Summerhill’s striking son of High Chapparal, Golden Sword, has got off to a smart start with his daughter, Summerhill-bred Belle Rose winning her third career start for trainer Mike De Kock, who trained her sire in Dubai.
Golden Sword has only had three runners to date, one of which has also placed third in the same race yesterday – Oasis Queen.
Belle Rose looks to be following in her half-brothers’ Pierre Jourdan and Champagne Haze footsteps (out of Vin Fizz by Qui Danzig). The flashy bay filly is a 2015 CTS Ready To Run sale graduate where she was knocked down for R475 000. She is owned by Al Adiyaat South Africa and carries plenty of paddock value.
She won impressively at the Vaal going away by almost four lengths over 1600m from Legend Seeker with Oasis Queen following up closely. Belle Rose had placed previously over 1400m at Scottsville and fifth on debut at Greyville.
Golden Sword, a top-class racehorse himself, broke the track record at Meydan when winning over 2000m. He also won one of Britain’s major Derby preps, the G3 Chester Vase, ran second in the Irish Derby, galloping the mighty Sea The Stars to two lengths when fifth in the Epsom Derby.
He is from one the greatest families in the stud book, whose members include the classic winning fillies Alexandrova and Chicquita (both, like Golden Sword, descendants of the great Sadler’s Wells), as well as former legendary SA sire Royal Prerogative and Dolpour – the latter being the broodmare sire of The Apache.
Golden Sword stood for a fee of R20 000 in the breeding season of 2015.
Well done to all concerned!