Snaith 3YO Troops Gathering In Force
The Justin Snaith-trained Happy Verse is a leading contender for the Gr 2 Cape Punters Cup and the Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas (Picture: Wayne Marks)
The raider threat in the three-year-old classic male division looks to be particularly strong this season with the like of the Mike and Matthew de Kock-trained Jan Van Goyen (Master Of My Fate), the Stuart Ferrie-trained Cognac (Rafeef) and others descending on the Cape Summer season.
Cognac, now rated 98, was ultra impressive in his second start at Hollywoodbets Greyville over the weekend and the yard believe he will get a mile, while 118-rated Jan van Goyen’s form has been franked by the Sean Tarry-trained 116-rated Tin Pan Alley (The United States) and the Candice Dawson-trained 114-rated Chronicle King (Vercingetorix).
The latter pair could also be candidates for Cape Town.
The Fabian Habib-trained 98-rated Echo Check (Master Of My Fate) is highly regarded and the Roy Magner-trained 109-rated King Harald (Erik The Red), the Peter Muscutt-trained 108-rated Count Of Rouen (William Longsword), the Mike Miller-trained 107-rated Soldier Boy (Royal Mo), the Paul Matchett-trained 105-rated Zalatoris (Erik The Red), the Alec Laird-trained 104-rated Tenjiku (Erik The Read), the Alan Greeff-trained 98-rated King Prawn (Master Of My Fate), the Robyn Klaasen-trained 107-rated Charming Cheetah (New Predator), the Mike and Matthew de Kock-trained 90-rated Buddy Boy (What A Winter), the 93-rated De Kock-trained One Eye On Vegas (Buffalo Bill Cody) are other possibles, although going to Cape Town can be an arduous test and it would be no surprise if a lot of the aforementioned chose to rather stay at home.
However, Jonathan Snaith has revealed that with the traditional classic route of the Gr 2 Punters Cup and the Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas in mind Justin has all of the following three-year-old males as contenders:
Happy Verse (Vercingetorix) (merit rated 103) – winner of three races from four starts, including the Winter Country Championship final over 1500m.
Absolutely Yes (Danon Platina) (103) – three wins including the Gr 3 Langerman.
Note To Self (Futura) (90) – won on debut and narrow runner up second time out over 1600m in an apprentice handicap against older horses.
Delta Pride (Hawwaam) (88) – won an open maiden by three lengths when stepped up to 1400m third time out.
Future Free (Futura) (89) – won fourth time out over 1400m but when stepped up to 1800m in a handicap he powered in by 2,50 lengths, so looks like a Derby type.
Malmesbury Missile (Lancaster Bomber) (110) – two wins including the Listed Gatecrasher Stakes over 1400m and a 1,10 length second to Chronicle King in the Gr 2 Omoda Golden Horseshoe over 1400m.
Primal Instinct (Vercingetorix) (85) – won by 2,50 lengths second time out over 1400m.
Randolph Hearst (Gimmethegreenlight) (100) – won second time out over 1400m and was only beaten 1,10 lengths in the Langerman.
Roland Garros (Vercingetorix) (104) – two wins from four starts as a juvenile and beaten 0,50 lengths on his reappearance running over 1250m off a 100 rating.
The yard have a lot to be excited about, especially as there are some omissions from that list who could still step up to the plate such as Pomp It Up (Danon Platina) (90).
The threat from their Cape colleagues in the classic races will also be strong.
Heading it is the Dean Kannemeyer-trained Gimmethegreenlight colt Gimmie Rules, who is rated 98 after two impressive wins in three starts and he will likely leave that rating behind when going over a mile and more.
Another one is the Candice Bass-trained All The Rage (Rafeef) (105), who has won three out of five and beat Gr 1 winner, the Glen Kotzen-trained Good For You (Legislate) (108), in impressive style over 1250m on his reappearance.
Good For You has a lot of speed but looks likely to take a tilt at the Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas, whilst All The Rage will likely relish a mile.
