Clifton, the breeders of current Equus Champion 2YO filly Mrs Geriatrix, presented another classy draft at the final sale of the year, and their beautiful and appropriately named What A Winter filly sold for R375 000 to Scott Gaskell, a great supporter of the Rosetta based farm owned by Peter and Jenny Blyth. This was the top price for a #kznbred at the sale and for the top priced filly from the province.

Winter Miracle was presented as Lot 77, by What A Winter out of Crusade’s 2-time multiple Listed winner (4 wins in total), Covered In Snow. Incredibly, the two year old bay filly was born during the heavy snowfall of that year at Clifton Stud which attracted much social media attention.

She descends from a Clifton family that has stood the farm in good stead, that of Glenrossal, Marygold and Joshua’s Crown.

Blue Sky Thoroughbreds presented another sterling draft, and their top selling colt of the province was Lot 35, sold to Fabian Habib for R340 000. Named Rafa’s Choice, the juvenile colt is out of a Stratum mare from the family of Singapore champion Better Than Ever and sire Parade Leader.

Blue Sky Thoroughbreds topped the KZN Breeders at the sale overall, averaging R151 250 for all 16 Lots consigned, of which 100% were sold.

Congratulations to the buyers and thank you to the underbidders for their support.

Clifton Stud enjoyed another tremendous meeting at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Wednesday, with a smart double and a 1-2 finish in Race 7, and continuing on to Thursday at the Vaal where Crusade’s thrice Stakes Winning daughter produced her first winner.

Recently licenced Stuart Ferrie is off to a great start and Proud Master (Master Of My Fate – Star Silvano by Silvano) came home a winner for the fifth time for owners Mr and Mrs D J Steyn and Mr E W Buhr under Sean Veale. In the same race, Clifton-bred Prince Of Taranto (Crusade – Caseys Dance by Mullins Bay) finished a close second, almost looking for galloping room in the finish.

Petite Verdot, a What A Winter half sister to Hong Kong Gr3 winner Chefano (out of Valdovino by Al Mufti), won again for trainer Garth Puller, owned in partnership with Peter Blyth of Clifton Stud is trainer Garth Puller, Miss T Roussos and Mr and Mrs A M Da C Quintas. The filly was ridden by Serino Moodley.

Thursday saw Clifton-bred Mount Pilatus go off at long odds to win on debut. The handsome Pomodoro colt is trained by Paul Matchett for the Spong family. He won very smartly on debut and arguably, gave Crusade, a former resident of Clifton, his first winner as a broodmare sire.

Clifton Stud boasting 39% winners to runners for the season with an Average Earnings Per Runner of R47,044 and three stakes winners this season.

Don’t miss Cliftons yearlings catalogued for the KZN Yearling Sale, including an Act Of War half brother to Gr3 winner Cliff Hanger.

Trained by Fabian Habib, Luthuli, out of Desroches by Dynasty is owned by Messrs B D van Laun, G J Nassif, J Nassif and Tri-Deal Sixteen CC (Nom: Mr Z L Nassif).

Desroches descends from the family of the weekend Gr1 runner up MK’s Pride, and 15 time winner San Carlos.

Luthuli has earned seven place cheques in the process and is Camargue’s first winner for their revitalised stud under the care of Brett, breeding from the lush area of Caversham in the KZN Midlands.

Camargue will be taking a smashing draft of 10 yearlings to the National Yearling Sale, including an eye-catching sibling to American Graffiti (Lot 180) and a Querari three parts sister to Gr2 winner, Ameena (Lot 41).

The Flying The Flag colt is rumoured to be able to go one better in the next leg of the Triple Crown with the distance possibly suiting him over the 1800m trip, finishing a fast three lengths off the winner coming from behind, over the mile in very soft going.

Former Bush Hill resident sire Flying The Flag, a full brother to English Classic multiple Gr1 winning fillies Rhododendron and Magical who represented the mighty Coolmore Stud, also carries the speed genes of his paternal grand dam Cassandra Go, and looks to have a smart and fast gelding in the form of the grey Strawberry Bear, who happens to carry the same grey colour as his speedy great grandmother.

Trained by Mike Miller and born and raised at Bush Hill for owner Miss Giddy, Strawberry Bear has won three of his six starts and the last at Hollywoodbets Scottsville by a dominating three lengths. He is out of a Captain Al mare in turn out of a Muhtafal mare, from the family of Champion sprinter Nhlavini, Mystery Guest and Arabian Mist.

Owned in partnership by Tony Jelenski and Sterling Miller, the grey gelding tried a mile in the Model Man Listed but it was possibly a stretch too far – he did come back from the race to win a 1400m and relished the 1200m on offer on Sunday, leading from start to finish under Serino Moodley who has ridden him in all of his starts and may be a nice sprinting prospect for the coming KZN season ahead.

The next to follow was part of a double for the stable of Duncan Howells as Mission Rocks, by Crusade out of Gr2 winner Tempted by Jallad, won for owner Mr Lawrence Pillay. Mission Rocks dug deep to win and enjoyed the 1400m on the Polytrack to win by almost a length under Sean Veale, one of his four winners on the day.

Bush Hill Stud, owned by Warwick and Karin Render, are currently on 30% winners to runners for the season and over R1,4-million in stakes earned for their horses connections.

Well done to all concerned.

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!

The late Gr1 winner Crusade has had 26 winners this season, and another double at Hollywoodbets Greyville.

