SP Sprint - 4 March 2026 by Sporting Post

TURFFONTEIN ALL EYES ON

A New Stallion

Paardeberg welcome Kikkuli

12 Classic Day

Turffontein action

What A Dynasty

The legend continues 31 RCS Premier Yearling Sale

The supplement!

140 A Glorious Glow Via Africa to the world…

On the cover

The Real Prince and Craig Zackey head North this weekend for the Wilgerbosdrift HF Oppenheimer Gr1 Horse Chestnut Stakes. Chase Liebenberg took the photograph after the son of Gimmethegreenlight won the L’Ormarins Gr1 King’s Plate on 10 January.

Issue: 09/2026

The presentation of Kikkuli (GB) to breeders at Paardeberg Stud in Paarl, last Thursday, heralded more than just a welcome addition to the stallion ranks of the Western Cape.

It reminded us of the extraordinary success rate of his breeders, the world renowned Juddmonte Farm, and the policies which enabled a Saudi Prince to become one of the most successful breeders in the history of horse racing.

Robin Bruss writes that the presentation began with a video of Great Britain’s Champion Jockey, Oisin Murphy, standing with Kikkuli at his new stallion box at Paardeberg and enthusing about his former mount as a future stallion.

“He’s a half brother to the great FRANKEL” said Oisin, “and probably the best bred sire ever to arrive in South Africa and by the exceptional European champion miler KINGMAN, his first son to stand at stud here.”

“KIKKULI is a beautiful horse with strength and substance and a gorgeous mover,” said Murphy.

“I rode him into photo finish second place in the Gr3 Jersey Stakes over 7f at Royal Ascot, and we thought we had won but the photo showed we had just missed by a whisker to Haatem, who had just run second by a head in the Gr1 Irish 2000 Guineas, and third in the Gr1 English 2000 Guineas. Behind us was the third and fourth from the Gr1 Irish 2000 Guineas, and subsequent Gr1 winner, Never So Bold.”

This was Gr1 equivalent form, and especially so considering that Kikkuli had been pocketed early on in the 19 horse field and was unlucky not to have won.

Luck had not followed Kikkuli – even his trainer had commented that the burden of being Frankel’s little brother had placed enormous expectations on the stable, with media scrutiny following every move, and the constant faith that his world championship pedigree, by the champion sire Kingman, out of the Broodmare of the Year Kind, by champion sire Danehill, and an astonishing 21 Gr1 wins or places under the first dam would guarantee Kikkuli would yield Juddmonte’s 247th Group 1 Win – another astonishing and yet daunting statistic.

After breaking his maiden at Newmarket over 7f, he campaigned only in Stakes races, always expectant, like carrying the grandstand on your back.

If the Royal Ascot 7f Jersey Stakes in only his 4th start had done nothing else, it had indicated that Frankel’s little brother had the Gr1 ability to get to that wish list of #247 and uphold the family honour. But, like anything in the roller coaster game of racing, it was not to be.

He started 9/5 hot favourite for the Gr1 Prix Jean Prat in France at a mile, but the ground came up soft, and as a firm ground specialist, he ran below form.

Next up the Gr2 Hungerford Stakes over 7f at Newbury and a four horse battle royal which ended in a photo between Kikkuli and three other Gr2 winners, and he was beaten a neck. One of these had just placed in the Gr1 Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot, another marker that here was a horse on the cusp of the elite level.

It was now autumn, and what if Kikkuli, last foal of the world’s best broodmare Kind, and brother to not only the unbeaten 10 time Gr1 winner Frankel and the greatest racehorse ever seen in Europe, as well as Noble Mission, (who won three Gr1 races between 2000m and 2400m), was to uphold the family honour by winning the Gr1 Breeders Cup World Championship at Keeneland in November. What a target, what a story that would be! The last foal of Kind to make good.

Kikkuli was shipped to America for his prep race, the Gr1 Coolmore Turf Mile at Keeneland. His chief competition would likely be Coolmore owned Mountain Bear, second in the Gr1 Breeders Cup Juvenile the year before and had run behind Haatem in the Gr1 Irish 2000 Guineas, and finished fourth in the Jersey Stakes, two lengths behind Haatem and Kikkuli. So he should be well held on form. The other was American contender Carl Spackler, who had just won a Gr1 at Saratoga and would add two more Gr1 wins.

Frankie Dettori, who had won the Breeders Cup Mile on Expert Eye for Juddmonte, was entrusted for this ride. This plan should have yielded the Gr1 victory desired and the qualifying for a “Win and You’re In” invitation to Kikkuli to the Breeders Cup World Championship a month later.

The Bloodhorse magazine tipped Kikkuli to win. Hopes were very high.

But, here comes racing’s regular hard luck story. Let’s take it from the authoritative journal Timeform:

“Kikkuli shaped better than the bare result suggests, meeting repeated trouble in the final 1f, and has been rated alongside the third as a result; waited with, shaken up entering straight, short of room 1f out, then no clear run behind wall of horses last 1/2f and had to be eased.”

Carl Spackler wins, Mountain Bear is third two lengths off the winner, and Kikkuli runs just behind the placed horses a further two lengths behind. Luckless.

