Quid Pro Quo is the new darling of the South African turf (Candiese Lenferna Photography)
The two-year-old Barend Botes-trained Quid Pro Quo stole the show at the World Pool Gold Cup meeting as she became the first in history to win all of the Gr 1 Allan Robertson, Gr 2 Zulu Kingdom Explorer Golden Slipper over 1400m and the Gr 1 Douglas Whyte Stakes over 1600m.
The fairytale filly is a Gerald Kalil-bred homebred by little known sire Lance.
Gerald said after the race he had not felt much pressure, unlike the pressure he had felt before the Slipper, and he explained, “We thought the 1600m would be up her alley and she proved it.”
He continued, “We were worried just before when they said the shoe was giving a problem. Then we took off the shoes and that was the only time I really worried.”
The on course farrier relayed a message via the stipendiary stewards to Barend Botes and as the one shoe was proving difficult to put on they advised taking both front shoes off. Botes granted them his permission.”
The filly thus ran unshod on both front feet, but that did not stop her from running into the hearts of the the racing community with another outstanding performance.
From a wide draw she went handy, which was not usual for her, but it didn’t stop her producing her usual kick under S’Manga Khumalo to win by a cosy 1,40 lengths from Slipper runner up Fatal Flaw. The rest of the field, led by 100-1 shot Frozen Fantasy, well beaten.
Gerald said, “She’s made history and that was all we wanted, you can’t take it away!”
He said he had never expected her to go handy and having previously said only a good horse could have done what she did in the Allan Robertson i.e. come from an impossible finish with just 200m to go and mow then down, he agreed that it was only a “very good horse” who could win with authority from anywhere in the running.
S’Manga Khumalo said. “ I was calm … I was relaxed (when she lost a shoe at the start). I stayed away from her and let the guys do their job. Mr Botes said he was happy to run her without shoes … I was a bit shocked, but I said no problem. A little bit better out the gates this time. She was composed and relaxed, so I didn’t want to rush her. Coming into the straight, I wanted to aim her out but thought, let me wait. I saw Piere starting to move, so I asked her a little bit and she took off. It was a very memorable race for me. This win (of all her three group wins) was a picture and one to single out … the main one that I will always cherish. To Bling fans, whoop whoop!”
Barend Botes said, “It doesn’t normally happen for me to get young horses. I normally buy horses in training. I never thought in my wildest dreams, a horse like this would come my way. She’s a special animal … God made her a little better than the rest. She normally jumps slow, but S’Manga got her in a position from that draw … it’s untold. How that happened, I don’t know. I’m fortunate. The stable … the grooms … the whole team …. I can stress … and they pay for it. There’s a lot to be grateful for”.
Asked about the unshod front feet, Barend quipped, “Zola Budd also ran without shoes!”
Gerald Kalil said, “It’s like a dream come true”.
Gerald’s wife Karen said, “I’m from Yorkshore, so I never have nothing to say, but today I am just dumbstruck!”
Gerald liked what he saw of Quid Pro Quo’s sire Lance on the race track, so kept the son of Jet Master in mind when he was retired to stud.
He raced Quid Quo Pro’s mother Delightful Diva (The Sheik) with Barend Botes to win five races and run 14 places. He has done well with her at stud as she has had eight runners and seven winners, including Listed winner Daring Diva (King Of Kings).
Gerald conferred with Barend about sending the mare to Lance, because Barend has developed a software program which apparently returns accurate results for suitable matchings.
Barend agreed Lance, who stands at Leon Lotz’s Heuningfontein Stud in Middelburg in the Karoo, would be a fine match.
Gerald actually has one share in Lance.
However, the story does not end there and Gerald said after her win in the Golden Slipper, “I’m really glad I bought her back, really really glad, and now we’ve got a good formula for breeding!”
Gerald bought her back for R60,000 at last year’s KZN Yearling Sale.
She has now earned R1,769,000 and is worth a lot more than than that with a season or two of racing and a stud career ahead of her.
