J J The Jet Plane defies incredible odds to win in Hong Kong on 12 December 2010 having departed SA on August 16 and arrived in Hong Kong on November 27
by Sarah Whitelaw
Since London News scored a thrilling win in the Queen Elizabeth II Cup of 1997, a plethora of Southern African bred thoroughbreds have shown on the international stage.
From Crimson Palace, Jay Peg and J J The Jet Plane, to Variety Club, Victory Moon and Vercingetorix, horses bred in Southern Africa have reeled off a lengthy list of wins in a range of different countries.
A number of Southern African bred mares have also gone on to make their mark at stud overseas, with the likes of Alexandra Rose (dam of US G1 winner Oleksandra), Via Africa (dam of Golden Rose winning sire In The Congo), Rock Opera (her G1 winning son Royal Meeting is the sire of 2024 G1 SportsbetBlue Diamond Stakes winner Hayasugi), Secret Heart (dam of G2 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf winning sire Pluck) and Warning Zone (her G3 winning daughter Pittsburgh Flyer produced Australian dual G1 winner September Run) among this list.
With promising young Australian based stallions In The Congo, who covered more than 160 mares in his first season at stud, and Royal Meeting both out of G1 winning Southern African bred champions, the SA influence shows no sign of waning.
Between 1997, when London News won in Hong Kong, and 2014, when Variety Club shone in both Dubai and Hong Kong, a number of Southern African stars have made their mark internationally.
Here are a few of the unforgettable equine stars to do just that:
LONDON NEWS
Pedigree: Bush Telegraph -Soho Secret, by Regent Stream
Breeder: Koster Bros
Trainer: Alec Laird, Barry Hills
A five time G1 winner, London News smashed the 2000m track record at Sha Tin when he won the 1997 Queen Elizabeth II Cup. While he would go on to be well beaten in his only two subsequent starts overseas, London News’ Hong Kong triumph will never be forgotten by South African racing fans who witnessed it.
Twice South Africa’s Horse Of The Year, London News’ seven graded victories in South Africa included wins in the 1996 G1 Rothmans July Handicap and triumphs in both the G1 Queen’s Plate and J&B Met of 1997.
HORSE CHESTNUT
Pedigree: Fort Wood -London Wall, by Col Pickering
Breeder: Mauritzfontein
Trainer: Mike De Kock
The first runner and winner for his sire, Horse Chestnut was one of the best horses ever bred in South Africa. Beaten just once in 10 starts, he romped home to a more than seven length win in the 1999 G1 Cape Argus Guineas, won the G1 J&B Metropolitan by eight lengths, the 1999 G1 The Classic by nearly four lengths, and ended his South African campaign with a near ten length romp in the G1 SA Derby. He made just one start in North America, but it was a winning one with Horse Chestnut capturing the G3 Broward Handicap by five and a half lengths. He would go on to make his mark at stud, with Horse Chestnut siring such G1 winners as Lucifer’s Stone, Chestnuts N Pearls and Tilbury Fort with Horse Chestnut also becoming a very successful broodmare sire.
SPOOK EXPRESS
Pedigree: Comic Blush -Park Walk, by Comic Blush
Breeder: Jack Syndicate
Trainer: Mike de Kock and Thomas Skiffington
While her career ended in a tragic, fatal breakdown, the late South African champion Spook Express enjoyed her share of success when campaigned in North America. Runner up, behind Banks Hill, in the 2001 G1 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf where she beat the likes of Crystal Music, Lailani and Starine, Spook Express claimed a trio of graded races in the United States. Her victories in the US included the 2001 G2 Winstar Galaxy, 2001 G3 Honey Fox Handicap and 2001 Suwannee River Handicap.
She earned an impressive $1,085,670 and will never be forgotten by her fans.
IPI TOMBE
Pedigree: Manshood -Carnet de Danse, by Dance In Time
Breeder: Peter Moon
Trainer: Noelene Peech, Mike de Kock, Elliot Walden
The Zimbabwean bred Ipi Tombe became a darling of the turf with the daughter of Manshood losing just twice in her 14 race career while winning in all of Dubai, South Africa, USA and Zimbabwe. Winner of four of her five starts in Zimbabwe, Ipi Tombe joined Mike de Kock’s yard in 2002. Following a runner up finish in the 2002 G1 Triple Tiara 1600, Ipi Tombe went through the rest of her career unbeaten. Wins in the (then) G2 SA Fillies Classic, G1 SA Fillies Guineas and G2 Woolavington Stakes were followed by a historic triumph in the 2002 G2 Vodacom Durban July. Sent to Dubai, Ipi Tombe won all three of her starts in the UAE culminating in a three length romp in the 2003 G1 Dubai Duty Free. She made the final start of her career a winning one when she won the G3 Locust Grove Handicap at Churchill Downs in 2003.
VICTORY MOON
Pedigree: Litchfield Stud Close Corp
Breeder: Al Mufti -Dancing Flower, by Dancing Champ
Trainer: Mike De Kock, Andrew Balding
Winner of his only start in South Africa, Victory Moon advertised the merits of South African bred thoroughbreds with his stellar campaign in Dubai. The son of Al Mufti won six of nine starts in Dubai, and was victorious in all of the 2003 G3 UAE 2000 Guineas, 2003 G2 UAE Derby, 2004 G3 Al Maktoum Challenge (Round 2) and 2004 G2 Al Maktoum Challenge (Round 3). Victory Moon also ran third, behind US stars Pleasantly Perfect and Medaglia D’Oro, in the 2004 G1 Dubai World Cup.
Retired to stud in 2005, Victory Moon left behind four crops before his premature death, with his flag bearers headed by four time G1 winner and dual Equus Champion Princess Victoria, the globetrotting Nocturnal Affair and G1 Golden Horseshoe victor War Horse.
CRIMSON PALACE
Pedigree: Elliodor -Perfect Guest, by Northern Guest
Breeder: Adv Altus Joubert
Trainer: Mike Bass, Mike De Kock, Saeed Bin Suroor
A winner of four of just six starts in South Africa, including the 2002 G1 Cape Of Good Hope Paddock Stakes, Crimson Palace made a big name for herself overseas. She won in Britain, Dubai and USA, with her biggest international victory coming in the 2004 G1 Beverly D Stakes. That race saw Crimson Palace beat international G1 winners Riskaverse, Necklace, and Musical Chimes, among others. Also victorious in the 2004 G3 Middleton Stakes, Crimson Palace retired having won seven of just 11 starts. Her daughter Crimson Lane (by Street Cry) produced Listed Syringa Handicap winner Way Of The World and smart performers Crimson Princess and We Are The Logans.
PERFECT PROMISE AND IRRIDESCENCE
Pedigree: Caesour -Meretricious, by Dancing Champ
Breeder: Mr and Mrs Winterbach
Trainer: Perfect Promise -Eric Sands, Grahame Begg, Lee Freedman
Irridescence Mike De Kock, John Hammond
Dancing Champ mare Meretricious achieved a remarkable feat when she foaled the full-sisters Perfect Promise and Irridescence in 1999 and 2001 respectively. Between them, Perfect Promise and Irridescence won five G1 races, with Perfect Promise victorious in Australia’s G1 C F Orr Stakes, and Irridescence downing the mighty Ouija Board when she won Hong Kong’s G1 Audemars Piguet Queen Elizabeth II Cup in 2006. At stud, Perfect Promise produced Australian stakes winner More Energy, with her sister throwing G3 Affirmed Stakes/G3 Oaklawn Mile winner Hopper.
JAY PEG
Pedigree: Camden Park -Laptop Lady, by Al Mufti
Breeder: High Season Stud
Trainer: Basil Marcus, Herman Brown
Winner of both the G1 Bloodstock SA Cape Guineas and G1 Investec Cape Derby at three, Jay Peg ended his career having earned more than $6.8 million in prize money. Equus Champion 3yr Male Classic Horse of 2007, Jay Peg scored a breathtaking win in the G1 Dubai Duty Free of 2008. Despite suffering from a slipped saddle in running, Jay Peg defeated an outstanding field in that year’s Dubai Duty Free, with his beaten opponents including the likes of Darjina, Vodka, Archipenko, and Finsceal Beo. Jay Peg went on to claim another major international prize when he won the 2008 G1 Singapore Airlines International Cup. Retired to stud in 2009, Jay Peg went on to sire such graded stakes winners as Silicon Valley, Woljayrine, Peggy Jay, Hot Affair, Flash Drive, Exit Here and Olympic Owen.
GYPSY’S WARNING
Pedigree: Mogok -Gypsy Queen, by Royal Chalice
Breeder: Rathmor Stud
Trainer: Duncan Howells, Ormonde Ferraris, Graham Motion
A G1 winner at both two and three in South Africa, Gypsy’s Warning went on to show top-class form in the United States. She showed her class when beating 2008 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf winner Maram in the 2010 G3 Eatontown Handicap and went on to claim the G1 Matriarch Stakes in November of the same year. In landing the Matriarch Stakes, one of the top tests on turf for fillies and mares in North America, Gypsy’s Warning accounted for dual classic winner Special Duty among others. Gypsy’s Warning would retire having won or been placed in no fewer than eight G1 races.
J J THE JET PLANE
Pedigree: Jet Master -Majestic Guest, by Northern Guest
Breeder: Patricia Devine
Trainer: Lucky Houdalakis, Mike De Kock, Richard Hannor Snr
A globetrotting sprint star, J J The Jet Plane won races in all of Britain Dubai, Hong Kong and South Africa. A bargain R70 000 buy, the triple Equus Champion won five G1 races and carried his great form overseas.
Among J J The Jet Plane’s many top-class performances overseas was a triumph in the Al Quoz Sprint of 2009, a win in Windsor’s Listed sportingbet.com Up Up And Away Stakes of 2009, and a third place finish in the 2009 G1 Darley July Cup. He also scored a repeat win in the Al Quoz Sprint when victorious in the 2011 running.
However, J J The Jet Plane put up arguably his his finest performance when he won the 2010 G1 Hong Kong Sprint, downing star sprinters Rocket Man, Sacred Kingdom, Ortensia, Kingsgate Native, Lucky Nine, and Little Bridge among others.
SWEET SANETTE
Pedigree: Jallad -Scented Samantha, by National Assembly
Breeder: Highlands Farm Stud (Pty) Ltd
Trainer: Tony Millard, T Ng, Roy Magner
Winner of the 2009 G3 Sycamore Sprint and three other races in South Africa, Sweet Sanette went on to make a name for herself, and put up notable performances in both Britain and Hong Kong.
Her four wins in Hong Kong included the 2011 G3 The Chow Tai Fook Bauhinia Sprint Trophy, where she beat champion Sacred Kingdom, and she went on put up an even more eye catching performance when she finished third in the G1 King’s Stand Stakes of 2011. On that occasion, Sweet Sanette downed such high-class sprinters as Overdose, Kingsgate Native, War Artist, Sole Power and Tangerine Trees.At stud, Sweet Sanette produced G3 MVRC Champagne Stakes runner up Sweet Rockette.
RIVER JETEZ
Pedigree: Jet Master -Stormsvlei, by Prince Florimund
Breeder: Out Of Africa Stud
Trainer: Mike Bass, Mike de Kock
Few top-class racemares have had such lengthy careers as did River Jetez. The Met winning own-sister to triple South African Horse Of The Year Pocket Power made her final start as an eight-year-old, with River Jetez having competed previously in all of Britain, Dubai, Hong Kong, North America, Singapore, and South Africa. River Jetez scored her biggest international win when victorious in the 2011 G2 Balanchine Sponsored By Emirates NBD, and she also finished second in the 2011 G1 Dubai Duty Free and 2011 G1 Singapore Airlines International Cup.
Her globetrotting career did not prevent River Jetez from enjoying success at stud, with the Jet Master daughter going on to produce G1 Computaform Sprint winner Rivarine and G3 Capetown Noir Kenilworth Fillies Nursery winner Delta Queen.
SHEA SHEA
Pedigree: National Emblem -Yankee Clipper, by Jallad
Breeder: Klawervlei Stud
Trainer: Geoff Woodruff, Mike De Kock
Winner of eight races in South Africa including the 2012 G1 Computaform Sprint and 2011 G1 Golden Horse Casino Sprint, Shea Shea also showed top-class form in both Britain and Dubai. In Dubai, Shea Shea won the 2013 Al Quoz Sprint and he also won the G3 Meydan Sprint in both 2013 and 2014. However, the gelding put up one of his finest efforts in defeat, with Shea Shea going down just a neck in the G1 King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot in 2013. On that occasion, Shea Shea finished ahead of such top-class G1 winners as Reckless Abandon, Move In Time, Shamexpress, Prohibit and Kingsgate Native. Shea Shea also ran second, beaten half a length, in the 2013 G1 Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes where he beat the likes of Sole Power, Rosdhu Queen, and Slade Power.