The Breeders Cup dream gone – but now, the South Africans, in partnership with British -based prominent owner and breeder, Bjorn Nielsen, a great friend of Oisin Murphy, set their sights to get Kikkuli for stud South Africa – and eventually, they succeeded.

“Had Kikkuli’s Jersey Stakes photo gone the other way, or had not encountered traffic in the Gr1 Keeneland Mile, he wouldn’t be standing at stud in South Africa,” announced Cait Jourdan at the Paardeberg stud presentation of Kikkuli.

Racing Luck can run two ways at the same time! Juddmonte’s miss was South Africa’s gain.

Kikkuli is a 16 hands quality horse, very correct, with great bone and substance and hard to fault as an individual. Timeform commented: “Strong, well made colt, smart performer, acts on firm ground.”

Two things stood out in the presentation to breeders.

The first is the policies that Juddmonte employed in selective breeding since beginning 46 years ago in 1980.

HRH Prince Khalid bin Abdullah believed that broodmares were the more important component in breeding than stallions and he set about acquiring high class racemares irrespective of pedigree when he began.

He then sent them to the most proven stallions and as the stud grew in size and stature, his policy of racing all his homebreds, and selecting only those that exhibited the performance or the traits he sought for the development of his bloodlines, set his tone and policy. Anything crooked or infirm was culled without reserve.

What has developed over time is a generation to generation purity in the class of the bloodlines, the elimination of most of nature’s foibles, so that every crop has an increased probability of generating a greater level of success.

It’s no accident that Juddmonte bred FRANKEL (Galileo – Kind) the greatest horse in the history of turf racing, for the first 3 dams are ALL stakes winners. And all of the grandparents are Graded Stakes winners, three of them Gr1 winners, the fourth is Kind’s dam, the Gr3 Lancashire Oaks winner, herself dam of Powerscourt, who topped the international classification in 2003, winning the Gr1 Arlington Million and then the Gr1 Tattersalls Gold Cup.

Kikkuli follows the mould. His sire KINGMAN, the champion miler won 4 Group 1 races and has already sired 14 individual Gr1 Winners ranging from 1200m to 2400m.

Kikkuli – to stand at Paardeberg Stud in the new season | Credit: Supplied

Gr1 Winner KINGMAN is by Gr1 winner Invincible Spirit out of Gr1 winner Zenda. It’s another pedigree construct like FRANKEL, where both parents are champions and all of the grandparents are Gr1 winners, three of them Gr1. All genetic roads lead to Mecca, as the saying goes.

Frankel’s full brother Noble Mission won his three Gr1’s up to 2400m to add a classic distance dimension, but interestingly, retired to Kentucky as a stallion, he sired his best son on the dirt, Code of Honour winning the Gr1 Travers Stakes and Gr1 Jockey Club Gold Cup and $2,9m.

But then he also sired the oddly named Noballs, who won the Gr1 Breeders Cup Sprint at 6f, demonstrating that real class can produce speed and stamina, which is the hallmark of champion sires.

Juddmonte’s private stud book reveals that the purity of their bloodlines, and the ongoing class produced from their mares, yields a success rate some 8x greater than the average breeder. And Gr1 winners emerge every year and in every crop.

Not only did they produce the horse of the world in Frankel, but in the female division, they bred

ENABLE, the best filly in Europe, who won 10 Gr1 races herself, including the Arc twice. Her sire Nathaniel was by a Gr1 winner out of a Gr1 winner. Her dam was a stakes winner and the first three dams are stakes winners. It’s yet another road to Mecca.

Generally the improvement of the breed advances because of selection for racing class and therefore stallions are selected because of their ability on the racetrack, and often, stallions who were great racehorses, and yet not particularly well bred, will shine.

Take for example, 6x champion sires each Persian Wonder (by Persian Gulf) and Foveros (by Averof) in South Africa. They succeeded because they could run.

But then, in South Africa we come to a second type of stallion that has succeeded well – and this was the second notable point made at the Paardeberg presentation.

This is the success rate at stud in South Africa of horses with a world-class pedigree along with above average racing ability, if not quite able to get to the pinnacle of a Gr1 win.

Champion miler, Kingman | Credit: Supplied

Take for example, Al Mufti (USA) (by Champion Roberto from Broodmare of the Year Lassie Dear), Gr2 placed in Europe, Gr1 second in the Durban July, never managed to win any stakes race but achieved champion sire status and sire of sires Captain Al.

Another was Rakeen (USA) (by Northern Dancer from the champion racemare Glorious Song). He was a Gr2 winner in SA, ran third in the Gr1 Durban July and sired the great Jet Master, who won 9 Gr1 races and was 6 times Champion sire; Jallad (USA) (by champion Blushing Groom out of 4xGr1 winner Petrava), won a Gr2 in South Africa and became Champion Sire in 2006.

These are stallions who have left an indelible mark on the breed in South Africa!

Hopes therefore are as high and full of expectation for KIKKULI as a sire in South Africa.

He never did fill the Frankel shoes as a racehorse, although Gr1 ability was within him, but now as a stallion in South Africa, his second career provides his next shot at championship glory.

Following the Juddmonte model, he would want to receive stakes winning mares, or daughters of Gr1 parents, or sisters to Gr1 winners. The mares, as Juddmonte has shown, are as important, if not more so than the stallion.

