KZN-breds and horses by KZN sires won four of the nine race card at Turffontein yesterday, including three of the days features – the Oaks Trial Listed, the Derby Trial and the Gr2 Senor Santa Stakes, whilst Rabada’s grey half-brother won over 2000m on debut in the last race.

KZN produces less than 20% of the racing stock annually in South Africa and yesterday’s performances at Turffontein are not to be ignored.

Golden Sword’s daughter, who gave him his first winner two year ago – Belle Rose, also gave her sire his first Stakes winner and provided the first of a Stake winning double on the day for her sensational dam, Vin Fizz (Champagne Haze winning the Gr2 Senor Santa later in the day).

Mike De Kock trained High Chaparral’s outstanding son Golden Sword in the latter part of his career, and labelled the Summerhill sire the best horse of a classy generation in his overseas string.  Golden Sword still holds the record for the fastest 2000m at Meydan.

Callan Murray had Belle Rose relaxed about five lengths off pacesetter Emily Jay in the sixteen horse charge that moved into the long Turffontein home straight.

Belle Rose glided up hard against the steel in the centre at the 400m marker, closely tracked by Wind Chill.

Under a beautifully balanced left handed ride, the Callan Murray kept Belle Rose to her task and she stayed on doggedly to hold the determined Wind Chill by a head in a time of 124,46 secs.

The Woodruff runner Parabola came on steadily to get third ahead of Scott Bros’Costa Da Sol. The latter ran a gutsy race from her wide draw.

Belle Rose was purchased by Form Bloodstock for R475 000 at the 2015 CTS Johannesburg Ready To Run Sale.

SA champion breeders Summerhill Stud also produced Gr2 Senor Santa winner Champagne Haze and the last race 2000m debut winner, Glider Pilot – the latter an AP Arrow half-brother to dual Gr1 winner, Rabada.

Glider Pilot sold initially for R475 000 off the CTS Ready To Run Sale to Adriaan Van Vuuren, and resold for only R65 000 off the 2016 November Mixed Sale – trained by Tyrone Zackey and owned by Mr K P & Mrs N M Backos & Mr S F G Habib. His grey dam Jordie has an outstanding foal by Trippi this year at Summerhill.

Belle Rose is by Golden Sword out of the versatile four-time winning Qui Danzig mare, Vin Fizz – dam of the day’s Gr2 1160m winner, Champagne Haze. She also produced the brilliant Pierre Jourdan and 7-time winner Dakiwe, definitely thrown her name into the hat as KZN Breeders Broodmare Of The Year.

The high – class Pierre Jourdan’s half-brother Champagne Haze is a previous winner of the 2015 Emperors Palace Ready To Run Cup and produced a sensational victory in the R400 000 Gr2 Senor Santa Stakes at Turffontein on Saturday.

While he has won up to a mile, Champagne Haze’ best recent form has been over the sprints – yet he was easy to back when lining up in the 1160m Gr2 feature against some serious speed merchants. Champagne Haze won by two lengths in a time of 65,49s.

Champagne Haze has won five races with six places from his 15 starts for stakes of a healthy R2 065 050.

The winner, astutely purchased at the CTS Johannesburg RTR Sale for R280 000, is by Kahal.

Ever consistent sire Mogok added yet another Stakes winner to his list with Varsfontein-bred Pagoda taking the Derby Trial.

Pagoda collected his second win on the trot, making it the three year old Mogok gelding’s third career win. Pagoda – out of Pascha by Wolfhound – had previously placed three times including the Sea Cottage Stakes Listed.

Trained by Geoff Woodruff and owned in partnership by Messrs Kuben Gengan, Rajen Devan, G V Woodruff & Mrs S E M Louw, Pagoda sold for R100 000 off the 2015 Val De Vie Cape Yearling Sale, and has earned almost R400 000 including the BSA Value Added Stakes bonus of R77 500.

This is the immediate damline of Do You Remember, Festive Occasion and KZN-bred Sarasota.

Congratulations to Summerhill Stud and all the winning connections!

– extract sportingpost.co.za