A Gr1 winner at 2, the four year old #kznbred Under Your Spell was given a patient ride by Louis Mxothwa, and despite running three wide, she finished with plenty in reserve to beat Joey Soma’s free-striding 2022 SA Classic winner Red Saxon by 1,50 lengths lengths in a time of 88,11 secs.

Under Your Spell comes home strongly under Louis Mxothwa (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)

After having seen a planned European and Australian export fall through, her happy owners, including Aussie-based OTI Management, will be positive about her prospects.

Sean Tarry originally bought Under Your Spell as part of a parcel of horses online and unseen.

A Summerhill bred daughter of Capetown Noir (Western Winter) out of the unraced Irish-bred Deceptive Charm (Kingmambo), Under Your Spell is from the same family as the accomplished Witchcraft who Tarry trained to win over a trip.

Under Your Spell made it eight wins with with seven places from nineteen starts and took her stakes earnings to R1 482 000.

Capetown Noir is on an incredible 46.2% winners to runners and an AEPR of R57,308.

Watch the replay:

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Its always an unusual feat when a mare produces a double in a week, and Clifton resident mare Irresistable Chris, born and bred in Brazil, has done just that for Clifton.

Formerly owned by Khaya Stables, who bred Admire Me, the mare has clicked well with Piemonte Stud’s Capetown Noir who is currently enjoying a purple patch – having produced his second Gr1 winner recently with Bohica.

Capetown Beauty, a three year old filly owned by Mr Thaver and Mrs Badenhorst won for the second time in the care of trainers Barbara Kennedy and Wayne Badenhorst, enjoying an increase in distance from winning over 1400m to 1900m. This filly was not sold at the 2020 Nationals.

Four year old Admire Me owned by Larry Nestadt and bred by Khaya Stables, won for the fourth time, this time at Turffontein for the stable of Gavin Van Zyl who is raiding in Johannesburg for a few months. This wonderful filly has been pleasure from an owners perspective, having yet to be out of the money from 11 starts! Admire Me sold for R20 000 off the 2019 KZN Yearling Sale.

Capetown Noir is boasting super stats this season – with a Gr1 winner, 37.2% winners to runners and an impressive Average Earnings Per Runner of R51 416.

The dam has produced 3 winners from 4 foals, and this is the family of Durban July winner Eyeofthetiger.

Well done to all concerned.

For veteran trainer Mike Azzie the Capetown Noir gelding’s victory in the Pongracz Gr1 Cape Flying Championship buried a frustrating legacy of treble runner-up finishes in the speed spectacle, as well as the hotly debated National Currency third place behind Eli’s Game in the 2003 renewal.

Azzie, who trains in partnership with his son Adam, has won every Gr1 sprint in the country, but the Cape Flying Championship had eluded the top conditioner until Saturday, when a terrific ride by Smanga Khumalo got Bohica home in a thrilling three-cornered finish.

It was sweet revenge for the Gauteng operation after Bohica was beaten into second by Saturday’s favourite Rio Querari in the 2021 Computaform Sprint at Turffontein.

In a race not unsurprisingly packed with raw speed, Bohica was always up with the pace down the inside as Pleasedtomeetyou and the fancied Real Gone Kid stayed in touch

Inside the final 250m the challenges were coming from all wides but Bling kept Bohica at his task to hold the Bass-Robinson pair of Mr Cobbs and African Rain to two short heads, with the favourite Rio Querari just over a half length back in fourth.

Real Gone Kid, related to KZN sire Summa Cum Laude, was not disgraced, running fifth and just a length off the winner.

Trainer Adam Azzie’s initiative in schlepping down on the long road trip from Johannesburg was richly rewarded.

The connections had debated the decision over three days before committing to the extra costs and challenge.

“We’re pleased we took the chance – Bohica may be a bit in and out but on his best form we felt he could run close. S’Manga gave him a great ride, sticking to pacesetter Pleasedtomeetyou’s girth, coming off the bit late, then being so strong in the finish!” said Azzie

A handsome son of Equus Champion Miler and a Cape Derby and L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate winner Capetown Noir (Western Winter), the Summerhill Stud-bred winner is out of the unraced Mullins Bay mare, Wysiwyg – a half sister to Model K from the family of Mannequin and Kalami.

Lee Scribante of Piemonte Stud, who stands Capetown Noir, is pleased to report he sent the stallion standing at his farm in Summerveld, 14 mares the past season.

Wysiwyg stands at the boutique breeding farm of Sandra Trethewey in Greytown, KZN.

A R300 000 graduate of the 2018 Summerhill Ready To Run Sale, Bohica has won 7 races with 9 places from 24 starts for stakes of R1 239 175.

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Koos Nkale’s tough-as-teak Willow Magic colt MK’S Pride took his earnings over the R1 million mark as he clinched his seventh victory with a typically gutsy showing to win Sunday’s R300 000 Gr2 Joburg Spring Challenge at Turffontein.

