Blue Sky Thoroughbreds will be offering a well-balanced and exciting consignment at this year’s National Yearling Sale.

From proven stallions such as Act Of War, Futura, Master Of My Fate, Querari and champion sire Gimmethegreenlight to exciting younger sires such as Danon Platina and New Predator, Blue Sky Thoroughbreds’ National Sale draft has something for every buyer.

Champion sire Gimmethegreenlight is represented here by a colt (Lot 333) whose five-time winning dam is a daughter of G2 SA Oaks winner Bedloe’s Island, and a half-sister (Lot 344) to G3 Cape Classic victor Captain Tatters.

Another top sire represented in Blue Sky Thoroughbreds’s string is Querari, with the latter sire of a three-parts brother (Lot 172) to the Querari sired G1 Thekwini Stakes winner Querari Falcon.

Lacewing (Lot 74) is a filly by the very promising Danon Platina out of G3 Strelitzia Stakes queen She’s A Stunner, while The Lodge (Lot 114) is a Master Of My Fate colt is a colt from the family of G1 Computaform Sprint winning sire sensation Rafeef and the latter’s champion dam National Colour, as well as the Master Of My Fate sired G2 winner Basadi Faith.

Former G2 Charity Mile/G2 Drill Hall Stakes winner New Predator has made a sensational start to his stud career and the son of Derby winner New Approach has no fewer than nine yearlings on offer in this draft. New Predator yearlings on sale include a colt (Lot 113) out of a stakes winning daughter of top-class broodmare sire Windrush, a half-sister (Lot 140) to G3 Strelitzia Stakes heroine Neptune’s Rain, a filly (Lot 144) out of Var’s stakes winning daughter Winter Passion, and a half-sister (Lot 263) to this season’s smart three-year-old filly Raratonga Rose.

The aforementioned draft can be viewed from Blocks C and E at the TBA complex in Germiston.

Brimming with confidence, four year old Eightfold Path gelding Beechamwood Boy flew home under Keagan De Melo to win at Hollywoodbets Scottsville for the third time in a row, and his fifth career win to date.

It is a particularly special story for 93 year old Mr Ian Gibson who is always on course to support his gelding, and his son, UK based Peter Gibson, who sourced and managed Eightfold Path during his time in KZN. The gelding is also owned in partnership with Mr Sharkey and long time stable patron Michael Sinnema.

He won over 1200m in impressive fashion, with Keagan peaking over his shoulder as the gelding widened the gap length by length to win clear by almost five. Keagan has been on his back for his last three starts.

Beechamwood Boy is bred by Bruce Le Roux is enjoying excellent form at the moment, continuing to boast a 50% winners to runners percentage (34 runners and 17 winners) and an AEPR of R57,834.

Retired son of Giants Causeway, Eightfold Path, has had 15 runners this season for nine winners.

Bruce Le Roux, under his partnership banner of Blue Sky Thoroughbreds, has 22 yearlings on offer at Nationals in April.

Majestic Power, a half brother to smart debut winner by New Predator, Calling All Angels, followed up with a back to back win for trainer Gary Rich, owned by retired trainer Julie Guthrie in a partnership. Blue Sky have a New Predator yearling on offer at Nationals, a sibling to the aforementioned winners on offer as Lot 133, out of Windrush mare The Angelus.

The day started with a very smart debut win for the Hollywood Syndicate, Hugsandhighfives named for premier football club Brentford FC with whom Hollywoodbets are associated as a sponsor. The daughter of Master Of My Fate trained by Garth Puller looks sharp – a half sister to the useful Black Type AJ’s Captain, give a great ride by Athandiwe Magudlwa and looks a horse to follow for the coming KZN season.

Another victory on the same day came from Maggie Tee (Act Of War), out of Fantasy Lady by Kahal. She has won back to back now for trainer Mark Dixon over 1200m on the Polytrack, ridden by leading apprentice jockey Rachel Venniker for owners Messrs H F T Lin, G N Cumming, M Dixon & C N Larsson who have also had a number of wins with this female line.

Get In The Q, another for trainer Mark Dixon for the same owners as above and including Mr C Gordon, won under a forward ride from Keagan De Melo. It is the third win for the Querari filly out of Silver Fantasy, and has only been out of the money in one start from eight. She is a half sister to feature filly Silent Crusade, and Blue Sky are offering a William Longsword half brother as Lot 79 at Nationals.

Consistent African Dusk, by Ideal World out of Sunrise In Africa by Trippi, got his second career win at Hollywoodbets Scottsville for trainer Garth Puller, ridden by Tristan Godden over the mile. This is a family that has been good to Garth Puller, a half sister to African Skyline who has won several for Garth and his owners.

