The Silvano gelding trained by John Moore and bred by Maine Chance Farms, is owned by Chef’s Table Syndicate. The 5yo gelding has earned $5,166,800 in stakes.

It was the second win in this race for winner Exultant, John Moore said prior to the race about Chefano – “Exultant’s the horse to beat, there’s no doubt about that, but I have to keep the faith and I think my horse has done nothing wrong.” Moore said he had no concern about the 2400m distance.

Chefano did encounter traffic in the race, having to be eased and then taking slight bump in the straight, to finish just a length off.

Sold for R300 000 off the CTS March Select Yearling Sale and named Vacquero, he was trained in South Africa by Robbie Sage for two wins, and finished 3rd in the Gr2 Dingaans to another Hong Kong export, Monks Hood (now Graceandmercy).

He is a full brother to several multiple winners and his dam Valdovino (Al Mufti) was purchased by Clifton Stud.

She has a What A Winter weanling at Clifton and is foal to Mambo In Seattle – a cross that has produced several winners at a high level, including Drakenstein Stud’s Gr1 winner, Same Jurisdiction.

Clifton owned mare Valdovino has had plenty to boast about over the past week.

Peter and Jenny Blyth of Clifton Stud have advised that the daughter of Al Mufti has produced two winners, at Kenilworth and in Hong Kong respectively in a week.

Voice Of Reason won for Gavin Van Zyl and Clive Murphy in just her third start, all her rides being under Keagen De Melo. She is a full sister to Vino Veritas, a 5 time winner who also placed 8 times including second in the Gr2 Gerald Rosenberg stakes and third in the Gr2 Gold Circle Oaks.

Another full brother sold as Vacquero and now known as Chefano was a 2-time winner and placed in the Gr2 Dingaans prior to his export. Chefano won the Caroline Hill Handicap (Class 2) over 1800m at Sha-Tin.

The gelding stayed on under Joao Moreira to record a one and a quarter length win in this HK$2 100 000 race, bagging a winner’s cheque of HK$1,197,000, which boosted his career earnings to a whopping Hk$3.045-million (app. ZAR5.6-million). He’d finished second in four of his five starts prior to Sunday’s win.
Chefano, a R300,000 buy for owner Colin Bird at the 2016 CTS Johannesburg Select Sale, won his last South African race for trainer Robbie Sage in October 2017, before being sold to Hong Kong’s Chef’s Table Syndicate and joining Tony Millard. He was subsequently transferred to John Moore.

Peter has advised that Valdovino has a lovely What A Winter filly at foot this season, and is in foal to Mambo In Seattle – a stellar cross that has produced the most success for ‘Mambo’ at Gr1 level, bred to Al Mufti mares.

Valdovino is a daughter of the sharp Vino Rosa, and this is the family of Sunshine Silk and Enchanted Silk, as well as sire Majestic Crown.

To follow on, Clifton born and raised Capetown Affair won on Saturday at Turffontein, bred by Carla Da Quintas and Bruce Campbell. Capetown Affair has now won twice and placed twice.

Well done to the winning connections.