The exciting The Real Prince has been labelled as a horse tio follow by Sarah Whitelaw.
Sarah Whitelaw
HORSES TO FOLLOW
The 2024-2025 KZN Winter Season looks to be a cracking one. With many of South Africa’s top thoroughbreds set to contest some of the country’s top feature races, the stage is set, once again, for some exciting racing.
While much of the racing action will act as part of the build up to the G1 Hollywoodbets Durban July, there will be plenty of other thrilling racing to satisfy purists.
Below are just a few horses who could make their mark in KwaZulu-Natal this year.
The Real Prince: 4 g Gimmethegreenlight –Real Princess
It is surely only a matter of time before The Real Prince emulates his full siblings Gimme A Prince and Gimmie’s Countess in becoming a graded stakes winner. A five length winner of the Listed City Of Cape Town Jet Master Stakes back in February, the four-year-old caught the eye when he made his next start. Taking on a top-class field, The Real Prince flew up late for fourth, when beaten just over a length and a quarter by the very classy Gladatorian in the G2 Independent On Saturday Drill Hall Stakes.
His dam Real Princess has been one of the star producers of the season, with her offspring Gimmie’s Countess, Gimme A Prince and The Real Prince all winning at least one black type race in 2024-2025.
Sail The Seas: 3 c Vercingetorix –Sail
In landing the G2 World Sports Betting Guineas, Sail The Seas emulated none other than his own sire Vercingetorix. While the Guineas field consisted of just six horses, Sail The Seas accounted for two of the best three-year-olds in South Africa this season, in the form of his stablemate Eight On Eighteen and Cosmic Speed. A progressive colt, Sail The Seas should benefit from a trip up from the 1600m of the World Sports Betting Guineas.
Sail The Seas is directly descended in female line from Coaching Club American Oaks winner Marshua, whose other notable descendants include G1 Middle Park Stakes/G1 July Cup winner Ten Sovereigns, the sire of recent G1 American Turf Stakes winner Zulu Kingdom.
See It Again: 5 g Twice Over –Supreme Vision
After a disappointing campaign in Cape Town, See It Again suggested he was no back number when he was just touched off in the G2 Independent On Saturday Drill Hall Stakes. A horse who does well when fresh, See It Again did well to finish a close up second over a trip short of his best, and, if he can progress off this effort, should be primed for a good KwaZulu- Natal season in 2024-2025.
Selukwe: 5 g Pomodoro –Sovereign Flo
The 2012 July winner Pomodoro has enjoyed a wonderful season through his sons Mount Pilatus and Pomodoro’s Jet, and the son of Jet Master had another good day when his son Selukwe won the G3 World Sports Betting 1900. Somewhat overlooked in the betting, Selukwe made a mockery of his starting price as he drew off to win convincingly by nearly two and a quarter lengths. The five-year-old has done little wrong this season and he could well build on his most recent success.
Shoot The Rapids: 4 g Erupt –Rapid Flow
Runner up in both the G3 DStv Gold Vase and G3 World Pool Gold Cup last season, Shoot The Rapids has been lightly raced since, winning the World Sports Betting Highland Night Cup (Non-Black Type) two starts after his Gold Cup effort.
The gelding was not disgraced when beaten just over four and a quarter lengths in the G3 World Sports Betting 1900, a trip short of his best, and Shoot The Rapids could well make his mark in the marathon events again this season.
Regulation: 3 g Legislate –Riva
This three-year-old is bred to be good –by a July winning son (Legislate) of a July winning sire (Dynasty), Regulation is a three-parts brother to the Dynasty sired July winner Belgarion.
He recently made his first start at Hollywoodbets Greyville a winning one when Regulation stayed on towards the inside to land a Class 4 convincingly by over a length and a quarter.
Spumante Dolce: 3 f Vercingetorix –Espumanti
A courageous winner of the G2 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas on just her third start, Spumante Dolce finished second in the G1 TAB Empress Club Stakes (fourth place finisher Let’s Go Now subsequently won the G2 TAB Colorado King Stakes), and G2 World Sports Betting Fillies Guineas, beaten under half a length, in her two most recent starts. It is interesting to note that Spumante Dolce’s champion parts-sister, Sparkling Water, won up to 2800 metres.