Blue Sky will be transporting a large draft of 25 quality #kznbred yearlings to Nationals in April.

Their respective NHRA stats:

Bruce Le Roux – 50% winners to runners and an AEPR R55,575

Blue Sky Thoroughbreds – 37.5% winners to runners an AEPR of R47,828

Tinus Gericke – a winner from a handful of runners for the season.

Visit them in Block C at the TBA Complex, the Nationals is set to take place on 21 and 22 April.

A breeder who produces consistent winners which is evident in his above average winners to runners percentage, Bruce Le Roux enjoyed yet another double at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Wednesday. 

New Predator is setting the tracks alight with his progeny – and settled into Bruce Le Roux and Tinus Gericke’s Blue Sky Thoroughbreds last year after Bush Hill Stud reduced their breeding aspect of their farm. Every single runner so far of New Predator has yet to be out of the money for their connections from all of their starts – an incredible feat.

He has now produced three winners from just four runners, two of those debut wins. They are running according to their looks – strong, early precocious horses filled with speed. 

Owned by Laurence Wernars during both his racing and stud career, the imported son of New Approach won two Gr2’s and placed in multiple Gr1’s, defeating countless Gr1 winners during his career. He was trained by Johan Janse Van Vuuren. Bred on the fantastic Galileo x Fastnet Rock cross, New Predator is an easy horse to mate in South Africa with his looks and pedigree and buyers will certainly be marking their catalogues ahead of the National Yearling Sale in April. 

Calling All Angels, an athletic chestnut filly with a good attitude who was a head turner at Nationals sold for R225 000. She repaid most of her sales price winning on debut and winning her connections the R100 000 BSA Maiden Juvenile Plate bonus. Her owners include Laurence Wernars, who wons the filly in partnership with Jared Wernars, Mr S Venger, Jean Hardy and Mrs and Mrs Green. She is trained by Paul Lafferty and ridden by South Africa’s leading jockey for the season, Keagan De Melo. 

Calling All Angels is out of The Angelus by Windrush – this broodmare sire also a double for Bruce Le Roux on the day. Her half-brother by Just As Well recently won for Gary Rich and Julie Guthrie at Hollywoodbets Greyville, named Majestic Power. 

The Angelus is a 7-time winner, including the Queen Of The Sand Listed. She has produced three winners to date, and decends from the female line of 11-time winner including the Gr1 Cape Flying Championship, Simonside. It is the family of Dashing Hussar, Stud Muffin and five-time winner Pimp My Ride. 

The next to come for Bruce was the handsome Beechamwood Boy, by Eightfold Path who also stood for a time prior to retirement at Blue Sky Thoroughbreds. Racing in the colours of 93 year old passionate racing enthusiast Mr Ian Gibson, it is rare to see solid coloured silks on course these days as colours such as those were snapped up in the early years – a full burgundy set of colours. The 4yo gelding is finding great recent form and has produced three wins from 16 runs and six places to date. 

He is co-owned by Ian’s son Peter, in partnership with Messrs Sharkey and Sinnema and trained by in form Wendy Whitehead. It was also a double for Keagan who produced three winners on the day. 

His fourth dam is the famous mare Party Time; the founder of her own dynasty in the form of First Arrival, who produced multiple Group winning stars such as In The Fast Lane (dam of Ridgemont Highlands sire Real Gone Kid), Keep On Dancing, Summa Cum Laude and Pack Leader to mention a few. It is also the family of Clifton Queen, Flowers Of Spring and Appelate Court.

Bruce Le Roux’s winners to runners percentage is outstanding at 46% and and AEPR over R45 000, and not surprisingly his young Blue Sky Thoroughbreds partnership is also enjoying success at a similar winners to runners percentage rate. 

The National Yearling Sales catalogue is due to be launched soon, keep on eye on the Blue Sky Thoroughbred pages for more to come! 

Broodmare Roses For Lizzy pulled off a rare feat for breeder Bruce Le Roux, producing three winners in one week and included in that result a double on Sunday at Hollywoodbets Greyville.

The National Emblem mare seems to produce a stamp amongst her progeny and all by different sires – whilst none of them are the tallest, they certainly make up for it in substance and strength with stout top lines, well muscled and good bone and all with a penchant for speed.

Justaguything, a handsome 6yo son of Just As Well, pulled off his 8th career victory on 4 January and managed back to back victories. He beat Blackwhitedynamite home over 1200m. A picture of consistency for the past year, Justaguything has had 14 starts in the past year, winning three of those and only out of the money on one occasion! Not a bad return for a yearling sold for R130 000 at the 2018 KZN Yearling Sale.

