Marsh Shirtliff Recalls Quickstepgal's Miracle Dam
Quickstepgal would not have been around at all were it not for the patience and horse care of Marsh Shirtliff and David Hepburn-Brown of Hemel ‘N Aarde Stud (Picture: Wayne Marks)
Marsh Shirtliff became a public figure in racing during the career of the great Mike Bass-trained Jet Master gelding Pocket Power and his famous white, blue and pinks colours were soon being seen at every Cape Town meeting and beyond.
The popular businessman is now making a name for himself as a breeder and has recently bred two Gr 1 winners, the Joe Soma-trained Captain Of All filly Fiery Pegasus, who won the Gr 1 Wilgerbosdrift SA Classic by 4,75 lengths last year before her narrow victory in the Gr 2 SA Oaks, and the Tienie Prinsloo-trained Quickstepgal, who won last month’s Gr 1 WSB Cape Fillies Guineas.
Quickstepgal has a particularly great story behind her and Marsh explained, “I raced her dam Victoriana (together with L Behrmann and Sir William Piggott-Brown). She was very well bred and like Pocket she was a Jet Master, so we expected a lot of her. But coming back from Durbanville races in the float, she went down and the whole partition fell on her and all of the other horses trampled her to the extent she could never race again.”
It was the September of her four-year-old year and she had won three races from 1100m to 1200m in 16 starts. She had placed second in the Gr 3 Champagne Stakes over 1200m in just her third career start as a young three-year-old.
It was touch and go on whether she would survive the accident at all as humane euthanasia was considered.
However, Marsh said, “We thought, ‘We will send her to the farm (to David Hepburn-Brown’s Hemel ‘N Aarde Stud) … let’s see if she recovers.’ She had damaged her back, but she slowly recovered and so we then tried to get her in foal, because she has fantastic blood.”
Victoriana’s half-sister Hammies Hooker (Trippi) and her three-parts brother Gem King (Master Of My Fate) proved, after Victoriana’s racing career was over, how good her pedigree was.
About a year after the accident Victoriana got in foal and she miraculously gave birth to her first foal at Hemel ‘N Aarde almost exactly two years after the accident.
The accident happened on September 29, 2009, and the birth of her first foal was on September 21, 2011.
Victoriana’s first foal was a filly by Marsh’s part-owned hero Jay Peg, who remains the highest earner in South African thoroughbred history having brought in over R40 million in stakes.
However, the first foal only raced once, while the second foal, also a filly by Jay Peg, was placed but did not win.
Victoriana’s first winner was her third foal, a filly by Trippi who won once over 1400m.
Her fifth foal by What A Winter was her first colt and he won three times from 1000m to 1100m.
Quickstepgal was Victoriana’s eighth foal and her seventh filly. She was the result of a cover by the record-breaking stallion phenomenon Vercingetorix.
Marsh sent Quickstepgal to the BSA KZN Yearling Sale and that was where small yard Summerveld trainer Tienie Prinsloo famously took one look at her and said to his wife it was time to go home and when she asked why, he replied, “I’ve found my horse.”
Rakesh Singh purchased Quickstepgal on Tienie’s advice and secured her for what has proved to be a bargain R450,000, especially considering her full sister went for a Sales-topping R1.3 million at last year’s KZN Yearling Sale, purchased by Jonathan Snaith.
Rakesh sold Quickstepgal while in training to the Laurence Wernars family and Harry Willson.
Marsh is set to send Victoriana’s Fire Away yearling filly to this year’s KZN Yearling Sale and Victoriana is currently in foal to Vercingetorix again, although that foal could well be her last foal.
Victoriana shows no sign of discomfort these days, unlike when first arriving on the farm at which stage she had to be closely monitored because she tended to drag her one leg due to the aftermath of the back injury.
Fiery Pegasus’s dam called Scorched is also by Jet Master.
David Hepburn-Brown bought her after she had already produced a few foals including Gr 2 Dingaans winner Shango (Captain Of All), who also won two Gr 3s, as well as the twice Gr 2 third-placed Captain And Master (Captain Al).
Marsh’s first foray with Scorched was actually when he pinhooked her Captain Al son Captain And Master, buying him as a weanling for R340,000 and getting about double that price when the handsome colt was purchased off the Emperor’s Palace Yearling Sale.
David and Marsh went in 50/50 with Scorched after David had purchased her.
Fiery Pegasus was about the third foal they had with her.
Fiery Pegasus was purchased for R330,000 at the BSA National Yearling Sale.
Scorched’s producing days are now over.
