KZN-breds Show Class On Vodacom Durban July Day

Scott Bros resident stallion Miesque’s Approval had a fantastic day at Greyville, with three of his progeny having success on Vodacom Durban July race day today. The KZN Breeders’ Stallion Prospect Of The Year in 2011 had a win in the first race with Rocky Bay, a fourth in the big race of the day, the Grade 1 Vodacom Durban July with Eton Square and a third in the ninth race on the card by just two lengths with Backworth-bred Sugar Rush.

Rocky Bay kicked off the 2012 Vodacom Durban July day in style for the KZN-breds defeating Stolen Destiny in the first race. A R100 000 yearling out of Dolphin Coast by Dolpour, bred and consigned by Scott Bros, Rocky Bay has won three times and placed three times.

The Grade 2 Gold Vase over 3000m saw the Van Zyl-trained Seal, born and raised at Warwick and Karin Render’s Bush Hill Stud, ridden by Robbie Fradd stamped his Ladbrokes Gold Cup credentials although the next three finishers Blake, Kolkata and Ilsanpietro also put in good Gold Cup trials. By Silvano out of Prestine Performer by Rambo Dancer, Seal defeated a classy field. Seal is a previous winner of the Grade 1 SA Derby and the Wolf Power Listed stakes.

It seemed that the Sangoma had almost got it right with his predicition of Smanjemanje this year – the Summerhill-bred gelding was narrowly denied Vodacom Durban July victory by a nose from Pomodoro (sired by KZN-bred National champion stallion Jet Master). It was a close call as the Tyrone Zackey-trained five-year-old gelding Smanjemanje, a rank outsider at 55-1, ridden by July debutant Grant van Niekerk, came from behind to get his nose in front, only for Pomodoro to fight back and win by a whisker. The Mike Bass-trained Chesalon finished next best, giving Jeff Lloyd third place in the big race for an amazing ninth time.

The Gavin van Zyl-trained Eton Square (bred by Scott Bros) cocked a snoop at a few people by staying on strongly for fourth place in just his fifth career outing, as there were some who felt he had not done enough to justify his place in the field. However, punters were left stunned when Jackson, who had been a hot favourite since the first nominations, ran out of steam in the straight having found a handy position on the rail from a wide draw. Eton Square has an impressive race record, with five starts, 2 wins and 3 places – one win the Jubilee Handicap Grade 3 and the other today’s placing. We look forward to much more to come from this talented horse who clearly has a bright future ahead of him.

A daughter of Miesque’s Approval, Sugar Rush, bred by Backworth Stud, ran two lengths off the leader over 1600m in the ninth race from Upity Ann. Sugar Rush is a half-sister to a new stallion that will be standing his first season at Invermooi Stud this year, Meet At Malamala. From just four starts, she has won and placed three times to date and looks to be a prospective broodmare addition to Backworth’s elite broodmare band. A R300 000 yearling, she is out of a mare called Sweet Sweet by Kenmare.

Jagerbomb bred by Mr Steve Sturlese won the 12th race by just over a length from another Bush Hill-bred Tetelestai. The son of Joshua Dancer out of Port N’ Lemon by Fine Edge has now won three times and placed four times from just eight starts.

It was a good July for KZN Breeders with two in thetop four bred locally. Congratulations to the breeders and connections involved in the horses that were successful today!

Information and photos courtesy of www.goldcircle.co.za