Gr 1 Allan Robertson Winner From 2012 Suncoast KZN Yearling Sale Draft

2012 Suncoast KZN Yearling Sale graduate, Happy Valentine, won the Gr 1 Allan Robertson Championship over 1200m at Scottsville on the weekend and it appears that these graduates are at the top of the two year old league – Happy Valentine is the third Group winner to come out of last year’s Suncoast KZN Yearling Sale draft.

Other current racing success stories include KZN-bred Gr 2 winners Colour Of Courage (bred by Backworth Stud) and Virgo’s Babe (bred by Midlands Thoroughbreds) which have also made their presence felt on South Africa’s racetracks this current season, with Listed winner Jimmi Choo (bred by Hadlow Stud) and Ace Antonius (bred by Highlands Farm Stud) both placing in Gr 2s.

To date, Colour Of Courage has earned R170 000 in stakes (sold for R140 000), Virgo’s Babe (unsold) has taken home R334 000, Jimmi Choo R271 750 (sold for R50 000) and Ace Antonius R91 250 (sold for R40 000).

A very talented young filly, Happy Valentine is by Silvano out of Happy Ever After by National Assembly. Bred by Maine Chance Farms and trained by Vaughn Marshall, Happy Valentine was a R240 000 yearling, remaining unbeaten after her second win from Judpot filly Along Came Polly – with Masked Lady (Casey Tibbs) and Sea Cat (Var) finishing fourth. She is owned by Messrs A Chemaly & G L O’Brien and has won R420 000 in stakes from just two starts.

Happy Valentine shed her maiden on debut with an impressive run at Clairwood from yet another 2012 Suncoast KZN Yearling Sale graduate, a lovely grey filly from Bush Hill Stud named Agatha Panther who recently went on to win last week.

Happy Valentine qualifies for the KZN Breeders Juvenile Million to be run as the last race on Vodacom Durban July day over 1300m, an incentive race for any horse that passed through the sales ring of the 2012 KZN Suncoast Yearling Sale.

The field is looking particularly strong with a number of Group winners – follow the log to see who will make up the final field on the big Vodacom Durban July day.

The 2013 Suncoast KZN Yearling Sale takes place on 5-6 July at Suncoast and includes a half-brother to Virgo’s Babe by Second Empire and the last foal to be born from the now deceased dam Linzertorte. Named Mochatorte, the colt has been bred and presented for sale by Midlands Thoroughbreds. Another on offer is a half-sister to Jimmi Choo by A.P. Answer named Coco Gold, also bred and consigned by Cathy and Jonathan Martin’s Hadlow Stud.

The catalogue of 290 horses consigned for the sale is due to be launched online at www.tba.co.za. For more information contact candiesem@goldcircle.co.za.