South Africa’s reigning champion sire Vercingetorix had another big day at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday.
Not only did Vercingetorix geldings Holding Thumbs and Magic Verse run 1-2 in Saturday’s G3 Cape Of Good Hope Chairman’s Cup (2500m), but another son of Vercingetorix, Roland Garros, won the tenth and final race at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth.

In landing the 2026 Chairman’s Cup, the Glen Kotzen trained Holding Thumbs made amends for his runner up finish in the same race last year.
Winner of the Listed WSB Club Prive Cape Summer Stayers (for a second year in a row) last time out, the five-year-old was given a fine ride by Chad Little on Saturday.
Always well placed, Little asked Holding Thumbs for his effort close home, and the gallant gelding kept finding more in the closing stages to win the G3 contest by three-parts of a length.

It was a fine effort by Holding Thumbs, who had to lug 62kgs on his back. Bred by Wilgerbosdrift & Mauritzfontein, the son of Vercingetorix has won nine of 26 outings.

Holding Thumbs, who races for Messrs P Bamford, D D MacLean & Gary Player Stud Farm (Pty) Ltd, Mrs J Doyle & Mr L S & Mrs Rayna Govender, was a R1 100 000 buy from the 2022 August Two Year Old Sale.

Out of the Fort Wood mare Withbatedbreath, Holding Thumbs is bred on similar lines to the Vercingetorix sired G3 Betway Got The Greenlight Stakes winner Greaterix.

Vercingetorix went close to enjoying more big race success on Saturday, with his G1 World Sports Betting Cape Fillies Guineas winning daughter Quickstepgal just beaten into second in the G2 Cartier Sceptre Stakes.

South Africa’s Champion Sire, Leading Sire of 2YOs and 3YOs in 2024-2025, Vercingetorix is once again heading the General Sires premiership.