Flower Island impressed in her seasonal reappearance (JC Photos)
Cape Breeders
Ridgemont’s top-class resident sire Rafeef came up with his 29th stakes winner on Saturday when his daughter Flower Island won the G2 Betway Joburg Spring F and M Challenge (1450m) at Turffontein.
One of three winners on the day for the training combination of Mike and Mathew De Kock, three-year-old Flower Island received a brilliant ride from Muzi Yeni.
Yeni brought his mount with a strong late burst, while wending their way through their rivals.
Despite looking an unlikely winner for much of the G2 contest, Flower Island flew up to get up and win by a neck, with last season’s G1 Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic winner Hazy Dazy back in second spot.
Bred by Wilgerbosdrift & Mauritzfontein, the classy Flower Island has won three of four starts, with the filly having finished second in last season’s G2 Allan Robertson Championship.
Flower Island, who is out of the G1 winning Silvano mare Orchid Island, was a R500 000 buy from the 2025 National Yearling Sale.
She is owned by Mr & Mrs Steven Jell, Messrs M F de Kock, C S Haynes, G Ragunan, Mrs N P Malherbe & Fieldspring Racing.
Flower Island was one of two winners at Turffontein on Saturday for Rafeef. The latter’s son Duke Of Lorraine, also trained by the De Kocks, won Saturday’s Betway MR 92 Open Handicap (1600m) in courageous fashion.
Ridden by Craig Zackey, the three-year-old Duke Of Lorraine made it two wins from four starts when holding off a wall of challenges to score by a neck.
Bred by Judy and Glyn Davies, the progressive gelding races for the Wernars Family, Mr L W & Mrs N J Evered-Hall & Mr G J Paola.
Duke Of Lorraine, who is out of the Dynasty mare Maria Theresa, was a R500 000 purchase from the 2025 Summer Sale.
