Clifton Unbeaten Graded Stakes Winning Weekend!
Peter and Jenny Blyth enjoyed a spectacular weekend, with two Graded Stakes wins in two provinces and both horses remaining unbeaten.
They also added small black type with a smart Captain Of All filly from the stable of Mark Dixon.
The Magical Lady Syndicate, including 4Racing’s CEO Fundi Sithebe and Racing Association’s Natalie Turner, were naturally elated with the win from Mrs Geriatrix.
Our plain chestnut Vercingetorix filly hails from our Clifton family of Prince Of Kahal, Fort Vogue and Whatalady.
Now unbeaten from three starts and with the Ruffian Stakes Listed to her name, she added the Gr2 World Sports Betting SA Fillies Nursery to her impressive record. A R200 000 sales purchase, Mrs Geriatrix looks a catch for the stable of Sean Tarry and must be a horse to follow for the KZN season ahead.
Clifton then proceeded to enjoy a double on Sunday and a Stakes Place at Hollywoodbets Scottsville, and interestingly the winning double out of the broodmare Luneburg (Var).
The day kicked off with Corinne Bestel trained Zululanga winning for owner Mr Erich Buhr at the third time of asking. The filly won well under Keagan de Melo over 1200m.
Captain’s Christy, a well built filly by Captain Of All out of Mystic Rose, won on debut and has placed twice since; she picked up small Black Type in the Gr3 Strelitzia under Richard Fourie for owners Mr Kevan Rice, Jay Joseph and trainer Mark Dixon.
The beautifully named Cliff Hanger – a R90 000 purchase from the KZN Yearling Sale in 2022, followed through in Race 6, the Gr3 Godolphin Barb Stakes. The juvenile colt by Canford Cliffs and owned by Mr Ravi Reddy is now unbeaten from two starts over 1100m and won courageously under jockey Billy Jacobson.
Peter Blyth reports that Luneburg has an Act Of War colt headed to the KZN Yearling Sale and there is no doubt he will be a feature amongst the draft. The mare unfortunately lost her foal by Captain Of All, but Peter advises that she is safely in foal to Rathmor’s son of War Front, Declarationofpeace for the 2023 season.
Luneburg is a Clifton product herself, and placed four times from six starts. Her own dam, She’s A Winner, also won the Gr3 Godolphin Barb and has produced three winners to date. This is the family of the speedy Tommy Hotspur and Gr1 Allan Robertson runner up, Royal Elegance.
Clifton Stud are boasting 38% winners to runners, with three Black Type wins for the season and stakes earnings of R3,042,538.
Clifton averaged a very healthy R336,429 for seven Lots sold at the recent Nationals, their top Lot knocked down to Greg Bortz for R600 000.
Congratulations!
