Champion Sandringham Summit will return to his birthplace Varsfontein Stud for stallion duties at the conclusion of his racing career.

The champion in action (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)

Leading consultant John Freeman has been mandated to syndicate the son of resident champion Gimmethegreenlight for stallion duties, and he confirmed that “shares literally flew off the shelf” which speaks volumes for the colt’s popularity with local breeders.

“Varsfontein will retain 20 of the 46 shares on offer,” he added. “Thanks to all of the star breeders that are participating.”

Although the colt remains in training – he is after all still just three – Sandringham Summit already boasts impeccable stallion credentials as a juvenile Gr1 winner who has the looks and pedigree as befits his R1.7-million price tag as a yearling.

Trained by David Nieuwenhuizen, the colt made heads turn when he came from an impossible position to win the Gr2 Golden Horseshoe at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Durban July day and earned his Gr1 spurs in the Premiers Champion Stakes, at the expense of by downing the hitherto unbeaten Main Defender, who was over two lengths adrift at the line.

Named last season’s Champion Juvenile, Rakesh Singh’s star colt was perhaps an unlucky loser in this seasonal debut when narrowly beaten by his old nemesis in the Gr3 Betway Graham Beck before finishing third in the Gr2 Dingaans.

Remarkably, he is Gimmethegreenlight’s second Premiers Champion Stakes winner and was preceded by first-crop son Gunner, who likewise, is out of a Captain Al mare.

Significantly, Sandringham Summit offers breeders a wonderful outcross pedigree, free of the all-pervading Northern Dancer and Mr Prospector blood in the first four generations.

His dam Townsend won both the Gr2 Odessa Stud Fillies Championship and Gr3 Diana Stakes, and in addition to Sandringham Summit, she is also dam of Gr1 Gold Medallion winner Eden Roc, who has just finished covering his first book of mares at Clifton Stud.

Townsend is a half-sister to Gr1 Champions Challenge hero Regal Ransom. This is also the female line of Gr2 Guineas winner Zapatillas and Gr2 Dingaans second Shoemaker, both of which were bred at Varsfontein.

-sportingpost.co.za

**Eden Roc stands for R10 000 live foal and is owned by the KZN Breeders Club.

Peter Blyth who stands Eden Roc on behalf of the KZN Breeders Club at Clifton Stud, was delighted to announce that the Gr1 winning son of Var has his first mares confirmed in foal.

The half brother to star Sandringham Summit, recently bestowed with the Equus Champion 2YO Award, is an exciting acquisition for KZN standing for a very accessible fee of R10 000 live foal.

According to Raceform.co.za, Karel Miedema’s thoughts on possible suitable mares for Eden Roc:

Suitable lines for Eden Roc could include:

• Vienna (Vaguely Noble in Flower Alley, Indigo Magic)
• Alibhai (Flower Bowl & sons His Majesty and Graustark – widespread)
• Best In Show and dam Stolen Hour through Northern Guest (Pomodoro, Capetown Noir), Pathfork, El Gran Senor (Visionaire, Cordoba (Act Of War)), Redoute’s Choice (Rafeef), Canford Cliffs (has double Stolen Hour, and has Vienna in his sire)
• female line descendants of Baby Polly & dam Pretty Polly (widespread, but remote)
• female line descendants of La Troienne (notably Buckpasser & dam Busanda – widespread)
• first prize could be Oratorio. The dam of his sire Danehill is by His Majesty out of a Buckpasser mare. His dam is by Vaguely Noble. His pedigree has double Heliopolis and treble Blue Larkspur, coming together in female line ancestor Heliolight, who is close kin to Buckpasser.

The KZN Breeders Club’s newest stallion addition, Eden Roc, saw his half brother Sandringham Summit add to Eden Roc’s already impressive pedigree to win the same race his Var brother did in 2019, the Gr2 Durban Golden Horseshoe over 1400m.

Sandringham Summit defeated feature winner Gimmeanotherchance in the process, as well as Guy Gibson who has placed twice behind the talented Lucky Lad.

A R1,7-million yearling by Gimmethegreenlight, Sandringham Summit has now won twice and placed second twice from four starts for trainer David Niewenhuizen and owner Mr Rakesh Singh and doesn’t look to be stopping anytime soon based on his form and good looks.

Clifton Stud, who stand Eden Roc on behalf of the KZN Breeders Club, will be hosting a stallion day on July 12th to introduce him publicly to breeders.

Eden Roc was purchased through the incentive of the Stallion Premiums from the KZN Breeders Premium Scheme, the first of its kind in South Africa.

The son of Var has an enviable race record and pedigree; out of Captain Al mare Townsend, a Gr2 winner herself who has produced 5 winners to date, this is also the family of Zapatillas.

Eden Roc is a coup for the KZN Breeding ranks, and the very handsome son of Var who fills your eye raced consistently and soundly until age 6.