A thrilled Warren Kennedy salutes as MK’S Pride storms to victory (Pic – JC Photos)

Carrying Koos Nkale’s favourite soccer team’s black and gold finery, MK’s Pride powered home in the Kaizer Chief strip under regular pilot Warren Kennedy to win his second start of the new season, in the process securing his second Gr2 title and looking set for a profitable term.

With Joey Soma’s champion Got The Greenlight back after a nine week absence and taking his time to unwind down the inside rail, MK’s Pride put his head down and fought on to beat the improved again Bingwa by 0,60 lengths in a time of 89,88 secs. The victory meant a feature double on the afternoon for the Peter-Kennedy combination.

It is the second time that MK’s Pride has got the better of Got The Greenlight, and has previously beaten the likes of War Of Athena – the aforementioned two each Equus Champions.

MK’S Pride shows his blanket off (Pic – JC Photos)

Bred by Summerhill, the winner is a son of Willow Magic (Dubawi) out of the modest one-time winning Admire Main mare, Ikimasu.

He has now won 7 races with 6 places from 14 starts for stakes of R1 183 600.

So a horse nobody wanted at sale has earned over a R1 million in these austere times and looks set for plenty more. But we need more of these happy stories!

Willow Magic finished off last season with 40% winners to runners, and Average Earnings Per Runner of R67,358 and over R2,3-million earned from 35 runners. He stands at Bush Hill Stud for a live foal fee of R12 000.

KZN’s Gr1 winner Under Your Spell made her return in the female equivalent race and finished second to Big Burn.

The daughter of Capetown Noir was having her 2nd run after a break, and Merit Rated at 121 gave the winner 2kgs in weight.

The 3yo half-sister to Witchcraft looks to have much more to come in the tank for the Gauteng season head.

This was Alistair Cohen’s last feature race call on SA soil for the next seven months at least. Best of luck to the young man as he moves on to Dubai to pursue his career.

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South Africa’s highest rated 3yo filly, and considered by some to have been a preferable choice as Equus Champion 2yo Filly over her stablemate Rain In Holland, Under Your Spell adjusted professionally to her first run beyond the sprints and her maiden try around the turn.

Under Your Spell (Lyle Hewitson) wins with her ears pricked (Pic – JC Photos)

The 3yo burst away from her field in the 1400m Pinnacle Stakes to beat the seasoned hardknocker Rouge Allure by 3,50 lengths in a time of 86,98 secs.

The daughter of Capetown Noir, who was running fresh off a three month break since an emphatic victory in the Gr1 Allan Robertson at Hollywoodbets Scottsville, has now won 5 of her 6 starts. She was only ever beaten in the SA Fillies Nursery. The Summerhill Stud-bred galloper has earned a shade under R500 000.

While she boasts a top-class cruising speed, she has the blood to go 2000m plus and on Saturday’s showing is a very exciting prospect for the coming season.

Capetown Noir’s Gimmethegreenlight half-sister Dancetildaylight won at Durbanville today for the 2nd time from just three starts, trained by Candice Bass-Robinson.

MK’s Pride (Willow Magic) also made an exciting seasonal debut back. The 4yo colt Merit Rated at 120, was last seen placing just under half a length in the Gr1 Mercury Sprint to Pearl Of Asia, and made a smart winning return over 1450m – his 6th career win to date and having only missed a cheque on one occasion from 13 starts.

He won comfortably by half a length under Warren Kennedy over 1450m in the Champion Owner Chris Van Niekerk Pinnacle Plate, carrying 60kgs. Amongst the horses he beat were Tierra del Fuego and Expressfromtheus. Trained by Paul Peter and owned by Mr Koos Nkale, he gave a lot of confidence for the coming season ahead.

His sire Willow Magic produced the 3rd highest AEPR for last season (R86 856), with the likes of Var, Elusive Fort, Captain Of All and leading sire Gimmethegreenlight following behind Willow Magic on the log.

Willow Magic stands at Bush Hill Stud for the season at a reasonable R12 000 Live Foal.

The Mike and Adam Azzie yard continued their dominance of the Listed Spring Spree Stakes today, registering their third win in this race in the last four runnings, and this time the victor, Bohica, could prove to be something special.

He was the first of two impressive winners on the day, the other being the St. John Gray-trained Dance Class, who recorded her sixth win on the trot.

It is not often a widely drawn horse wins with consummate ease after being carried out around the turn over 1200m to the extent that he had to be eased and switched inward. 

That is exactly what happened to Bohica today and he looked to be ominously out of his ground before they had turned for home.

However, national log-leading jockey S’manga Khumalo did not panic and was soon scything through the field like a hot knife through butter. 

Bohica, starting at odds of 7/4 and carrying 56kg off a 105 merit rating, beat Alramz by three-quarters of a length in effortless fashion and will be a force to be reckoned with this season.

He had been running over further but since dropped in trip to sprints he has been a revelation and this was his third easy win on the trot.

He joined last year’s dead-heater and #kznbred Angel’s Power and the 2017 winner Will Pays as Azzie winners of this race in the last four years.

