Seal Takes Home Aquanaut Listed

It was Guineas Day at Turffontein on Saturday and once again our KZN-breds flew the flag with the likes of Seal winning the Aquanaut Listed and a number of Black-Type places.

The Gr 3 Acacia Handicap saw Formation (Sarge – Polonaise by Centenary) run second to Amur Affair for breeder, owner and trainer St John Gray, and Kalami – bred by Middlefield Stud finishing in forth position over 1600m. Formation was ridden by Francois Herholdt and Kalami, traned by Robbie Sage was ridden by Gunter Wrogemann. Kalami has a half-brother by Kahal on offer at the upcoming Emperors Palace National Yearling Sale, bred and consigned by Rob and Michele Pickering of Middlefield Stud. The colt is Lot 484, named Landslide.

The Wilgesbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas Gr 2 saw King’s Temptress, by King Of Kings out of Model Mam’selle by Model Man, run third to winner Cherry On Top under Robbie Fradd. She is trained by Kumeran Naidoo and she beat Cherry On Top last time out by 3.5 lengths in the Gr 3 Three Troikas in very soft going over 1450m. She has won twice, including her debut which was a Gr 2, and placed six times, five of them in Group company. Her dam is back in foal to Kahal this season.

The Betting World Gauteng Guineas Gr 2 saw a win for Spectrum, this time doing what he does best – as a Broodmare Sire of the winner Tellina. Tellina is trained by Geoff Woodruff and was ridden by Robbie Fradd, winning by half a length from War Horse. No Worries, trained by Gavin Van Zyl and ridden by Brandon Lerena finished in forth position – just a length off the winner.

No Worries is by Kahal out of Coastal Waltz by Rambo Dancer, bred by Summerhill Stud – the Champion Breeders also have a half-brother by Muhtafal on offer at the Emperors Palace National Yearling Sale in April. The unnamed colt is Lot 345. From just eight starts, No Worries has had two wins and four places and is owned by Brian Burnard.

Seal, bred by Dr Ian Heyns and born and raised at Bush Hill Stud, won the Aquanaut Listed Handicap over 2450m. The five year old gelding who was drawn first, carried top weight of the field with 63kgs ridden by Pierre Strydom, beating second horse Canterbury Tale by three quarters of a length – Canterbury Tale was carrying only 52kgs and drawn fifth.

Another KZN-bred, Soul Master – by Jet Master out of Comic Blush mare Saintly Soul, ran third by just over a length, carrying a respectable 62.5kgs under Glen Hatt from draw nine. Seal is trained by Gavin Van Zyl and has won his last two starts out. He is now an 8-time winner and has placed 13 times, including five Stakes races. He is a winner of the Gr 1 SA Derby, the Gr 2 Gold Vase and the Wolf Power 1600 Listed.

Congratulations to all the connections and breeders concerned!