His race record courtesy of www.raceform.co.za:

6 wins, 1160-1400m, at 2 to 4

Rated MR 119

At 2

WON Gr1 Gold Medallion (1200m)

WON Gr2 Golden Horseshoe (1400m)

At 3

WON Gr2 Merchants S. (1200m)

At 4

2nd Gr1 Golden Horse Sprint (1200m)

2nd Gr3 Merchants Hcp (1160m)

Bush Hill Stud are enjoying a tremendous run with four winners in one week.

Roy Magner trained Glitterfox kicked off the streak, with the Vercingetorix filly out of Toreador mare She’s A Stunner breaking her maiden after consistently earning cheques for her owner, particularly in her last four starts. Her dam is a Gr3 winner and this is the family of Run Free and Prince Of Freedom. The filly is owned by Andy Williams.

The next three winners are all by Galileo’s Group winning son Flying The Flag, starting off with a double on the day on Friday. With the weather enforcing a dual race meeting in South Africa, Bush Hill kicked with a double.

Ledell’s Echo out of Ladbroke’s Lass by Silvano won for owners Jithoo, Smith and Govender, trained by Gavin Smith and won emphatically by almost four lengths. It is the third career win for the gelding.

Daddy’s Jet followed up for Nathan Kotzen at Hollywoodbets Greyville. Owned by Messrs Colbourne and Baker, he won by a length under Robert Khathi for his jubilant connections. He is out of Luxurious Jet by Jet Master.

The luck continued on Saturday, as the Peter’s family named filly owned by Hollywood Syndicate came home victorious for the second time, the three year old daughter of William Longsword out of Cassie O’ Malley by Jet Master. She is trained by Peter Muscutt who formed part of a treble for the stable on the day.

It takes Bush Hill bred to R2,500 000 for the season earned to date and 34,6% winners to runners for the season.

Trained by Fabian Habib, Luthuli, out of Desroches by Dynasty is owned by Messrs B D van Laun, G J Nassif, J Nassif and Tri-Deal Sixteen CC (Nom: Mr Z L Nassif).

Desroches descends from the family of the weekend Gr1 runner up MK’s Pride, and 15 time winner San Carlos.

Luthuli has earned seven place cheques in the process and is Camargue’s first winner for their revitalised stud under the care of Brett, breeding from the lush area of Caversham in the KZN Midlands.

Camargue will be taking a smashing draft of 10 yearlings to the National Yearling Sale, including an eye-catching sibling to American Graffiti (Lot 180) and a Querari three parts sister to Gr2 winner, Ameena (Lot 41).

Godswood bred by Bush Hill Stud enjoyed his seventh career win on March 30th for the training combination of Messrs Vosloo and Botes, owned by Allan Peters and the Hyperpaint Syndicate.

Godswood, out of Jallad mare Bluebell Wood won by two lengths from recent winner Sheldon over 1000m at the Vaal.

MK’s Pride put up a sterling performance in the weekend’s Gr1 HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut over 1600m. Generally thriving on a 1400m race, MK’s Pride finished second to Cape raider Trip Of Fortune in the race just a length off, for trainer Robbie Sage, owner Koos Nkale and jockey Ryan Munger.

Willow Magic produced another two seconds in addition to MK’s Pride over the weekend, with Mon Tresor at Fairview and Lazy Guy getting pipped on the line at Hollywoodbets Greyville.

Willow Magic stands at Blue Sky Thoroughbreds and has produced 17 wins for the current season.

Rathmor Stud, breeders of the likes of Gypsy’s Warning, Missisippi Burning and this season’s G2 Peninsula Handicap winner Nexus, will be offering an eye catching draft at the upcoming National Yearling Sale.

Not only does this draft include yearlings by such popular stallions as Danon Platina, Legislate and Vercingetorix, Rathmor will be offering lots out of some very classy racemares and producers.

Hussonet mare Spitfire Lady has already produced four winners headed by the Rathmor bred G1 WSB Cape Fillies Guineas winner Missisippi Burning, and she has a colt (Lot 94) by the outstanding Vercingetorix on sale. This colt has headliner written all over him!

Vercingetorix is also represented in this draft by a colt (Lot 24) whose Commands sired dam won six times including the G3 Flamboyant Stakes, and this colt’s granddam was sired by breed-shaping stallion Unbridled’s Song.

Other appealing lots to be found in this draft include the Legislate full-brother (Lot 251) to classy filly Veronica Mars, with this colt also a half-brother to this season’s G3 Lebelo Sprint winner Taikonaut, and the Danon Platina colt (Lot 325) out of a stakes winning daughter of Trippi.

This draft can be found in Block G at the TBA Complex.

The Flying The Flag colt is rumoured to be able to go one better in the next leg of the Triple Crown with the distance possibly suiting him over the 1800m trip, finishing a fast three lengths off the winner coming from behind, over the mile in very soft going.

Former Bush Hill resident sire Flying The Flag, a full brother to English Classic multiple Gr1 winning fillies Rhododendron and Magical who represented the mighty Coolmore Stud, also carries the speed genes of his paternal grand dam Cassandra Go, and looks to have a smart and fast gelding in the form of the grey Strawberry Bear, who happens to carry the same grey colour as his speedy great grandmother.

