Gemini Gold Fourth Fantastic Victory; Champion Sire Kahal Broodmare News
| Gemini Gold Fourth Fantastic Victory; Champion Sire Kahal Broodmare News |
Gemini Gold is giving his breeder/owner Helder De Costa plenty of excitement as the Overlord gelding has now taken his fourth win in a row – the first being at Clairwood and the last three at Greyville over the new Polytrack – a surface the four year old gelding seems to be relishing.
Born and raised at Warwick and Karin Render’s Bush Hill Stud, Gemini Gold has only been unplaced once from all of his starts which happened to be on debut at Clairwood in October 2013.
He placed in the next four starts at Scottsville and Greyville, finishing second twice. He got injured and came back to blistering form – now unbeaten in four starts which began in February at Clairwood over 1200m, under top jockey Smanga Khumalo. At 4/1 he won by almost four lengths.
His next start was the first at Greyville on the polytrack, beating Al Ciberano (who had set a new class record at Clairwood), by almost two lengths. Gemini Gold’s last two starts at Greyville have been over 1400m, yesterday beating Spectrum’s Zestful into second place, with Gr3 placed Fourth Estate finishing third.
Owned by Messrs M de Lange, trainer Dennis Bosch and breeder Helder da Costa, Gemini Gold was one of jockey Alec Forbes’ career best five victories at Greyville on 15 November.
Gemini Gold is out of Kahal mare Sheer Brilliance. She has a Mogok two year old filly, a yearling colt by King’s Chapel and a Toreador filly at foot.
Third dam Kroepoke is a half-sister to Cruive, the dam of Thousand Nights who produced a dynasty through her descendants with the likes of sire Warm White Night, Highland Night, Night Watch and Prince Asad, and the family of KZN-bred Fort Vogue.
Gemini Gold is a half-brother to winners Dux and Handsome Hudson.
Sire Overlord whose progeny are relishing the artificial surfaces around the country, stands at Scott Bros. The son of Danehill had yet another double on the poly yesterday with Lady Carter – another one of the five winners ridden by Alec Forbes.
More stallion news on the subject of Bush Hill’s former resident sire Kahal (who passed away this year) – not only is he proudly leading the current National Leading Sire Log and Leading Sire On Sand (as of 9 November), but as a broodmare sire Kahal is making the news too.
His three year old granddaughter Ha Lucy won the Listed Gardenia Stakes over 1000m at Turffontein yesterday for trainer Lucky Houdalakis.
Out of one of Kahal’s top daughters, the brilliant Gr1 winning Bold Ellinore, Ha Lucy is owned by Stone Hill Stud.
Full-sister Nala recently sold at the BSA Ready To Run sale for R360 000, pre-trained and consigned by Balmoral Stud. Ha Lucy is a three-time winner from five starts who has also placed once.
Congratulations to Alec Forbes on a great day – three of his five horses being KZN-bred, the breeders and winning connections on the great achievements of yesterday.
