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.

The Gr1 sprinting son of Dubawi, Willow Magic, had a double at Turffontein on Thursday. Both horses were bred by Summerhill.

Pick A Lily (Pick Of The Field by Kahal) kicked off the double, breaking her maiden over 1200m after earning a cheque in 11 of her previous 12 starts for trainer David Nieuwenhuisen and owner Preggie Somasundrum.

Astral Plane (Fuselage by Jet Master) won for the 3rd time, winning over 1800m for trainer Joey Soma and owner Miss Bhana.

The sire of Gr2 winner and Gr1 placed colt MK’s Pride, Willow Magic stands for R12 000 at Bush Hill Stud.

For the 2020/2021 season for 3yo’s, Willow Magic had an AEPR of over R67 000 per runner, ending the season with 40% winners to runners.

Congratulations to all concerned!

The Late Sydney Rosseau of St Helier Stud would have been delighted with Wednesdays results at Hollywoodbets Scottsville as two of his own bred horses produced a double and a winner just two days prior, in partnership with his wife Shirley Rosseau – a tremendous achievement from the boutique farm who have always bred with a handful of well-bred mares over the past years.

Of the three winners bred, two of them are owned by Shirley Rosseau and the Late Syd Rosseau.

Their daughter Michelle Rosseau Franks reports that they currently have three broodmares, some waiting to foal at ‘home’ – a beautiful and spacious property in central Hillcrest.

They stand Velvet Mover, Maximum Break who has since been retired from stud duties and Sierra Lily – the latter in foal to Ridgemont Highlands sire, Canford Cliffs.

“We are going to be upgrading to a higher quality broodmare band as we can. We will be using select mares going forward to breed with, to keep Dad’s dream alive!”

Michelle tells of the extraordinary life Sydney lead and his achievements, as well as his love of the horse.

“Dad has always had a passion for horses and began his racehorse career by work riding for Theo de Klerk before school each morning. His first horse was Ethyl Master. He then competed in amateur racing, both hurdles and flat, in the Cape on a horse called Chelsea Pirate. The horse closest to his heart was a horse called Royal Phantom. The bond between them was just magical.
It was his dream to have his own stud farm which he managed to achieve. He loved all his horses, could tell you each and everyone’s life from start to present. All their quirks and personalities, likes and dislikes. He spent time with each of his horses every day. He truly loved each and every one of them.

“My Dad lived a full life from designing luxury yachts to the royal military naval fleet. He travelled the world and got to watch the Monaco Grand Prix a few times. When he was in the Netherlands he had Dressage lessons with their Olympic medalist. He was a huge part of my riding career and would often spend many nights helping me clean, plait and prep my horses for their shows. He taught me a great love and appreciation for horses and I am truly grateful for that!”

The first of the double came with in form Apprentice, Rachel Venniker aboard the Rosseau-owned Sonjador (Ideal World – Gwanda by Fort Wood) – who had ridden their grey Tupelo Honey to victory just two days earlier at Hollywoodbets Greyville – both trained by Michael Roberts.

Sonjador is most deserving of the win – having earned in 15 of his previous 16 starts (three of them in 2nd place) and breaking his maiden on his 18th time of asking!

Victory Twist (Flying The Flag – Velvet Mover by Cape Cross) is another consistent sort who has only been out of the money on debut from his five starts – with a win and two seconds. The big handsome dark bay gelding is loving the extra ground offered to him and won confidently over 1750m for trainer Tony Rivalland and owners Messrs P C Rivalland, J P G de Rauville, A J Rivalland and Mrs M D J Liley.

Young Rachel Venniker is setting the world alight after only being in action as an official apprentice jockey for one week! She had won a race as a Work Rider aboard #kznbred Enjoy The View for trainer Michael Roberts, and all of her winners to date have been aboard #kznbred horses.

She rode Tupelo Honey, a well bred daughter of Duke Of Marmalade out of Harolds Gold (Fort Wood) to victory just two days prior, with Rachel taking the bull by the horns and dominating the race from the start to lead all the way, and win by a length. Shirley Rosseau commented that Tupelo Honey was Syd’s favourite – a beautiful grey from the immediate family of Cover Look.

Congratulations to the Rosseau family and we look forward to more to come as the St Helier Stud family continue Syd’s legacy.

Bush Hill Stud enjoyed a great double at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Wednesday, and in particular Race 4 with their retired imported stallion King’s Chapel, taking the 1st and 3rd positions.

It was also a double in the process for Bush Hill Stud breeder Allan Peters and trainer Gareth Van Zyl, as well as Warren Kennedy who is leading the Jockey championship this season.

Daidala (King’s Chapel – Koukla) won by over a length, with Hollywoodbets Sizzling Summer Challenge and KZN Breeders Series leader Bint El Malak finishing third.

Its the 2nd win for Daidala who has also placed twice previously. Race 5 saw Irish Flame Bush Hill-bred filly Slievanorra surge forward to win over 1950m under Warren Kennedy. Out of Bluebell Wood, the filly has been consistent and now won and placed twice from 4 starts.

Bush Hill Stud have the exciting Flying The Flag babies to debut, and his first runner Cecca finished 4th on Friday afternoon for trainer Alan Greeff under Teaque Gould over the Fairview Polytrack.

Well done to Bush Hill Stud.

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.

Scott Bros evergreen Mogok, a sire with consistently good stats in each and every season had a double at Scottsville yesterday, including an impressive debut win with Wave.

