Bezanova Grabs The KZN Breeders Million Mile

Bezanova Grabs The KZN Breeders Million Mile

The KZN Breeders once again held a success day exclusively for horses registered with the KZN Breeders Premium Scheme, a day that incorporates both the KZN Breeders Series of eight races for a stake of R200 000 each, and the KZN Breeders Million Mile.

With over 600 entries received for the KZN Breeders Series of races, and over 250 for the two juvenile races, the day’s concept has been firmly embraced by the owners and trainers and we thank them for their support and we are encouraged by the growth of this day every year since the KZN Breeders 1600 become the Million Mile, and saw over 350 breeders, owners and trainers together in the Durban View Room for a sumptous lunch and a great day’s racing.

Gauteng trainers have done well in the feature and after Sunday’s success have won three of the four runnings.

A mixed bunch of twelve candidates lined up with last year’s winner No Worries fancied to chase the recent Gold Challenge third-placed Bezanova home, the big striking chestnut bred by Peter and Jenny Blyth of Clifton Stud.

Keagan De Melo took No Worries out to lead King Of Torts and Front Rank, with Bezanova caught wide for much of the journey after jumping from the 11 gate. Into the straight, Front Rank came forward powerfully as Marcus angled Bezanova out for his run, with Wild One weaving his way through traffic.

The three came together with Bezanova looking for company down the straight. In the drive to the wire, Bezanova stayed on to beat the flying Wild One by 0,25 lengths in a time of 98,63 secs, with Tyrone Zackey’s Top Rank running a cracker in third, the latter two both bred by Scott Bros, both sons of their resident sire Mogok.

A race review was called, but no further action was taken.

Wild One is shaping up as a terrific Gold Cup prospect with his second outstanding prep run in weeks, after almost upsetting July candidate Punta Arenas in the Gr3 Cup Trial, in his first start in close on a year.

Trainer Alec Laird won this race in 2013 with the Mullins Bay gelding, Gitiano, but was not on course and assistant Julia Pringle stood in for him. She said that it was a nice race to win (that goes without saying at the stakes level) and paid tribute to a great team effort.

Jockey Anton Marcus (who won three races on the day) was his usual effective and professional self and confirmed that he had no real options from his wide draw.

“He looked to give it up late on but won a good race,” he said. The Gr2 Charity Mile winning Bezanova has won five races with six places from his 20 starts and took his earnings to R1 613 975 after his biggest career payday.

A R150 000 National Two Year Old Sale graduate, Bezanova was bred by Clifton Stud and is by the now Cape-based Bezrin out of the three-time winning London News mare, Ananova.

Peter Blyth has always liked the sire line of Danzig (the sire of Bezrin) and has had much success with a previous stallion he stood in Ermelo with the blood of Danzig, Allied Flag – who produced Clifton bred Vodacom Durban July winner Classic Flag. Clifton’s current resident sire, A.P. Answer, is out of a Danzig mare.

Ananova [pictured above right] is out of Lone Sailer by Hard Up, from the immediate dam line of Gr1 winners’ Wendywood and Malteme. Sadly Peter Blyth reports that Ananova slipped her Crusade foal this year and a decision is still to be made on who she will visit this coming season.

Unfortunately Bezanova’s half-sister named Sugar Cube [pictured left] by Miesque’s Approval, was not sold at the National Yearling Sale earlier this year. A lovely individual however, she is destined to follow the footsteps of her half-brother and will go into training with Alec Laird.

Clifton Stud have their yearlings at the Suncoast KZN Yearling Sale this week, the sale being held on 2 and 3 July. Their draft include yearlings by Var, Gimmethegreenlight, Kahal and A.P. Answer.

There are five yearlings available at the sale by Bezrin from Rathmor Stud, Yellow Star Stud, Spring Valley and Hadlow Stud.

A special thank you to Gold Circle who assisted in running a fantastic KZN Breeders Race Day, as well as to our race day sponsors Backworth Stud, Noble Tune (USA), The Fort Stud, Piemonte Stud, Eightfold Path (USA), Spring Valley, Scott Bros and Summerhill Stud.

Well done to the team at Clifton Stud and to the winning breeders and connections of the KZN-bred horses that won on the day!

– extract sportingpost.co.za