Trained by Gavin Van Zyl for owners Lucky Vest 12 CC (Nom: Mr S Govender), Team G Racing and Messrs E A Budlender & P R Rencken, he has earned R651,750 in stakes.

Four days later the double came, starting with the Kom Naidoo trained Aunty Lizzy – a daughter of Crusade. The chestnut filly won by almost a length, beating the decent Graded Stakes Placed Irfaans Boy, as well as Pray For Rain amongst the field. Ridden by Kabelo Matsunyane, Aunty Lizzy won for the 6th time in the NBT African Holly Handicap. The four year old is owned by Miss Trinisha Pillay, Messrs Kenny Govender & S Govender and 1000m seems to be her game. Unsold on an online sale, the chestnut filly has earned just over R400 000 in stakes to date.

The day ended with Michael Roberts trained Calulo, winning for Ralphs Syndicate and pocketing a lucky punter R1,5-million from the Hollywoodbets Punters Challenge. She was 8/8 for winning Hollywoodbets Punters Challenge winner Alan Barkhuizen on the day, ridden by Rachel Venniker – who stated it was a special win as well for her, as Calulo gave Rachel her first win as an apprentice in July 2021.

It was the 5th career win for the daughter of Toreador who also relishes a sprint distance of 1000m. Calulo was a R25 000 buy from the KZN Yearling Sale in 2019, and has earned R290 000 to date.

Roses For Lizzy by National Emblem has a pedigree loaded with speed and Black Type; out of a Harry Hotspur mare, Cockney Pride can be found under the second dam in the pedigree, followed by two South African exports under the third dam – Grand Emporium who excelled to win the Gr1 Daily News 2000, the Gr1 Triple Crown 1600 and two Gr2’s in Dubai for stakes of R701,930 and £8,250.00.

The other is Gr2 winner Singapore Sling, who earned R1,383,750 and HK21,321,511 respectively.

It is also the family of Arcsa / Equus Winners Whistling Dixie and Ice Cube.

Bruce Le Roux, who now breeders in partnership with Tinus Gericke under the Blue Sky Thoroughbreds banner, is enjoying another exceptional season with almost 38% winners to runners and just over a R1-million in stakes earned from 32 runners. Blue Sky Thoroughbreds is not far behind, with 35% winners to runners.

Congratulations to all concerned on great results!

Coin Spinner, a handsome ‘head spinner’ at the Nationals where he sold for R475 000, has made it three wins in a row for trainer Tony Rivalland and owners Messrs Sadha Naidoo,R Maingard & Mrs M D J Liley.

Under Keagan De Melo, the William Longsword colt won going away over 1200m.

He carries a wonderful female line with the likes of Redberry Lane, Solo Traveller, Flying Ice and Purple Diamond seen close up in the pedigree.

Out of Strawberry Line by Western Winter, the mare has a Willow Magic yearling to come through for breeders Blue Sky Thoroughbreds, who have purchased Yellow Star Stud to continue their breeding operation – a partnership of Tinus Gericke and Bruce Le Roux.

Blue Sky Thoroughbreds boasts a 50% winners to runners percentage for the current season from just six runners.

They have an immaculate draft coming up for the National Yearling Sale – including a Rafeef filly out of Gr2 winner A Woman’s Way, a Lancaster Bomber filly out of Trippi’s Girl and New Predator out of The Angelus – the previous two mares bred by Bruce Le Roux.

Coin Spinner may be one to follow come KZN’s Champions Season!

Bruce Le Roux enjoyed a double at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday with Julie Guthrie producing the first win with Majestic Power, a son of Just As Well out of The Angelus.

The colt has placed twice previously before breaking his maiden on Sunday over a mile for owners Messrs K D Vermeulen, L Pillay, Guthrie Bloodstock Racing (Pty) Ltd (Nom: Mr G C Guthrie) and Mrs J G Guthrie.

This was followed by the flying Freedom’s Fire, who broke her maiden early in her career by seven lengths and had a quiet spell prior this surprise win, again over 1400m with Lady Serena closing the wide gap at the finish for Freedoms Fire to win by a length clear under leading apprentice, Rachel Venniker.

Four year old Freedoms Fire is trained by Gavin Van Zyl and owned by Clive Murphy, the daughter of Querari from one of the Bruce’s leading families of Spring Valley – Bedloe’s Island by Fort Wood.

Bruce Le Roux has had nine wins for the season in his name, and now breeds in partnership with Tinus Gericke as Blue Sky Thoroughbreds.

The breeding partnership have purchased Yellow Star Stud in Mooi River as their new breeding base just a few kilometres from Spring Valley, which offers not only a spacious breeding facility but a racing one as well, offering a complete package.