The Candice Bass-trained Viva’s Liberte has won both starts easily and this 95-rated Vercingetorix colt should get a mile on pedigree.
The Vaughan Marshall-trained Vapour Trail, a 101-rated Erik The Red half-brother to One Stripe, disappointed last time but could still step up to the plate.
The Marshall-trained 94-rated Saudi Cat (Hurricane Cat) has won two out of three and will have to prove he stays further than sprints.
There are others like the Greg Ennion-trained Sardinia Bay (Pathfork) who have been left off the above list because they look to be sprinters, but there are sure to be others who have inadvertently been left off, such is the plethora of classy sophomore males who have appeared this season so far.
It looks likely to be a humdinger of a season, not least in the male classic division.
Turf Talk’s picks of the bunch in that division, in no particular order, are Jan Van Goyen, All The Rage, Gimmie Rules, Tin Pan Alley, Happy Verse and Cognac.
King Pelles Has Burst Into The Summer Cup Picture
On My Honour To Put Luckless July Run Behind Him
On My Honour at the Hollywoodbets Durban July Gallops (Candiese Lenferna Photography)
The Glen Kotzen-trained Gimmethegreenlight gelding On My Honour was one of the most backed horses in the Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Durban July ante-post market and he was then one of the unluckiest horses in the race itself as just nothing panned out well for him and after being taken way wide for a run he understandably found little extra in the last 100m, finishing a six length eighth.
He is now on track for a tilt at the Gr 1 R6 million Betway Summer Cup and makes his reappearance on Sunday at Hollywoodbets Greyville in a Conditions Plate over 1400m, where he has drawn pole and will be ridden by Serino Moodley.
Glen said, “He is doing very nicely. His campaign starts on Sunday and he is then going for the Charity Mile and then the Summer Cup.”
On My Honour stayed at Summerveld after the July.
It is a strong race on Sunday and is also being used by Summer Cup contenders See It Again, Royal Victory and Madison Valley.
On My Honour receives 7kg from See It Again and 7kg from the other pair so should be a big runner under in-form Moodley.
The jockey bookings are interesting, particularly Chad Little riding Royal Victory even though this stalwart’s regular rider Mui Yeni is at the meeting, which indicates that Little might have been booked for the Summer Cup ride.
Rachel Venniker will be aboard See It Again and Craig Zackey rides Madison Valley.
It should be a great race.
Van Niekerk Issues A Public Apology, But Is It Too Late?
Grant van Niekerk has issued a public apology, which is contained within a letter sent to the Sporting Post by his attorneys – Darryl Furman and Associates.
Within the NHA notification of Van Niekerk’s recent failed appeal was the following sentence:
Further, as per the Inquiry Board ruling which was upheld in this instance, the reduction of the 90-day suspension to 30 days is contingent on several factors, including that Jockey van Niekerk must issue a public apology to the NHA via the media within ten days of this ruling (by 15 September 2025).
Thus, it would seem his apology has come a month too late.
However, he did issue an urgent application to the high court for an interdict after the appeal. He sought to have the NHA penalties suspended, pending review proceedings being brought in the High Court.
The judge struck the application from the roll, but did not dismiss the case.
Perhaps the apology was allowed to be delayed while the application for the interdict was still before the court?
The apology comes five days after Van Niekerk’s interdict application failed.
The details of the letter sent to the Sporting Post by Van Niekerk’s attorneys is shown below:
Legal counsel acting for Grant van Niekerk have issued a statement to the Sporting Post.
They write that on 10 October 2025, His Lordship Justice J Noko granted an Order in terms of an Urgent Interim Interdict Application brought by Grant Van Niekerk in the South Gauteng High Court on 12 September 2025.
The purpose of that Application was to suspend the implementation of the sanction imposed on Mr Van Niekerk by an Inquiry Board on 4 April 2025, and confirmed by the Appeal Board of the NHA on 2 September 2025.
After the passing of almost three weeks from the date of the hearing of the Application, the Honourable Judge issued an Order whereby he struck the matter off the roll for lack of urgency. It was not dismissed by the Honourable Judge Noko.