Trained by Mike Miller and born and raised at Bush Hill for owner Miss Giddy, Strawberry Bear has won three of his six starts and the last at Hollywoodbets Scottsville by a dominating three lengths. He is out of a Captain Al mare in turn out of a Muhtafal mare, from the family of Champion sprinter Nhlavini, Mystery Guest and Arabian Mist.

Owned in partnership by Tony Jelenski and Sterling Miller, the grey gelding tried a mile in the Model Man Listed but it was possibly a stretch too far – he did come back from the race to win a 1400m and relished the 1200m on offer on Sunday, leading from start to finish under Serino Moodley who has ridden him in all of his starts and may be a nice sprinting prospect for the coming KZN season ahead.

The next to follow was part of a double for the stable of Duncan Howells as Mission Rocks, by Crusade out of Gr2 winner Tempted by Jallad, won for owner Mr Lawrence Pillay. Mission Rocks dug deep to win and enjoyed the 1400m on the Polytrack to win by almost a length under Sean Veale, one of his four winners on the day.

Bush Hill Stud, owned by Warwick and Karin Render, are currently on 30% winners to runners for the season and over R1,4-million in stakes earned for their horses connections.

Well done to all concerned.

Noble City, a Noble Tune half brother to Gr1 winner Battle Force (Act Of War) won impressively on debut at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday.

Bred by Rupert Plersch and born and raised by the McHardy family in Nottingham Road, the three year old won by three lengths for owner Twilight Moon Equine, who own Battle Force.

Trainer Peter Muscutt is enjoying a successful stint in the Cape, with four wins to date in the province.

Noble City is out of imported mare Mataaib by Elusive City, from a family drenched in Black Type predominately from France and Ireland.

Congratulations to all concerned.

Watch the race:

Broodmare Roses For Lizzy pulled off a rare feat for breeder Bruce Le Roux, producing three winners in one week and included in that result a double on Sunday at Hollywoodbets Greyville.

The National Emblem mare seems to produce a stamp amongst her progeny and all by different sires – whilst none of them are the tallest, they certainly make up for it in substance and strength with stout top lines, well muscled and good bone and all with a penchant for speed.

Justaguything, a handsome 6yo son of Just As Well, pulled off his 8th career victory on 4 January and managed back to back victories. He beat Blackwhitedynamite home over 1200m. A picture of consistency for the past year, Justaguything has had 14 starts in the past year, winning three of those and only out of the money on one occasion! Not a bad return for a yearling sold for R130 000 at the 2018 KZN Yearling Sale.

Trained by Gavin Van Zyl for owners Lucky Vest 12 CC (Nom: Mr S Govender), Team G Racing and Messrs E A Budlender & P R Rencken, he has earned R651,750 in stakes.

Four days later the double came, starting with the Kom Naidoo trained Aunty Lizzy – a daughter of Crusade. The chestnut filly won by almost a length, beating the decent Graded Stakes Placed Irfaans Boy, as well as Pray For Rain amongst the field. Ridden by Kabelo Matsunyane, Aunty Lizzy won for the 6th time in the NBT African Holly Handicap. The four year old is owned by Miss Trinisha Pillay, Messrs Kenny Govender & S Govender and 1000m seems to be her game. Unsold on an online sale, the chestnut filly has earned just over R400 000 in stakes to date.

The day ended with Michael Roberts trained Calulo, winning for Ralphs Syndicate and pocketing a lucky punter R1,5-million from the Hollywoodbets Punters Challenge. She was 8/8 for winning Hollywoodbets Punters Challenge winner Alan Barkhuizen on the day, ridden by Rachel Venniker – who stated it was a special win as well for her, as Calulo gave Rachel her first win as an apprentice in July 2021.

It was the 5th career win for the daughter of Toreador who also relishes a sprint distance of 1000m. Calulo was a R25 000 buy from the KZN Yearling Sale in 2019, and has earned R290 000 to date.

Roses For Lizzy by National Emblem has a pedigree loaded with speed and Black Type; out of a Harry Hotspur mare, Cockney Pride can be found under the second dam in the pedigree, followed by two South African exports under the third dam – Grand Emporium who excelled to win the Gr1 Daily News 2000, the Gr1 Triple Crown 1600 and two Gr2’s in Dubai for stakes of R701,930 and £8,250.00.

The other is Gr2 winner Singapore Sling, who earned R1,383,750 and HK21,321,511 respectively.

It is also the family of Arcsa / Equus Winners Whistling Dixie and Ice Cube.

Bruce Le Roux, who now breeders in partnership with Tinus Gericke under the Blue Sky Thoroughbreds banner, is enjoying another exceptional season with almost 38% winners to runners and just over a R1-million in stakes earned from 32 runners. Blue Sky Thoroughbreds is not far behind, with 35% winners to runners.

Congratulations to all concerned on great results!