HOPE IS POWER is a gelding by Soft Falling Rain, out of the Kahal mare Sarasota. Bred by Wilgebosdrift, he was purchased by the Hollywood Syndicate at the 2020 BSA National Yearling Sale.
Name: Hope Is Power
Named By: CSI Team
Sex: Colt
Sire: Soft Falling Rain
Dam: Sarasota
Damsire: Kahal
DOB: 20/10/2018
Breeder: Wilgerbosdrift
Sale: 2020 BSA National Yearling Sale
Trainer: Gareth van Zyl
Previous Trainer: Clinton Binda
Previous name: The Big Orange
Pedigree: See Here
Record: 25-4-7
UPDATES – Hope Is Power
November 13th, 2024
Raced over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Greyville on the polytrack. Finished 4th out of 10 runners.
Anthony Delpech post-race comment: A good run. On that performance, I do feel he could run better over 1400m.
September 27th, 2024
Raced over 1000m at Hollywoodbets Greyville on the polytrack. Finished 5th out of 8 runners.
Anthony Delpech post-race comment: A good run over a trip too short for him. Watch him next time over 1200m.
September 4th, 2024
Raced over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Greyville on the polytrack. Finished 8th out of 11 runners.
Anthony Delpech post-race comment: The company was too strong for him. Needs a drop in the ratings and he will be very competitive.
February 21st, 2024
Raced over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Greyville on the polytrack. Finished 9th out of 9 runners.
Anthony Delpech post-race comment: Ignore this run as he nearly fell just before the straight.
January 10th, 2024
Raced over 1400m at Hollywoodbets Greyville on the polytrack. Finished 3rd out of 9 runners.
Anthony Delpech post-race comment: Good third, I feel 1400m is just too far for him. He hung out badly up the straight which cost him some ground.
December 13th, 2023
487 – HOPE IS POWER gives the Syndicate a double at Hollywoodbets Greyville. He raced from a prominent position under apprentice James Lihaba and showed good determination to put his nose down where it matters most. The son of Soft Falling Rain is now a four-time winner. He is trained by Hollywoodbets-sponsored Gareth van Zyl and is bred by Wilgerbosdrift and Mauritzfontein.
Race Replay / Interview.
November 11th, 2023
Raced over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville. Finished 5th out of 7 runners.
Anthony Delpech post-race comment: A good run after a long break. He had a broken jaw and was off at Life After Racing for three months.
May 26th, 2023
Raced over 1000m at Hollywoodbets Greyville on the polytrack. Finished 4th out of 8 runners.
Anthony Delpech post-race comment: He ran a good race, it was just too short for him.
April 3rd, 2023
413 – HOPE IS POWER wins Race 6 over 1200m and gives the Syndicate a double at Hollywoodbets Greyville on the polytrack. The Syndicate completed the exacta with Purple Operator finishing second. The son of Soft Falling Rain was ridden to victory by Rachel Venniker and is a now a three-time winner. He is trained by Gareth van Zyl and is bred by Wilgerbosdrift and Mauritzfontein.
March 5th, 2023
Raced over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Greyville on the turf track. Finished 2nd out of 8 runners.
Anthony Delpech post-race comment: Good second-place finish, he is not far off from winning.
February 13th, 2023
Raced over 1000m on the Hollywoodbets Greyville polytrack. Finished 6th out of 11 runners.
Anthony Delpech post-race comment: Great run from where he came from. He will be a hard horse to beat next time with a good draw.
December 5th, 2022
Raced over 1000m at Hollywoodbets Greyville on the polytrack. Finished 6th out of 8 runners.
Anthony Delpech post-race comment: Below par effort.
November 21st, 2022
Raced over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Greyville on the polytrack. Finished 3rd out of 8 runners.
Anthony Delpech post-race comment: Good third. We will drop him back to 1000m, which we believe will suit him better.
October 26th, 2022
Raced over 1400m at Hollywoodbets Greyville on the polytrack. Finished 11th out of 11 runners.
