Bloodstock South Africa graduate Missisippi Burning showed her class, when romping home to a facile and hugely impressive win in the G1 World Sports Betting Cape Fillies Guineas at Kenilworth on Saturday.

Bred by Rathmor Stud, the three-year-old daughter of Captain Al was given a superb ride by Craig Zackey, who bought his mount with a strong late challenge down the inside of the track before the pair bounded clear to post a facile three length win.

The Mario Ferreira owned Missisippi Burning provided trainer Adam Marcus with his first G1 success, and with a second graded race triumph on Saturday.

Now a winner of four of only seven races (she has won her last three in a row), the diminutive Missisippi Burning was a R380 000 buy (pictured above) from the 2018 Emperors Palace National Yearling Sale, and Saturday’s triumph took the filly’s earnings to R794 052.

A third Cape Fillies Guineas winner for deceased champion sire Captain Al, Missisippi Burning is out of the stakes placed Hussonet mare Spitfire Lady who was purchased by Kerry Jack on behalf of Rathmor in Australia – who won four times up to 1600 metres and who ran second in the Listed Flying Handicap.

Congratulations to all concerned!

In a thrilling finish Declarationofpeace, a War Front half-brother to Rathmor sire Noble Tune, under a rousing ride by jockey Ryan Moore forged to the front in the final strides to shade 3-1 favored Sound And Silence and win the $200,000 Qatar Juvenile Turf Sprint Stakes (LIST ED), the final stage-setter before nine consecutive Breeders’ Cup championship contests at Del Mar.

Declarationofpeace scored by a head over Sound And Silence who appeared home free under William Buick until collared late by the winner. Sound And Silence was a half-length in front of Out of the Flames, with Corinthia Knight fourth in the field of a dozen two-year-olds. Thus, European-based runners swept the first four positions in the five furlong grass sprint.

A daughter of top-class SA sprinter Noble Heir (Kahal) maintained her unbeaten record from three starts when she beat Blue Diamond Stakes winner Catchy by a head in a thrilling finish to the Gr3 Quezette Stakes run over 1100m at Caulfield on Saturday.

An elated jockey Ben Melham said that Crown Witness had an easy run on the speed. “She did a real good job, she was real game to the line. At this distance today and with one to chase she settled nice but I’ll leave it to the experts to decide if she’ll stretch out over further.”

A A$50,000 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale graduate, Crown Witness made it three straight wins on Saturday to beat a filly hailed as champion material.

Crown Witness, by Star Witness, is trained by Stuart Webb and was bred by Golden Grove Stud Farm. She is the first winner produced by the former Dennis Bosch-trained grey flyer.

The Connington Stud-bred Noble Heir won or placed in 18 of her 26 outings, with her big moment coming in the 2010 Gr1 Computaform Sprint – a race in which she won away from home beating champion sprinter Mythical Flight (Jet Master) and the Gr1 winners Warm White Night (Western Winter) and Private Jet (Orpen).[/caption]

Noble Heir is one of three winners produced by the Kilconnel mare Irish Honour.

In 2010 Noble Heir was bought by Australian multi-millionaire racehorse owner and Ultra Tune executive chairman Sean Buckley. He races and breeds under the Ultra Thoroughbreds banner.

Buckley earlier enjoyed group success with SA purchases in Perfect Promise (dam of Bush Hill sire Redoute’s Promise), a Gr1 winner in both South Africa and Australia, Battle Maiden, who was Champion three-year-old filly, Dane Julia, another dual Gr1 winner in both South Africa and New Zealand, 2008 SA Oaks winner Happy Spirit and Emblem Of Liberty, who beat Dancer’s Daughter and River Jetez to win the Gr1 Paddock Stakes.

Another Australian-bred grand daughter of Kahal is eagerly anticipated on the South African racetrack – a Mike De Kock trained daughter of Frankel out of Backworth-bred Gr1 winner Chocolicious.

The chestnut filly was purchased by Shadwell for a record at the time of the most expensive Frankel filly sold at that point, for $625 000.

Locally, Kahal has produced amongst others Gr2 Gold Bracelet winner, Fort Ember, as a broodmare sire.

-extract sportingpost.co.za

A flashy bay colt was the news of the day at Scottsville last year, as the white faced juvenile Ishnana blazed to a debut victory not only for himself, but for his first time owner Mr Thabo Mhlongo.

Thabo is a highly successful businessman who amongst his company Ishnana Holdings has significant portfolios such as property development, retail, manufacturing and resources, including one of Howick’s iconic landmarks Thabo’s Antiques amongst them.

