Kahal Cracks Another Black-Type On Gold Cup Day; Admire Main Off To Great Start

Kahal Cracks Another Black-Type On Gold Cup Day; Admire Main Off To Great Start

A beautifully hot day at Greyville for the big finale of the national racing season, Gold Cup day was well supported with a good turnout by the public – and they weren’t disappointed after an exciting day’s racing.

Muhtafal’s grand-daughter opened the day by winning the first race out over 1000m. Named Pink Martini, she gave the second horse a 5kg beating, still winning by half a length. The second race over 1300m saw Panama Man, a half-brother to Group winner Texan Summer and a winner on KZN Breeders Race Day in the R200 000 race for colts and geldings over 1200m, place third while Coffee Sheik finished fourth.

Doug Campbell’s Kingston Boy galloped home to a great victory over 1300m under Karis Teetan. The three year old Mogok gelding owned by Messrs A Sukhraj and S Sukhraj, Douglas Campbell, V H Fenger, D Mulroy and M Sheik was also bred by Doug Campbell’s Sugar Hill Stud in Richmond, with Scott Bros’ Overlord gelding Sportsmanship running in fourth position.

Summerhill’s young Japanese sire Admire Main has already produced a number of winners from just his first crop to race in Japan and it seems his progeny are now following in South Africa. His two year old daughter Admiral’s Eye, a half-sister to Shogunnar out of the mare Surfer’s Eye by Elliodor and bred by Hon. Judge Magid & Summerhill Stud (Pty) Ltd, ran a scintillating race in the Gr 1 Thekweni Stakes under Sean Cormack – speeding up the straight and making up phenomenal ground to finish third but just under two lengths from Along Came Polly over 1600m. Trained by Paul Lafferty, she is owned by Alesh Naidoo who raced her two half-sisters – Saltwater Girl and Rapid Flow – both Black-type winners. Admiral’s Eye is a winner who has also placed in the Devon Air Stakes Listed, and finished two lengths off For The Lads in the Gr 1 Golden Slipper on Vodacom Durban July day. We look forward to seeing this filly produce much more in the future and well done to Summerhill Stud on Admire Main’s wonderful achievement.

Eyecatching grey gelding Knight To Remember, a son of The Sheik whose family has a rich history of wins with the Gold Cup in the past, ran just three-quarters of a length off Kolkata on Vodacom Durban July day in the Gr 2 Gold Vase, which saw him stand in good stead for today’s Gr 1 Gold Vase – where he finished fourth off Jeppe’s Reef under Sean Veale. The six year old finished less than two lengths off, trained by Duncan Howells and owned by Messrs T L V Whittaker & J M Gruft over the marathon 3200m. Shogunnar and Seal finished just three lengths off the leaders.

Kahal had two successes on the day – first a placing with Checcetti in the Gr 2 Gold Bracelet, followed by Distinguished in the Darley Arabian Listed.

Checcetti recently changed hands for R400 000 at the Super Sale, now owned by Summerhill Stud and her trainer Mike De Kock. She finished just one and a half lengths off the winner under jockey Sean Veale, at matching weights of 60kgs. The five-time winner very recently placed second by half a length at Scottsville in a Listed race over 1800m, while today she raced over 2000m.

Bred in partnership by Summerhill Stud and Steve Sturlese and owned by Mr M J Jooste, Distinguished, out of Dignify by Rambo Dancer, flew to a one and half length victory over 1600m in the Darley Arabian Listed. Coming off a sixth draw and ridden by Karis Teetan, he beat Silvano’s Silent Partner into second place. His dam Dignify is a half-sister to J&B Met winner Angus. Herself a 4-time winner including the Gr 2 Golden Slipper, Dignify has produced two winners to date.

The last race of the day, the Umngeni Handicap Listed, saw Muhtafal’s consistent son Showmetheway finish third under jockey Keagan De Melo and Guantanamera by Mogok (bred by Maine Chance Farms) finish fourth under Alec Forbes. The four year old gelding placed a very close second on KZN Breeders Race Day to Panama Man. For a time in Scottsville and Turffontein, he had five wins in a row including beating Welwitschia(GB) by half a length. Owned by Mr Lin, Showmetheway is out of a Nashwan mare and trained by Mark Dixon. Guantanamera is a 4-time winner who has placed nine times including the Gr 2 Merchants and Gr 2 Senor Santa Handicap. Owned by Mr & Mrs D Reddy, he is trained by Duncan Howells.

Summerhill Stud have opened an advantage towards getting their ninth consecutive Champion Breeders title this season and we wait with bated breath for the final results. Congratulations to all the connections on a fabulous Gold Cup day!