Anthony Delpech post-race comment: He pulled too hard during the race. He will be better over shorter.
October 2nd, 2022
Raced over 1100m at Hollywoodbets Greyville on the polytrack. Finished 4th out of 6 runners.
Anthony Delpech post-race comment: The positive thing is he is jumping well out the gates. He is not far from winning in a less completive field, good run.
September 4th, 2022
Raced over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville. Finished 7th out of 10 runners.
Anthony Delpech post-race comment: Good first run for Gareth van Zyl. He needed the run as he has been working on him jumping out starting stalls. He will now up his work-rate and he will be a much fitter horse next time.
July 20nd, 2022
Taking him to the course on Monday, let’s hope he jumps as he has done back home. I haven’t been too hard on him back home, as I am focusing on having him happy, psychologically. As advised by Clinton, I treat him as a bleeder, however he hasn’t shown any signs of bleeding.
May 27th, 2022
A decision has been made to move Hope Is Power to KZN, and he will now be trained by Gareth van Zyl. He arrived in KZN yesterday.
February 22nd, 2022
Raced over 1200m at the Vaal. Anthony Delpech post-race comment: Stood in the gates and lost many lengths.
February 15th, 2022
Raced over 1000m on the Vaal Classic course. Anthony Delpech post-race comment: He was way out of his ground and had no chance of finishing closer. I feel he will be better over more ground.
December 28th, 2021
Raced over 1000m at Hollywoodbets Greyville on the polytrack. Anthony Delpech post-race comment: He missed the start and had to come from further back then what we will have liked him to be. I feel he is looking for a bit more ground.
November 22nd, 2021
He won the second race at Hollywoodbets Greyville over 1000m this afternoon. He was returning from a 27-week break but with just 51kgs on his back, he won going away, beating the 1/4 favourite Pray For Rain. He is trained by Hollywoodbets-sponsored Clinton Binda and was ridden to victory by Kaidan Brewer.
May 18th, 2021
He took his place in a Juvenile Plate over 1200m at the Vaal. He was returning from a 10-week break and showed signs of needing the outing. He will come on from the run and should show good improvement next time.
February 3rd, 2021
Our Gauteng Operations team travelled to Clinton Binda’s facility today, to handover these well deserved cheques and trophy’s for our 200th winner – Hope Is Power. Jockey Jason Gates, groom Tinanshe Nasho and trainer Clinton Binda with assistant trainer Clinton Naude, were all on hand to receive their well deserved prizes.
February 2nd, 2021
Hope Is Power rounds up winner number 200 for the Hollywood Syndicate. Jason Gates gave this son of Soft Falling Rain a perfect ride to win on debut. Well done to trainer Clinton Binda and breeders Wilgerbosdrift. As part of the well publicized 200th winner incentive, the Hollywood Syndicate will be handing over a cheque of R10 000 to both trainer and jockey, as well as R2 000 to the groom Tinanshe Nasho.
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February 1st, 2021
Hope Is Power steps out for the first time at the Vaal, on Tuesday 2nd February. See more about what we are expecting here.
Tuesday 2 February 2021
Vaal Racecourse
Race 2 – 13:05
1000m – Guineas Day 6 February Maiden Juvenile Plate
1 – Hope Is Power
Trainer: Clinton Binda
Jockey: Jason Gates
Wgt: 60.0kg
Draw: 6 (7 Runners)
Predicted Betting: 7/1
He appears to be a nice 2-year-old who comes into this race on the back of a good grass gallop last week. If he doesn’t need the experience too much, he is fit enough to finish in the first 3.
Winning Form Comment: Brother to:*FLORIDA KEYS 3f ( 4: 1, 0). *Soft Falling Rain gelding (Cost R360 000).
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August 14th, 2020
A smart Soft Falling Rain colt out of the Kahal mare SARASOTA, he will be placed with Clinton Binda and should be one of the more forward 2 year old colts for the upcoming season.
He has arrived in the Western Cape to be spelled by Sally Bruss on her new establishment.