At odds of 20/1 under jockey Mandla Ntuli, the Garth Puller trained two year old won by almost a length going away from Black Ball (Black Minnaloushe) and Sniper Shot (Judpot) over the 1200m straight at Scottsville.

The colt is bred by Mr Robert Smith out of his Northern Guest mare Bird Strike, by little know sire Al Miqdaam – a resident son of Danehill at Roy Moodley’s breeding operation in Mooi River, and the sire of Al Ciberano. The combination of Al Miqdaam and Bird Strike has been a winning formula previously, with his full sister, a 2010 foal named Shikra, a previous winner over 1600m for trainer Lola Crawford.

Robert Smith interestingly bred the dam of multiple Gr1 winner Captain Of All, the Fard mare Serious Side.

Upon enquring with Mr Thabo Mhlongo’s contact details, they matched the horses name, Ishnana. “We named him after our company, which is a name made up from our children’s names. My son before school this morning said  ‘hey Dad, I have this feeling Ishnana is going to win today!”

Mr Mhlongo begins the story of how he came to owning the colt, Ishnana. “About 10 years ago, Rob introduced me to what he was doing with the horses and tried to pursue me to get involved, he said its a sport that can unite families and enjoy it with your wife and family and friends.” Mr Mhlongo chuckles and continues, “I kept ignoring Rob and continued doing other things besides the horses. Two years ago he came back strong – he invited us to his farm to look at them, where he breeds them and we looked. Then last year again, Rob said he had some babies without names coming up, and he asked me if I was sure I didnt want a horse – and that I needed to find time to enjoy life. I told him I would think about it.”

“I asked Rob to take me through the process. Eventually, I went to see the horse on my own and Rob said to me, I think this is the one for you and I could come in as a partner, if I didnt want to own the horse outright. We went into the paddock and Rob began to chase them around, and they all ran except for Ishnana. He just stopped and looked at us. I asked Rob, why is this horse not running? Ishnana was looking at us with his ears pricked. Rob chased him again, and once more the colt stopped, turned and looked at us, and I said to Rob, this is the one I want.”

“I went home to talk to my wife and get her approval. My wife and family came with me the next day after church to look again. I showed her the horse I liked and my youngest daughter Nathi, said ‘Daddy I like this one too’ and my son agreed. My wife said well that is that – this is the horse for us!”

“We had a separate meeting with Garth [Puller] who took us through the process and explained everything to us. He has been keeping us informed and up to date and encouraging us. He has also invited us to see the horse at Summerveld and we went to the training stables to see Ishnana. I am convinced the horse remembers us from the farm because he came straight towards us and walked up, his ears up and he was swishing his tail.”

Thabo recounts the race day. “The feeling when we went into the parade ring – Ishnana is different to the other horses and I felt good, this is a nice horse. When they cantered to the start, Garth told us ‘you have a good horse here, I am telling you!’ I had a feeling inside me that he was going to win. I told Rob I wanted to put more money on him and Rob said no (he was trying to manage my possible disappoinment) but I still made R460 on him from what Rob suggested I bet. As we saw him coming we started shouting him home! Rob just hugged me and said the horse has come through for us, it was great fun!!!”

“Garth is a great guy and I can see now what Rob had wanted to show me ten years ago, and experience.”

Ishnana’s dam Bird Strike is by Champion broodmare sire Northern Guest, in turn out of a Bush Telegraph / Royal Prerogative mare, Winged Signal. This female line has produced Gr1 Champions Stakes winner Swan Prince, as well as 1987 Arcsa Champion in 1987, Mark Anthony – a Gr1 J&B Met and Queen’s Plate winner.

From very small crops to date, Al Miqdaam has produced winners Al Ciberano, Shikra, Roy’s Twilight and Ishnana.

Al Miqdaam is out of Gr1 winner St Clemens Belle(AUS) in turn out of British mare St Clemens, by Canadian sire London Bells out of American mare Emotional by Sensitive Prince – truly an international pedigree.

St Clemens Belle achieved seven wins from two years of age over 1000m to 1600m. She won the WATC Stakes Gr1, the MVRC Champagne Stakes Gr2, Bill Stutt Stakes Gr2, SAJC Smoke-Free Stakes Gr3, VRC Hilton on the Park Sprint Handicap Listed as well as the MVRC Silver Jubilee Stakes Listed.

