In a double for the stable of Corne Spies and the Scott Bros, Raspberry Lips and Refrain lead with 23 points and 19 points respectively. The Scott Bros-bred daughter of King’s Chapel heads up the KZN Breeders Series Log for 2YO’s. Both Raspberry Lips and Refrain are owned by Mr T Spies.
Strategic’s Pride, a son of Strategic News out of a Giant’s Causeway mare, owned and bred by Mr Jurie Snyman and trained by Sean Tarry, heads up the KZN Breeders Series Log for 3YO’s and up by 35 points.
Six wins on the trot, eight victories and two runners-up in his first ten starts would commend any young thoroughbred of his origins for a stud career. But, that’s only half the Act Of War story. A towering, athletic beast of princely proportions, not even the casual racegoer could’ve mistaken his presence and the elegance of his action for anything but the belongings of a comet in the making.
Year in and year out, Toreador not only performs in the sales ring but regularly produces good horses each season, and two have made themselves known from the past weekend.
Summerhill’s striking son of High Chapparal, Golden Sword, has got off to a smart start with his daughter, Summerhill-bred Belle Rose winning her third career start for trainer Mike De Kock, who trained her sire in Dubai.
Scott Bros’ large imposing Gr1 Breeders Cup winner, Miesque’s Approval, is currently a stand out on the National 2YO Sire’s list, achieving an impressive statistic of 57.1% winners to runners (as per nhra.co.za 15 May).
Scott Bros’ young sire Crusade, saw his Galileo half-sister Seventh Heaven out battle Architecture to win the Betfred Mobile Oaks Trial Fillies’ Stakes. The Aidan O’Brien-trained winner was sent off the 7-4 favourite for the Listed heat but she made hard work of winning in the hands of Ryan Moore.
“Like its more famous brother, the Kentucky Derby, the Oaks is the oldest contested continually contested horse race in the world. First run like the Derby in 1875, the race has gained in popularity over the years and is only marginally shaded by the Derby in terms of popularity. This year’s edition is likely to be one of the most interesting for years with several fillies putting their hooves up for a chance at victory.” – Lisa Barrett
The first crops from Scott Bros’ respective stallions’ Crusade and Eightfold Path were well received at the recent National Yearling Sale, whilst Irish Flame and Await The Dawn sold one individual each for over R100 000.
“This year is the 142nd running of America’s most famous and iconic race, the Kentucky Derby, and once again there is feverish speculation amongst fans and punters as to who the winner is likely to be. The million dollar question is can the current crop of three year olds emulate American Pharaoh and give the country another hero and Triple Crown winner?” – Lisa Barrett