Whilst Mr Van Niekerk disagrees with the finding of the Court in this regard, he is unable to appeal such an Order as it is of an interim nature, and not of a final nature.
Accordingly, Mr Van Niekerk’s Application remains as pending against the NHA.
In terms of the sanction imposed by the Inquiry Board, Mr Van Niekerk was required to make an apology to the various parties described therein.
On an entirely without prejudice, and without any admission of any wrongdoing by him, and also with reservation of his rights thereto, Mr Van Niekerk hereby makes such an apology as ordered by the Inquiry Board.
However, what is of great significance is that in the conclusion of his judgment, the Honourable Judge Noko stated the following:
“It is strange and disconcerting that the Appeal Board opted not to participate in the proceedings and they are aware that (Van Niekerk) alleges inability to launch the review application as reasons are not forthcoming, and the (NHA) is also not bothered by the absence of the reason. This posture may be construed as lending credence to (Van Niekerk’s) accusations that the (NHA) is ill-treating its members.”
It is also important to note that the Honourable Judge Noko, when striking the matter off the roll for lack of urgency, did not make any cost order of a punitive nature against Mr Van Niekerk.
Ed – The underlying charge originated from comments made by Jockey van Niekerk during a post-race interview following the running of Race 2 at Hollywoodbets Durbanville Racecourse on Wednesday, 26 March 2025. Read more here.
Statement issued on Thursday 16 October 2025 by Darryl Furman & Associates – Attorneys for Mr Van Niekerk.
More Stars To Emerge In Soetendal’s Two-year-old Sale Draft
Julia Pilbeam will be expecting more Sales success for Soetendal (Picture Supplied)
Soetendal Estate made headlines in 2023 at the Cape Racing Ready To Run Sale, acting as Agent for One Stripe, who fetched R1,400,000 to top the auction. Since then, One Stripe has become the poster-boy for the event.
Currently campaigning in North America—where he made a pleasing debut by finishing fifth in the Gr 1 Rogers Woodbine Mile Stakes, champion One Stripe had already shown outstanding form in South Africa. He won six of his nine local starts, with his five graded victories including both the 2024 Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas and the 2025 Gr 1 L’Ormarins King’s Plate.
Soetendal will again be bringing an outstanding string to the Two Year Old Sale, with Julia Pilbeam set to offer two-year-olds by stallions such as One Stripe’s own sire One World, as well as Hawwaam, Malmoos, Master Of My Fate, Microphone, Rafeef, and What A Winter.
Julia has highlighted the following lots as particularly exciting:
Lot 29: (Backed) Classy Dame – What a Winter – Lamarr, by Jallad (filly):
With What a Winter in such fine form at the moment, we are excited to offer this filly, from a winning half-sister to the great Variety Club. She is a full sister to 4-time winner Inventrix and is a big, strong filly with scope.
Lot 30: (Unbroken) – Malmoos-Let It Flow, by Judpot (filly):
This is a well grown, quality filly by exciting young sire, Malmoos. The dam, Let It Flow, herself a 3-time winner and Gr 2 placed, is a half-sister to Sovereign Flo, the dam of Selukwe and two other stakes horses, as well as impressive recent debut winner, Wild Justice. This is a current and active pedigree, from the family of Foverflo, making this filly not only a great racing prospect, but also for breeding.
Lot 51: (Unbroken) Desert Ice – One World- Pilgrim’s Progress, by Await The Dawn (filly):
With One World fillies continuing to rack up the black type on the track (World of Alice, Roccapina, and She’s My World to name a few), this filly, from a 6-time winning half-sister to Running Brave, is a mouth-watering prospect. She has a beautiful head and plenty of scope and moves well.
Lot 106: (Unbroken) Water Lily – Malmoos- Wind Chill, by Silvano (filly):
This filly is from Gr 2 winner Wind Chill, whose first two runners are already winners. This filly is powerful and racy and looks ready to hit the track.
