Gr1 Wins and Close Victories For KZN Horses On Weekend

Considering the minority of the numbers of horses produced in KZN compared to the neighbouring provinces, two of them – one a KZN-bred, the other by a KZN sire, came very close to securing Gr1 victories but finished close second each. There were plenty of results over the weekend which saw KZN-breds place closely in several feature races in both Kenilworth, Turffontein and Borrowdale in Zimbabwe.

Kahal produced a Gr1 winner in Zimbabwe when Summerhill-bred Comanche Brave secured the exclusive Zimbabwean race, the Gr1 Castle Tankard from Royal Honour (by Archipenko). Trained by Amy Bronkhurst, the four year old also won the Breeders Champions Cup Listed in March this year.

The tone was set in the first race of the day at Turffontein, with the first four across the line all hailing from KZN including the second placed Bold Viking – the Bellwood Stud-bred a winner of the Egoli Mile Non-Black Type.

From there, Bush Hill Stud’s useful Aramouse secured his fourth career victory in the second race, with Just As I Said finishing third. Aramouse is a full brother by Kahal to Gr2 winner The Mouseketeer. Sad news in is that his three parts brother Cat ‘n Mouse, which Sean Tarry had very high hopes for, died accidently in the float on the way home after winning his debut recently by a scorching five lengths. His Crusade half-sister sold for R100 000 at the recent National Yearling Sale to Grant Maroun.

KZN-breds Lions Emblem (Lion Tamer) and Coby (AP Arrow) both finished second and third respectively from Hermoso Mundo in the Gr3 Gold Vase. Lion’s Emblem has been an unlucky bridesmaid in several of SA’s leading staying races and needs to be respected.

The previously undefeated Daring Diva (by King Of Kings) experienced her first loss in the Gr2 SA Fillies Nursery, but still managed to capture futher Black Type in third place. The juvenile daughter of King Of Kings is bred and owned by Gerald Kalil, and won the Ruffian Stakes Listed in her previous start.

Mogok has not lost his touch and Varsfontein-bred Pagoda further strengthened his bid for an entry into the Vodacom Durban July by finishing second in the Gr1 SA Derby under Gavin Lerena. Pagoda previously won the Derby Trial Listed and he looks an exciting prospect indeed.

Equus Champion Sprinter Talktothestars bounced back to finish second in the Gr1 Computaform Sprint behind Rafeef by a length – in the process he beat the smart Carry On Alice, Brutal Force, Isca and many other other leading sprinters in the process, after being a bit off colour in his previous four starts. The son of Overlord finished second in this race to Carry On Alice in 2016. His half-brother by Eightfold Path sold for R80 000 to Stone Hill Stud at last week’s National Yearling Sale.

Kenilworth on Saturday saw Roski Stud’s Zodiac Jack place third in the Somerset 1200 Listed for juveniles for trainer Greg Ennion and owners Messrs O Schoeman & Braam van Huyssteen. The first son of 10-time winner Pisces Star (by Kahal) and Just As Well has earned cheques from three of his five starts, including breaking his maiden by five lengths. Just As Well boasts a 45% winners to runners percentage and his progeny were not ignored at the Nationals – with World Wide Bloodstock signing for a full brother to Just Positive and half-brother to 6-time winner Silver Inspiration, for a price of R120 000. His other yearlings from Roski, including siblings to recent juvenile winner Onamission and a first foal of Princess Julietta, sold for R150 000 and R110 000 respectively.

Another not to be ignored is Bezrin’s smart 2yo daughter To Phat To Fly – owned in partnership by trainer Glen Kotzen and Sean Pillay, the filly won on debut and finished second in a well-bred field of Cape juveniles in the Perfect Promise Sprint (Listed). Contrary to confusing reports last year, Bezrin is actively at stud in Mooi River, standing at Cathy and Jonathan Martin’s Hadlow Stud – the home of St John Gray’s Graystone Stud that has produced many champions, amongst them Engagement and Dancewiththedevil.

Summerhill Stud will be presenting their Mare and Weanling Reduction sale this weekend on May 14. Contact Amorette on info@summerhill.co.za to rsvp and visit the following link to apply for a buyers card.

Mares catalogued include Jordie – the dam of dual Gr1 winner Rabada, Surfer’s Eye – the dam of several bold black types and Particular Passion – the dam of Gr1 winner, Love Struck.

View the catalogue at the following link.

The Vodacom Durban July list of first declarations arrived this afternoon – amongst the entries for Africa’s most exclusive Gr1 race are KZN-breds Africa Rising, Witchcraft, Pagoda (Varsfontein bred by Mogok), The Elmo Effect and Bold Viking.

Congratulations to all concerned on a great weekends racing!