KIKKULI will stand for a fee of R35 000 at Paardeberg Stud, small enough to provide access to greatness in pedigree for any breeder, but high enough to ensure that high quality mares will want to cross the threshold.

Interestingly, Juddmonte themselves retained the right to breed mares to Kikkuli.

And that brings us to the last word which comes from Bjorn Nielsen himself, owner/ breeder of the great European champion Stradivarius, who won 20 races – seven at Gr1 level – and £3,4 million, who reminded us of another maxim in breeding: “Blood will out. It always does.”

• Next week – Robin Bruss tells us more about Bjorn Nielsen.

WILGERBOSDRIFT 2026

TRIPLE TIARA

Wilgerbosdrift congratulates the connections of

HAZY DAZY

on winning THE WILGERBOSDRIFT

GAUTENG FILLIES GUINEAS (Gr 2) 1 600m the first leg of the Wilgerbosdrift Triple Tiara.

Owners: Mr D Dasrath & Mrs C Dasrath, Messrs RP Macnab, S Poriazis, V Sobaren, X Spies & D Vayapuri

Trainer: Corne Spies

Jockey: Trent Mayhew

Breeder: Breedon Stud Close Corporation

See It Again wins the WSB Cape Town Met – together with third-placed The Real Prince, they run in the big one on Saturday | Credit: Chase Liebenberg

CLASSIC DAY – A BUMPER CARD!

Visiting trainers will add to the spectacle of what promises to be a vintage renewal of Classic Day at Turffontein on Saturday, with the likes of Dean Kannemeyer, Justin Snaith, Dean Smith, Alan Greeff and Alyson Wright travelling for the rich pickings on offer.

James Crawford is headquartered at Futura Park in Philippi down in the Cape, but has a satellite yard at Randjesfontein, so won’t mind that he doesn’t qualify for the same ‘visitor’ tag as the mentioned quintet.

4Racing’s The Championships 2026 comprises the Triple Crown and Triple Tiara series’ and the Championship Finale on Saturday, 25 April.

The card features the Wilgerbosdrift HF Oppenheimer Gr1 Horse Chestnut Stakes, a race last won by a Cape visitor in 2023 when Trip Of Fortune scored for Candice Bass.

Saturday’s renewal is a genuine clash of the titans with Justin Snaith fielding his 2026 World Sports Betting Cape Town Met winner See It Again, while fellow Capetonian Dean Kannemeyer brings 2025 Hollywoodbets Durban July and 2026 L’Ormarins King’s Plate champion The Real Prince, to the party.

The duo face Highveld heavyweights, including the reigning Highveld Horse of the Season, Fire Attack, his stablemate and 2025 Betway Summer Cup winner Atticus Finch, and two former Wilgerbosdrift HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes winners in Cosmic Speed and Main Defender, among others.

With Mike & Mathew de Kock’s charge Splittheeights and Corne Spies-trained Hazy Dazy winning the first legs of the TAB Triple Crown and Wilgerbosdrift Triple Tiara respectively on 7 February, the action resumes with the HKJC World Pool Gr1 SA Classic and the Wilgerbosdrift Gr1 SA Fillies Classic.

The second leg of the Triple Tiara, the Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic evolved from the 2000m SA Oaks Trial was transformed into the Gr1 SA Fillies Classic as the Triple Tiara’s equivalent second leg to the SA Classic.

This year’s renewal has received support from across the country with reigning SA Champion trainer Justin Snaith saddling Lowveld Lily and EC Champion Trainer Alan Greeff reigning Equus Champion 2yo Filly Golden Palm, to renew rivalry with the SA Fillies Guineas winner, Hazy Dazy (Corne Spies), again partnered by apprentice Trent Mayhew.

The second leg of the Triple Crown, the SA Classic, started life as the Benoni Guineas and was first run over 1600m at Gosforth Park in 1913, when it was won by Sir G Harrar’s Hailstorm (Goring Heath), trained by W Randall and ridden by Ike Strydom.

The distance of the race was increased to 1800m in 1982. The first horse to win the race as an 1800m contest was David Payne’s grey filly Breyani (Jamaico), who took on the colts at Gosforth Park and reigned supreme for jockey Robbie Sham on 6 March 1982.

In the same year the race was moved to autumn from its traditional time slot towards the end of the year. In the 1990s, the SA Classic alternated between Gosforth Park and Turffontein for several years.

In 1999 the race returned to its traditional venue at Gosforth Park, but Turffontein later became its permanent home after the East Rand racecourse was closed and sold.

This year’s renewal promises to be an equally fascinating affair with Splittheeights taking on his sensational Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas winning stablemate Jan Van Goyen, Sean Tarry’s Gauteng Guineas runner-up Grand Empire and Candice & Tammi Dawson’s Dingaans winner, Trust.

Classic Day is a World Pool fixture, with twelve races carded and the first off at 11h30.

Please click here to see the feature fields.

WHEN A WISH COMES TRUE

Justin Snaith and Richard Fourie celebrated their respective sixth Lucky Fish Gr1 Cape Derby victories when the Legislate filly Wish List followed in the hoofprints of her sire, who was victorious in the race in 2014, as she became the first fairer sex winner of the classic in the 21st century.

Mike de Kock saddled Dog Wood to win the Cape Derby in 1999, and Wish List (17-10) carried the flag at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday as she powered home up the inside to beat stablemate Note To Self (5-1) by three quarters of a length in a time of 126,33 secs for the 2000m.

