The first juvenile winner for Eightfold Path came this afternoon at Fairview over 800m in the Maiden Juvenile Plate. Born A Bully, bred by Peter and Jenny Blyth of Clifton Stud is a half-brother to Gr3 winner The Plunderer.
In a 1-2 for KZN stallions with Alfeo, a Piemonte-bred by Crusade finishing second, Born A Bully sold for just R20 000 off the 2017 National 2YO Sale to trainer Gavin Smith. The racy looking colt is owned by Messrs G L A Roberts and Morne Struwig.
Eightfold Path had a nose close second at the Vaal yesterday with Brigtnumberten, a horse that has won twice and placed four times. Sand Path was another who impressed to finish third yesterday on debut, in a very strong run in a competitive field.
Born A Bully not only banked the R41 250 first prize but he also grabbed the handsome R40 000 BSA added value bonus, making him already a truly great value for money buy. The half brother to prolific winner, The Plunderer, showed good pace throughout and looks to have a decent future.
Eightfold Path, who won the prestigious G3 Prix Eclipse as a two-year-old, has made a very bright start, despite being represented by a relatively small number of runners.
He has already been represented by 21 first crop runners, who have won or placed, and Eightfold Path’s two-year-old crops the best is yet to come from the son of triple champion US sire Giant’s Causeway.
The sire is out of Kingmambo’s once beaten French champion Divine Proportions, with Eightfold Path’s other notable relatives including the recent deceased top class New Zealand based stallion, and dual G1 winner, Pentire.
Peter and Jenny Blyth’s Clifton Stud, the breeders of Classic Flag, Bezanova and Fort Vogue amongst many others, have produced 10 winners this season. Born A Bully’s dam, Love Leah by Restructure, has not only produced The Plunderer but six other winners including Structured Reply, Crusade winner Weekend Warrior and Leah’s Little Luv. This is the family of Ravishing, Vega, Villandry, Geordoba and Fort Defiance.
Congratulations to all concerned.
Big thanks to Gavin (who bought BaB on spec) for offering him to me ! – he knew my budget – heh heh.
and to my partner Morne. Will definitely be on course his next run ! Many of my mates now want a piece of him. Well done Peter and Jenny ..