Local Weekend Racing News

Yellow Star-bred Penhaligon ran a fantastic race in the Gr 3 King’s Cup at Clairwood on Sunday, running second to Pessoa. The grey colt by Daylami out of Victoria Bay by Coastal has had four wins, running second to Roman Wall in his penultimate start in the Thombothi Stakes by half a length. He has placed nine times in total. Sold at the 2010 Emperors Palace Ready-To-Run Sale, he changed hands for just R65 000.

Penhaligon is owned by Mr JG Jones, he is trained by Alyson Wright and was ridden on Sunday by Alec Forbes.

King Of Kings continues to produce top two year olds, and this was evident with King’s Bay’s impressive victory in the Sentinel Stakes and again on Sunday with Princess Julietta – winning by almost seven lengths over 1200m in just her third start. Out of Julietta by National Assembly, she ran second in her second start at Scottsville over 1000m.

Trained by Gavin Van Zyl and owned by Brian Burnard, there seems to be much more to come from this talented young filly. Princess Julietta was a R100 000 yearling purchase from the 2012 Suncoast KZN Yearling Sale, consigned by Avalon Stud. Her full-brother I Am Will is also a winner, and has placed eight times. Well done to breeders Linington & Sons and to Brian Burnard.

Final Episode, another filly by King Of Kings finished third behind Princess Julietta, again trained by Gavin Van Zyl – she was bred by Rob and Michele Pickering of Middlefield Stud. Final Episode is also a R35 000 2012 Suncoast KZN Yearling Sale graduate, and has placed in all three starts at both Clairwood and Scottsville over distances of 1000 – 1200m.

King Of Kings who stands at Clifton Stud is currently lying third on the Leading Sires of Two Year Olds by Stakes Earned log (NHRA – up until 21 March 2013) and has achieved a runners to winners percentage of 14% – interestingly 1% more than Var. Kings Of Kings lead the log for the most part of the beginning of last year.