The brilliant London Call won the Marula Sprint (Non Black Type) for the second year running yesterday, leaving the field of four (Doing It For Dan declared a non runner on the day) behind by one and a half lengths for trainer Mark Dixon.

The beautifully-bred son of Kahal out of the super Spring Valley broodmare Fancy Fantasy, took home his 11th career win and shouldered a top weight of 61.5kgs and continued to power away from the field with every stride – the second placed Shwanky carrying 50kgs.

London Call is Merit Rated at a very respectable MR 111, and its a shame that luck has not been on his side to secure a much deserved Graded Stakes win – he has defeated amongst many Gr1 winners Seventh Plain, Talktothestars, Sergeant Hardy and Kochka amongst others. Its no secret that London Call has had his fair share of issues but his conditioner needs to be applauded for the way he has handled the son of Kahal’s sterling racing career – with 11 wins from 19 runs and five places.

Seven year old London Call sold for R120 000 at the 2012 National Yearling Sale and has earned his owners Messrs C N Larsson, G N Cumming & R D Samuelson an amount of  R873,725 in stakes.

The same owner / breeder / trainer combination own Fantasy Lady – a three parts sister to London Call out of Silvano mare Silver Fantasy – herself a half-sister to London Call. Fantasy Lady finished two lengths off Wild Wicket in the Michael Roberts Handicap Listed, the consistent filly has won four times and placed in seven races.

Fancy Fantasy, one of Bruce’s foundation mares at Spring Valley Stud who passed on a few years ago, has been an outstanding broodmare and produced 10 winners from 11 foals – including Gr1 winner and Black Types’ Indiscreet Fantasy, Personal Fantacy, Malinga and Silver Fantasy amongst others.

A daughter of Rainbow Dream from the damline of Don The Stripe, Fancy Fantasy was a winner at three and placed only three times.

She has three daughters at stud that include Vasilisa, Silver Fantasy and Dreams And Fancies – and all three have produced winners with 12 victories between them.

Bruce Le Roux of Spring Valley Stud produced a phenomenal winners to runners percentage last season of 49.1% which earned him KZN Breeders Achievement Award in December last year, from 55 runners.

Keep a look out for Bruce Le Roux’s draft from the Spring Valley Stud at the upcoming National Yearling Sale in April.

Spring Valley-bred London Call, a brilliant son of Kahal out of one of Bruce Le Roux’s top former mares Fancy Fantasy, defeated a quality field of sprinters in the Marula Sprint yesterday at Scottsville, including the likes of Gr1 placed Barbosa and recent Gr3 winner Rikitikitana.

It is well documented that trainer Mark Dixon’s lightly raced six year old has been plagued with issues during his career, but when London Call enters a race he is to be ignored at your peril – particularly at Scottsville over 1200m which he absolutely loves.

His elated owners Clint Larsson and Darren Samuelson (owned along with Gary Cumming) were on course to greet him in the winners enclosure for the seventh victory of his 12-race career, and three places.

Sold at the 2012 National Yearling Sale for R120 000, London Call has earned over R511 000 in stakes and has a Merit Rating of 108.

Fancy Fantasy, a liver chestnut daughter of Rainbow Dream has left an incredible legacy at Spring Valley with daughters Vasilisa and Listed Scarlet Lady winner Silver Fantasy returning to the place of their birth for stud duties.

Silver Fantasy has produced two winners to date from both her first foals (Silver King and Fantasy Lady), as has Vasilisa (Captain Sparrow and Trippi’s Girl).

Amongst Fancy Fantasy’s progeny are the likes of Indiscreet Fantasy (8-time winner including Gr1 Cape Fillies Guineas), Malinga (10-time winner and Gr2 placed), Silver Fantasy and Personal Fantacy, the latter placing in the Gr1 Cape Flying Championship.

Congratulations to Bruce and Delia Le Roux of Spring Valley Stud and to the winning connections!