Zip It Up impresses on debut at Kempton Park in England (Picture: Supplied)
At Kempton Park in England on Monday night there was one race of particular interest to South African fans as the winner was owned by Hollywoodbets owner Owen Heffer in partnership with Barnane Stud, which is owned by the Kieswetter family who also own South Africa’s Ridgemont breeding and racing operation, while the second-placed horse was owned by prolific Durban-based owner Nick Jonsson.
The Barnane Stud/Heffer-owned Richard Hannon-trained filly Zip It Up is beautifully bred and won by 7,5 lengths in impressive fashion on debut in the Novice Stakes event over six furlongs on the All weather surface.
The Jonsson-owned William Haggas-trained Zoustar filly Mahato started 10/11 favourite on the grounds of winning on debut over six furlongs at Windsor by a comfortable 2,5 lengths, although she did disappoint in her second start at odds of 8/13 over seven furlongs on the Newcastle all weather track when dwelling at the start and eventually being beaten 6,5 lengths.
Zip It Up, who was bred by Barnane Stud, is by Lope De Vega, who was Europe’s leading sire last year and is leading the standings this year too.
She is out of a Juddmonte British-bred Oasis Dream dam called Button Down, who won a Gr 3 on the turf at Churchill Downs in the USA over a mile and a furlong among other Group placed efforts.
Zip It Up made all under St Leger-winning jockey Sean Levey on Monday night and was still going easily two furlongs out. She went clear at the furlong mark and was ridden out for an easy and impressive win.
The Kieswetter/Heffer partnership have enjoyed great success together. The dual Gr 1-winning Dynasty filly Make It Snappy, who was bred and leased by Ridgemont, gave Heffer’s Hollywood Syndicate their first Gr 1 winner and the partnership has also enjoyed multiple Gr 1 success with the Willie Mullins-trained jumps horse Il Etait Temps, who has to date won four Gr 1s.
Sean Levey is riding the crest of a wave having landed his second British classic and third classic overall when winning Saturday’s St. Leger on the unbeaten Aidan O’Brien Galileo colt Jan Brueghel.
Levey, unbeknown to many, was born in Swaziland.
Levey, who won the 1000 Guineas on Billesdon Brook in 2018 and this year’s Irish 2,000 Guineas with Rosallion, said after Saturday’s success: “You’ll take any Classic, any Classic at this stage. Another one on my belt.
“Absolute privilege to get the ride from Aidan and the team. He looks like a very nice horse, he gives me the impression he could be a Gold Cup horse next year maybe, but I’m sure they will find a nice place for him to go next.
“I think he’s just a baby, he’s only a young thing. He ran in snatches a little bit down the back, but I got what I needed from him.
“I thought he might stop if I challenged too early. I always knew I would head him (Illinois) when I needed to.”
Levey, who joined O’Brien as a 17-year-old before moving to England in 2011, added: “No doubt he (O’Brien) has been very good to me. I’ve got him a winner and he’s been happy to use me and give an opportunity like today.”
Levey set two records when winning the 1000 Guineas on the Richard Hannon-trained Billesdon Brook back in 2018.
He became the first black jockey to win a British classic and Billesdon Brook was the longest priced winner in the history of the race.
Levey was born to Swazi mother Tini.
His father Mickey Levey was actually a jockey at one stage for trainer Rob Smyth in Epsom, before diversifying into bookmaking, stable ownership, hotel work and, briefly, a stint running amateur boxing in Swaziland, which led to a trip to the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur.
Sean learnt to ride at a friend’s riding stable in Ezulwini in Swaziland and his father was on hand to give advice.