Marsh Also Bred The Exciting Prospect, St. Harry
The Australian-bred Harry’s Angel colt St Harry is led in after an impressive debut win on Tuesday at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth (Picture: Wayne Marks)
The Australian-bred Peter Muscutt-trained St Harry impressed all and sundry on Tuesday at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth when losing ground at the start before going from last to first with a devastating finishing run.
Marsh Shirtliff was breeding in Australia at one stage off a farm called Glastonbury Farms and St Harry was one of the horses he bred.
He recently sold the dam of St Harry having owned her outright.
St Harry was put on Australia’s Inglis Great Southern Sale for broodmares and weanlings in June 2024, but Marsh then decided to withdraw him.
He came over to South Africa with a batch of three others brought over by Andy Williams of Worldwide Bloodstock and he was put on the BSA National Yearling Sale, where he was purchased for R900,000.
Marsh was not sure how good St Harry was going to be but he said, “I knew it was a good stallion (Gr 1 July Cup winner Harry’s Angel), I loved the stallion.”
He was not surprised by his debut and said, “Peter was very bullish and always has been.”
There was some irony in St Harry beating home two Vaughan Marshall-trained horses on Tuesday, because Vaughan was apparently the underbidder at the Sale.
St Harry is owned by Messrs G A R Sturlese, H J Da Silva, B W Hamilton, S Perumal, S Poriazis & Dr R Rotham.
Hewitson breakthrough - First Graded Win In Hong Kong
Lyle Hewitson is elated as he lands his first Graded victory in Hong Kong in the Gr 3 January Cup and it coincided with trainer Francis’s Lui’s 1000th Hong Kong win (Picture: HKJC)
Lyle Hewitson produced a storming finish on the New Zealand-bred six-year-old gelding Speed Dragon to land the Gr 3 January Cup over 1800m at Happy Valley on Wednesday night.
He was thrilled to land his first Graded race in Hong and there was then further elation when he returned to the winner’s enclosure to discover Speed Dragon had just brought up 1000 wins in Hong Kong for trainer Francis Lui.
Lui was champion trainer in the 2023/2024 season, but is more famous for being trainer of Golden Sixty, who became the first horse in history to win three consecutive Hong Kong Horse Of The Year titles and was the highest earning horse in world history before being overtaken by Romantic Warrior.
Lyle rode Speed Dragon on his Hong Kong debut back in November 2023, finishing fifth over 1600m, and later that season he rode him to a 4,5 length sixth in the country’s most prestigious local race, the HK$26 million Hong Kong Derby.
He said about clinching the ride for the January Cup, “He had a light weight and I asked for him at entries … and I was in the right place at the right time to get the ride.”
The January Cup is a handicap and Speed Dragon was set to sneak into the handicap with the minimum weight of 115 pounds, but Lyle rides to 117 pounds so he actually rode him 2 pounds overweight which makes the win all the more meritorious.
Lyle said, “He has improved this season and has been so good over track and trip. He continued his upward rise to pull it off.”
Lyle also spoke about his riding weight and said, “I can ride 117 pounds which is effectively 53kg, but it takes work to ride light, I don’t walk around that weight.”
He added, “It is not bad to still be riding 117/53kg all these years later considering I was just about the heaviest in my year and was doubtful to get in the Academy because of my weight!”
That is actually an amazing accolade to his professionalism.
Speed Dragon jumped from draw seven and Lyle managed to get him on to the rail in 8th position in the 12 horse field.
He was actually shuffled all the way back to last place as riders made up ground approching the final turn, but there was no sign of panic and he kept his mount in the hands.
He was a clear last entering the straight but as he began looking for a run it was clear he had a ton in hand.
Lyle switched him outward and then slightly inward as he waited patiently for a gap to open and as it did so he just needed to drive Speed Dragon through it with the hands.
He burst through to win more easily than the half-a-length margin suggests and returned a Tote dividend of 6.40.
Brett Crawford’s Irish-bred gelding Encountered, who won him his first Graded race on the island when landing the Gr 3 SA SA Ladies Purse over 1800m at Sha Tin, finished a 1,75 length fourth in the January Cup with Karis Teetan aboard.
Luke Ferraris also clinched a win at the meeting to go to 22 for the season, which puts him in third place on the log while Lyle Hewitson is on 17 wins and is in joint fifth place together with Karis Teetan.
