One Way Traffic will be out to further improve the outstanding record his sire Dynasty has in the Gold Cup (Candiese Lenferna Photography)
Sarah Whitelaw
In 1978, the first crop of Hobnob arrived in South Africa. From that crop came four stakes winners, notably Royal Line, winner of the 1984 G2 Gold Bowl, and Big Bentley, runner up in the 1984 Gold Bowl.
From there, Hobnob would go on to sire a host of Derby and Oaks winners, as well as a number of the country’s top stayers. Hobnob’s third crop produced G1 SA Oaks winner Novenna (third dam of dual South African Horse Of The Year) while his following crop produced Iglesias, whose wins included a triumph in the now defuct Listed Gauteng Cesarewitch.
Perhaps his best crop, born in 1985, produced G1 OK Gold Bowl winner Honey Chunk, Respectable and Penance, first and second in the 1989 G2 Natal Oaks, G2 SA Oaks runner up National Beauty, G2 SA Derby winner Kadarko, and G1 Gold Cup runner up Hula King.
Neil Orford, who stood Hobnob, had the following to say about his late star sire, “Hobnob was a wonderful stallion and I remember both Fred Rickaby and Terrence Millard said he would be a good stallion before he had runners. One year, his Topa Inca won the SA Derby, his daughter St Just won the the SA Oaks and Hula King finished a close second in the G1 Gold Cup. He was a beautiful very well balanced horse with perfect legs and was rated at 118. His best produce all had very good conformation and the neck to head attachment had to just flow in if that was not right they didn’t run.”
Since the days of Hobnob, however, there has been a scarcity of stallions viewed as a source of pure stamina. Trends in South Africa follow international ones, with modern day Gold Cup and St Legers invariably shunted off to the National Hunt sire ranks when retired to stud. The fact that local races run over 2400m are regarded as staying races, whereas in many countries overseas a 2400m race is a middle distance or classic contest, further underlines the lack of stamina and lack of depth in “staying” races in general.
The parcity of stayers and staying races in South Africa is such, that our premier staying race, the Gold Cup, has been downgraded to a G3 contest.
A look at the pedigrees, in terms of stamina, of the runners for the 2024 G3 World Pool Gold Cup make for interesting reading.
One Way Traffic: Dynasty -Careful Hiker
A son of July winning champion Dynasty, One Way Traffic shares his sire with former Gold Cup winners Ancestral Fore, Dynasty’s Blossom, and It’s My Turn, while another son, Made To Conquer, finished second, to Dynasty’s Blossom, in the 2019 Gold Cup. Dynasty also sired Blake and Let It Rain, both of whom ran third in the Gold Cup. (Dynastry is also sire of Futura, whose son Future Pearl won the Gold Cup last year and is hot favourite this year). One Way Traffic’s dam Careful Hiker won from 1400m to 2000m, and ran third in the G1 Thekwini Stakes over 1600 metres. Careful Hiker, a daughter of Broodmare Of The Year Our Table Mountain (who won up to 1600 metres), is a half-sister to G1 winners Cloth Of Cloud and Silver Mountain, as well as to the temperamental Helderberg Blue, runner up in the 2016 Gold Cup. She is also a half-sister to Listed Aquanaut Handicap winner Wonderous Climber, a Dynasty three-parts brother to One Way Traffic.
Breeze Over: Twice Over -Lebombo Breeze
From the same family as Fort Wood (sire of Gold Cup winner Thundering Star and champion stayers Elusive Fort and Saddlewood), Breeze Over’s four time G1 winning sire Twice Over won from 1600 to 2100 metres, has sired graded stakes winners over a host of distance with his son Sand And Sea winning the G1 Gold Medallion over 1200 metres, and another son, Doublemint, twice victorious in the G3 Chairman’s Cup over 2500m. Breeze Over is out of the Giant’s Causeway mare Lebombo Breeze, a winner over 1800m, and he is a half-brother to 2023 G3 Cape Punters Cup winner Hluhluwe (by Trippi) who has won from 1200m to 1600m, as well as to Listed East Cape Guineas third You Know Who -a son of What A Winter who won four times up to 2000m. Lebombo Breeze is a half-sister to G3 Victress Stakes winner Fresnaye (who beat Gold Cup winner Dynasty’s Blossom when victorious in the Listed Winter Oaks over 2200m) as well as to Howl, the winning (over1400m) over recent G3 Langerman runner up All Out For Six.