Lot 111: (Unbroken) Dafontina f by Futura -Again and Again, by Visionaire (filly):
A filly with great paddock value as she stands, being out of a half-sister to Do It Again, Virginia Sweet and Strongman (Horse of Fortune), as well as the dam of See It Again. She’s an athletic filly who stands over ground and walks very well.
Lot 112: (Unbroken) – Microphone – All Come True, by All Too Hard (colt):
A muscular, good looking and precocious type of colt, he is from a winning daughter of top Australian sire All Too Hard, from the incredible Laisserfaire family. He should have plenty of speed and be an early type.
Lot 127: (Unbroken) – What a Winter -Blue Duchess, by Duke Of Marmalade (filly):
From a 6-time winning half-sister to top filly State Blue, this neat filly is a beautiful type and full of quality, a good racing and broodmare prospect.
Lot 133: (Backed and cantering) – Unnamed – Rafeef ex Charge d’Affaires, by Captain Al (colt):
This racy colt moves exceptionally well, and being a November foal, has plenty to come. His dam is a full sister to Champion two-year-old Always in Charge, 24-time winner Captain Lars, and top filly Alascan Maiden – definitely a family to get involved in!
Lot 143 (Unbroken): Royal Emulation – Royal Mo – Eyona, by Black Minnaloushe (filly):
A well-grown filly who moves well; she is a half-sister to Cat Daddy and two other multiple winners. From the famous E-family, and with Royal Mo on a roll at the moment, she’s an exciting prospect.
Lot 146 (Backed and cantering): Unnamed – Hawwaam – Fleeced, by Querari (colt):
Bred on a similar cross to Chansonette and Silver Operator, this attractive colt is correct and beautifully put together. This colt shows good work, and with Hawwaam progeny such as Hah Lah Lah and Perfect Miracle catching the eye, shouldn’t be missed.
For more information on this draft, please contact Julia on (082) 317 9474.
All horses purchased off the RCS Two-Year-Old Sale qualify for the RCS Slipper. The Slipper is run over 1200m for qualifying 2yo graduates of Race Coast Sales. This lucrative race will be run in mid-April for a purse of R3 Million in 2026 at Hollywoodbets Greyville.
Blue Sky Thoroughbreds Welcomes SA's First Footstepsinthesand Foal
Blue Sky Thoroughbreds Welcomes South Africa’s First Footstepsinthesand Foal — A Filly Out of Elite Galileo Mare Pink Damsel (Pictured Above)
Blue Sky Thoroughbreds proudly announces the arrival of the first Footstepsinthesand foal born in South Africa — a beautifully balanced filly out of the impeccably bred Pink Damsel (Galileo x Riskaverse), a mare whose pedigree and promise represent the very best of global thoroughbred breeding.
This foal is more than a local first — she is a strategic step forward for the South African industry, bringing together a proven stallion, a royally-bred mare, and a world-class maternal family with deep black type credentials.
A Pedigree of Proven Performance
Pink Damsel was purchased for 600,000 guineas as a yearling at the Tattersalls yearling sales in the UK, reflecting her extraordinary genetic appeal. She is by the legendary Galileo, and out of the multiple Grade 1-winning mare Riskaverse, whose victories include the Flower Bowl Invitational and the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup. Riskaverse went on to be purchased for US$5 million in 2005 to stand as a broodmare in the UK — a testament to the value and depth of this maternal line.
A full sister to Pink Damsel, the Group 3-winning Say (Galileo – Riskaverse), has since proven her value as a producer, delivering multiple black type performers, including: FOG OF WAR (USA), NAVAL INTELLIGENCE (USA), INVADER (USA)
Racecourse Glimpses and Classic Intentions
Trained by Roger Varian, Pink Damsel made an immediate impression when she won on debut over 1½ miles at Newmarket, overcoming a slow start to surge through the field and hold off well-bred opposition under Jamie Spencer. She was declared for Ascot shortly after, where she gained further attention – not just for her presence, but because she had been entered in both the Epsom Oaks and the Irish Oaks prior to her debut – rare early confidence in an unraced filly.