Click here to read a full report on Wednesday’s Happy Valley meeting
Fourie Back Aboard Eight On Eighteen For Met
Eight On Eighteen and Richard Fourie will be defending their crown in the Gr 1 wfa WSB Met on January 31 at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth (Picture: Wayne Marks)
There have been a few early jockey declarations for the Gr 1 WSB Met to be run on 31 January as well as scratchings and there was one supplementary entry too, the Tony Peter-trained The Equator.
Richard Fourie will be back aboard Eight On Eighteen, on whom he won the Met last year as well as the Gr 1 Splashout Cape Derby and Gr 1 Daily News 2000.
Fourie was not actually jocked off by Oisin Murphy, it was just an agreement due to there being a clash with a possible Ridgemont entry in the build up to the L’Ormarins King’s Plate. Murphy was also only going to be available for that one ride, because he has other global commitments on Met day.
Andrew Fortune has been declared for See It Again. Fortune indicated after his flying third in the King’s Plate that See It Again would be a big runner in the Met.
Craig Zackey will stay aboard King’s Plate winner The Real Prince and the yard said The Met had always been his chief target.
Callan Murray will be aboard the Gr 2 Anthonij Rupert Premier Trophy winner Okavango.
The Equator finished a 4,25 length fourth in that race ridden by foreign jockey Rene Piechulek and he has been supplemented for the Met without a jockey booking.
Muzi Yeni will be aboard Sail The Seas, who finished a 0,45 length fourth in the King’s Plate and he will relish the 2000m trip of the Met having finished a 1,50 length second to Eight On Eighteen in last year’s Cape Derby over the same course and distance.
Sean Veale will stay aboard Gladatorian, who ran on late in the King’s Plate and might relish the step up in trip.
JP van der Merwe will be aboard Native Ruler, who is better than his disappointing run in the Premier Trophy.
The Met scratchings so far have been Fire Attack, Dave The King, Zeitz, Gimmie Rules, Master Redoute and Red Palace.
Clive Murphy Eyeing The Breeders Cup With Kingdundee
Kingdundee qualifies for the Gr 1 Breeders Cup Turf Sprint by winning the Gr 1 World Pool Cape Flying Championship (Picture: Wayne Marks)
Danie Toerien (4Racing)
Murphy’s Law dictates that anything that can go wrong, will.
Well, when it comes to breeding horses, the exact opposite seems to be true of Clive Murphy, who can do no wrong as owner and breeder of Kingdundee.
This son of The United States out of Duke Of Marmalade mare Miss Marmalade, earned himself an automatic entry into the Breeders’ Cup World Championships with his victory in the Grade 1 World Pool Cape Flying Championship over 1000m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday.
Murphy, an owner of horses for 37 years, says that the Breeders Cup entry is a once in a lifetime opportunity.
“I’m definitely considering it,” says the breeder-owner.
“I’ve had a few people talking that they want to buy him from me and do it. I obviously said yes, but that was Monday morning talk.
“But if somebody wanted to buy him from me and go with me to America, I would do it.
“I love my breeding and nothing would please me more than to see that horse win in the USA. It would be amazing because I bred it.
“I am happy to sell all the shares in the horse, because I’m happy to give him his best chance, or to keep a bit (of the shares).
“I bred his mother, I bred it for a big heart, all the genetic elements, it’s what I’ve been plugging away at for years and I finally got it right. And they’ve been coming out shot for shot. I’ve just seen his brother, who is exactly the same and you can already see he is a champion.
“I’m happy to sell him in total, I’m happy to sell a share. I just want to have fun.”
Should Kingdundee line up in the Grade 1 Prevagen Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint in Kentucky at the end of October, it will be the greatest breeding achievement Murphy could ever imagine.
“That’s actually the bottom line. You get the point,” says Murphy.
“A few people have asked if I can give them until the end of the week, and well, honestly, they can take as long as they want. That’s where it is. If anybody comes with a reasonable offer, I will consider it. I’m not talking 40 million stuff. I’m talking a reasonable figure.”
In the meantime, Kingdundee’s next mission will be the Grade 1 Computaform Sprint at Turffontein on 4 April – confirmed by trainer Dean Smith.
According to Smith, Kingdundee might have a prep run before that, but perhaps they will unleash him on the Highveld fresh.
“I think that if anybody wants to take him to America, they have to buy him now,” says Murphy. “They have to take him over sooner rather than later. They have to get all the paperwork done now.
“He’s fully grown as a four-year-old, he’s won eight races from 11, so if he has a pimple on his nose, it doesn’t affect him. He’s a machine. He is a proper racing machine. And he runs a 1000 in 55. The time on Saturday was 57, but he can do a 55 too. He’s quick. And he runs on his own. You don’t have to push him. He runs himself. He knows his ability.”
