Two #kznbred Gr2 Winners On Gold Cup Day!


Montreal Mist flies home under Gavin Lerena. Image: Candiese Marnewick
Montreal Mist flies home under Gavin Lerena. Image: Candiese Marnewick

KZN had two Gr2 winners at Hollywoodbets Greyville on eLan Gold Cup Day.

The first came with the beautiful Clifton-bred Soft Falling Rain filly Montreal Mist, out of Esterel by Var. Purchased at the National Yearling Sale Session 1 in 2018 for R700 000 and owned in partnership by Mary Slack and Michael Javett, Montreal Mist gave her deceased sire his first Graded Stakes winner.

She is trained by South Africa’s leading trainer for the current season, Sean Tarry.

Gavin Lerena said that Montreal Mist had ‘just blossomed’ in the space of a few weeks and he said t was an honour to win a feature for Mary Slack and Mike Javett.

Montreal Mist has won 3 races with 3 places from 7 starts for stakes of R429 625 and earned her breeders premiums in the process.

Montreal Mist is a half-sister to Kildonan multiple winner Highland Hero, also bred by Clifton Stud and owned by Mary Slack’s Wilgerbosdrift Stud – who stood Kildonan prior to his move to KZN.

Mary Slack, Gavin Lerena and Sean Tarry. Image: Candiese Marnewick
Mary Slack, Gavin Lerena and Sean Tarry. Image: Candiese Marnewick

The second Gr2 win came in the Kuda Gold Bracelet, with Running Brave by Brave Tin Soldier giving her sire another Graded Stakes winner.

This time she turned the tables on #kznbred previous Gr1 winner Camphoratus under Muzi Yeni fighting for the national jockey title – after finishing a close second to the latter filly in the Gr1 Empress Club Stakes at Turffontein.

Muzi’s ride on Running Brave to win the R400 000 Gr2 Gold Bracelet exemplified the fighting spirit that has characterised the sub-plot of the jockey title chase for the past two months.

Running Brave wins the Gr2 Kuda Gold Bracelet. Image: Candiese Marnewick
Running Brave wins the Gr2 Kuda Gold Bracelet. Image: Candiese Marnewick

Paul Matchett’s nuggety mare is all heart and courage and her and Muzi became one down the Hollywoodbets Greyville straight as the challenges came from all sides after she had led for most of the 2000m journey.

Trained by Paul Matchett, the shrewdly purchased Summerhill-bred filly Running Brave took her stakes earnings to R940 424 with her fourth win with 10 places from 17 starts.

She is out of the Jet Master mare Movingandgrooving and cost just R30 000 off the National 2yo Sale, owned by Messrs F Bronkhorst & H L Neethling.

Congratulations to all concerned!


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