Pacemaker Viva’s Liberte (16-1) stayed on for third a further 2,25 lengths back, with Star Major (5-2) capping the quartet. Both the top two run in the Nancy Hossack black-and-white silks , made famous by her late Dad Jack Mitchell’s, champions. While Richard Fourie gave Wish List an easy gearing down ride in the latter stages, Grant van Niekerk’s post-race accolades about Note To Self

are worth noting. A Maine Chance Farms bred daughter of SA Horse Of The Year Legislate

(Dynasty), Wish List is the first stakes winner produced by Silvan mare Wind Chill, who is also the dam of the useful Windrunner and hails from a powerful female line.

Now a winner of 3 races – two Grade 1’s – with 4 places from 8 starts for stakes of R1 726 863, Wish List is only set for better things.

Why Did He Not Object?

Grant van Niekerk said it had been some time since he had ridden a horse of the quality of runner-up Note To Self and indicated that he would have just about won it, had Fourie not ‘cut me off’ at around the 400m. The replay shows Fourie glancing back as he shifts Wish List towards the rail at that point. So why did Grant not ask for a race review and object?

Jonathan Bloch, Nancy Hossack and Zac Bloch enjoy the post-race buz | Credit: Chase Liebenberg

A CAPE DERBY DYNASTY

No stallion has had a more profound impact on the Gr1 Cape Derby than former Ridgemont standout Dynasty, whose granddaughter Wish List beat the boys in the Lucky Fish-sponsored renewal last weekend to become the first female winner of the classic this millennium.

Himself a former winner of the classic, the son of Fort Wood was in a class of his own when he sauntered to a 3,.50 length victory all of 23 years ago in what was the first of a grand four-win Gr1 streak, which also comprised the SA Guineas, Daily News 2000

and ultimately the Vodacom Durban July, where he overcame the widest draw to defeat Yard-Arm by the best part of a length.

No surprise then that he was rewarded with both Horse of the Year and Champion 3yo honours.

Dynasty went on to enjoy a stellar stud career and emulated Fort Wood by siring a trio of Horse of the Year recipients in Irish Flame, Legislate and Futura.

Although he never garnered that coveted General Sires Title (he was narrowly denied by Captain Al

The champion Dynasty wins the Vodacom Durban July under Robbie Fradd | Credit: Supplied

in 2014), he established himself as a perpetual top-five stallion and more importantly, stamped his authority on the Cape Derby in a big way as the sire of four winners and two seconds, all in the space of six years. Let that sink in for a moment.

Brett Crawford-trained Jackson became Dynasty’s first Cape Derby winner with a visually impressive two-length victory over star miler Variety Club in the 2012 renewal. Variety Club had sailed into the lead in midstretch, but initial doubts about the Guineas winner’s ability to see out the 2000m trip proved on the mark and he was running on empty when Jackson pounced and

“Wish List has the distinction of being the first and only Cape Derby winner to follow in the footsteps of both her sire and grandsire!”

it was race over as he drew off to assert his authority with aplomb.

Twelve months later, Dynasty almost pulled off a Derby double, with Dynamic having to settle for second behind Capetown Noir.

A second Derby success followed in 2014, when Legislate put a disappointing Cape Guineas effort well and truly behind him with a smart length defeat of Captain America.

The 2015 Derby belonged to Mike de Kock-trained Ertijaal, who inflicted a dominant 4,75 length defeat on Dynasty’s Cape Guineas winner Act Of War, but a year later, Dynasty sired his third Derby

It’s My Turn wins the 2016 Cape Derby under Piere Strydom | Credit: Supplied

Questioning powers home under Richard Fourie | Credit: Chase Liebenberg

– AND MORE ANSWERS! ANSWERS

Vaughan Marshall and Richard Fourie teamed up with recent L’Ormarins King’s Plate runner-up Questioning to win the 1200m Gr2 sprint feature on the Lucky Fish Cape Derby Seafood & Jazz Festival raceday at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday.

Dating back to 1957, the R600 000 Khaya Stables Gr2 Diadem Stakes is the oldest weight-for-age sprint on the South African racing calendar and attracted a competitive fourteen-horse field for the 2026 renewal.

Taking his stakes earnings to over R2 million, the 33-10 tote favourite Questioning was always in the firing line and came forward

powerfully to overtake long-time leader O’Tenikwa (6-1) in the final 300m to draw clear to a convincing 2,50 length win in a time of 70,25 secs for the 1200m.

Dean Kannemeyer’s consistent Outlaw King (7-1) was a further 1,50 lengths away in third, with KZN raider I Am Giant (4-1) running another game race to cap the quartet.

A Foster family home-bred, Questioning is a son of Maine Chance Farm’s Oasis Dream stallion Querari out of the twice winning Captain Al mare Wheredowego, who raced for Vaughan Marshall.

Raced by a partnership of Greg and Gina Bortz, Mukund Gujadhur and the Wernars family, Questioning is a half-brother to the accomplished stakes-winning stayer Senso

Unico, who also raced out of the top Milnerton yard.

The 5yo has won 8 of his 23 starts with 9 places for stakes of R798 125, and could see action next in the IOS Gr2 Drill Hall Stakes at Hollywoodbets Greyville on 2 May.