Later, Dance Class comfortably won a 2600m Middle Stakes event and took one step closer to being genuinely compared with her three-parts relative Dancewiththedevil . 

The small but powerfully built daughter of Modus Vivendi once again displayed a tremendous turn of foot from midfield and won easing up by 1,25 lengths under regular pilot Sherman Brown.

Capetown Noir is now resident in Summerveld at the Scribante’s Piemonte Stud.

-www.goldcircle.co.za

Capetown Noir is off to a flying start at stud and he had a double on Sunday at Hollywoodbets Scottsville.

The handsome multiple Gr1 winner, trained by Dean Kannemeyer, throws a very specific type of Thoroughbred that is easy to pick in the parade ring, and he throws them oozing quality and good looks. These were his 4th winners for the early season and 10 places to date from limited numbers to race.

In his first season he had 28 runners, with 8 wins and 48 places – that included the very smart and talented Piemonte Stud bred Brandina – twice Stakes Placed, at both Fairview and Kenilworth.

Straight Up, owned by Jimmy Sarkis and bred by Summerhill Stud won third time out for trainer Duncan Howells, after placing previously and relished the 1600m distance.

Soiree, a half-sister to a winner last week (Mystic Dreamer) who set a new track record (both bred by Clifton Stud) was equally impressive, the 3yo coming out to win on race debut for trainer Corinne Bestel and jockey Gareth Wright.

Capetown Noir is represented by 9 horses at the upcoming Emperors Palace Ready To Run Sale on 3 November at the TBA Complex.

His fee is available on application.

A Capetown Noir colt trained by Justin Snaith has won very impressively this afternoon at Durbanville, with Kamadeva, a juvenile half-brother to Gr1 winner Love Struck, leading from almost the start to win going away by over 3,5 lengths 0ver 1250m.

He appeared to enjoy the further and his pedigree indicates he will enjoy more, after placing twice in both of his previous starts over 1000m.

The Summerhill-bred is owned by Mr A Gujadhur and sold for R225 000 off the 2018 Cape Premier Yearling Sale. This is the female line of Anytime Baby and Thandolwami.

Capetown Noir has had 2 winners and 17 places from his first crop, with his daughter Brandina already Black Type and missing her first feature win by a whisker.

Capetown Noir has 4 Lots on the upcoming Nationals, including a Clifton-bred colt out of a Galileo mare, Piemonte have a beautiful filly who is a half-sister to Black Type Raise The Bar (dam of Rose In Bloom) and to 6-time winner High Altar, whilst Henham Stud have a Capetown Noir sibling to Gr1 Empress Club Stakes runner up Running Brave, and Summerhill have the first produce of Black Type Supercede on offer.

The sale takes place from 24-26 April.

Piemonte-bred Brandina by Capetown Noir has made it two wins from only three starts – her only other place was third by a head in the Listed Tattersalls Summer Juvenile Stakes at Kenilworth.

Brandina was bought back for just R20 000 at the 2018 KZN Yearling Sale – TBA Chairman Lee, and Dino Scribante, offer everything they breed at auction and retain whichever horses have not sold at sales.

Raced by breeder Lee Scribante and his brother, the filly is out of Var mare Bedouin, a half-sister to Gr2 winner Fair Brutus bred by Yellow Star Stud. This is also the family of Grand Format and National Dance.

Triple Gr1 winning son of Western Winter, Capetown Noir, had his highest price 2yo sell at the 2018 Ready To Run Sale for R500 000, a half-brother to Gr1 placed Railtrip and Gr1 winner Hero’s Honour, he has been exported to Kenya for owner Michael Spencer.

Capetown Noir has now had 2 wins and 7 places from just 6 runners, and stands at Summerhill Stud for Khaya Stables.

Capetown Noir has two yearlings being consigned to Nationals from Summerhill – one out of Nojoom by Galileo (the dam of Gr2 winner Intergalactic), and the other out of Supercede (a half-sister to Talitha Borealis) by Stronghold, from the family of The Sheik and Shoe Express.

Capetown Noir’s first runner and winner, the Piemonte-bred Brandina, followed up from her impressive win at Fairview on debut to fly up to third by a head in the Tattersalls Summer Juvenile Listed at Kenilworth on Sun Met Day, giving her sire her first Black Type.

Capetown Noir, a son of Western Winter out of a Fort Wood mare and a three-time Gr1 winner trained by Dean Kannemeyer, was an Equus Champion Miler.

From just six runners to date, he has had a win and three places – as well as two horses running fifth which will come on from that.

A very popular sire at the 2018 BSA Ready To Run Sale, the handsome Capetown Noir saw his highest price at R500 000 for the half-brother to Gr1 placed Railtrip, named Ennoble. Bred by Summerhill, he was exported to Kenya, owned by Michael Spencer.

Capetown Noir, standing at Summerhill Stud is throwing large and very handsome individuals with great quality.

Don’t lose out in the sales ring – get in early!