Backworth-bred Chocolicious Sold Down Under

In a private deal brokered by Gary Moore of Gavelhouse, South African Grade 1 winner Chocolicious has been sold to Australians Darren and Elizabeth Dance, who will race her with a group of their clients from Australian Thoroughbred Bloodstock.

Bred at the picturesque Backworth Stud in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands, the daughter of leading sire Kahal and the Gr.3 Strelitzia Stakes victress Candy Box was rated amongst the leading juvenile fillies two seasons ago, when she landed the prestigious Gr.1 Allan Robertson Championship.

Following a stint in Dubai, where she was third in the UAE Guineas, she returned to her home country and added three more victories to her resume at four. The five-year-old mare remains in training and is scheduled to head for the UK in early 2013.

Based in Victoria, the Dances manage and operate Manningtree Park and have tasted considerable success in syndicating Gr.1 winning racing stock.

A feature of their operation is the opportunity for their clients to race horses in Graded races in Australia and worldwide, and a decision last year to invest in international stayers to tackle the major distance races resulted in Crackerjack King winning the Gr.1 Rome Premio Presidente della Repubblica and having three runners in the recent Gr.1 Melbourne Cup at Flemington, the most successful of which, Jakkalberry, finished third behind the Irish-bred Green Moon.

Chocolicious is by KZN’s champion sire Kahal(GB) out of Candy Box by Exclusive Patriot(USA).

– Extract from European Bloodstock News

Information source courtesy of Backworth Stud. View their blog and website at www.backworth.co.za and join their Facebook page, Backworth Stud.