Karl Neisius and Jehan Malherbe did the honours on behalf of sponsors Khaya Stables.

Richard Fourie and Vaughan Marshall embrace after the plan came together | Credit: Chase Liebenberg

Questioning’s dam Wheredowego (Gerrit Schlechter) beats Pure Power (Aldo Domeyer) to win the Kenilworth Fillies Nursery in 2013 | Credit: Supplied

STEYNS SPICE IT UP

Sons of Varsfontein’s Captain Al stallion Erik The Red, who won the same feature himself back in 2020, filled the first two places in the R1 million Ridgemont Gr3 Cape Of Good Hope Nursery at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday.

The opening leg of the carryover Pick 6 produced a thrilling finish with under a length covering the quartet as the Piet and Elbert Steyn-trained JC Le Roux Listed Summer Juvenile Stakes winner Red Spice (9-2) registered a feature double with a doggedly fought win.

With a number of lengths to make up inside the 300m, Red Spice stuck gamely to his task

under Keagan de Melo and fought on to beat Glen Kotzen’s maiden Roskilde (25-1) by 0,40 lengths in a time of 71,21 secs for the 1200m.

The runner-up’s stablemate Lady Nancy (25-2) was a half length away in third, with the tote favourite Querari Dancer (9-4) completing the quartet.

Red Spice (Keagan de Melo) beats Roskilde (Calvin Habib) in an Erik The Red 1-2 | Credit: Chase Liebenberg

Bred by Terry Andrews, the winner is raced by a partnership of Mukund Gujadhur, J M Lim Fat, Rikesh Sewgoolam and the Wernars family.

Red Spice is a son of Erik The Red (Captain Al) out of the five-time winning Right Approach mare Ikebana, who was one of the first horses raced in South Africa by the Gujadhur family.

Purchased by Justin Vermaak for R250 000 off the 2025 Race Coast Sales March Yearling Sale, Red Spice has now registered 2 wins with 2 places from his 5 starts and stakes of R1 073 500.

The R500 000 Pick 6 carryover delivered a nett pool of R2 640 122,49, thus falling slightly short of the R3 million target. The minimum dividend after the opening leg was R5,20.

Laurence Wernars gives Keagan de Melo a hug | Credit: Chase Liebenberg

THE 2026 RACE COAST SALES PREMIER YEARLING SALE

13 & 14

MARCH – HOLLYWOODBETS KENILWORTH

KIND THANKS TO OUR ADVERTISERS

Black Swan Stud

Blue Sky Thoroughbreds

Drakenstein Stud

Hopes & Dreams Stud

Klawervlei Stud

Kommetdieding Syndicate

Kuda

Maine Chance Farms

Master Archie Syndicate

Millstream Farm

Narrow Creek Stud

Normandy Stud

Paardeberg Stud

Pendenra Stud

Precentor Place

Prosper Stud

Race Coast Sales

Sandown Stud

Soetendal Estate

Winterbach Stud

On the cover Winterbach Stud are selling #211 as agent. She’s a beautiful daughter of Declarationofpeace out of the stakes-winning Captain Al mare, Earth’s Orbit. Romi Bettison took the photograph.

THE POWER OF PREMIER!

The 2026 Race Coast Premier Yearling Sale has attracted support from some of South Africa’s top breeders, with leading stallions Gimmethegreenlight, Master Of My Fate, One World, Querari, Rafeef, What A Winter and reigning champion, Vercingetorix, all well represented in the catalogue.

There is also an international flavour to this year’s sale with outstanding Gr 1 winners Cracksman and Kingman both represented, while exciting young stallions, and racecourse rivals, Jet Dark and Kommetdieding both have some exceptional members of their first crops on sale. Invincible Spirit’s Gr 1 winning son, Digital Age is another exciting young sire represented for the first time on the Premier Yearling Sale, as are the beautifully bred Gr1 winning pair of Eden Roc and Master Archie.

This year’s Premier Yearling Sale is set to take place at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Friday 13 March and Saturday 14 March.

The first day’s trading commences at 16h00, with Saturday’s sale set to get underway at 12h00. Potential buyers are invited to view the yearlings on the Wednesday and Thursday prior to the sale.

For any enquiries about the two-day sale, interested parties are asked to contact Vicky Minott at vicky@racecoast.co.za or Pippa Mickleburgh pippa@racecoast.co.za

Enjoy our lot-by-lot snapshot by clicking here.

Buy your equine dream | Credit: Race Coast Sales

VINTAGE KLAWERVLEI!

Quality is the name of the game in Klawervlei Stud’s draft for the 2026 Premier Yearling Sale. Not only is the champion nursery offering, yearlings sired by such top-class stallions as Vercingetorix, Gimmethegreenlight, Rafeef, and One World, the farm will also be offering yearlings from some of the best families in the stud book.

Another notable factor in this draft is the number of high-quality yearlings from Klawervlei’s exciting young sire Kommetdieding’s first crop.

Kommetdieding’s first yearlings include a half-sister (Lot 17) to the classy North Point, a filly (Lot 92) out of a stakes winning daughter of Silvano, and a colt (Lot 249) out of Gimmethegreenlight’s multiple graded stakes winning daughter Green Plains.

