Paths Of Victory gave Rathmor Stud their first Gold Cup win in the World Sports Betting sponsored marathon 3200m race. The son of Noble Tune won for Gareth Van Zyl, who has trained progeny of Noble Tune to success and it was his first win in the country’s premier stayers race.
The last win KZN had in the Gold Cup was Scott Bros-bred Wild One, with Anthony Delpech in the irons and trained by Mike De Kock.
Paths Of Victory is out of a mare that was bought specifically to be covered by Noble Tune and it paid off – she is also the dam of In Auro and Paths Of Victory has a full sister that sold at Nationals in 2019. It is an impressive dam line of William Longsword, Victory Moon, Imbongi and many others.
S’manga Khumalo rode a smashing race, leading from start to finish for owner Mario Ferreira. Paths Of Victory sold for R220 000 at the National Yearling Sale, and has now 5 races with 7 places from 23 starts for stakes of R647 450.
KZN Breeders Chairman Ted Hughes was ecstatic when Paybackthemoney, who runs in his wife Ruth’s colours, finished second under Muzi Yeni. The son of Marchfield is a half-brother to Gr1 winner Out Of Your League, who was in the same race.
It didnt stop there for KZN – War Of Athena put up a dramatic finish to be just a neck off winning the Gr1 Thekweni Stakes for her sire Act Of War and trainer Paul Matchett, who also won the Gr2 Kuda Gold Bracelet for the second time with Summerhill bred Running Brave.
Sold for just R30 000 off the National 2YO Sale, Running Brave, a daughter of Brave Tin Soldier, is a multiple Group winner and also took this years KZN Breeders [Million] Mile. She is owned by Fanie Bronkhorst and Mr Neethling. Running Brave is out of a Jet Master mare Movingandgrooving, bred by Summerhill and from the female line of O Tamara, Silver Flyer and Love Is In The Air.
Her sire Brave Tin Soldier stands at Fort Nottingham, Jill Fox’s The Fort Stud.
Seymour Harley’s Garrulous finished 2nd to Erik The Red in the Gr2 Epol Umkhomazi Stakes. The Byword gelding is a half brother to the Black Type Forth Estate.
Other KZN results on the day was Roski-bred Indy Go, who finished 4th in the New Turf Carriers Darley Arabian (Listed), and Ad Altisima finished 3rd in the Terrance Millard Umngeni Handicap (Listed).
Congratulations to all on a superb day!