KZN got off on the right foot in 2019 with six winners from nine races carded at Greyville on 1 January.

Louis Goosen came back with a bang, getting a triple on the day – two of the horses were #kznbred.

The Grey Crusader was first up under jockey Jason Gates – who was one of a double for the young apprentice on the day. The son of Crusade in the care of Louis Goosen has gone from strength to strength and been incredibly unlucky in his career – the half-brother to 9-time winner Black Pepper has recorded 10 places previously – six of those in 2nd!!! This time he really impressed, going to the front and winning by over 7 lengths from Noble Tune gelding The Jazz Singer.

The 4yo grey gelding took his earnings to R 211,875 for owner Bobbie Rajhununan.

The next was the beautiful chestnut What A Scorcher, an apt name after a 33 degree day at Greyville. The 6yo St Petersburg gelding collected his 4th career win for trainer Jeff Freedman for owner Mrs A M van der Bank, bred by Hemel ‘n Arde Stud in the Cape. He has also placed 7 times to earn R 255,950.

Sand Path came flying on the outside rail reminiscent of his prior win on the turf for trainer Dennis Bosch. The handsome Eightfold Path chestnut gave Scott Bros a double on the day (first with The Grey Crusader) and produced his second win for owners Messrs Praveen Mohanlall & G R Almanza. Eightfold Path is getting on well, with 32% winners to runners in his 3yo season. He stands at Spring Valley Stud.

Garth Puller’s Toreador gelding has been consistent, the Spring Valley-bred out of a Krusenstern mare collected his 2nd win under Anton Marcus and has placed 6 times from 13 starts, and since September has won or placed in his last five starts. Toreador is a stallion that stood at Bush Hill Stud and he will be missed – his son Matador Man recently won the Christmas Handicap Listed at Greyville on Boxing Day.

Five year old Missibaba also gave Summerhill a double on the day. The full sister to Gr3 winner Royal Pleasure, won again for her owners Mr S Pillay & Mrs U S Pillay and trainer Dennis Bosch. She has tucked away R 314,575 in stakes earned and placed 15 times from 33 starts. For the past year she has been the picture of consistency, only placing out of the money on one occasion from her last 12 starts.

The handsome Bravo Zulu by Brave Tin Soldier completed the double for breeders Summerhill, to win the last race and give Louis the triple on the day after a dry spell, battling a virus in the yard. Owned by Messrs J Carlse & Louis Goosen, Bravo Zulu won over the 1000m trip under Marco Van Rensburg. The 4yo gelding is out of a Muhtafal mare, from the damline of Variety Club, Secret Rites and Son Of A Champ. His dam Londoloza is a half-sister to Fanyana, a 9-time winner who also placed 3rd in the Gr1 Computaform Sprint.

Brave Tin Soldier has relocated to The Fort Stud and Jill Fox has reported that all of his mares received for the season have been confirmed in foal.

Our stallions in KZN stats for the new season up until 30 December 2018:

The Apache 5 wins (11 runners) (36.4% winners to runners)

Crusade – 21 wins (25% winners to runners)

Mambo In Seattle – 35 wins (31.5% winners to runners)

Eightfold Path – 13 wins (31.8% winners to runners)

Noble Tune – 9 wins (25.8% winners to runners)

Curved Ball – 12 wins (33.3% winners to runners)

Just As Well – 9 wins (25% winners to runners, 1 Black Type winner for the season)

The winning combination of the Louis Goosen Racing Stable and Piere Strydom results in the 150th win for the combination, aboard a Visionaire half-brother to Gr1 winner Love Struck.

The Summerhill-bred three year old chestnut gelding did it in impressive fashion, storming to victory by almost seven lengths at the Vaal over 1700m.

The facebook page of Louis Goosen Racing Stables says that Revelation still has some maturing to do and should definitely win again.

The Summerhill-bred out of Rambo Dancer mare, Particular Passion, sold for R300 000 at the 2014 National Yearling Sale. Revelation is owned by Messrs P Gayaram, L W Goosen & M E Wilken & Dr A Ramsubag & Fernando & Marcelle Baptiste and has placed three times in addition to yeserday’s win from six starts.

Broodmare Particular Passion is a breeders delight to possess, having produced seven winners to date from eight runners, two of them Bold Black Type – Fakazi and Gr1 SA Classic winner, Love Struck (by Kahal).

Love Struck has since been exported to Mauritius, where he has continued to race with great success – including victory in the Gr1 Duke Of York Cup.

Particular Passion is out of a Prontissimo/Roland Gardens mare My Sweet Love; her third dam Makin’ Whoopee produced 10-time and dual Gr1 winner, Anytime Baby.

Particular Passion was herself no slouch at the track, having won five times and placing 10, including a second in the St Andrews Paddock Stakes (L).

Visionaire, a son of Grand Slam was South Africa’s Champion Freshman Sire in 2015, and has produced the likes of Gr3 winner Royal Pleasure, Jet Air and Lala to date.

The big handsome chestnut stallion stood at Summerhill Stud last season for a fee of R40 000.