A number of the July/Met winner’s first crop’s pedigrees have duplications of either, or both, Al Mufti and Fort Wood as well as duplications of the mighty Captain Al. Klawervlei will be offering a number of offspring out of top-class stakes winners, with the likes of Gibraltar Blue, Green Plains, Heaps Of Fun, Moon In June, Return Flight, Thunder Dance,

Team Klawervlei ready for the sale! | Credit: RCS

Trinity House and Witchcraft all represented. Potential standout lots in this draft are:

Lot 123: Unnamed c Vercingetorix –Thunder Dance

A full-brother to Listed Irridescence Stakes winner Ukuduma and three-parts brother to the stakes placed She’s A Rainbow, this colt’s first two dams are both multiple Gr1 winners. His dam Thunder Dance won both the Gr1 Empress Club Stakes and Gr1 Paddock Stakes, while his granddam, Shadow Dance, a half-sister to Gr1 Cape Guineas winner and outstanding sire Captain Al, won the Gr1 Cape Fillies Guineas and Gr1 Majorca Stakes. This colt is also bred on very similar lines to the Vercingetorix sired Gr1 TAB The Premier’s Champions Challenge winner Astrix.

Lot 64: Unnamed c Gimmethegreenlight –Return Flight

By multiple champion sire

Gimmethegreenlight, whose progeny includes stars as Gimme A Nother, Yulong Prince, and The Real Prince, to name a few, this colt is out of a top-class racemare in the form of Return Flight. Equus Champion 2YO Filly of 2017-2018, Return Flight was an exceptional performer at two when she won three of five starts (by an aggregate of more than 20 lengths) including the Gr 1 Thekwini Stakes. At three, Return Flight won two legs of the Wilgerbosdrift Triple Tiara namely the Gr1 Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic and Gr2 SA Oaks.

Lot 241: Unnamed f VercingetorixGibraltar Blue

By the Klawervlei Stud bred champion and champion sire, this filly is a full sister to the

stakes placed Cullinan Blue and to recent course record breaker I’m A Fireball. A halfsister to the smart pair of Battleoftrafalgar and Pillar Of Hercules, she is out of the outstanding racemare Gibraltar Blue, whose five black type wins include a triumph in the Gr2 KRA Fillies Guineas.

Lot 60: Unnamed f VercingetorixQuite Frankly

By last season’s champion sire who is again heading the South African sires premiership, this filly is out of a Frankel half-sister to Gr2 Post Merchants third Teflon Man, who recently ran second to the highly rated All The Rage. Quite Frankly, also a half-sister to the smart Love In Winter, is out of a Dark Angel half-sister to two stakes winners, one of which produced Gr1 winning two-year-old Sudirman. This is the family of legendary Japanese champion Gentildonna among others.

Lot 102: Vauxhall Cross c VercingetorixSovereign Secret

By the sire of recent Gr1 winners Double Grand Slam and Quickstepgal, Vauxhall Cross hails from one of the best families in the South African stud book. His first three dams are all stakes winners, with his stakes winning dam Sovereign Secret a three-parts sister to champion Bela-Bela. His granddam, triple Gr1 winning Equus Champion All Is Secret, is a full-sister to Gr1 winner The Secret Is Out and a three-parts sister to dual Gr1 winner Snowdance (dam of Gr1 Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas winner Snow Pilot) and to the dam of Horse Of The Year Eight On Eighteen.

For more information on this draft, please speak to Tracey Nash on (066) 185 7197.

FIRST PREMIER YEARLING SALE KOMMETDIEDING’S

Raceform suggests that it’s a good opportunity to look back on what was written in the Sire book when the sires with first crops now went to stud in 2023.

A sire’s best progeny often appears to have one of two origins, attributable to the affinities of either of his parents.

To make a prediction about what will suit Kommetdieding the apparent affinities of his sire Elusive Fort (Fort Wood) and dam Adorable (Captain Al) need examination.

The half-dozen or so best offspring of Elusive Fort include dams by Captain Al, Argonaut and West Man.

Captain Al has Adorable (dam of Kommetdieding) and Betty Burke (dam of siblings Ernie and Freedom Charter). Argonaut has Ignition Lady (dam of siblings Catch Twenty Two and Big Burn). West Man has Siren’s Cove (dam of Siren’s Call).

All have ratings between 105 to 115.

Argonaut is a son of Western Winter, by Gone West, the latter also sire of West Man. Gone West is close kin to Elusive Fort’s damsire Secret Prospector. Their pedigrees have Mr Prospector and close kin-relatives Buckpasser and Tim Tam close up.

It is noteworthy that among the top fifteen of Elusive Fort’s best, there are three dams by Parade Leader and Windrush (both with close kin connections to Secret Prospector) and one other by Western Winter.

Kommetdieding hails from a strong sireproducing female line, tracing to Queen Of Light.

This mare is by Borealis out of Picture Play, making her very close kin to sires Alycidon and Acropolis.

The notable lines here are grandsire Donatello and grandam Aurora.

The bottom female line extends further to the mare Absurdity, full sister to Doxa. The latter is grandam of Helene de Troie, dam of famous mare La Troienne.

The pedigree make-up of Helene de Troie makes her close kin to Amuse, grandam of Queen Of Light, which in turn leads to a close kinship between La Troienne and Queen Of Light. This gives an expectation that descendants of La Troienne and of Queen Of Light might combine well.

