Summerveld-based Mark Dixon would not have been training the classy gelding London Call had it not been for a phone call from London by one of his most loyal patrons, Clint Larsson, and hence the naming of the lightly raced six-year-old Kahal gelding.

This horse started the ball rolling in a fairytale story which provides proof there are still bargains to be found in South Africa for owners with limited budgets.

At Scottsville on Sunday London Call notched up his sixth win in just his 11^th career start when holding on in a Pinnacle Stakes event over 1400m under Brandon Lerena. It completed a memorable day for the connections, consisting of trainer Dixon, breeder Bruce Le Roux, and owners Clint Larsson, Gary Cumming and Rex Samuelson, as London Call’s three-parts sister Fantasy Lady had won in good style for them just two races earlier.

Retrospectively, Lerena’s decision to allow London Call to stride out freely in front, rather than fight him, probably won him the race. In June London Call had fought a rider who had attempted to rein him back in the Gr 2 Post Merchants over 1200m and he had consequently faded tamely in the straight.

However, on Sunday, despite a welter burden of 61,5kg and the race being 200m further, London Call stayed on doggedly to win by half-a length from the evergreen 110 merit-rated eight-year-old Punta Arenas. He wasn’t stopping at the line either.

London Call was officially 2,5kg under sufferance with Punta Arena, but started 28/10 favourite as the latter prefers further. The merit of the performance can be adjudged in that the other two joint-second best weighted horses, No Worries and Sylvester The Cat, sat behind him in the running but were unable to make inroads and were beaten 2,5 lengths and 9,25 lengths respectively.

However, Dixon said there would be no big plans for London Call until next year’s SA Champions Season as he does not travel well. He is not the soundest type, but the yard have learnt how best to deal with his issues. He fortunately does not take a lot of work, so after giving him a couple of gallops, and hoping he stays sound, Dixon has always been able to arrive on course confident of victory.

The connections were furious when London Call was omitted from last season’s Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Sprint, despite having been merit rated higher than a couple who were included. However, the panel will have difficulty leaving him out next year as he has won his last two and his merit rating has increased by a few points. The Tsogo Sun Sprint is his chief target for the season.

Passionate racing man Clint Larsson had earmarked the son of Kahal in the catalogue of the 2012 National Yearling Sales. However, Dixon, with a limited amount left in his budget, felt he had zero chance of securing him and decided to fly home early from the Sale. This was not surprising considering the horse is a half-brother to Gr 1 Cape Fillies Guineas-winner Indiscreet Fantasy and to Listed-winner Silver Fantasy. However, shortly after landing in Durban, Dixon received a phonecall from Larsson, who was in London at the time. The latter had noticed on the internet the colt had gone through the ring unsold. Dixon immediately phoned vendor Bruce le Roux and made an offer. He is grateful Le Roux stood by his word as another offer was apparently made five minutes later. The colt thus received a fitting name. A portion of the R120,000 purchase price must have been recouped when he won on debut over 1200m at Scottsville, by no fewer than 5,5 lengths, at odds of 33/1.

The connections did not make the same mistake at the National Two-year-old Sales of 2014, where they secured London Call’s three parts sister Silver Fantasy for R130,000. She is also by Kahal and is out of London Call’s half-sister, the Silvano filly Silver Fantasy. She had earlier been a vendor buy back at the National Yearling Sales, which is amazing considering the close up black type she has in her pedigree.

On Sunday, Fantasy Lady, who has always been well regarded by Dixon, returned from a layoff of three-and-a-half months to win a MR 84 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1600m under Keagan de Melo. Interestingly, she also did it from the front after jumping from a wide draw, although she relaxed superbly in the running and was able to dictate. She quickened well and just had to be driven out to win cosily by a length. The four-year-old has won three from eight. She did it off an 80 merit rating on Sunday. Dixon believes she still has improvement in her and is hoping to clinch some black type somewhere along the line.

Dixon and connections have certainly been making hay while the sun is shining because they were able to clinch yet another three-parts sister to London Call at this year’s National Yearling Sales. This Kahal filly went for just R70,000, despite the dam Dream And Fancies being a twice-winning half-sister to London Call by the outstanding broodmare sire Fort Wood.

The connections are certainly enjoying their run with this family and long may it continue.

David Thiselton