Master Redoute: Querari -Lady Redoute
A son of German champion Querari, who won from 1400-2000m including the G1 Premio Presidente Della Repubblica GBI Racing over 2000 metres. Himself a son of champion sprinter and G1 winning two-year-old Oasis Dream, Querari has sired G1 winners Bavarian Beauty, Querari Falcon and Rio Querari but is yet to sire a G1 winner over further than 1600 metres. His dam Lady Redoute, whose multiple champion sire Redoute’s Choice won G1 races from 1200m to 1600m, won twice over 1600m, and her dam Macedon Lady won four times up to 1750 including the G1 MRC Thousand Guineas.
Son Of Raj: Duke Of Marmalade -Freudiana
The deceased Duke Of Marmalade, winner of five G1 races including the 2008 King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes over a mile and a half, was a sire who made his mark in top class staying races. Not only did he sire Big Orange (winner of the G1 Gold Cup over about 4000m), but he also sired St Leger winner Simple Verse and Melbourne Cup runner Marmelo among others. Son Of Raj is a full-brother to G3 Gold Cup runner up Arumugam, who won the Listed Racehorse Owners Association Stayers over 3200 metres.
Nebraas: Vercingetorix -Noor Dubai
Equus Champion Stayer of 2020-2021, Nebraas is by Vercingetorix -whose sire Silvano sired Gold Cup winners Aslan and Wavin’ Flag. However, Vercingetorix has shown himself as more than capable of top sprinters and has sired Alesian Chief, Ambiorix, Mrs Geriatrix and Vernichey-all of whom won G1 races over 1200 metres. Winner of the 2021 Gold Cup, Nebraas is out of Noor Dubai, who won once over 1900 metres. Noor Dubai, whose third dam is outstanding miler and ten time G1 winner Miesque, was sired by Archipenko (sired by Miesque’s son Kingmambo) -winner of six races up to 2000m including the 2008 G1 Audemars Piguet QE II Cup at Sha Tin.
Future Pearl: Futura -Arabian Pearl
Winner of the Gold Cup last year, Future Pearl shares his four time G1 winning sire Futura (who won up to 2000m and ran third and fourth in the G1 Vodacom Durban July over 2200m) with horses varying from Sweet Future (winner of the Listed Bauhinia Handicap over 1000 metres) to the likes of G3 Chairman’s Cup winner and fellow Gold Cup hopeful Future Swing, G2 Track And Ball Oaks winner Pink Tourmaline and Listed Durbanville Cup winner
Thefutureisbright. He is out of G1 Woolavington 2200 runner up Arabian Pearl (who won up to 2400m), the granddam of Explosive Bond -winner of the Listed TAB Spook Express Stakes over 2400m. Arabian Pearl has produced horses who have won from 1200m to 3200m. Arabian Pearl was sired by former Epsom Derby runner and G1 July Handicap runner up Al Mufti, who shares his sire Roberto with dual St Leger winner Touching Wood.
Madison Valley: Mambo In Seattle -Valdovino
By G1 Travers Stakes runner up (over 2000m) Mambo In Seattle (whose three parts brother Lemon Drop Kid won the Belmont Stakes), Madison Valley (like Future Pearl out of a mare by July runner up Al Mufti) is a half-brother to nine winners notably Chefano and Vino Veritas.The former, won Hong Kong’s G3 Queen Mother Memorial Cup over a mile and a half, while Vino Veritas won up to 2200m and ran third in the G2 Gold Circle Oaks over 2400 metres.
His dam Valdovino won five times up to 1900m and her full-sister Vanilla Silk produced Sunshine Silk -winner of the 2019 G3 Gold Bowl over 3200 metres.
Baratheon: Jackson -Pure Class
From the same family as 2024 G1 Golden Horse Sprint (1200m) winner Lucky Lad, Baratheon is out of Pure Class, who won four times from 1000m to 1400m. Pure Class, a full-sister to G1 Empress Club Stakes winner Little Miss Magic, is out of Al Nibari, a daughter of Al Mufti who won three times from 1400m to 1600m. Baratheon shares his triple G1 winning sire Jackson with stakes winners ranging from Freed From Desire (winner of the Listed Swallow Stakes over 1160m) to dual G3 winner Pretty Young Thing.