Mogok’s progeny have earned over R1,5-million this season – an immaculately-bred sire, by Storm Cat from the immediate female line of Northern Dancer and a half-brother to Machiavellian, Mogok has the rare distinction of producing two Gr1 horses overseas – Gypsy’s Warning and his son at stud, The Apache.

In total, he has produced 4 Gr1 winners, and the sire of 40 Stakes horses (wins and places).

Wave, trained by Gavin Van Zyl who trained The Apache to Gr1 victory, is owned in partnership by Lucky Vest 12 CC (Nom: Mr S Govender),Team G Racing (Nom: Mr G H van Zyl), Messrs E A Budlender, P R Rencken & Mrs C C Naidoo. He sold for R100 000 off the 2018 KZN Yearling Sale and earned his connections a BSA bonus of R50 000 for qualifying yearlings sold at BSA sales.

Wave, racing green finished almost three lengths with relative ease and is definitely a horse to watch in the future. He is out of a Miesque’s Approval mare Seaview, this is the family of La Fabulous, Rip Curl and Surf The Net.

Mark Dixon, who very sadly lost his special horse London Call unexpectedly recently,  followed in the third race with Sand Queen (also bred by Scotts), winning her third race after placing in both of her previous race starts for owners Messrs Andre Fouche, G A Hauptfleisch & Mrs H Kuhn.

Sand Queen sold for just R30 000 off the 2018 Shongweni Mixed Sale, out of a half-sister to Jungle Sands and Pure Shore. Her dam has produced six winners to date including the recent Sand Path.

Lifetime leading breeders of over 50 years, Scott Bros, are in the process of winding down their breeding operation and are offering their final draft of yearlings directly for sale off of Highdown Stud. Email scottbros@worldonline.co.za to find out more. 

Congratulations to Scott Bros and the winning connections.

In yet another double for Scott Bros sire Crusade, juvenile Lady Abigail won the Maiden Juvenile Plate whilst Greenstreet Bloodstock’s imposing three year old Calladdi impressed to win his first race from four starts.

Crusade has produced 28 winners to date, including recent Listed winner Covered In Snow and Black Type last season in Zimbabwe with Butchie Boy.

Lady Abigail was the only filly to contest race number one of the day, and made it a 1-2 for KZN-breds and trainer Lezeanne Forbes. The filly, bred by Bruce Le Roux’s Spring Valley Stud out of Lady Gray, has had three runs to win and place from all of them and earn her connections R87 500 in stakes (excluding the additional BSA Maiden Juvenile Bonus of R40 000 she took home).

Lady Abigail has repaid her connections her purchase price of R50 000 from the 2017 National Yearling Sale. The horse to finish second was Anza-Borrego, a Backworth-bred son of Bezrin who has placed from all three of his starts and is definitely going to find the winners enclosure very soon.

The next to follow up was a special win for Justin Vermaak of Greenstreet Bloodstock. Whilst Justin was away for the CTS Cape Premier Yearling Sale, his parents and new part owners of Calladdi were on course to lead in their first winner, in partnership with Greenstreet Bloodstock and Leslie Logan. Calladdi, a strapping son of Crusade out of Black Type mare Carina Coleman by The Sheik, is bred by the Late Greg Royden-Turner of Roski Stud.

Calladdi sold for R160 000 off the 2016 National Yearling Sale and has won and placed (second) twice from four starts.

Crusade, a half-brother to twice Gr1 winning Seventh Heaven and a Gr1 winner himself, will be represented by yearlings at the National Yearling Sale which are siblings to Subtropical and Matador Man, a first foal out of a full sister to The Apache, and half-sisters to Angel’s Power and African Dream respectively.

Crusade clearly stamps his stock and his 3yo son Slightly Scottish is an entrant for the Michael Roberts Listed.

He stands at Scott Bros Highdown Stud for a fee of R20 000.

Crusade’s three year olds are flying and he produced his first double yesterday at Greyville for trainers Paul Lafferty and Dean Kannemeyer, whilst KZN breeder Mr Shakti Bunwarie enjoyed a double on the day.

Breeder Shakti Bunwarie and owners K and K Syndicate (Nom: Mrs K S Mahabeer) produced two winners with Crusade and Eightfold Path (both resident sires at Scott Bros) – both horses closely related out of Shakti’s Rathmor-based broodmares Bejewelled Beauty, and her daughter Awesome Beauty.

Exquisite Eight, by Crusade out of Bejewelled Beauty by Rambo Dancer, is  trained by Paul Lafferty. The three year old is a half-sister to Gr3 placed Awesome Beauty, and placed four times prior to her win yesterday over 1400m by almost two lengths.

Mr Bunwarie’s second winner of the day by Eightfold Path is Awesome Angel One – the first foal of Awesome Angel, trained by Frank Robinson. After placing twice previously, the handsome Eightfold Path colt won over 1400m. The Eightfold Path’s are finding their feet as three year olds and impressing with their good looks.

The aptly named Slightly Scottish, bred by Stewart MacGregor in partnership with Mr R Williams and owned by Stewart with Mr Ronnie Rowley, had placed twice previously to his impressive win on the turf by almost two lengths. A typical stamp of Crusade, Slightly Scottish is out of imported mare Lilly Pilly by Diesis.

Crusade’s half-sister by Galileo, Seventh Heaven, was not disgraced when she finished fifth in the Gr1 Breeders Cup Turf last week behind the boys Talismanic  and Highland Reel. The twice Gr1 winning mare has an impressive race record, defeating Found in one of her Gr1 victories and finishing second in Dubai to the boys in the Gr1 Dubai Sheema Classic.

Gr1 Middle Park Stakes winner Crusade stands for a fee of R20 000 this season and has produced 13 winners this season.