Her half-sister Sanctus is a Stakes Winner too, producing three decent horses with 11 wins between them.

Under the third dam is Be My Princess, another Stakes Winner who won six times and produced Turffontein Goldfields Sprint Handicap Listed winner, Flying Princess.

Al Miqdaam was purchased by Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum and began his racing career in Australia. He ran in seven Barrier Trials over five months – winning two, placing second twice and a third and fourth, and changing trainers in between.

Three months after being in a different yard, he placed twice more and arrived in South Africa – sent out for his first start a month short of two years later, at Scottsville.

Al Miqdaam finished second for trainer Mike De Kock over 1000m. He only raced four more times, twice finishing just short of the placings and preferring shorter trips over 1000 – 1200m, once finishing just behind Art Of War.

Congratulations to the winning connections of Ishnana – we are certain to see much more from this horse in the near future.

The two year old full sister to Flying The Flag showed plenty of speed to win courageously over 1400m.

The O’Brien-trained Rhodedendron led home a 1-2 for Galileo in the G2 Debutante Stakes when holding off stablemate Hydrangea, who shares a sire and broodmare sire with Rhodedendron – both out of Pivotal mares. Sent off the 11-8 favourite, Rhododendron was taking a substantial step up in class after winning a maiden at Goodwood and scored by a head after keeping on well.

Seamie Heffernan, who earlier struck on Churchill and was making it a Group 2 double on the day, said: “She learned a bit at Goodwood and Ryan [Moore] told me to get there late on her. He said she was the best of Aidan’s three runners in the race.” The rider picked up a one-day ban for using his whip with excessive force on Rhododendron and not giving his mount time to respond.

O’Brien reported: “Both fillies ran very well and gave the impression they´ll stay further. We thought Rhododendron had come forward from her Goodwood maiden win while Hydrangea, too, is progressive and she rallied well when the other filly headed her. They´ll probably both come back here for the G1 Moyglare Stud Stakes next month.”

Rhododendron was trimmed with most bookmakers for next year’s 1,000 Guineas and is now available between 10-1 and 16-1.

Flying The Flag will be standing his first season at Bush Hill Stud this year. The son of Galileo is a 3-time winner as well as Gr1 placed in Dubai, Gr2 runner-up at two, and a Gr3 winner at age three in Ireland. He also lined up in the French 2000 Guineas, Irish 2000 Guineas and Epsom Derby in a career that saw him racing in the UK, Ireland, France, United Arab Emirates and South Africa – where he placed in the Gr3 London News.

His dam is three-time Gr1 winner Halfway To Heaven by Pivotal, in turn out of 6-time winning speed machine and multiple Group Winner, Cassandra Go. This is the family of top sires Stravinsky and Verglas.

Flying The Flag has attracted a top class book of mares – including Look Sharp – the dam of Gr2 winning The Mouseketeer, Plutonium (the dam of Orion Quest and King Neptune), a Gr2 and Gr3 winning full sister to sire Biarritz named Countess Corlia amongst others.

Flying The Flag will stand for a fee of R20 000 in his first season and a fantastic incentive bonus of R100 000 is on offer to the breeder who produces the first Graded Stakes winner by Flying The Flag.

The daughter of Galileo and a half-sister to Gr1 Middle Park Stakes winner Crusade,  landed the Irish Oaks on her last start and added another Group One to her haul, producing a powerful surge to overhaul Queen’s Trust at the furlong pole and stretch clear for a commanding two-and-three-quarter lengths victory.

Stablemate Found (2/1 favourite), who was expected to need the run on her return from an absence, travelled well for a long way and came through for second, ahead of Queen’s Trust who confirmed her runner-up spot behind Minding in the Nassau was no fluke.

Sky Bet make the winner 5/1 from 12/1 for the QIPCO Filly & Mares Stakes on Champions Day at Ascot and 16/1 for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp

Winning jockey Colm O’Donoghue said: “These are Ryan’s (Moore) rides, hopefully we’re looking after them for him and he’s getting back soon. She’s a very good filly. She was obviously a Classic winner coming here and was getting the weight allowance from some older fillies, so we made use of it.

“She’s tough and genuine and has a great temperament and a beautiful action. This is what we all work every year for. It’s nice to get the opportunity and to take it.”

O’Brien was thrilled with the performances of both the winner and the second.

He said: “We were delighted with Seventh Heaven at home and Colm gave her a beautiful ride. She came forward lovely from the Curragh and we thought the track and ground and trip would suit her well. The lads will decide what they want to do, but she’s a lot of options. She’s a beautiful traveller and is a massive, rangy filly that handles fast ground very well.