Master Fuego: Master Of My Fate -Umlilo
Master Of My Fate, who won from 1200m to 1800m, has sired 25 stakes winners ranging from Tempting Fate (winner of the G1 Gold Medallion over 1200m) to African Adventure (winner of the G3 WSB Best Odds, First Caradoc Gold Cup over 2850 metres). Master Of My Fate’s sire Jet Master won eight G1 races, including the Cape Flying Championship over 1000 metres. Master Fuego, whose broodmare sire Fort Wood is also damsire of Gold Cup winner Mokaro, is a half-brother to six winners notably Eye Of The Prophet, winner of the 2023 G2 World Sports Betting Gauteng Guineas (1600m). His dam Umlilo won over 1950m, and her own brother Cask won the G2 Midmar Premier Trophy over 1800 metres.
Aragosta: Rafeef –Miss Galidora
The 2022 G1 World Sports Betting SA Derby winner, eighth in the 2023 Gold Cup, is a son of G1 Computaform Sprint winner Rafeef, whose progeny include a pair of G1 Computaform Sprint winners in Master Archie and Thunderstruck.
Aragosta is a full-brother to G2 TAB Camellia Stakes/G3 Joburg Tourism Carry On Alice Stakes winner Mrs Browning (who has won up to 1450m). Their dam Miss Galidora was sired by the mighty Galileo, sire of Ascot Gold Cup winners Order Of St George and Kyprios.
Future Swing: Futura –Carousel Swing
By the same sire as defending Gold Cup winner Future Pearl, Future Swing is bred on the same Futura/Trippi which has produced runners ranging from Sweet Future (a stakes winner over 1000m) to Pink Tourmaline (winner of the G2 Track And Ball Oaks over 2400m). His dam Carousel Swing won twice from 1400m to 1600m and was sired by sprinter-miler influence Trippi. However, Carousel Swing, out of a G2 Oaks winning daughter of Badger Land) is a half-sister to Equus Champion and Gold Cup winner Jeppe’s Reef.
Ponte Pietra: Vercingetorix –Fair Verona
One of two runners in the race out of mares sired by dual Derby winner and legendary sire Galileo (sire of Gold Cup winners Kyprios and Order Of St George), he will be looking to provide Vercingetorix with a second Gold Cup winner, with Vercingetorix sire of 2021 Gold Cup winner Nebraas. Ponte Pietra’s dam Fair Verona only ran once, but she is a full-sister to At First Sight, runner up to Workforce in the 2010 G1 Investec Derby over a mile and a half.
Raiseahallelujah: Querari –Flo Jo
One of two runners in the race for Querari, he is out of Flo Jo, a twice placed daughter of top miler Black Minnaloushe. Flo Jo is a half-sister to three stakes winners notably Seal, who won the G1 SA Derby (2450m) and G2 Gold Vase (3000m).
Zeus: Soft Falling Rain –Lil’ Bacio
Zeus will be bidding to go one better than his half-brother Paybackthemoney, who finished second, beaten less than a length, in the 2020 Gold Cup. Another half-brother, Indian Ocean, is second reserve runner for the 2024 Gold Cup. Lil’ Bacio, also dam of 2020 G1 SA Derby winner Out Of Your League, is an unraced daughter of Bacio, winner of six races including the Listed Durbanville Oaks (Bacio shared her sire Del Sarto with Gold Cup winner Voodoo Charm among others.
Shoot The Rapids: Erupt –Rapid Flow
One of the best staying sons of Dubawi horse Erupt, whose wins included the 2016 G1 Pattison Canadian International over 2400 metres. His dam Rapid Flow, from the family of Arc winner and outstanding sire Vaguely Noble, won six times up to 2400m and ran third in the Michaelmas Handicap over 1900 metres. A granddaughter of outstanding sprinter Dayjur, Rapid Flow’s sire Modern Day won 8 times up to 1600m including two runnings of the Listed Kings Cup over 1600m.