Though her racing career was brief due to injury, the quality she showed was enough to confirm her value as a broodmare.
A Royal Journey to South African Shores
This filly is the first Footstepsinthesand foal to be born in South Africa – a milestone that reflects Blue Sky Thoroughbreds’ commitment to sourcing and developing globally relevant bloodlines locally.
Her sire, Footstepsinthesand (by Giant’s Causeway), was an unbeaten 2yo and winner of the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket beating the likes of Dubawi and Oratorio. As a stallion, he has sired multiple Group 1 winners across Europe and South America, and is known for producing tough, consistent, and early-maturing stock.
“This filly, blending the precocity of Footstepsinthesand with the stamina and class of Galileo and Riskaverse, is bred to be a serious racing and long-term broodmare prospect.” – Tinus Gericke from Blue Sky.
A Bright Future for Blue Sky Thoroughbreds
This filly represents a new wave for Blue Sky Thoroughbreds, who are focused on elevating local breeding through intelligent global acquisitions. The farm has invested in elite mares, modern facilities, and long-term partnerships, with a goal of producing South African-bred horses capable of winning at home and exporting success abroad.
Conclusion
Born into a family of Group 1 winners, Classic performers, and black-type producers, this filly stands as a tangible symbol of what thoughtful breeding can deliver. South Africa now has access to a female line that has already succeeded on the biggest stages in Europe and America.
With Pink Damsel passing on a legacy built by Riskaverse, Say, and Galileo, and with Footstepsinthesand adding speed and versatility, this filly is one to follow — on the track, and in time, in the paddocks.
The pedigree of Pink Damsel is shown below:
“Blue Sky Thoroughbreds is proud to play a role in writing the next chapter of this remarkable lineage.” – Tinus Gericke
Record-Breaking Tattersalls October Book 2 Concludes
Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale concluded with new benchmarks set for turnover and median. The sale aggregate of 70,124,500 guineas was well clear of the wide-margin record set in 2024, and the median of 76,000 guineas was a 9% increase on the previous year’s record equalling figure. The sale clearance rate was an excellent 92%.
Boughey Strikes for Night Of Thunder Colt at 800,000 Guineas
NIGHT OF THUNDER’s purple patch continued on the third day of Book 2 with both the highest and second highest priced lots of the session. Leading the way was a colt consigned by New England Stud who was purchased by trainer George Boughey for 800,000 guineas after a prolonged bidding duel with bloodstock agent Anthony Stroud.
George Boughey trains the NIGHT OF THUNDER colt BOW ECHO who won the Group 2 Tattersalls Online Royal Lodge Stakes at Newmarket’s Cambridgeshire Meeting and is now near the head of the betting market for the 2026 2000 Guineas.
The trainer said: “We had some stiff competition, he has been bought for Sheikh Mohammed Obaid. He looks very similar to Bow Echo, Sheikh Obaid picked him out – obviously we are delighted to train him.”
“The colt is from a good family, the mare was a Listed winner. He looks like he will be one for next summer onwards, Sheikh Obaid is a patient owner and hopefully this colt can emulate what Bow Echo did. We have had three or four by the sire, they have all won their maidens, but Bow Echo is the first with us to go on and look like a better horse.”
And of bidding past the 500,000 guineas mark, Boughey added: “I had to pick the phone up twice to the Sheikh! We were well over, but he wanted the horse and it is great to have the horse in the barn.”
The February-foaled colt was bred by Lady Riblat and Lord Derby’s Stanley House Stud out of the Listed winning GOLDEN HORN mare QUENELLE D’OR, from the family of Lord Derby’s great racemare OUIJA BOARD, dam of Champion Three-Year-Old Colt AUSTRALIA.
Ballyhimikin’s Night Of Thunder Filly to Henry Lascelles for 700,000 Guineas
An opening online bid of 200,000 guineas indicated that there was significant appetite for Ballyhimikin Stud’s daughter of sire of the moment NIGHT OF THUNDER and so it proved, with the filly eventually knocked down to Henry Lascelles for 700,000 guineas. The underbidder was bloodstock agent Alex Elliott, standing on the phone at the entrance to the sales ring.
