2012 KZN Yearling Sale Graduates Shine In Turffontein Listed Races

2012 KZN Yearling Sale Graduates Shine In Turffontein Listed Races

Two sales graduates of the 2012 Suncoast KZN Yearling Sales have done their breeders and KZN proud over the weekend – the first is Jimmi Choo, bred by Cathy and Jonathan Martin of Hadlow Stud winning the Storm Bird Listed, and the second is Virgo’s Babe, bred by Midlands Thoroughbreds who ran a close second in her third start in the Ruffian Listed.

Jimmi Choo got his career off to a bang in January, winning his debut over a 1000m at the Vaal in January from Tommy Gun by a length. Three weeks later he took on Tommy Gun again at Turffontein over 1000m over very soft going and came second by a nose – however Tommy Gun was carrying 55kgs and Jimmi Choo 58kgs.

He went on to win the Storm Bird Stakes Listed strongly on Saturday at Turffontein over 1000m, running on to win by almost a length and a half from Olympic Owen (Jay Peg) and Bruce Le Roux’s King’s Soldier (King Of Kings) running on for third. Trained by Leon Erasmus, Jimmi Choo is owned by Johann Botha who purchased him for just R50 000 at the 2012 Suncoast KZN Yearling Sale. He has already made a return, earning R161 750 from just three starts.

Jimmi Choo, with unusual white markings on his off-foreleg and near hind-leg – a trait that sire Bezrin often passes onto his progeny – is a flashy chestnut out of Ambleside by Northfields, bred at Hadlow Stud in Mooi River.

The mare has produced seven winners from nine runners who have produced 18 wins between them – including Mauritius (with full-siblings Gdansk and Anna Sobieski) and Zimbabwe (full-siblings by Habaayib – Hab Acht and Outdoor Girl).

Cathy and Jonathan Martin have Jimmi Choo’s half-sister by exciting new young sire A.P. Answer(USA) at Hadlow Stud. She is being aimed at the 2013 KZN Yearling Sale, to be held at Suncoast again this year. Named Coco Gold, Jonathan Martin describes her as: “A very nice strong filly, very much like her brother in looks [Jimmi Choo].”

Jimmi Choo descends from a dam-line that includes European sires Lypheor(GB), Kebah(FR), Al Nasr(FR) and a stallion that stood at Scott Bros many years ago, Jabal Tarik(FR).

A chestnut filly who passed through the 2012 KZN Yearling Sale’s ring as unsold, Virgo’s Babe by Malhub out of Linzertorte by Special Preview, has gone on to prove herself by running a very close second by a neck in just her third start at Turffontein, the Ruffian Stakes Listed.

Bred and consigned by Midlands Thoroughbreds, she was part of Manny and Mandy Testa’s first draft of yearlings to be sold under their own banner at the 2012 Suncoast KZN Yearling Sale.

Trained by David Nieuwenhuizen and owned by Mr D R & Mrs M Foster & Mr T Pandaram, the pretty chestnut filly has had just three starts – she placed forth in her first start at Turffontein over 1000m and placed second on Saturday over 1000m to Trippi filly For The Lads, by a neck, followed by Crown Bearer (Dynasty) and Winter Passion (Var).

Her dam Linzatorte is now deceased (out of Golden Thatch mare Apricot Flambee) but she has left behind a yearling colt by Second Empire(IRE) who will be headed to the 2013 Suncoast KZN Yearling Sale for Midlands Thoroughbreds.

Manny Testa tells us a bit more about her yearling: “The Second Empire yearling’s name is Mocha Torte and he is one of only two colts we have this year – the other is by Kahal out of 2003 Equus Champion Sprinter Texan Summer. Mocha Torte is a strong colt that stands over ground and has that conformation that is common when Second Empire produces sprinters. His dam Linzertorte was trained by Chris Erasmus and I decided to breed with her because nothing in the yard could work with her, but she refused to go into the pens.

“I believe Virgo’s Babe has a genetic pedigree that works because of the presence of Special and Thatch. I tried this again with Moche Torte, Special being the dam of Fairy Bridge who is Second Empire’s paternal grand dam. Moche Torte’s pedigree is backed up as he is extensively line-bred to Hyperion. He has a fantastic temperament and is growing up right next door to Ravishing. How’s that for mentorship!”

The dam-line has the likes of Ingleside, Evening Mist and Royal Day to name but a few.

The owners of Virgo’s Babe will be looking forward to a lot of fun with this filly – she has been entered for the KZN Breeders Race Day on 30 June, in the race for Two Year Olds over 1200m for a stake of R200 000.

We look forward to much more to come from these two talented chestnuts, and well done to all their breeders and connections concerned!