Four of Queen Of Light’s daughters established sire-producing families: Chandelier, Crystal Palace, Picture Light and Lovely Light. Of these, Chandelier was the most prolific one. We follow the legacy of her daughter Crystal Light. Her two highest achieving descendants are Kommetdieding and Captain America., both multiple Gr1 winners.

Kommetdieding is by Elusive Fort (Fort Wood) out of a mare by Captain Al, while Captain America is by Captain Al out of a daughter of Fort Wood.

Captain Al’s influence appears to follow one of two routes: either his sire Al Mufti, or his bottom female line. Al Mufti is a son of influential mare Lassie Dear. She is by Buckpasser, possibly La Troienne’s most influential descendant. Captain Al carries a double of Buckpasser’s dam Busanda, and thus a double of La Troienne. This provides the link to Queen Of Light.

Kommetdieding’s sire Elusive Fort brings more of the same. His dam Ever Seeking is by Secret Prospector. The latter’s grandam Numbered Account is by Buckpasser out of Intriguing, herself a descendant of La Troienne, and so giving a double La T. Interestingly, Numbered Account is close kin to Lassie Dear.

The half-dozen or so best offspring of Elusive Fort include dams by Captain Al, Argonaut and West Man. Captain Al has Adorable (dam of Kommetdieding) and Betty Burke (dam of siblings Ernie and Freedom Charter). Argonaut has Ignition Lady (dam of siblings Catch Twenty Two and Big Burn). West Man has Siren’s Cove (dam of Siren’s Call). All have ratings between 105 to 115.

In addition, among the top fifteen of Elusive Fort’s best offspring, there are three with dams by Parade Leader and Windrush (both with close kin connections to Secret Prospector) and one by Western Winter.

Secret Prospector is kinbred through the bottom female line of his sire Mr Prospector (Miss Dogwood) to La Troienne and daughter Baby League. Miss Dogwood is also close kin to Businesslike, dam of Busanda.

Secret Prospector, in other words, looks to be a notable influence. In this context, note La Massine. She’s by Secret Prospector out of Northern Guest mare Karpakova, a pedigree loaded with La Troienne. La Massine is dam of champion Variety Club.

Elusive Fort’s sire Fort Wood will be of interest, as his dam Fall Aspen is close kin to Elusive Fort’s bottom line ancestor Empress. Empress is also close kin to La Troienne and to Flower

Bowl (dam of His Majesty, and Graustark – in Secret Prospector)

To summarise, suitable lines for Kommetdieding to consider:

-mares with multiples of La Troienne, which are widespread, and include Secret Prospector, Lassie Dear (Al Mufti, Captain Al, Duke Of Marmalade, Tiger Ridge, Jay Peg, etc), Northern Guest (Capetown Noir, Pomodoro), National Assembly (National Emblem, Rafeef, Vercingetorix), Complete Warrior, etc., etc.

-mares with Mr Prospector, which are widespread, notably including Secret Prospector, etc. (and generally hard to avoid);

-mares with kin-links to Secret Prospector, notably Gone West (Western Winter (Argonaut, What A Winter, Capetown Noir), West Man, Visionaire), Parade Leader, Seeking The Gold (Windrush, Lecture, Dubawi (Erupt, Willow Magic)), Forty Niner (Trippi, Distorted Humor (Flower Alley, Pathfork), Rich Man’s Gold (Kildonan));

-mares with sires from Queen Of Light’s female line, including Crystal de Roche, Welsh Pageant (Canford Cliffs, Saumarez, Second Empire, Kildonan), etc;

-mares with close kin-links to Queen Of Light, notably Alycidon (What A Winter (!), etc.), Acropolis (Kahal, Horse Chestnut, etc.); the dam of Queen Of Light is half sister to the dam of South African sire Royal Pardon (Goldmark, Vercingetorix);

-mares with Fort Wood (Dynasty, Horse Chestnut, Capetown Noir, William Longsword, etc).

Kommetdieding has 19 lots on the RCS Premier Yearling Sale.

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HERE’S A PROPER WISH LIST!

One of South Africa’s top stud farms, Maine Chance Farms, has bred and raised numerous top-class horses over the years. The latest star performer to have emerged from Maine Chance’s paddocks is this season’s classy dual Gr1 winner, Wish List.

The latter showed her class when downing Equus Champion Double Grand Slam to claim the recent Gr 1 Cartier Paddock Stakes in tremendous style. Maine Chance Farms will be offering buyers a chance to acquire their own Wish List when they bring forward an outstanding draft to the upcoming Premier Yearling Sale. Excitingly, their consignment includes a Rafeef half-brother to the aforementioned Wish List.

Their resident champion sire Vercingetorix has some very well-bred yearlings on offer, as do stallions Querari, Rafeef, The

Maine Chance Farms – consistent quality | Credit: RCS

United States, Digital Age, One World, and Kommetdieding. This draft also includes the offspring of numerous stakes winning mares including Bilateral, Dynasty’s Blossom, Girl On The Run, Maharanee, Mighty High and Wish List’s Oaks winning dam Wind Chill.