Ballyhimikin bred the brilliant NIGHT OF THUNDER colt OMBUDSMAN, a dual Group 1 winner in 2025 in the Juddmonte International and Prince of Wales’s Stakes, who was sold by the stud at Book 2 for 340,000 guineas in 2022.
The link with Ballyhimikin, NIGHT OF THUNDER and his star performer stretched further to the buyer, as Henry Lascelles revealed: “I was working at the farm and prepped a yearling draft that included Ombudsman and Estrange, who have had a great year on the track. We loved the filly, she is going to be a two-year-old, and she is out of a fast dam who was Group placed at two.”
Ballyhimikin’s Jack Hanly commented: “Night Of Thunder has been a revelation. It is has been fantastic for us, we have been so lucky to have been involved in the stallion. We have been strong supporters of him for a long time.
“This filly had a lot of vets on her, there was a lot of chat and a lot of interest. She has been a queen here in the ring and in the yard, she has been perfect. We are very happy – we were expecting a good result but that is a huge result.”
“The mare has done us proud. Her first foal by Mehmas was really nice, he has gone to Australia and won’t be appearing until next year. She is a very nice, attractive-looking mare, and you have to buy them on the physical as well and hopefully that will be continued to their stock. We loved her from the very beginning.”
“We have had a great sale here over the two weeks. We had a great crop of yearlings, hopefully they will carry on and do well – the most important thing is their performance on the track.”
Hanly is heading to Ascot on Saturday to see OMBUDSMAN run in the Group 1 Champion Stakes and added: “It is the race of the year, it is going to be some shoot out!”
The filly is out of the Group 3 placed mare PRINCESSE DE SABA, a daughter of SHAMARDAL’s ill-fated son DARIYAN, who was bought by Stroud Coleman Bloodstock for €87,000 in 2021. Her first foal by MEHMAS fetched 270,000 guineas at the December Foal Sale in 2024 when bought by John Foote. She had a colt foal by HAVANA GREY this spring and was covered by BLUE POINT.
Stanley Lodge Enjoy Brilliant Pinhooking Result with 475,000 Guineas Camelot Colt
Stanley Lodge enjoyed a brilliant pinhooking result on the final day of Book 2 with the CAMELOT colt out of the black type CLODOVIL mare TIGRILLA. The 80,000 guineas Tattersalls December Foal Sale purchase realised a significantly higher price on his second visit to the Tattersalls sales ring when selling for 475,000 guineas to bloodstock agent Alex Elliott, M V Magnier and White Birch.
“He is by Camelot and out of a black type mare who has produced a good horse by Twilight Son. This colt was very well bought by Nick Cope and the boys, and the team was very determined to get him,” revealed Alex Elliott.
“A lot of the Camelots are real staying types to look at, but I think this mare might speed him up. You could be looking at anything from seven furlongs as a two-year-old and then as an older horse to a mile plus, we all liked the idea that she would put in speed.”
Stanley Lodge’s Nick Cope revealed: “Myself and Tom and David Brickley of Ard Erin Stud buy a few foals together, and sometimes we unearth a couple of nice ones on the way. But this horse was more than that – he is a real deal of a horse, a gentleman, he did not put in a bad show here and when you do that you can’t ask for much more. He vetted real clean and he scoped well, he has a great attitude and is an unbelievably athletic, good-moving horse – all the cliches!
“Camelot had an amazing year last year, Bluestocking won the Arc and you had big sales for him in Book 1 last year. It was very easy to say that we wanted a Camelot foal, but to get the foal was difficult. We bought this guy off Baroda and as soon as we saw him we liked him, then you hope he is in range and when he fell our way, we had to have him.
“It was at the top of our budget. We gave a lot of money before on a foal and got stung on him, and we just thought what on earth were we doing spending that sort of money?! We reassessed then, brought it back down to earth and planned to buy a Book 2 horse, with a pedigree or physical, and who might become a Book 1 type if there is an update. We landed on selling in Book 2 for this lad as we wanted to stand out, thank god it has worked!”