The Mooi River farm has seen its red brick breeding shed birth the likes of multiple Gr1 horses Futura and Dancewiththedevil over the years.

Blue Sky Thoroughbreds, a partnership between Bruce Le Roux and Tinus Gericke, have bred their first winner after they started accumulating mares together in 2016 and their efforts are being rewarded. They are based at the farm of Bruce Le Roux in Mooi River, Spring Valley Stud, that has yielded multiple Gr1 winners and many talented racehorses over the years.

A grey colt by Legislate opened their account at Hollywoodbets Greyville last week – and looks to be a smashing individual for the Mike Miller Racing Stable after placing 2nd on debut over 1500m, and winning his third start after jumping late – showing a sharp turn of foot to win by 4 lengths over 1900m. His 2nd start shows as unplaced over 2400m – but its a race that needs to be seen, after he jumped late and had the fastest finishing 400m of any horse in the field.

Trained by Mike Miller for his son Sterling Miller and partners, and bought for just R70 000 off the 2019 National 2YO Sale, Silver Fox Dog (named by a little boy associated with the family) could be a Gr1 horse for the 2021 Champions Season.

Amongst the 20 mares owned in partnership by Blue Sky Thoroughbreds are Silver Fantasy who has produced multiple winners and Black Type, Beautiful Princess (a full sister to 7-time winner Laser Star), Strawberry Line (whose first foal sold for R475 000 at the Nationals held in July), Trippi’s Girl, Bedloe’s Island who has produced multiple winners, the beautifully bred Modraj (IRE) from the dam line of Galileo (and the dam of Dubai winner Alareef and Gr3 Gold Vase winner Just Cruised In), Kahula, and Group winners for the partnership above who were purchased as yearlings – A Women’s Way and the Gr3 winning and at one point unbeaten Hashtagyolo, and then Rain Gal by Galileo.

The goal of Blue Sky Thoroughbreds is to acquire the best families possible in the stud book in order to breed the best, and their strike rate for purchasing fillies to race and succeed with a view for stud is excellent.

Amongst Spring Valley’s six Lots on offer at the upcoming Emperors Palace National 2YO Sale which has encompassed the KZN Yearling Sale, is Lot 89 for the partnership – a Futura colt out of the now deceased Devonella by Kahal. She has produced 2 winners, and descends from the family of Devon Air (3rd dam) that has produced Gr1 winner, Tempting Fate.

Summerveld trainer Mark Dixon will be targeting his useful filly Silent Crusade at the Grade 3 Poinsettia Stakes over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on April 26 and depending on how well she does there she might have a crack at the Grade 1 City Of Pietermaritzburg (SA Fillies) Sprint over the same course and distance six weeks later.

The Crusade filly won two of her three starts over 1200m early in her career.

She is out of the talented six-time winning Silvano mare Silver Fantasy, who won from 1400m to 1800m, including the Listed Scarlet Lady.

Dixon said Silent Crusade had just come back into work after being given a holiday after her good third behind Roy’s Riviera and Vistula in the Grade 3 Flamboyant Stakes over 1600m on Boxing day.

The five-time winner’s chief target for the SA Champions Season will either be the Grade 1 Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes or the KZN Breeders Million Mile. 

Editors note: Spring Valley Stud are offering a Toreador half-sister at the National Yearling Sale as Lot 397.

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Tinus Gericke and Bruce Le Roux of Spring Valley have had their first winner in their joint colours of Blue Sky Thoroughbreds at Hollywoodbets Greyville yesterday.

Having purchased and raced several choicely bred fillies with their future aim at stud, they won yesterday with the Michael Roberts trained Amber Forever, a daughter of Bold Silvano out of Pretty Waves by Crimson Waves.

They purchased her for R450 000 off the 2018 National Yearling Sale.

She is a half-sister to Gr1 winner Querari Falcon, from the family of Savannah Queen and On Her Toes.

Bruce and Tinus have bought mares such as Gr3 winner Hashtagyolo, currently in foal to Gimmethegreenlight, and Gr2 winner A Women’s Way who sadly lost her foal this year. There is always the story of ‘the one that got away’ and that happened to be Green Pepper!

Bruce and Tinus also own Love Theme – a half-sister to two speed record setters Humidor and Scandal, Chartreuse and Marsala.

Both Tinus and Bruce have enjoyed success in their own right – Tinus owns a share in the smart Rivarine, whilst Bruce has bred amongst many Gr1 winners VDJ winner Dunford, Buy And Sell, Indiscreet Fantasy and many more.

All the best to this partnership in future!