The ‘R Heat Lightning’ Connection At The National Yearling Sales


The ‘R Heat Lightning’ Connection At The National Yearling Sales

Lot 113, a bay yearling ‘Spangle’ , by Trippi out of Refined Gold by Rich Man’s Gold has attracted the attention of buyers. Keith Russon of Backworth Stud says he has fielded calls from across the country with buyers interested in the eye-catching filly.

Her dam, Refined Gold was a winner over 1400m and has to date produced a winner from her first foal – White Tiger. She comes from an exceptional dam-line, fourth dam is London Wall – famous for producing one of the best racehorses to come from South Africa who returned recently from the USA to stand in South Africa – Horse Chestnut – and this family’s descendants include plenty of Bold Black Type, almost too many to mention – but the likes of Cape Badger, Monyela, West Wall, Iron Curtain, and the second dam’s full-sister Sport’s Chestnut are all present.

Spangle, Lot 113 at the upcoming Emperors Palace National Yearling Sale. Image: Candiese Marnewick.     Spangle Pedigree

An exceptional pedigree in the Emperors Palace National Yearling Sale catalogue – what makes this pedigree stand out from the rest?
The secret lies with broodmare sire Rich Man’s Gold – himself by Forty Niner – and in turn sire Trippi’s paternal grandfather.

This is the exact same ‘nick’ as one of America’s top race fillies of her time – and the best horse (and daughter) Trippi has produced to date – a bay filly named R Heat Lightning.

R Heat Lightning. Image: Amber Chalfin.     R Heat Lightning Pedigree

Winner of the Gr 1 Spinaway Stakes as a two year old, R Heat Lightning is out of a Gold Fever (Forty Niner) mare named Yellow Heat. Bred in Florida and trained by Todd Pletcher, she placed second to Awesome Feather in the Gr 1 Breeders Cup Juvenile Fillies and Gr 1 Frizette over a mile (1600m), and as a three year old went on to add the Gr 2 Gulfstream Park Oaks in dominating fashion, winning by a scorching eight and a quarter lengths.

She also added Gr 2 Davona Dale Stakes to her list of victories – again by a margin of seven and a quarter lengths. She also placed in the Gr 2 Forward Gal Stakes. A favourite for the Gr 1 Kentucky Oaks, she was withdrawn from the race after heat was detected in her knee.

Spangle at Backworth Stud. Image: Ian Todd     R Heat Lightning. Image: Amber Chalfin.

From eight starts R Heat Lightning had four wins and three places, earning almost US$1 million in stakes. She was covered by Medaglia D’Oro in 2012.

The Emperors Palace National Yearling Sale takes place between 26 and 28 April at Germiston in Johannesburg and Backworth Stud can be found in ‘G’ stable block.

Visit Backworth Stud’s website to view photos, pedigrees and video clips of each yearling that will be available at the Emperors Palace National Yearling Sale, 26 & 28 April.

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