Heather’s Boy came from off the pace on his debut on Saturday and with long strides put the race to bed (JC Photos)
Every so often, a horse comes along that delights fans with a surge of adrenaline, writes the Mike de Kock website.
Three-year-old Heather’s Boy, an athletic runner with a sharp turn of foot and an elastic stride, delivered on his home gallops promise with a thrilling debut victory over 1450m at Turffontein on Saturday, hinting at good things to come.
Haether’s Boy, a son of Rafeef and stakes winner Folk Dance, made his first racetrack appearance in a competitive field. All the trainers were interviewed before the race and six of his seven rivals were considered to have winning chances. He came from off the pace, picked them off one by one and then drew away to win, hitting the line strongly.
Mike de Kock commented: “There was merit in this win and it starts with the comments from our rival trainers, who all fancied their runners. So it looks as if this was a quality Maiden Plate from which we’ll see the form well franked. We expected him to have enough pace in the early part to actually go out and lead them from his good draw. I told jockey Kabelo Matsunyane to ride him confidently. He was a bit slow out of the pens and green and it’s not easy from a slow start on this tight track. But despite his inexperience he won very well. He’s a good prospect, we look forward to his progress this season.”
Assistant trainer David Hlamine, groom David Blaai and jockey Kabelo Matsunyane. Blaai also recently handled Humdinger and Iphiko.
Assistant trainer David Hlamine, groom David Blaai and jockey Kabelo Matsunyane. Blaai also recently handled Humdinger and Iphiko.
Matsunyane said: “He was slow away, we had ground to make up. But when I shook him up he showed a nice turn of foot and lots of class. This was impressive.”
Heather’s Boy races for Lady Christine Laidlaw’s Khaya Stables and Mike said: “Lady Laidlaw is a pleasure to to train for and we are pleased that this looks like a horse with a future.”
The colt was a R900 000 buy from the 2023 August Two Year Old Sale.
His sire Rafeef, South Africa’s Leading First Season Sire of 2020-2021, had an excellent season in 2023-2024. Rafeef ended last season fifth on the South African General Sires List, and his runners banked more than R14.113 million in 2023-2024, with his flagbearers including such graded stakes winners as Thunderstruck, Frances Ethel, Mover And Shaker, Cats Pajamas, and Mrs Browning.
Rafeef already has a pair of G1 Computaform Sprint-winning sons at stud in the form of Master Archie and Thunderstruck.
Out of South African Champion National Colour, Rafeef shares his legendary sire Redoute’s Choice with top-class stallions like Snitzel, Not A Single Doubt, Stratum and The Autumn Sun.