“She has plenty of class and has the option of all those fillies races and there’s the option of the Filly & Mare Turf in America (Breeders’ Cup)) at the end of the year. I’d say she’s going to make a real four-year-old, because she’s big and rangy.”

Crusade’s yearlings have been welcomed at the sales in 2016 and he impressed with the stamp of his individuals which reflected in their impressive sales averages.  Crusade stands at Scott Bros for a fee of R20 000 and covered full books in his first three seasons.

Five two year olds are available at the National 2YO Sale taking place 18 and 19 August, consigned below.

visit www.tba.co.za for more information.

– extract sportinglife.co.za

KZN-bred Alareef, impeccably bred by Shadwell Stud, opened his winning account at Meydan for trainer Mike De Kock and his owner Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid al Maktoum. Mike De Kock had an incredible evening, producing three winners (as well as 2 seconds and a third on the evening) including the winner of the Gr2 Al Rashidiya, a race previously won with The Apache.

Alareef won four times in and placed a further five in South Africa for the Mike De Kock stable prior to export, and his Dubai record now stands with an additional win in the Al Forsan At Bab Al Shams Handicap over 1400m, and five previous places from seven starts there. State Law (by Invincible Spirit) and Stunned (by Shamardal) placed behind Alareef respectively, just over a length off.

The son of a stallion that sadly passed away prematurely – the former Summerhill resident Stronghold – Alareef has an incredible damline that breeder Bruce Le Roux has described “as something you cant just buy into, its a priceless pedigree.”

Alareef’s dam Modraj(GB) by Machiavellian stands at Spring Valley Stud on behalf of her owner Shadwell Stud, and saw her Just As Well colt sold to Team G Racing from the 2015 National Yearling Sale. He has since been named Just Cruised In.

Modraj currently has a foal at foot by Curved Ball, a son of the mighty Australian sire Fastnet Rock – himself a son of Danehill.

The third dam of Modraj is none other then Allegretta, the dam of Champion Race and broodmare, Urban Sea – who in turn has produced super sire Galileo, Sea The Stars, Black Sam Bellamy and My Typhoon.

Allegretta was mated to Nureyev to produce the dam of Modraj, Saleela.

Stronghold was a son of super sire Danehill, and has produced the likes of Paul Lafferty’s Double Clutch and Pat Lunn’s Supercede, as well as good racemare Fortitude, who recently took home victory again in the Vaal.

Stronghold, out of Mr Prospector mare Insinuate, left behind just two crops of foals before succumbing to colic and the discovery of an irreparable rupture on the operating table.

Stronghold was given the status of the leading Handicapper of 2007, taking home five wins including the Gr3 Supreme Stakes and Paradise Listed.

Congratulations to the winning connections of Alareef.

Peter Gibson of Racing South Africa has just reported that the Scott Bros-bred, Monsieur Mogok (Mogok ex Miss Madam by Dolpour) has just won in Hong Kong, a Class 4 over 1800m at Happy Valley under Douglas Whyte for owner, Robert Chung (pictured feeding Monsier Mogok carrots) and trainer Tony Millard, a son of the great Terence Millard.

Formerly the Scott Bros/Terence Millard combination proved a force to be reckoned with after winning several Durban July’s in the past with the likes of Devon Air and Illustrador.

Monsieur Mogok was exported in November 2013 after winning his only start in South Africa for trainer Tyrone Zackey.

Monsieur Mogok was a R30 000 purchase from Bloodstock South Africa’s 2012 National Two Year Old Sale by Tony Zackey.

Still an entire, Monsieur Mogok, has matured well and can improve further when conditions permit, in particular races over 1800m and further. He is bred on the same Mogok x Dolpour cross that produced The Apache, his dam a half-sister to The Eiger Sanction.

Mogok has had more international success than most stallions standing in South Africa, with Gr1 and Gr2 winners in Dubai and America with the likes of Gypsy’s Warning and The Apache.

His Gr1 winning son Orbison, who defeated Pocket Power in the Champions Cup, was sent to Dubai but sadly injury forced his return and he was unraced in the UAE.

Meteor Mike is a five time winner in Singapore whilst his full sister has won seven races at the best level in Kenya.

Mogok currently features in the Top 10 National Sires Log in sixth position, and produced Gr1 Equus Award winning Wild One.

Well done to the Hong Kong connections.

View the race replay.