Producing consistent earners, Crusade (Mr Greeley) started out his career at Scott Bros before relocating to Clifton Stud.

Running Freely won well under Warren Kennedy over 1200m, bred by Brett Van Laun of Camargue Stud, and races the gelding in partnership with M Ridgeway. This is the third career win for Running Freely, out of a National Assembly mare. This is the family of Amazon Fighter and Western Rocket.

Seymour Harley-bred Blue Sails collected her third win in her last four starts for Garth Puller and owners Messrs A S Tombe, G B Puller and Miss W A Heyns.

The filly, out of an Al Mufti mare from the family of Hong Kong Gr2 winner Sambuka (formerly Port Of London) has only missed a cheque three times from 10 starts.

Seymour breeds with success, including the Gr1 placed export Garrulous, from his small but beautiful breeding operation in Dargle, near Howick.

Well done to all concerned.

Hadlow Stud will be offering a pair of two-year-olds, both sired by the G1 winning two-year-old Crusade, at this year’s November Two Year Old Sale.

Prior to his untimely death, G1 Middle Park Stakes winner Crusade left behind a host of above average performers including the stakes winners Alfeo, Butchie Boy and Covered In Snow, as well as the likes of Antigonus, Bullsade, Linear and Silent Crusade.

Crusade’s Pleasure (Lot 5) is a half-sister to two winners from a potent female line. Her dam is a four time winning daughter of champion sire Trippi and half-sister to Mauritian stars Green Keeper and World Focus. This well bred filly’s granddam is a half-sister to the uber speedy, and G1 Computaform Sprint winner, Shoe Shac.

Crusade is also represented in Hadlow’s draft by Islandsinthestream (Lot 121), a filly whose dam is a three-parts sister to G2 Gerald Rosenberg Stakes queen Hawker Hunter. This filly’s granddam is the stakes winning Wisp Of Light,  and further back,this is the family of champion sire Court Martial.

In search of a two-year-old sired by a G1 two-year-old? Come and inspect Hadlow Stud’s consignment at the 2021 November Two Year Old Sale.

The KZN based Summerview Stud will be offering two, well-bred lots at this year’s Emperors Palace National 2YO Sale.

Both of Summerview Stud’s two-year-olds were sired by G1 sprinters, suggesting that both Forged In Ice and Desert Crusader will have speed to burn!

Forged In Ice (Lot 236) is a filly by four time G1 winning sprinter What A Winter, whose daughters also include dual G1 Bidvest Majorca Stakes winner Clouds Unfold. This filly is a half-sister to 3 winners, including the stakes placed Green Lantern, who between them have won 16 races.

Forged In Ice herself is out of Over The Anvil, a winning Fort Wood half-sister to G2 SA Fillies Nursery winner Dash For Gretna, and, further back, this is the family of champions Jay Peg and Kochka.

Short-lived G1 Middle Park Stakes winner Crusade is the sire of the well related Desert Crusader (Lot 280), a colt out of smart racemare Sahara. The latter not only won four times and ran second in all of the G2 KZN Fillies Guineas, G3 Umzimkhulu Stakes and G3 Flamboyant Stakes, but Sahara’s six winners, from as many runners, include millionaire and Secretariat Stakes/Christmas Handicap victor Matador Man.

Desert Crusader, a full-brother to 3 winners, sports a four time winning daughter of multiple champion sire Foveros as his granddam, while the colt’s third dam is a stakes placed daughter of champion sprinter Thatching.

The 2020 Emperors Palace National 2YO Sale is set to take place at the TBA complex on November 12th and 13th, and the catalogue can be viewed online at www.bsa.co.za

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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A daughter of Crusade bred and owned by the Missing U Syndicate of National Park fame (represented by Rob Knuppe), the diminutive black filly flew home to register her 2nd career win from two race starts – 3 if you include her Barrier Trial.

Gavin Van Zyl’s face post race said it all – she isn’t the biggest filly about but she is the carbon copy of her late sire Crusade (winner of the Gr1 Middle Parks Stakes), and with the size of her heart, she looks to possibly be a feature prospect for Champions Season in 2020.

The current leading jockey on the national log, Warren Kennedy has ridden her in all three of her starts and she won by a length from Queen Of Alamo on Sunday at Hollywoodbets Scottsville. Queen Of Alamo, to put it into perspective is no slouch herself – a Merit Rated 90 4-time winner with 10 places behind her name and has placed behind Graded Stakes winner Neptune’s Rain in the past.

Her sire, the Late Crusade who stood at Clifton Stud after relocating from Scott Bros, has had 25 wins this season and was crowned KZN Breeders Stallion Of The Year on Saturday evening – with 4 Stakes Winners from his first crop, he finished on 44% winners to runners last season with over R5,5-million in stakes earned. His twice Listed winning daughter bred by Clifton Stud, Covered In Snow, has returned to her birth place to begin her stud career.

Whizz Of Odds is out of mare Against The Odds by Kings Apostle, in turn out of a Badgers Drift mare. This is the female line of Amberpondo and Engagement (who beat the likes of Igugu and The Apache, and is at stud at Hadlow for St John Gray’s Graystone Stud), as well as the likes of Monet and Ethereal Lady.

Gavin Van Zyl also purchased her Global View half-brother for R100 000 off the 2019 National 2YO Sale.

Well done to all concerned!