He concluded: “Tom and David have their own farm and are busy, I manage Stanley Lodge, we all have day jobs, but we will be back for the foal sales. Fingers crossed we can go again.”
The March-foaled colt’s dam TIGRILLA won the Listed Prix Six Perfections and is the dam of three winners including the impressive Weatherbys Super Sprint winner CABURN. It is the diverse international family of 2000 Guineas winner REFUSE TO BEND, Melbourne Cup winner MEDIA PUZZLE and Grade 1 Santa Anita Sprint Championship Stakes winner RICH TAPESTRY.
Starspangledbanner Filly to Kevin Ryan for 400,000 Guineas
The progeny of STARSPANGLEDBANNER have been popular in the Tattersalls sales ring this week with 19 lots selling for an average of 164,684 guineas, led by the 900,000 guineas sale topper. Manister House Stud’s STARSPANGLEDBANNER filly proved one of the highlights of Book 2’s third and final session when selling for 400,000 guineas to trainer Kevin Ryan, standing in his customary spot this week at the top of the stairs opposite the auctioneer.
“She’s a lovely, athletic filly with a great temperament,” commented Ryan. “I haven’t had many by Starspangledbanner, they’re hard to find but I’m delighted to get her. She looks a very racy filly and hopefully she turns out that way.”
STARSPANGLEBANNER has enjoyed an excellent year with his two-year-olds on the racecourse led by the Group 1 Fillies’ Mile and Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes winner PRECISE and the Group 2 Coventry Stakes winner GSTAAD, a three-time Group 1 runner up.
The May-foaled filly is out of the Listed Dick Hern Fillies Stakes second REYAADAH, the dam of four winners from four runners including the black type filly TAMREER. REYAADAH’s dam is a half-sister to the dual Group 1 winner and European Champion Older Miler MUHTATHIR.
Amo Racing Secure Another Starman for 400,000 Guineas
Amo Racing struck for a 400,000 guineas STARMAN colt on the third day of Book 2, the sixth yearling by the leading first season sire that they have purchased this week. The colt was offered by Gerrardstown House Stud and is the most expensive colt sold by the sire to date.
“He was Robson Aguiar’s favourite since the weekend, he knew the horse beforehand and he knows these type of horses, and it made sense to buy him,” commented Amo Racing’s trainer Kevin Philippart de Foy.
Gerrardstown Stud’s Donie Fahey revealed: “It was kind a bit of everything – you are excited, nervous, apprehensive, you are scared – thankfully it all worked out well.
“He has been a very easy horse to deal with from birth, we have loved him from the start, I am just glad that someone else loved him too. You have your evaluation from home, and you hope you are right, but I think we actually undervalued him. You have to be realistic, the market is tough,and you don’t know what is going to happen when the horse goes in there, we can only control the controllables. And when the horse is in the ring, it is out of our control.”
He added: “It is huge for us. A sale like this is massive for us, we had our biggest result a few weeks ago but this sale has left that well behind. I am so lucky I have some great people working with me, we are a family-run farm, we are all involved, and it is very nice to get it right. I told Kia that we will be watching him as if he is our own and I hope he turns out to be their next stallion!”
The colt’s dam TAMMY WYNETTE is the dam of Listed placed filly LETHERFLY, third in the Sweet Mimosa Stakes at Naas. Her dam CMONBABYLITEMYFIRE is a half-sister to European Champion Two-Year-Old Colt TOORMORE and the dual Group 2 winner ESTIDHKAAR.
Book 3 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale begins at 9.30am on Thursday, 16th October.
Today's Question
Whose racing plate (shoe) used in a big race victory fetched £3,600 in an auction in a November 2004 auction?
The picture is of the subject
FIELDS, Friday, 17 October
Fairview Poly
Today’s Question Answer
The plate the legendary Red Rum wore in his famous third Grand National victory in 1977 was auctioned for £3,600 and was clinched by “a young man in a suit”.
