KZN-Breds Successful On Ready To Run Race Day
KZN-breds had significant success at Turffontein yesterday, with sons of Admire Main, Just As Well and Toreador all winning on the big day.
The Elmo Effect won the Java Handicap Listed at Turffontein, and is a five year old son of Admire Main out of Dream Starling. Ridden by Craig Zackey to a quarter of a length victory over 2450m, the Summerhill-bred gelding is a half-brother to Gr2 winner Heaps Of Fun, out of Dream Starling by Northern Guest, owned by Messrs Pravin Chetty & H B Odendaal and trained by Gary Alexander. This is his fourth career win to date, with 10 places earned and over R350 000 in the bank.
The Elmo Effect sold in 2013 for R225 000 at the BSA Ready To Run Sale. Dream Starling is a three parts sister to First Arrival, the dam of In The Fast Lane. Second dam is the speedy Clifton Queen, whilst The Elmo Effect’s half-brother includes Gr3 placed Cookie Monster.
The Emperors Palace Ready To Run Cup presented by CTS threw a surprise when Michael Leaf’s Just As Well three year old gelding, swooped to victory ahead of Africa Rising in the R2,5million race. Chili Con Carne jumped from draw one under Gavin Lerena to win by over a length from Sean Tarry’s KZN-bred son of Visionaire, Africa Rising. The good looking Chilli Con Carne, trained by Lucky Houdalakis, is out of Windrush mare Wonder Glow, an unraced dam of three foals from the damline of sire Ribofolio, Champion Filly Up The Creek and Valley Dancer.
From limited books of mares, Just As Well has impressed with his progeny winning and placing consistently from small numbers. Just As Well, first past the winners post in a Canadian Gr1 and a consistent globe-trotting money earner, finished on a winners to runners percentage of 40.7% last season from 27 runners. Just As Well, by AP Indy out of a Gr1 winning mare by Nureyev, stands at Spring Valley Stud and is owned in partnership with majority shareholder Roski Stud. Affectionately known as Jaws, Just As Well descends from the female line of sires E Dubai and Raven’s Pass.
Ever consistent Bush Hill sire Toreador saw his Gr3 winning son Bull Valley take the accolades in the Golden Loom Listed Handicap over 1000m. Jumping from draw 13 under S’manga Khumalo, the gelding notched up his fourth career win from just six starts (including a win previously in the Gr3 Man O’ War Sprint), defeating Tar Heel (Var) and Africa Rising (Trippi) in the process. A R180 000 National Yearling Sales graduate who has doubled his sales price in stakes, he is owned by PCS (Pty) Ltd (Nom: Mr P Botha) & Messrs G L Blank, Z L Nassif, G Nichas & J Sarkis and trained by national champion trainer, Sean Tarry.
Well done to all concerned, and a very successful racing day for KZN.
