 1600.
The champ also made history when taking on Northern Princess (also a daughter of Northern Guest) in a match race over 1600m, and while the filly won thanks to an inspired ride by Michael Roberts, Senor Santa proved doubters wrong by showing he stayed the mile. His drawing power was such that on a day when there was a cricket test at Kingsmead, a surfing international at North Beach, and the usual distractions of New Year’s Day, Senor Santa packed them into Greyville for the “match” so that only July outpointed him for attendance.
The measure of greatness is not always in what you won, but in who you beat and Senor Santa disposed of the likes of such outstanding performers and Gr1 winners as Blue Cossack, Goldmark, Harry’s Echo, Miss Averof, Roland’s Song, Simonside, Speak No Evil and Cape Guineas winner St. John’s Wood, as well as record-breaking Queen’s Plate-winning filly, Wainui.
He was the first sprinter to earn over R1 million and ultimately retired with earnings of over R1,7 million. He earned three ARCSA awards and was named South Africa’s Champion 2YO Colt of 1987, as well as Champion Sprinter for 1989 and 1990.
Senor Santa retired to Summerhill Stud in KZN and lived out his days as a yearling nanny, but remained a public hero.
He was humanely euthanized on June 23, 2014, at the ripe old age of 29.
TAB COLORADO KING STAKES
By Grand Rapids out of Courageous, COLORADO KING was bred by Birch Bros at their Vogelvlei Stud in Dordrecht in 1959.
'THE KING' won ten races in South Africa, including the Cape Derby and Durban July, before being campaigned in the USA.
At 2, he joined a young Syd Laird, just going out on his own right after the death of his uncle, Syd Garrett, and campaigned in the interests of Mr. P. S. Louw.
COLORADO KING finished 2nd in his first three starts, but finally tasted victory at the 4th attempt, making all to win a 5 f Juvenile Stakes by 1½ lengths without coming off the bit. He added the 1962 Cape of Good Hope Nursery at Milnerton followed by the Stewards Handicap and African Breeders in Durban, closing the season as Champion 2yo.
COLORADO KING was 3¼ lengths 5th to the good colt Loge in the first week of his 3yo season. Returning four months later in a 5f B Division sprint at Kenilworth, he took on a field of older horses, sauntering home on the bit by four lengths. Thus began a six-race win streak that would mark him out as one of our greats.
He toyed with a group of top-class 3yos in the 7f Guineas Trial at Kenilworth on January 23, then started as a 6/4 favourite against 12 leading 3YO’s for the Cape Guineas 9 days later. The King made fun of them all. Taking the lead on the turn at the halfway mark, he beat Sea Rover and MAJORCA by 4½ and 6½ lengths, respectively, in a new track record time.
However, he is best remembered for his performance in the Cape Derby. STAN AMOS stole the lead on MAJORCA and was 8 lengths clear with 400 metres to go. However, jockey Robbie Sivewright asked and COLORADO KING found an astonishing burst, catching the filly to win by 1/2 length, going away.
'THE KING' beat a strong field of older horses in the Clairwood June Handicap by 3¾ lengths before tilting at the 1963 Durban July. His supporters never had an anxious moment and he won by the best part of two lengths against the likes of SPECIALITY, JEREZ and MAJORCA.
Closing his South African account a week later with a respectable 3¼ length 3rd in the Durban Merchants, COLORADO KING was named Champion 3yo for the season.
Sold to an American racing partnership led by Fritz Hawn, COLORADO KING resumed his career in California in 1964. Under the care of trainer Wally Dunn, he won six races in his first US season, including the Gr1 Hollywood Gold Cup, the Gr2 American Handicap (equalling the world record for 1800m), and the Gr1 1700m Sunset Handicap by seven lengths.
In 1965, he won once from nine starts before being retired to stud, but found limited success as a sire.
Jockey Robbie Sivewright rated the COLORADO KING higher than the mighty SEA COTTAGE. Syd Laird was more reticent, but considered him at least as good as SEA COTTAGE at 3. He stated, “His tremendous fighting spirit and determination, combined with the fact that he was such a resolute galloper, made him the perfect racing machine."
TAB IGUGU STAKES
She may have hailed from Australia, but IGUGU was South Africa’s original Triple Tiara Princess. Born on September 16, 2007 at the Kia Ora Stud, IGUGU (Galileo-Zarinia) was purchased unnamed by Mick Goss at the 2009 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale. Christened IGUGU (the Zulu word for jewel), she joined Summerhill’s Emperor’s Palace Ready To Run sale draft in November, where the little filly with the big action was knocked down to Andre Macdonald for R1 million.
Trained by Mike de Kock, IGUGU debuted on August 26, 2010, astounding everyone by winning by 2.75 lengths. She romped home by 4.5 lengths at the Vaal in September, then stepped out in the Gr3 Joburg Spring Mare & Fillies Challenge for a third consecutive victory. Narrowly beaten in the 2010 Emperor’s Palace Ready To Run Cup, IGUGU ran such a courageous 2nd to Ebony Flyer in the Cape Filllies Guineas that in the weeks to follow, Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum purchased a 50% share.
IGUGU launched her 2011 offensive in style, trouncing Hollywoodboulevard by 4 lengths in the Gauteng Fillies Guineas. She beat LAS RAMBLAS home by 10.25 lengths in the SA Fillies Classic and sealed her place at the top of her class by storming home the best part of 6 lengths in the SA Oaks to be crowned South Africa’s first Triple Tiara princess.
IGUGU closed her 3YO campaign in Durban, winning the Gr1 Woolavington and bringing down the house by winning the 2011 Vodacom Durban July by the best part of a length.
At 4, she made 2 more starts in South Africa, winning both (the Gr2 Ipi Tombe Challenge and the 2012 J&B Met), before heading abroad. She finished 3rd in the Gr2 Balanchine Stakes in Dubai, was tried in Hong Kong’s 2014 QEII Cup, and had two starts in the UK for a 2nd place in the Rosemary Stakes.
She retired as a 10-time winner (4 at the Grade 1 level) from 18 lifetime starts. Her wins were achieved from 1200m to 2450m and included the Gr1 SA Fillies Classic, the Gr1 Woolavington Stakes, the Gr1 Durban July, and the Gr1 J&B Met.
Her accomplishments included being South Africa’s first Triple Tiara winner, 2011 Equus Champion 3YO Filly, 2011 Equus Champion Middle Distance Horse, 2011 Equus Horse of the Year, and 2012 Equus Champion Older Filly/Mare.
IGUGU retired to stud, leaving behind two foals: a 2015 Dansili filly named ATLAAL and a 2016 Dansili colt named EL MISK. The Australian Stud Book reported that IGUGU died on November 24, 2016.
TAB PRETTY POLLY STAKES
Arguably one of the greatest race fillies as well as one of the most influential broodmares of the 20th century, PRETTY POLLY was bred by Major Eustace Loder and foaled at his Eyrefield Lodge Stud near the Curragh in Ireland in March 1901.
By Gallinule out of Admiration, PRETTY POLLY was a chestnut filly with a star and a white sock on her near fore. She was a quirky type, narrowly escaping serious injury with some of her early capers. Trained by Peter Gilpin at his Clarehaven Stables in Newmarket, she raced at 2, 3, 4 and 5 over distances from 5f to 2 ¼ miles, garnering 22 wins (of which 15 were consecutive) and 2 seconds from 24 times of asking, including the 1,000 Guineas, Oaks, St. Leger, Coronation Cup, Champion Stakes and Jockey Club Cup.
PRETTY POLLY's unique personality endeared her to the racing public. After each victory, she came to expect a lump of sugar from her trainer's wife to be given to her in the winner's enclosure. She developed a strong attachment to a cob named Little Missus, who became her inseparable companion during her racing days. Little Missus would create a good deal of amusement by cantering with PRETTY POLLY to the start of many of her races. There were times when after a win, PRETTY POLLY would whinny for her friend, the two would affectionately rub noses, and then Little Missus would accompany PRETTY POLLY, her lad and her trainer, back to the stable.
PRETTY POLLY's stud record is equally prodigious. Although her colts proved modest, she produced 4 daughters: MOLLY DESMOND, DUTCH MARY, POLLY FLINDERS and BABY POLLY, through which her influence still continues strongly.
Dutch Mary was the first to make her mark through her great-grandson Donatello, an Italian Derby winner and important sire, and her branch of the family also produced Epsom Derby winner, Psidium.
Via Molly Desmond, she is responsible for the mighty BRIGADIER GERARD, arguably the best horse bred in Britain in the 20th century, as well as Derby winners ST PADDY, WORKFORCE and WINGS OF EAGLES; important sires such as Nearctic, Great Nephew and Luthier, and top-ranking fillies Flying Water, Shadayid and Russian Rhythm as well as 2015 Oaks victrix, QUALIFY.
The Polly Flinders branch is responsible for SUPREME COURT, winner of the first running of the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes and Eclipse Stakes winner, Arctic Explorer. Later stars included crack sprinter MARWELL and her daughter MARLING, Gold Cup victor PAEAN and Oaks heroine UNITE.
BABY POLLY had fewer opportunities at stud, with only two effective daughters, but through one came Vaguely Noble’s sire VIENNA, and Arc de Triomphe hero CARROLL HOUSE descended from the other.
PRETTY POLLY died at the grand age of 30 in August 1931.
TAB GOLD BOWL
The TAB Gold Bowl has long been one of South Africa’s premier staying events and its honour roll is the preserve of such doughty names as FURIOUS, GIGANTIC, AQUANAUT (who won back to back renewals in 1987 and 1988) and more recently, international campaigner HERMOSO MUNDO.
It is one of only 4 feature events on the calendar staged over the testing distance of 3200m and with a very attractive stake cheque of R400,000, ranks among the richest Listed race contests in the country.
For media enquiries, please contact:
Robyn Louw
robynl@4racing.com
079 394 3088