Sean Tarry’s hardknocking Kahal mare Witchcraft enjoyed the very rare distinction of achieving the KZN Oaks double when she dictated matters under an enterprising ride by Lyle Hewitson to win the Scottsville R300 000 Gr3 Track & Ball Oaks on Saturday.

The race was given open status in 2014 for strategic reasons and the bumper field that lined up on Saturday suggests that the move has been the right one in the broader scheme of things.

But the Avontuur-sponsored Lyle Hewitson had other ideas and he dictated the race perfectly to have enough in reserve when it counted.

In much the same fashion as she had scored in the same race in 2016 at 25-1, the 16-1 Witchcraft galloped all the way to the line to hold Meryl to 3,75 lengths in a time of 147,10 secs.

A R400 000 Johannesburg Ready To Run Sale graduate, Witchcraft has now won 6 races with 8 places from 23 starts and took her earnings to R838 925.

Bred by Summerhill she is by the ill-fated Kahal out of the Irish mare Deceptive Charm by Kingmambo, who is in turn out of a Sadler’s Wells / Mill Reef mare, String Quartet.

This is a female line that has proved itself successful at the highest level in South African racing, including the likes of Gr1 Gold Bowl winner Mosszao, as well as Autumn Lodge.

The damline also includes four sires – Gr1 winners Le Moss and Levmoss, as well as Alleging and Visions Of Grandeur being found under the second dam.

Summerhill have had a smashing season indeed, including two Gr1’s this season!

Congratulations to all concerned.

-extract sportingpost.co.za

Born and bred at our current National Champion Breeders Summerhill Stud, a beautifully-bred daughter of Kahal out of a Kingmambo mare stormed to victory in the Gr3 Track And Ball Oaks over 2400m at Scottsville today, and secured her future in the breeding paddocks. The chestnut three year old filly named Witchcraft won convincingly by a length and a half from Flying Ice, Deputy Rider and Nightingale.

A R200 000 graduate off the National Yearling Sale in 2014, this is her fourth career win for the Sean Tarry stable and owners Messrs C J H van Niekerk, B G Gardner, M J Jooste & K P Truter.

Witchcraft is out of Irish mare Deceptive Charm, in turn out of a Sadler’s Wells/Mill Reef mare, String Quartet.

This is a female line that has proved itself successful at the highest level in South African racing, including the likes of Gr1 Gold Bowl winner Mosszao, as well as Autumn Lodge. The damline also includes four sires – Gr1 winners Le Moss and Levmoss, as well as Alleging and Visions Of Grandeur found under the second dam.

The late great Kahal has his last crop of yearlings on offer this year at the upcoming Sibaya KZN Yearling Sale on 30 June, with seven yearlings available – including a half-sibling to the deceased Clifton-bred Fort Vogue and talented Gr3 winning Jet Master filly, Whatalady.

The colt is named Prince Of Kahal and sells as Lot 272 from Clifton Stud. This is the immediate damline of Warm White Night and Highland Night, as well as Prince Asad.

To date this racing season, Graded Stakes winning KZN-breds include Rabada (Brave Tin Soldier), Arch Rival (AP Arrow), Heaps Of Fun (Visionaire), Viking Hero (Mullins Bay), Talktothestars (Overlord), Romany Prince (Kahal), Kwinta (Kahal), It Is Written (Dynasty) and Witchcraft (Kahal).

Kahal remains in the Top Five sires Nationally, with an impressive winners to runners percentage of 48.3% (as of 19 June nhra.co.za)  and as a broodmare sire, an admirable 38.3%.

Kahal recently made news in Australia when his Frankel grand-daughter sold for $610 000 as a yearling – the highest priced Frankel filly to sell in the Southern Hemisphere, out of Backworth-bred Gr1 winner, Chocolicious.

The following progeny of Kahal will be on sale at the Sibaya KZN Yearling Sale:

Witchcraft’s win in the Gr3 Oaks: