The great Wolf Power won the Gold Challenge (then known as the Clairwood Champions Stakes) twice and his rider in this picture of him at Scottsville, Michael Roberts, partnered him in the 1982 renewal at Clairwood. Roberts has a runner as a trainer this year in See It Again, while Wolf Power’s trainer Ricky Maingard also has a runner this year in Al Muthana, who won it in 2022 when trained by Mike de Kock (Picture: southafricanhorse.wordpress.com)  

Looking back through the history of the Gr 1 weight for age Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge there have always been great fields in year’s ending in four and this year’s renewal is no exception.

Fifty years ago in 1974 the race, which used to be run over a mile at Clairwood, saw two famous horses in Yataghan and Elevation locking horns in a thrilling duel for the line and it was the Syd Laird-trained Yataghan who got up under Bertie Hayden to win by a shorthead.

Forty years ago the trainer of one of this year’s runners, Michael Roberts, won the race by three lengths on the mighty Irish-bred David Payne-trained Spanish Pool. The runner up Rise And Rule was also ridden by a present day Summerveld trainer Gavin van Zyl, who has handed over the reins of his yard to his son Gareth, but he does still assist. The like of Rain Forest, Gondolier, the great Wolf Power, Arctic Cove and Craftsman were among the vanquished in 1984.

Thirty years ago another top horse, the Peter Kannemeyer-trained Pas De Quoi, won it by a long-head as a seven-year-old under Gavin Howes. This horse could have been among the all time greats had he not been maliciously attacked as a three-year-old by a vindictive groom and had his legs slashed. He was trained at the time by Geoff Woodruff and his succcessful season as a seven-year-old was his second attempt at a comeback for Kannemeyer. He also won the Met for Kannemeyer in that amazing comeback season and would almost certainly have won the July had he not been badly hampered twice in the straight. In his Challenge victory he defeated the like of Take A Walk, the great miler and July winner Flaming Rock, Eldoriza, Vesta and Dancing Duel.

In 2004 the great Geoff Woodruff-trained Yard-Arm won it by 3,50 lengths under Mark Khan from the amazingly versatile Key Of Destiny with Domino Man next best and the like of Set Afire and Celtic Grove well beaten.

Ten years ago in 2014 saw the great race’s last ever Clairwood-based renewal and it was the 33/1 outsider, the Joey Ramsden-trained King Of Pain, who produced a superb performance under Bernard Fayd’Herbe to beat the darling of the SA turf, Beach Beauty, with the top class Yorker third ahead of Capetown Noir while the the like of former July winner Pomodoro ran unplaced.

A look at the list of all the Gold Challenge’s winners (below) shows that this race could well boast the best winners’ roll of any race in the country with multiple winners including greats like Rainbow Bridge, Variety Club, Free My Heart, Flaming Rock, Spanish Pool, Wolf Power, Over The Air and Sentinel. Not one of the winners of this race looks out of place.

Who is going to win it this year?

Main Defender is the 33/10 favourite with the sponsor and then it is Sandringham Summit on 7/2, Lucky Lad on 4/1, See It Again on 11/2, Dave The King on 8/1, Snow Pilot at 10/1, Cousin Casey at 25/2, Gladatorian and Royal Aussie at 20/1, Gimmeanotherchance at 25/1, Bingwa at 33/1, Itsraingwilliam at 40/1 and Al Muthana at 40/1.

A plan came together when the Candice Bass-Robinson-trained October Morn got up under Raymond Danielson to win the Gr 1 SA Fillies Sprint (Candiese Lenferna Photography)

by Sarah Whitelaw

Top filly October Morn is one of the most exciting fillies currently in training in South Africa. The three-year-old is out of the top-drawer, with October Morn having won or been placed in all 12 of her career outings.

The daughter of Trippi has won stakes races at both two and three, with October Morn victorious in the 2023 Listed Perfect Promise Sprint (she won that feature by six lengths) and this year’s G1 South African Fillies Sprint and G2 Cartier Sceptre Stakes.

The filly also finished runner up in both the G3 SplashOut Prix Du Cap and G3 Champagne Stakes this year, with October Morn finishing out of the first two this season thus far.

October Morn has the pedigree to match her fine race record. She is one of 92 stakes winners for her sire Trippi, South Africa’s Champion Sire of 2015-2016, and is one of 14 Grade One winners for her superb sire.

She is the second daughter of Trippi to win the G1 South African Fillies Sprint, with the sire’s subsequent top-class producer daughter Real Princess (dam of dual G1 winner Gimme A Prince and this season’s exciting two-year-old Gimme’s Countess) having captured that Scottsville sprint feature back in 2016. In total, six of Trippi’s G1 winners are female.

Other G1 winning daughters of Trippi, also sire of champion filly Hammie’s Hooker, include five time G1 winner Inara (the dam of recent debut winner Air Raid), 2022 G1 Allan Robertson Championship winner Sweet Pepper, G1 Spinaway Stakes queen R Heat Lightning, and G1 Golden Slipper heroine For The Lads.

Another daughter of Trippi, Jealous Again, won the G2 Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot in 2009.

His colts include a plethora of stars ranging from G1 Hollywoodbets Durban July winner Winchester Mansion, five time G1 winner Jet Dark, 2024 G1 L’Ormarins King’s Plate hero Charles Dickens, and 2023 G1 H F Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes winner Trip Of Fortune.

Charles Dickens and Jet Dark are now standing at Drakenstein Stud, while Trippi’s G2 Selangor Cup winning son Gold Standard came up with graded stakes winners Golden Hostess (G3 Hollywoodbets Diana Stakes) and Hold My Hand (G3 Summer Fling Stakes) in his first crop.

His 2019 G1 Tsogo Sun Sprint winning son, Chimichuri Run, is yet another son of Trippi standing at stud, with that chestnut based at Blue Sky Thoroughbreds.

Trippi is also a top-class broodmare sire, with his daughters having already produced more than 40 stakes winners. Arguably his best broodmare daughter to date has been Miss Macy Sue, the dam of four black type winners including highly successful US stallions Liam’s Map (by Unbridled’s Song) and Not This Time (by Giant’s Causeway). Other notable performers produced by daughters of Trippi include South African G1 winners Gabor, Gimme A Prince, Miss Florida and She’s A Keeper.

Even granddaughters of Trippi mares are enjoying success at stud, with Trippi mare Tuscan Sunset the granddam of 2024 G3 Lecomte Stakes winner and 2024 G2 Risen Star Stakes runner up Track Phantom (by Quality Road).

October Morn’s female line is outstanding and packed full of high-class black type performers.

She is out of high-class racemare in Miss October, who showed top-class sprinting form. Not only did Miss October win the 2014 G3 Tommy Hotspur Handicap (one of her five career wins), she was also runner up in both the G3 Poinsettia Stakes and Listed KwaZulu-Natal Stakes and third in the G2 Sceptre Stakes, G3 Lebelo Sprint, and Listed Gardenia Handicap.

A Var full-sister to G1 Mercury Sprint winner August Rush (who ran third to subsequent G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen winner Krypton Factor in the 2012 G3 Mahab Al Shimal), Miss October has proved to be an excellent producer.
Her second foal, a full-sister to October Morn, was the Trippi filly Spring Break who won four times and ran second, beaten less than half a length, in the 2019 G2 Haval Motors South Africa Umkhomazi Stakes.

Miss October’s next foal was Tempting Fate (by Master Of My Fate), Equus Champion 2YO Colt of 2019-2020 and winner of both the G1 Golden Horse Medallion and G3 Godolphin Barb Stakes in 2020. Her foals prior to October Morn were Spielberg (by Futura) and October Fair (by Silvano), both of whom have won twice.

August Rush and Miss October are two of the nine winners produced by Huntingdale mare Bushgirl.

Bushgirl’s dam Devon Air, who began her career in England, was possed of considerably more stamina than her descendants August Rush and Miss October. South Africa’s Champion Stayer of 1983, Devon Air’s first South African start saw the daughter of Sparkler romp home to an 11 length score over 1900m. Devon Air went on to win the Listed Sidney Benjamin Cup by 13 lengths before running third, to Wolf Power, in the 1984 G1 J&B Metropolitan.

Campaigned in KZN, Devon Air reeled off wins in the G2 Republic Day Handicap, G1 Rothmans July Handicap and G2 Gold Cup before retiring to stud.

She made a good start at stud, with her first two foals, the filly Cream Of The Crop and Plymouth Rock winning the G2 Chairmans Handicap and Listed Settlers Trophy respectively (Cream Of The Crop also went on to enjoy success at stud with her 7 winners headed by G2 Gerald Rosenberg Stakes winner She’s On Fire). However, Devon Air had only produced one more winner by the time she was bought at a 1996 auction at Summerhill Stud by Zimbabwean breeder Christopher Peech. Her first Zimbabwean foal was by Huntingdale and was called Bushgirl, who had to be delivered by caesarian section. She barely survived and was too weak and unsound to be raced.

Zimbabwe was beginning to fall on hard times and Peech’s breeding operation was one of the victims.

Bushgirl was thus put on an auction and was snapped up by Robin Bruss, and the rest is history with Bruss breeding both Miss October and August Rush.

Var, sire of Miss October, is fast becoming a top-class broodmare sire with his daughters having already produced the likes of G1 XXXX Golden Rose winning sire In The Congo and South African G1 winners Alesian Chief, Master Archie and Thunderstruck to name but a few.

The most interesting update to the catalogue is to Lot 91, an Erupt filly vendored by Varsfontein as agent. This filly’s dam is a half-sister to the grandam of Dubai World Cup winner Laurel River (Picture: Cape Racing Sales) 

There are numerous “black type” updates for the yearlings on the CRS Winter Yearling Sale to be held at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Thursday, 6 June. As a result, interest will increase among potential buyers looking to source a yearling from the various high-class stud farms offering drafts.

Lot 32 from Millstream Farm is a colt by Querari out of the Silvano mare, Leading Fast. This makes him a three-quarter brother to Little Ballerina. The dam of that top-class filly is Little Fastnet. Her daughter Frankly is the dam of the top-class, unbeaten juvenile Truth. With a family so hot, he will indeed generate some interest during inspection.

Another update worth noting comes in the second dam section of Lot 62, an unnamed filly by Vercingetorix from Klawervlei Stud as Agent. Mia Moo, out of Leeward, has heaps of potential, and she added to her black type tally by running second in the Grade 2 WSB KZN Fillies Guineas at Hollywoodbets Greyville in early May.

The Futurist made headlines when winning the Grade 3 Pocket Power Stakes in one of the more enterprising wins of the season. Klawervlei Stud consigns a relation to the recent stakes winner in Lot 63, a filly by Royal Mo. This sire has recently turned a few heads by producing the Independent On Saturday Drill Hall Stakes winner, Royal Aussie.

Hemel ‘N Aarde Stud have a knack or producing stakes level horses. Lot 74 is a full brother to the promising Claw, who comes from the family of the recent Grade 2 WSB Greyville 1900 winner, Future Swing. He is a likely starter in the Hollywoodbets Durban July. This is a tried and tested long-distance family, so he could fill a suitable gap in one’s squad of horses.

Lot 91 interestingly brings a huge recent international update in the form of the Dubai World Cup winner, Laurel River. This Erupt offering is from Varsfontein Stud as Agent. It might come further down the page but that update gets the juices flowing.

Red Palace scooped her just reward by winning the Listed Stormsvlei Stakes after a string of big performances during the Cape Summer Festival. Lot 94 is a filly by The United States, also from Millstream Farm. Her dam, Bye Bye Baby, is related to In Limine, who produced Red Palace.

 

*Bolded horses indicate Black-type winner/place

 

LOT	UPDATE
14	2nd dam. KINDA WONDERFUL, winner and three places from four starts
26	1st dam. LADY ELLIOT now placed four times
28	3rd dam. Kirin Belle, dam of The Autumn Belle, ran 2nd in South Australia
31	1st dam. WORLDLY now a winner with two places from four starts
32	2nd dam. LITTLE BALLERINA, winner of the Grade 2 Wilgerbosdrift Fillies Nursery. Now 3 wins. Frankly, dam of TRUTH, unbeaten in two starts
	2nd dam. MONT LOISIR now a winner
	3rd dam. Tazara, ran 2nd in the UK. Dubai Honour won in the UK. Now 7 career wins
35	2nd dam. Professor Lupin, now a winner
36	1st dam. Opera Glass, still nine wins but now 24 places
40	1st dam. Rydian, three places from three starts. 3rd dam. Laoub, half-sister to Raheights, dam of VOYAGE BUBBLE, 3rd in Grade 1 HKJC Champions Mile
44	1st dam So Seductive, now a winner. 2nd dam, Exchange Student, now three wins
46	1st dam Jordan, now a two time winner and six places. 3rd dam, Primrose Path, now a four time winner
47	2nd dam Nordic Rebel now a 13 time winner
51	1st dam Prime Venture, now placed
52	1st dam Billy Cool, now placed from two starts
57	1st dam Amber Rock, now 2 wins and four places. Duke Of Rock now placed three times
62	2nd dam Mia Moo, now 4 places including the Umkumkhulu Stakes
63	3rd dam THE FUTURIST, now five wins including the Grade 3 Pocket Power Stakes
66	1st dam Andi’s Girl, now a two time winner
73	3rd dam CAIRO CONSORT, now five wins
74	3rd dam FUTURE SWING, now seven wins including WSB Greyville 1900
77	3rd dam Super Photon, now a winner in New Zealand
79	2nd dam Master Of Paris, now a two time winner
81	1st dam Exchange Student, now a three time winner
	2nd dam So Seductive, now a winner
82	2nd dam, Vesuvio now five wins
84	3rd dam, San Constantino now eight wins in Canada
85	2nd dam, Teo Torriate now a winner
86	1st dam, Nandine still five wins now six places in Zimbabwe
87	2nd dam, Leao Alado now two wins
88	1st dam, Beautiful Rania now a winner and two places from three starts
91	2nd dam, LAUREL RIVER now six wins including the Dubai World Cup
94	2nd dam, RED PALACE, is now a three time winner including the Listed Stormsvlei Stakes
96	1st dam, Iqembulabesifazane, now 11 places with three wins. Wehaveasituation, out of Captain’s Catch now two places from six starts
101	1st dam, Continentalexpress, now three places with a win
107	2nd dam, Devil A Saint out of Lovely Jubbly, now a winner

 

For further information, contact

Justin Vermaak justin@caperacing.co.za

Janine van Blerk janine@caperacing.co.za

Phone: 021 700 1600

 

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Drakenstein Stud Press Release

The upcoming Breeding Season will be a busy one with our roster of seven stallions including 3 first season sires. This season will also see the arrival of Jet Dark’s first crop of foals.

With this in mind, we are proud to announce the appointment of Tarryn Putz to the position of Client and Sales Manager.

Tarryn, who started with the Stud in 2020 as Assistant Stud Manager, has a wealth of local and international experience in the thoroughbred industry.

Prior to joining Drakenstein Stud Farm, Tarryn spent 17 years working for 10 times champion breeders, Summerhill Stud.

She will be responsible for selling stallion nominations along with managing client relationships and assisting with the promotion of our stallion’s progeny at sales throughout the country.

“We are delighted to annouce Tarryn’s promotion to Client and Sales Manager with effect from 1st June. Her expertise, drive and passion for the industry made this role a natural progression for her and we look forward to supporting her as she takes on this new challenge.” said Racing Manager, Kevin Sommerville.

Lot 88 is a Royal Mo colt out of four time-winnning sprinter Al’s Bonanza (Cape Racing Sales)

Klawervlei Stud (acting as agent) and the Klawervlei Grooms Trust have the biggest representation of all vendors at the upcoming Cape Racing Winter Yearling Sales with 21 babies going on auction. The bidding starts at 11h00 on 6 June 2024 – the scenic, well-appointed venue, Hollywoodbets Kenilworth.

Klawervlei were the pioneers of the highly successful Klawervlei farm sale and have now used this CR Winter sale to supplement the longstanding Farm Sale. In the past, this sale has produced 2 stallions, a July Winner, An Equus champion 3 year old, a MET winner and an Equus Champion sprinter.

Klawervlei offer yearlings from the following sires: Captain of All (4), Gimmethegreenlight (1), Pomodoro (2), One World (1), Rafeef (1), Royal Mo (5), Vercingetorix (3) and William Longsword (4).

Everybody will have their favourite pedigree or nick, and preferred ways of finding a physical specimen with athletic potential. Let’s peek at selected highlights within Klawervlei’s draft.

Lot 88 is a Royal Mo colt out of Al’s Bonanza, who was a four-time winning, zippy sprinter. She has already produced Barzalona, a top division speedball. Royal Mo was the Leading Second Season Sire in SA in 20223/23 with high class miler Royal Aussie his best progeny to date.

Accomplished stayer, Chariot of Gold has been put to Rafeef, who seems an influence over a wide range of distances. So, it will be interesting to monitor the progress of Lot 103, an unnamed filly that has resulted from this mating.

Lot 108 is by One World, who has made a smashing start to his stallion career. Dam, Counting Angels is a steady producer responsible for consistent handicapper in training, All About All who has won four times thus far and is by the same sire as One World.

Green Plains used her natural speed to win six times between 800m and 1200m, including Gr2 sprints and was also Gr1 placed. She has a William Longsword filly on offer (Lot 10).

There will be a buzz when Lot 12 strides between the straw bales – a Vercingetorix colt out of quality Street Cry race mare, Hollywoodboulevard, dam of multiple winner, On that Boulevard. Street Cry has been a revelation as a Broodmare sire producing no less than 190 SWs which includes an incredible 25 individual GR1 winners. Vercingetorix has a stellar record with 242 winners from 352 runners, including 33 Stakes Winners including eight Gr1 winners.

The same sire also has Lot 52 out of Polar Trip, a Trippi mare. This is the same family traced through second dam, Polar Charge as Always in Charge (Champion 2YO Colt in SA in 2015/16 and the seemingly indestructible, Captain Lars who won an amazing 24 races in SA & the UK.

Lot 62 is a chestnut Vercingetorix filly out of Secretariat’s Girl – a daughter of Klawervlei legend, Captain Al and a brisk winner of five sprint races. The Vercingetorix/Captain Al cross has produced a whopping 10% SW/R including Vernichy and Double Grand Slam.

Vercingetorix and Gimmethegreenlight are involved in a spirited tussle for top sire honours – both are commercially hugely successful in South Africa and highly prized by discerning buyers. The latter has a single representative in Klawervlei’s draft – Lot 78 by Trinity House, a Captain Al race-mare who just missed out in the Gr1 Cape Fillies Guineas. The Gimme/Captain Al cross has been a spectacular cross producing 10.9% SW/R including Sandringham Summit and Gunner.

Lot 44 is a bay filly by Pomodoro ex Myfunnyvalentine. This is a tempting page as she is a full sister to Yellowporscheroad, a tremendous talent who nearly capsized the mighty, Charles Dickens on debut.

Lot 81 is laden with speed. Sire Captain of All won Gr1 Mercury and Tsogo Sun Sprints and 1^st dam Varsity Girl was also best over the short cut. She has an exciting speedy prospect in Exchange Student who has now won 3.

Visuality won up to Gr3 class and was placed as a juvenile in the Gr1 Allan Robertson. She comes up with a Pomodoro filly (Lot 83) who can be viewed in stable C8.

Check out the Klawervlei Grooms Trust offering – Lot 106, a Captain of All filly ex capable middle- distance performer, City of Athens (AUS, by Encosta da Largo). The page is full of Australian Black Type on the female side, making her well worth a closer look.

John Koster and Tracey Nash are available to handle all queries relating to this quality draft. Call 066 185 7197 or email tracey@klawervlei.co.za beforehand – otherwise pay the Klawervlei team a visit during inspections in the build up to Thursday’s sale.

DOWNLOAD IMAGES: https://www.caperacingsales.co.za/2024/05/31/crs-winter-yearling-sale-vendor-promotion-klawervlei-stud/

ENDS 

For racing queries and sales queries, contact Justin Vermaak at justin@caperacing.co.za or Janine van Blerk at janine@caperacing.co.za  

 

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Lot 5 is by Buffalo Bill Cody and is a half-sister to the high class Wonder Lawn (Picture: Cape Racing Sales)

Anton Shepherd’s Beaumont Stud, breeders of Variety Club, unveils three babies for the Cape Racing Winter Yearling Sale which takes place on the 6th June from 11am at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth.

Lot 5 is a Buffalo Bill Cody ex Fortuny, a half- sister to the high class, Wonder Lawn, who competed with distinction in SA and the UAE. Second dam, Velvet Green won twice at Gr1 level – the Garden Province and Majorca Stakes. Fortuny has already thrown Oni San, a speedy grey filly and with Buffalo Bill Cody siring handsome physical specimens this is one to note early on at Thursday’s auction.

Lot 73 is a Rafeef colt out of Captain Al mare, Submergence. She is a half-sister to the extremely quick Graduation Day. Rafeef can seemingly get them to win over any distance – he has sired 18 SW’s from 182 runners.

Speaking of speed, Lot 75 can be expected to scuttle as a daughter of Cape Merchants winner, Erik the Red out of Timetoperfection who won four times over the short cuts and a half sister to Highveld speedball, Aurum Pot. Her only runner to date, Pocket Watch won again on Thursday.

Give Anton a call to arrange viewings on 082 652 7005. The farm’s email address is beaumontstud@mweb.co.za.

Lot 11 is a Rafeef filly out of a Jet Master half-sister to a Cape Derby winner (Picture: Cape Racing Sales)

Where and when is the sale being held?

Do It Again, Legislate, Big City Life, Pocket Power, Dancer’s Daughter, Flaming Rock, Royal Chalice, Over The Air, Politician and Yataghan have all won both the Gold Challenge and the July, but the only ones to have done the double in the same year are:

Do It Again (2019), Dancer’s Daughter (2008), Flaming Rock (1991), Royal Chalice (1988), Over The Air (1979) and Politician (1978).