KZN breeding was given a timely boost when the Aiden O’Brien-trained Galileo filly Seventh Heaven, a half-sister to the Scott Brothers-based stallion Crusade, destroyed the field in the Gr 1 Darley Yorkshire Oaks over a mile-and-a-half last Thursday to win by  2,75 lengths from her stablemate Found.

It was Seventh Heaven’s second Gr 1 victory as she also won the Irish Oaks by the same margin. To put the class of her victory on Thursday into perspective, the runner up Found was the filly who beat Golden Horn in last year’s Gr 1 Longines Breeders Cup Turf over a mile-and-a-half. Golden Horn was subsequently named Cartier Horse Of The Year.

It must be the influence of Galileo which has allowed Seventh Heaven to stay the Oaks trip considering the rest of her family, including Crusade, are all about speed.

Crusade, who is by Mr. Greeley, won the Gr 1 Middle Park Stakes over six furlongs at Newmarket as a two-year-old for O’Brien and was retired after only one run as a three-year-old.

His dam La Traviata will be in line for Broodmare Of The Year because from her four foals to have raced to date she has produced two Gr 1 winners and a Gr 1-placed horse.

La Traviata had only four starts, all as a three-year-old, and won the first three of them from 5,5 furlongs to 6 furlongs by a combined margin of 27,5 lengths. In the last of those victories, in the Gr 3 Victory Ride Stakes over six furlongs at Saratoga, she stumbled at the start yet still won by 9,25 lengths.

She acquired her speed from her sire Johannesburg, whom Aiden O’Brien sent out seven times as a two-year-old and he finished the season unbeaten. His seven victories included four Gr 1s from six furlongs up to 8,5 furlongs. Johannesburg had an exceptional turn of foot.

Crusade has had full books every season to date and his first crop, who are now two-year-olds, have been the second highest-priced progeny at the Sales of South Africa’s current first season sires.

At the National Yearling Sale his 21 lots sold at an average of R162,380.

Robin Scott of Scott Brothers said the “big, strong” stallion had produced “very good looking” foals to date. He believes Crusade will produce horses with precocious speed, who would train on and perhaps stay further in time.

However, he expected them to predominantly be sprinters and Scott Brothers had planned their own matings with this in mind.

David Thiselton

 

Vaughan Marshall has a veritable armada of three-year-old talent to go to war with this season – including Grade 1 winners Always In Charge and The Secret Is Out – and William Longsword confirmed at Kenilworth on Saturday that he can be mentioned in the same exalted breath.

Marshall said: “He is very good. He has a lot of talent and he will be going places. This wasn’t the strongest field but it was a tough task with 58kg against older horses and he came through it with flying colours.”

The Milnerton trainer added that plans are fluid, not least because the R2.2 million half-brother to Real Princess is eligible for the two CTS $500 000 races on Met day. So too is Always In Charge and all three stars are by Captain Al who Marshall trained to win the 2000 Cape Guineas.

Saturday’s Quinte Plus Handicap was the colt’s first appearance for three months and Donovan Dillon had little hesitation in sending him on over two furlongs from home, saying: “He was cantering. I like the horse a lot and this was a win full of merit.”

Marshall, incidentally, rates Craig Bantam who led from halfway on Olympian in the 1 000m handicap – “I think he is a kid for the future. He rode a very good race and he did the same on Royal Chian the previous Saturday.”

Although Quine only won the Racing.It’s A Rush Handicap by the width of one of the hairs on her nostrils – amazingly Grant van Niekerk was always confident he was going to get there – Andre Nel is convinced there are more victories to come.

He explained: “The ground was a bit soft for her – she is much better when the going is on top – and we will probably aim her at a feature at the end of October or in November.”

Nel and Sabine Plattner elected to disregard veterinary advice with Eleadora and at the age of five the mare is starting to come good, leading a furlong out to convincingly beat a modest field for the 2 000m maiden.

“When I got to the farm she was a cripple and chronically lame,” Nel related. “We found a chip at the back of a knee and the vets suggested we operate.

“At that stage she had shown absolutely nothing so we thought ‘Is it worthwhile?’ The chip is still there but these days she is very sound.”

Corne Orffer, who rode her, reckons he should also have won Olympian’s race on third-placed Ovar and reported: “I pulled him in behind something whereas I should have let him stride.”

