Speedy Val-La-Ree made all sit up and take notice at Scottsville yesterday, when the Hadlow-born Var filly and a grand-daughter of the great Dog Rose galloped to a four-length victory for trainer Doug Campbell and owners Sir George Albu, Messrs L S Naidoo and P D Robinson.

Sold for R150 000 off the 2017 KZN Yearling Sale, the beautiful daughter of Irish-bred Colchium is a first foal that was bred in partnership between Hallmark Thoroughbreds and Hadlow Stud.

Hallmark Thoroughbreds have had their name in lights owing to their brilliant broodmare First Arrival – the dam of of the likes of Light The Lights, In The Fast Lane, Pack Leader and Let’s Rock ‘n Roll, to name but a few.

Trainer Doug Campbell has recounted previously how her connections never placed a bet on Val-La-Ree in her first run, after her gallop at Scottsville saw the filly flitting all over the track and her antics didnt infuse much confidence for her first race – however she blew them away by winning on debut by four lengths! She has been ridden on both occasions by up and coming apprentice Dennis Schwarz, now based in Johannesburg.

Colchium is now owned by Cathy and Jonathan Martin of Hadlow Stud, and she currently has an outstanding Potala Palace foal at foot and in foal to Bush Hill Stud’s Flying The Flag.

It is an interesting pedigree – Colchium by Elnadim (Danzig), is the dam of Black-Type Smart Colleen who placed in the Stormsvlei Listed, and is herself a daughter of Dog Rose by Fort Wood. Colchium has also produced 6-time winner in Hong Kong, Flying Comfort (Travel Comfort), as well as two other winners.

Mauritzfontein-bred Dog Rose also produced Gr3 winner Saluki (GB) by Dubai Destination. The third dam is Lady Shirley Bird – this female line has produced Kestrel, Banbury, Colonial Girl and Pure Platinum.

South African bred Light The Lights won the Listed Singspiel Stakes over 1800m on turf at Meydan for Mike de Kock and Christophe Soumillon on Thursday evening.

The five-year-old by Western Winter ran along nicely and had plenty in the tank around the bend, about three lengths off the call, but jockey Colm O’Donoghue sent his mount Championship swiftly clear of the pack. Soumillon had to work hard to get Light The Lights to make up the ground on the older horse, who wasn’t stopping, but they got there in the last two strides and posted victory by a neck.

De Kock praised the SA breeding industry for their horsemanship and the way they deliver top horses year after year. “Our horses have won on the world stage for a long time, they keep on winning but I still think the world under-rates us,” he said.

Light The Lights, a gelding by Western Winter from First Arrival (Northern Guest), was a R450 000 purchase for Hugo Hattingh and partners at the BSA National Yearling Sale.

He was sold to Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum after his fourth to Smart Call in the 2016 J&B Met and De Kock said: “Light The Lights left South Africa early last year and as a result they got to Dubai earlier than my horses normally do.

“Light The Lights was a fit horse tonight, so we will look at taking another early shipment this year.  They have definitely benefitted from getting here sooner.”

Bruce and Ann Nicholas of Hallmark Thoroughbreds have enjoyed much success with their mare First Arrival, a daughter of Summerhill super sire Northern Guest.

She has produced amongst others, British export In The Fast Lane, Rock The Country, and Muhtafal Equus Champion Let’s Rock ‘n Roll.

A Spey Bridge Champion 3YO Filly in 1999 who won two Gr3’s in Zimbabwe, First Arrival has been an outstanding mare with eight runners and eight winners to date, four of them Bold Black Type.

This is an exceptional dam line that includes Zimbabwean winners Newton Power, Print The Pounds and Super Trouper, as well as The Elmo Effect, Visuality, Morisco, American export Sally Bowles, Jackson Square and Trademark amongst many others.

Congratulations to all concerned!

– extract turftalk.co.za

KZN-bred Waywest Goddess (pictured) had her first foal, a Moutonshoek-bred colt by Var named Var Ahead, give an impressive debut at Kenilworth recently to win by three and half lengths.

Bred by Bruce and Anne Nicholas of Hallmark Thoroughbreds and trained by Louis Goosen, Waywest Goddess (by Way West out of Gallic Goddess by Gallic League) won five races including the Gr2 Fillies Nursery, as well as the Ruffian and Gardenia Listed races.

Her sales history saw her being consigned by Yellow Star Stud as agent, where she sold for R65 000 and three years later at the Cape Mare & Weanling sale, she sold for R325 000 consigned by Arc En Ciel as agent.

Bruce and Anne Nicholas more recently bred the likes of In The Fast Lane, who was sent to the UK to continue her racing career.

Other KZN-bred mares in recent times to produce Gr1 winners include Serious Side (Captain Of All), Equus Champion Broodmare Star Of Arcole (Arcola, Princess Of Light, Drill Sargent, Ash Cloud), Endangered Species (Wild One), La Massine (Variety Club) and Jordie (Rabada).