According to Murphy, Kingdundee’s breeding started three generations back.
“I bred the horse myself, and I bred his mother. I was in love with Rambo Dancer and then I was in love with Duke Of Marmalade, then I was in love with The United States. I bred this horse back three generations.
“I mated his grandma through Duke Of Marmalade, who then produced his mom, (Miss Marmalade) who raced twice. She won her first start and I said no, she’s too good to race, so she must go to stud.”
Miss Marmalade went to The United States and produced Kingdundee.
Her second foal is Princess Of Gaul by Vercingetorix, a three-year-old filly who has won three times from six races, including two Grade 2 races.
“The next one is my one,” says Murphy, referring to Miss Marmalade’s third foal. “He is called Bavarian Flyer (by Quasillo) and he looks a machine. I worked him today (Monday) and I thought here we go again.”
The two-year-old is expected to make his debut only after turning three, says Murphy.
“In this game I can see a horse that can fly, and boy, we’ve found another one.”
According to Murphy, part of Kingdundee’s success has been the fact they he has not been overraced. “A lot of people have said that I’ve raced him too seldom. But I’ve let him have long breaks, and I’ve let him relax, that’s why we’ve done so well with him.
“He’s won his last four starts. He doesn’t get beaten because he doesn’t like being beaten.
“He is by a Galileo stallion. They are very mentally strong horses. They hate being worked with other horses and they hate getting beat. That’s the difference.”
King Harald Can Sail On By
King Harald can score his second career win having won on debut in March last year (JC Photos)
A Graduation Plate over 1400m is the highlight of the meeting at the Vaal Classic track on Thursday and could see the three-year-old King Harald claiming a second career victory.
Gavin Lerena has jumped ship from Winds Of Change to ride King Harald who has been quite close to the like of all of Gr 2 winner Tin Pan Alley, dual Gr 1 winner Jan Van Goyen and Gr 2 winner Chronicle King in races from 1400m up to 1600m. He has a tricky draw of five out of seven and is officially 2kg under sufferance with Winds Of Change, but Gavin Lerena knows him well and he should make a bold bid. He should appreciate this step up to this trip. Winds Of Change was staying on over 1000m last time and although both of his wins were over 1160m, he did finish a 3,70 length fifth in a Grade 2 race the only time he went further than a sprint and that was over this 1400m trip. He could mow down the others in the finish from a wide draw of six out of seven. Paul Revere is way out at the weights but is drawn in pole was 2,5kg under sufferance in the Grand Heritage when finishing just 4,50 lengths back, so could be in the shake up here. Clever Trevor is also way under sufferance but is on the up. I’m A Fireball is third best in at the weights but in his only try at a trip beyond a sprint, in the Gr 2 Golden Horseshoe, he was well beaten, although he did have a wide draw then and has a middle draw here on this more galloping track.
In the first leg of the P6 over 2400 females are at a weight advantage under the Classified Stakes conditions and the progressive Cartagena could thus be the one to beat under Craig Zackey, who is in sublime form. She does have a tricky draw of eight but possesses a good turn of foot so can make up the ground after being dropped out. Chabal has a very wide draw but is capable over this trip and will be ridden by in form Rachel Vennikerr, whose 1,5kg gender allowance will help him overcome being 3kg under sufferance with the best weighted. Arlington Action is also distance suited and is only 2kg under sufferance and he did beat Chabal when they last met over this trip. Mizzen Sword might be looking for this trip having won over 1800m before. Lava Lamp is the best weighted but was fatigued last time over 3200m when tailed off, so will likely come in freshened up. Party Punch is joint second best weighted and is 2kg better off with Cartagena for a 2,70 length beating, but she will need to confirm the form.
In the second leg over 2000m Palace Attack is a half-brother to Fire Attack and having shown promise up to 1700m he should relish this step up in trip and is well drawn. Diesel’s Shadow won well last time and if reproducing it off a five point higher mark from a good draw he could be a contender. Flashy Apache is always thereabouts and has a a fair draw over a suitable trip off a competitive mark. One More Star won well over this trip last time but does have a tough draw. Titans Of War has a tricky draw but has been in fair form and has Lerena up.
In the sixth race over 1200m Rockaroundtheclock has good formlines and can score a hattrick despite a five point raise for his latest win and even then he is officially 3,5kg under sufferance with the best weighted, so he will need to improve again. Gimmethegoodlife is in good form and can go close from a good draw with Venniker up. Black Egret can never be ignored and has a fair draw. Lead The Charge is in hard-knocking form but does have a tricky draw. The filly Salenio Peninsula is the best weighted and only has to carry 52,5kg so should make a bold bid under Keagan de Melo.
In the seventh over 1200m Esquevelle is in fine form and should be right there from a fair draw. Palace Revolt ran a cracker over this trip with first time blinkers and has a shout from a fair draw. Winston’s Wonder ran well first time out the maidens over 1450m but was not only given a two point raise but has also had a short layoff and now has a tough draw.
In the ninth over 1600m Aquarius won well in the maidens and can follow up. Kensal Green beat the same horse Aquarius beat in the maidens but did not do it as convincingly. Azaleas For All has been in good form and has some good form over this shorter trip than she’s been running over recently. Open Sesame is capable of improvement but does have a tough draw. Nkwenkwezi was not herself last time so has likely been freshened up and the shorter trip could help.
In the tenth race Global Impact could be the one to beat over a suitable trip.
In the first race over 200m Samuel Sharpe should relish the step up in trip and can win this uninspiring race from pole position.
In the second over 1200m Quickfreeze was just 5,75 lengths back in second behind the promising Tintin on debut and with expected improvement could be the one to beat here.
In the third over 1200m Anahita has shown ability and might well enjoy the step down in trip but does have a tough draw. Savara’s Princess has a fair draw and comes off a close up finish over 1500m, but has finished second over this distance too before. Gimmesumluv is by Gimmethegreenlight and is a half-sister to Gr 2 winner Second Base.
Another Triple Crown Hopeful For Jamie Osborne?
Brotherly Love after winning at Meydan (Dubai Racing Club Photo)
Brotherly Love ‘A Proper Horse’
The half-brother to Heart of Honor broke his maiden last week in Dubai, and could be pointed to the UAE Derby.
Paulick Report Press Release
Trainer Jamie Osborne made plenty of headlines last spring when he brought Heart of Honor to the United States to compete in the second and third legs of the Triple Crown. The son of Honor A. P. ran fifth in the Preakness and sixth in the Belmont Stakes, but has since returned to win a pair of races in Dubai.
Now, Osborne may have the opportunity to make a return Triple Crown gamble with Heart of Honor’s half-brother, the aptly-named Brotherly Love. The 3-year-old colt, by top Australian sire Zoustar, broke his maiden by fourth lengths in a one-mile race on Jan. 9 at Meydan Racecourse.
“We’re hoping he’s a proper horse and he did look it tonight,” said Jim Bryce, who along with wife Claire also owns Heart of Honor. “I’ve got to give the credit to Jamie as he bought him before Heart Of Honor even raced. We’ve recently bought the Kameko foal too, the last one from the mare.”
Jockey Saffie Osborne, who rode Heart of Honor during his Triple Crown adventure and was also up for Brotherly Love’s maiden win, said: “He’s a much easier ride than his brother. He jumped, travelled well and I was concerned I was a bit too far forward, but he’s seen it out nicely.”
Both horses are out of the Scat Daddy mare Ruby Love, who was a Group 1 winner in her native Chile but did not find the winner’s circle during two starts in the United States.
Ruby Love was sold with Heart of Honor in utero at the 2021 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale, bringing a final bid of $90,000 from David Redvers. The mare foaled out in Great Britain, and Jaime Osborne purchased Heart of Honor at the 2024 Arqana May Breeze Up Sale for $172,341.
Brotherly Love was not quite as expensive, commanding a final bid of $53,788 at the 2024 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale.
Jamie Osborne doesn’t plan to get in a rush with Brotherly Love, though a Kentucky Derby points race is the current target.
“He looks like he’ll get better the further he goes,” said Osborne. “We don’t want to over-race him so it’s unlikely he’ll go to the [UAE 2000] Guineas. The Al Bastakiya – UAE Derby is probably the route we’ll take.”
The UAE Derby on March 28 offers the winner 100 points on the European/Mideast Road to the Kentucky Derby.
Today's Question
Has a foreign horse ever won the Kentucky Derby?
The picture gives a clue to the answer
FIELDS, Thursday, 15 January
Today’s Question Answer
Yes, several foreign-bred horses have won the Kentucky Derby, including Omar Khayyam (England, 1917), Tomy Lee (England, 1959), Northern Dancer (Canada, 1964, pictured), Sunny’s Halo (Canada, 1983), Bold Forbes (Puerto Rico, 1976), and Canonero II (Venezuela, 1971), with Canadian-bred horses being the most frequent international winners.
