The World Sports Betting Summer Cup Day rendered exciting results for #kznbreds, and in particular the feature race as the aptly named Running Brave began her run and was leading, chased the mighty Summer Pudding to the finish, to concede to second place by two lengths but by no means ashamed in defeat.
The Brave Tin Soldier filly who was another bargain for trainer Paul Matchett who picked her up for R30 000 at the National 2YO Sale, and has won two Gr2 Kuda Gold Bracelets amongst her many wins in good company – she is another horse that has built up a superb rapport with her regular jockey, Muzi Yeni.
She accelerated to leave 5 lengths between herself and third place finishing Tree Tumbo, with #kznbred Dance Class finishing 4th for St John Gray. Dance Class is bred on the same cross that produced a Summer Cup winner for St John with the star Dancewiththedevil.
Of the top 4 to finish, 3 were fillies. Her sire Brave Tin Soldier stands at The Fort Stud, and from small numbers has produced several Gr1 results and his son Rabada stands at Spring Valley Stud.
War Of Athena, who shares a trainer with Running Brave in Paul Matchett, showed her class once more to win the Gr2 WSB Ipi Tombe Challenge from Gr1 winner, Queen Supreme. Another “cheapie” at just R30 000 off the 2019 BSA Ready To Run Sale, the daughter of Act Of War gave her young sire his first Gr2 win. She has been a star, placing a close second in the Gr1 Thekweni Stakes and winning the recent Ready To Run Cup.
Her sire Act Of War stands at Summerhill Equestrian, owned by Henning Pretorius and he is off to a promising start indeed.
Another superb effort is the smart Winter Smoke, who ‘smoked’ them once again to take the Gr3 Magnolia Handicap. Bred by Richard Fitzgerald and consigned to Nationals by Spring Valley Stud, the Ashley Fortune speedster won well under Calvin Habib. Proving that horses don’t know their price – two fillies from Scott Bros finished 3rd and 4th behind Winter Smoke – that of Double O’ Eight (Eightfold Path) and Suzette Viljoen’s Linear (Crusade).
Both of the latter were offered for sale off the Scott Bros famous Highdown Stud after either not qualifying for sales or being not sold, and were sold directly off the farm months later and have rewarded their respective owners significantly on the racetracks.
Paul Peter had a smashing day with his filly Summer Pudding, and enjoyed a 1-2 in the Gr2 WSB Dingaans, with the smart son of Willow Magic finishing 2nd just two lengths off. Ridden by Warren Kennedy, MK’s Pride owned by Koos Mkale is the mirror in looks to his Gr1 winning sire, from conformation to markings at Summerhill Equestrian.
Congratulations to the breeders, trainers and owners concerned on a great days results and racing!