Those who had their fingers burnt backing hot favourite Glorious Goodwood for the second race in succession just might get their money back next time. Unlike last month, his defeat by Volatile Energy in the 1 400m maiden was through no fault of his.

“The horse on my inside (Devout) bumped me and Glorious Goodwood lost his footing. He ran a good race considering,” reported Richard Fourie.

Volatile Energy had losses to recover for the  Candice Bass-Robinson stable after managing only fifth when starting favourite four weeks earlier and Van Niekerk said: “He was drawn wide that day, it was in the mud and he never enjoyed one bit of it.”

Grant Behr rode Silver Chalice with commendable initiative in the Place Your Bets Handicap, dashing the 14-1 chance into the lead three furlongs out and poaching what proved to be an unassailable lead. The four-year-old is the last foal of Crystal Chalice, dam of 2008 Cape Fillies Guineas winner Sparkling Gem.

Breeder and part-owner Pat Schafer recalled: “Crystal Chalice was 35 days overdue, the foal was huge and ten days after he was born the mare died.”

That wasn’t the end of the drama either because Silver Chalice failed the scope when sent for sale and Eric Sands has had to work round the wind problem ever since, saying: “He was too weak to go over the ground he needs until this year, hence the recent improvement.”

Dillon continues to impress and when Sabrina Fair refused to settle in the last he boldly let her stride on, fully aware that Justin Snaith usually dislikes seeing his horses dashed to the front so early.

The move paid off handsomely and the former champion trainer was also on the mark in the first with Gimme Six who was given a much more conventional Snaith ride by Craig du Plooy.

Michael Clower

 

Confirming that the field applies where today’s Scottsville races form part of Mix exotic bets. The Scottsville racemeeting (Sunday, 21 August) was abandoned following 60mm of overnight rain:

Bipot Express (closes @ 3.05pm)

Leg 1 [Field]

Leg 2 Brighton R2

Leg 3 [Field]

Leg 4 Brighton R3

Leg 5 [Field]

Leg 6 Chelmsford R4

JP Quickmix 2 (closes 4.55pm):

Leg 1 [Field]

Leg 2 Chelmsford R5

Leg 3 Chelmsford R6

Leg 4 Curragh R6

Visit www.tabgold.co.za for Bipot Express and Jackpot Quickmix fields and information. 

The market proved strong and buoyant throughout the two days of trading at the 2016 National Two Year Old Sale, which was concluded at the TBA sales complex in Germiston on Friday evening.

The aggregate, average, and median prices all enjoyed notable increases and the sale concluded with a record average for a South African two-year-old sale.

From R22,872,000 in 2015, the aggregate for the sale increased this year to R23,920,000 – despite the fact that 80 fewer lots were catalogued.

However it was the growth in average and median prices which proved particularly encouraging, with the average rising 35% from R89,344 to R120,808 this year, and the median rising by 30% from R50,000 to R65,000.

The sale topper was a son of Silvano, consigned by Klipdrif Stud on behalf of Willem Engelbrecht jun, Lot 218, who is out of winning Jallad mare Boston Tea Party. He was knocked down to Form Bloodstock for R2,100,000. Named William Junior, the handsome bay is a half-brother to four winners, including Grade 2 Betting World 1900 hero Solid Speed (by Dynasty) and Grade 3 Jubilee Handicap runner up Rainy Day Blues (by Western Winter).

Boston Tea Party is a full-sister to Grade 1 Premiers Champion Stakes winner Talahatchie.

Klipdrif enjoyed a magnificent sale because not only did they consign the sale topper, they also consigned, as agent, the sale’s top-priced filly.

Lantana Lady was knocked down to Varsfontein Stud for R800,000. Her popularity came as no surprise. A daughter of former champion sire Captain Al, Lantana Lady (Lot 45) is a full-sister to Listed Java Handicap hero Fulcrum and a three-part sister to Captain Al-sired Equus Champion Captain’s Lover.

Form Bloodstock ended the sales as the leading buyer – with the Cape-based organisation purchasing eight lots for R3,955,000.

Not surprisingly, Klipdrif Stud (as agent) ended the 2016 National Two Year Old Sale as leading vendors –with the Robertson-based farm enjoying a truly magnificent sale. Klipdrif (as agent) also sold a total of 15 two-year-olds for a gross total of R4,995,000.

Former champion sire Silvano, South Africa’s second leading sire by stakes in 2015-2016, was the sales’ top sire. The son of Lomitas had seven lots which grossed R2,975,000 for an average of R425,000, and he topped the sires’ standings ahead of Captain Al, Ideal World, Sail From Seattle and Judpot.