THE APACHE
Pedigree: Mogok -Apache Rose, by Dolpour
Breeder: Scott Bros
Trainer: Gavin Van Zyl, Mike de Kock
One of the great bargain buys in recent years, The Apache was an R80 000 buy from the 2009 Emperors Palace National 2YO Sale who went on to earn more than one million pounds . An Equus Champion in South Africa, The Apache added to his tally overseas when victorious in the 2013 G2 Al Rashidiya Sponsored by DUBAL and was also runner up in that year’s G1 Dubai Duty Free and G1 Jebel Hatta. However, The Apache will forever be remember for finishing first past the post in the 2013 G1 Arlington Million only to be disqualified and demoted to second.
SOFT FALLING RAIN
Pedigree: National Assembly -Gardener’s Delight, by Giant’s Causeway
Breeder: Highlands Farm Stud (Pty) Ltd
Trainer: Mike De Kock
Equus Champion 2YO Colt of 2012, Soft Falling Rain won his first seven starts. He was unbeaten in four starts in South Africa, with his local campaign ending in a four and a half length romp in the G2 SA Nursery. Sent to Dubai, he won his first three starts there, culminating in wins in both the G3 UAE 2000 Guineas and G2 Godolphin Mile. Runner up in the 2013 G3 Betfred Hungerford Stakes, Soft Falling Rain bounced back to claim the G2 Nayef Joel Stakes in scintillating fashion next time out. Retired to Wilgerbosdrift in 2015, Soft Falling Rain made his mark at stud, despite dying young, as the sire of G2 Durban Golden Horseshoe winner Waterberry Lane, G3 Marshalls World Of Sport Gold Cup victor Shangani and the charismatic equine millionaire Zeus, among others.
VARIETY CLUB:
Pedigree: Var -La Massine, by Secret Prospector
Breeder: Beaumont Stud
Trainer: Joey Ramsden, Mike De Kock.
Twice South Africa’s Horse Of The Year, Variety Club confirmed himself as a world class performer with a sparkling, if brief, international campaign. Winner of four G1 races in South Africa, the chestnut made just four starts outside South Africa but won three of them. He made a sparkling Dubai debut when romping home to a clear-cut win in the 2014 G3 Firebreak Stakes, before finishing second in the G3 Burj Nahaar next time out. However, Variety Club bounced back to winning ways when he won the G2 Godolphin Mile, over fellow South African bred champion Soft Falling Rain, before going on to make history in Hong Kong next time out.
When thrashing Hong Kong superstar Able Friend by four lengths in the 2014 G1 Champions Mile, Variety Club became the first foreign raider to win the Champions Mile.
In the 2014 World’s Best Racehorse Rankings, Variety Club was rated as the joint third best racehorse in the world, and had a rating of 127-equal to the likes of Australia and Kingman.
VERCINGETORIX
Pedigree: Silvano -National Vixen, by National Assembly
Breeder: Klawervlei Stud
Trainer: Mike De Kock
An unbeaten champion in South Africa, Vercingetorix went on to race with great success in Dubai. He won his first starts in Dubai including the G1 Jebel Hatta Sponsored by Emirates Airline, and finished second in the G1 Dubai Duty Free of 2014, where Vercingetorix accounted for such stellar G1 winners as Dank, Mshawish, and The Fugue. Vercingetorix would go on to finish third in the 2014 G1 Audemars Piguet QEII Cup before winning the G2 Al Rashidiya sponsored by Emirates Global Aluminium in 2015. Retired to stud in South Africa, Vercingetorix has become a top-class stallion with his offspring including such G1 winners as Alesian Chief, Ambiorix, Astrix, Chansonette, Cousin Casey, Mrs Geriatrix, Vernichey and Pomp And Power.
SINGAPORE SLING
Pedigree: Philanthropist -Sing Dixie Sing, by Western Winter
Breeder: Drakenstein Stud
Trainer: Geoff Woodruff, Tony Millard
Singapore Sling, who won the G2 Investec Dingaans in South Africa, proved to be one of the best gallopers to race in Hong Kong in 2018. Not only did Singapore Sling win the 2018 Hong Kong Classic Cup, the Philanthropist gelding also ran second in the Hong Kong Classic Mile and was beaten under two lengths when runner up in the BMW Hong Kong Derby of 2018. He would also go on to finish second, behind Beauty Generation, in the G1 FWD Champions Mile of 2019.
Safe to say, buying Southern African bred thoroughbreds represents great for value for international buying powers!.
