Listed Winners For KZN At The Vaal

Listed Winners For KZN At The Vaal

KZN had a successful day at the Vaal with two Listed winners. Unfortunately the much anticipated race at the Vaal today saw Africa’s richest race on sand, the Gr 2 Emerald Cup, being cancelled right up to the moment when the horses were waiting to enter the starting stalls – hail and thunderstorms put a stop to any racing continuing for the day.

St John Gray had a win with his mare Formation in the Emerald Fillies Handicap Listed and Rathmor Stud’s resident sire Woodborough(USA), had a win with Be Assured in what was to be the last race of the day – the Hampton Listed Handicap.

Summerhill’s Rooi Nooi by Cataloochee took home Race 3, the non-Black Type Sophomore Fillies 1000. Ridden by Pierre Strydom and trained by Louis Goosen, she won by 2.25 lengths carrying 56 kgs, jumping from stall one. Out of Lady Red by Russian Revival, she is owned by Messrs M E Wilken and C M Comaroff. Her dam Lady Red has a two year old colt by Kahal. Rooi Nooi has now had three wins from seven starts, having placed twice. The dam Lady Red is a five-time winner. This is the family of Gr 3 winner Red Admiral, Camp Danzig and Gay Champ.

Formation, another of many successful horses St John Gray has bred, owns and trains, won the Emerald Fillies Handicap Listed for a stake of R 150 000 under Gavin Lerena. Going off at odds of 22/10, she ran an incredible race to win by almost 7.5 lengths, carrying top weight of 60kgs. Shattered Image, by Damage Is Done, ran on for second carrying 57kgs. Formation is a five year old mare by Sarge out of Polonaise by Centenary(USA).

This is Formation’s fifth win and she has achieved six places. She recently ran second to Mr Tobin(ARG) in the Pinnacle Stakes at the Vaal over 1600m. A full-sister to three-time winner Bee Patrol, winner Hazy View and Moyo, and half-sister (or rather genetically a full sister who is by Announce, a full-brother to Sarge) to six-time winner Swarming. Announce, owned by St John Gray, has returned to KZN and is standing his first season (in a few years in KZN) at Hadlow Stud. Announce stands at Hadlow Stud for a fee of R18 000. Email Graystone Stud at grayston@iafrica.com

Be Assured, by Woodborough, won the Hampton Handicap Listed over 1000m at the Vaal for a stake of R150 000. Bred by Mrs MA Filmer, he is a 2007 Emperors Palace National Yearling Sale Graduate – sold for R160 000. To date, Be Assured has had six wins and 12 places, earning over R370 000 in stakes and ridden to victory by Derrick David. Drawn wide from stall 16, Be Assured ran a courageous race, fighting it out nose for nose with Cape Winter – which ended in a photo finish. It was a great race for trainer Kumaran Naidoo who had the honour of training the first three horses past the winning post.

Be Assured defeated a field that included Link Man, Mannequin and Furious Dancer – with second horse Cape Winter recently finishing third in the Gr 3 August Stakes.

Be Assured is out of Rose Of My Heart by Northern Drive(USA), and he is half-brother to seven-time winner Grafton Street and full-brother to winner and Stakes Placed Aim High. Congratulations to owners Messrs Gona Pillay, K G Naidoo, Morgan Pillay & veterinarian Dr Ralph Katzwinkel.

Woodborough has had 14 runners this season, and winner:runners percentage of 21%, with four wins and three places so far for the start of the season.

The sire of Egyptian Ra, a Gr 1,2, and 3 winner in Hong Kong and another Gr 1 winner with Donna Rosita in New Zealand, he has also produced Gr 3 winners in the USA and Ireland as well as eight Bold Black Types overseas. Woodborough has had two in South Africa with Thandolwami, winner of the Gr 3 Champion Challenge and Wood Be Magic, winner of the Gr 3 Christmas Handicap as well as producing nine additional Black Types in both South Africa and overseas.

Beginning his stud career in New Zealand he was Champion First Season Sire in 2001/2002. Sent to Ireland for stud duties in 1998, he was also Leading First and Second Crop sire in the UK for 2001/2002 and arrived in South Africa in 2003.

Voted Ireland’s joint Top Two Year Old in 1995, Woodborough is a handsome, imposing chestnut stallion by Woodman out of Performing Arts by The Minstrel.

A stallion with an exceptional temperament, Woodborough produces regular winners. He stands at Rathmor Stud for R5 000 live foal.

Email Rathmor Stud for more information at rathmor@bundunet.com

Congratulations to everyone associated with the winning horses today!