Michael Holmes, who ran the sale in partnership with the Equine Group, was upbeat about the sales’ positive outcome. “It was a well-supported sale, and the turnover increase markedly from last year,” he said. “The positive spin from the sale was that all sections of the market held up well – and for that, we must thank both the vendors, who presented a quality horse for sale, and our many loyal buyers. The Two Year OId Sale attracted interest from both local and international buyers, which included Robert Chung from Hong Kong, as well as our loyal Dubai, Kenyan, Mauritian and Zimbabwean patrons. This adds further positive proof of the appeal of the South African thoroughbred.  Sale graduates qualify for the two R 1-million races to be run in August next year at Scottsville.” – TBA

Most owners would give their eye-teeth to own a horse that pays its way and is not a continual drain on the pocket. There are a few that fit that bill when they line up in the seventh at Scottsville on Sunday where a win adds up to more than just a stakes cheque.

With many close to a future in the breeding paddocks the fillies and mares handicap that heads the card is seriously competitive with one more win on the pedigree CV worth another few thousand rand to the owners on retirement and possibly even more in the sales ring.

Respect At Bay has been a consistent earner for her owners and Garth Puller’s runner looks ready to add to her record. She has been close-up in every start since her last win and last time out only found the progressive Elusive Enchantment too hot to handle. She has another light weight on Sunday and a good record over course and distance.

The Pat Lunn-trained Timeous is lightly raced and has had one outing since a break where she was running on nicely behind Strategic Move on the Greyvile poly. The Lunn yard has been a little quite this winter but now that the visiting trainers have packed up and gone home one can expect an upswing from the stable and both of their filly’s wins have come over Sunday’s course and distance.

Dennis Drier has got his season off to a flier with four winners at Scottsville last Sunday and he saddles Well In Flight. She finished behind Elusivenchantment at her most recent outing but flyjumped out of the gate which cost her precious ground. She drops in class here and with Kegan de Melo in the irons she rates as another likely winner.

Mamasita races in blinkers for the first time and being an older mare they may be what’s needed to bring the best out of her.

To sum up, the list of possible winners is a long one but Respect At Bay has a lot in her favour and is taken to get home ahead of Timeous and Well In Flight.

The ten-race card has attracted huge fields and punters will have their skills well and truly tested as there does not appear to be a single outstanding bet on the card.

In the opening leg of the Pick 6 Marshall That made good improvement at his second start and from a good draw in a weak field should be right there. Angel Landing showed up well at long odds on debut. He should come on from that and can feature again. Purple Splash is lightly raced and was a close-up second over course and distance last time out. He has been rested but should feature in this field.

If there is a possible banker on the card it could come in the form of the Duncan Howells-trained Chicago Beat in the fifth. He was a late starter but made big improvement at his second outing and although draw a touch wide he looks to be a cut above this field. A possible danger is Sun Dynasty who has his first run for a new stable. He has shown flashes of ability in the Cape and can feature in this weak field.

There are many in with claims in the sixth. Ante Omnia shed his maiden on the poly last start but does appear to have some scope and can follow up. Promissory has consistent sprint form and did well in feature company last time out. With a claiming apprentice up he looks to be a big runner in this company. Paul Lafferty’s mare Pearl Emblem takes on males but is always game. She does have a difficult draw to overcome. Roy’s Taxi has the worst of the draw but has been close-up at recent outings and with a claiming apprentice up must also have a winning chance.

Drier looks to have another strong chance of a winner in the eighth. Top weight Cosmic Burst has drawn well and been consistent in strong company. She tries blinkers for the first time and on her best effort should be right there. Elephant Matriarch found her best form over the course and distance last time out and a repeat should see her into the money again. Ginger Biscuit has shown her best recent form on the poly but is never far back.

Kom Naidoo is in for a busy afternoon as he saddles 22 runners and he could sign off in the final leg of the Pick 6 with Oversure. The Mogok colt has been racing in top company and although a little way off the best he should be competitive in this field. Restless Rogue won well at second time of asking and Anthony Delpech has good form for the Howells yard. He looks to have some scope. Of the others, Shogun is lightly raced and showed up well last run when returning from a lengthy break while Omega Onslaught has held form since coming out of the maidens and with a handy weight can also feature.

Andrew Harrison