Eight Cities, a three year old son of Eightfold Path bred by Scott Bros gave his sire his fourth winner for the season this afternoon at the Vaal Classic track over 1500m.
Winning comfortably going away by over a length, he sold for just R30 000 at the 2016 National 2YO Sale, Eight Cities has in addition to his win placed six times for owner Dr M Taljaardt, two of those occasions finishing in second place.
Trained by Paul Matchett and out of an imported Thunder Gulch mare Blue Eyed Queen, Eight Cities descends from the dam line of Var’s sire, Forest Wildcat. His fourth dam Queen Alexandra is a 19-time winner, including two Gr2’s and Gr3 races.
Eightfold Path, a French Gr3 and Listed winner by Giant’s Causeway is impeccably-bred out of the 5-time Gr1 winner Divine Proportions, stands at Scott Bros’ Highdown Stud.
The only son of Giant’s Causeway standing at stud in SA at the moment, a 4-time winner including the Gr3 Prix Eclipse. Eightfold Path is out of a 5x Gr1 winning mare.
The first foal of Divine Proportions, Eightfold Path bears a remarkable resemblance to his brilliant mother who hails from a sire producing female line, the likes of Shirley Heights and Pentire Champion Sires in their own right – with Konigstiger and Whipper also featuring prominently in sires lists in Europe.
On the racetrack, Eightfold Path showed early brilliance for leading French trainer, Pascal Bary, winning on debut and then following up with a third placed effort behind subsequent Group One performers, Buzzword and Siyouni, in the Group Three Prix La Rochette over 1400m. Eightfold Path closed off his two year old campaign with a stylish victory in the Group Three Prix Eclipse over 1200m.
Racing in the famous Niarchos colours, Eightfold Path was one of Bary’s leading hopes for the 2010 Classic season, but plans had to be shelved when he sustained an injury during the build up to the French 2000 Guineas.
On his return at four years, he won another two races including a Listed mile event at Deauville.
Eightfold Path stands for R10 000 this season. Eight Cities is the first winner for his dam. Well done to all concerned.