Five likely standouts in this impressive draft are:

Lot 25: Maryona f Vercingetorix –Maharanee

By the sire of such fillies and mares as Double Grand Slam, Mrs Geriatrix and Quickstepgal, this filly is out of Gr 2 4Racing South African Fillies Nursery winner Maharanee. By proven broodmare sire Flower Alley, Maharanee is a half-sister to Gr 3 Poinsettia Stakes winner Marigold Hotel and Maharanee’s granddam is Equus Champion, and dual Gr1 winner, Rat Burana.

Lot 144: Windmeetsfire c Rafeef – Wind Chill

Bred on the same cross as Gr 3 winner Mover And Shaker, this colt is a half-brother to two winners, notably this season’s Gr 1 Cartier Paddock Stakes winner Wish List. Bred on similar lines to the promising filly Rifle Queen, he is out of the Silvano sired Gr 2 South African Oaks winner Wind Chill.

Lot 166: Be Beautiful f Vercingetorix –Being Fabulous

This filly’s first three dams are all stakes winners, and she is a half-sister to Gr 3 Betway Mother Russia Stakes winner Gimmefabulous. Her High Chaparral sired

dam won five times including the Listed Syringa Handicap, and her Danehill sired granddam won both the Gr 1 AJC Flight Stakes and Gr1 VATC One Thousand Guineas in Australia.

Lot 185: Champagne Glow f Vercingetorix – Champery

Champagne Glow, who hails from one of the best families in the stud book, is a full sister to three winners notably Gr 1 World Sports Betting Cape Fillies Guineas winner Chansonette. Out of a high-class daughter of Querari, this filly’s granddam is a halfsister to Gr 1 Las Virgenes Stakes winner Eden’s Moon. This is the family of numerous top-class international performers including Theatrical, Paradise Creek, David Junior, and Taiki Blizzard.

Lot 210: Dreamin’ Wild c Vercingetorix –Dynasty’s Blossom

Bred on the same cross as champion Gladatorian, Dreamin’ Wild, a full brother to a winner, is out of Gr 3 eLan Gold Cup/Gr 3 DStv Gold Vase winner Dynasty’s Blossom. The latter, a half-sister to East Cape Guineas winner Brilliant Crimson, is out of a Gr 3 winning daughter of the breed shaping stallion Danehill Dancer. Dynasty’s Blossom, who earned more than R1.2 million during her career, is a direct descendant of the highly influential mare Delsy, the dam of champion sire Darshaan and third dam of one of the world’s hottest young stallions -Too Darn Hot.

For more information on this draft, please contact Ross Fuller on (082) 587 7045.

NARROW CREEK - QUALITY

Quality is the name of the game in Narrow Creek Stud’s Premier Yearling Sale draft. From siblings to current exciting prospects, offspring of top-class racemares, and relatives of the likes of Isivunguvungu and Buffalo Storm Cody, Narrow Creek will be offering something to suit every buyer. John Everett will also be offering yearlings by some of South Africa’s most sought after stallions, namely Buffalo Bill Cody, Hawwaam, Jet Dark, Malmoos, Rafeef and What A Winter.

Four potential standout lots in this consignment are:

Lot 94: Rafa’s Tune c Rafeef – Singforafa

This colt is by a Gr 1 winning sprinter out of a Gr 1 winning sprinter. His dam Singforafa was a topclass performer, whose six career wins included four black-type victories. She scored the biggest win of her career when victorious in the 2021 Gr 1 South African Fillies Sprint.

Lot 163: Yes Or No f What A Winter –Bat Out Of Hell

By the same sire as top-class fillies Clouds Unfold and Humdinger, Yes Or No is a three-parts sister

to the What A Winter sired globetrotting champion Isivunguvungu. The Equus Champion Sprinter of 2022-2023, Isivunguvungu went on to enjoy success in North America, where he won the Da Hoss Stakes.

Lot 237: Fleeting Fire c Rafeef –Freed From Desire

By one of South Africa’s top stallions, this colt is out of Swallow Stakes winning half-sister to Gr 1 Mercury Sprint winner Buffalo Storm Cody. The latter was sired by a son of Redoute’s Choice, also the sire of Rafeef.

Lot 267: Something Strong c Rafeef – Indaba

By the sire of Gr 1 winners Aragosta, Master Archie, and champion Thunderstruck, Something Strong is a half-brother to Gr 2 World Sports Betting Camellia Stakes winner Cold Fact. His dam is a Gr 3 placed daughter of top sire and broodmare sire Dynasty.

For more information on this draft, please contact John on (082) 377 2912.

Team Narrow Creek – looking forward to two big days | Credit: RCS

A LAST WINTER FOR BLACK SWAN

It will mark the end of an era when the Black Swan Dispersal Sale takes place at Robertson later this year. The farm bred and raised some top-class horses over the years including Last Winter, Siren’s Call, Freedom Charter, Celtic Rumours and Pretty Betty.

Black Swan Stud is also home to champion and successful sire Elusive Fort, whose star son Kommetdieding is set to have his first yearlings on sale this year. Both Elusive Fort and Kommetdieding are well represented in Black Swan’s Premier Yearling Sale draft, with this consignment also including yearlings sired by Canford Cliffs, Erupt and One World.

The farm’s Walter Cowe had the following comments to make about this draft:

Black Swan – the brand reaches the end of an era | Credit: RCS

Lot 109: Unnamed c Elusive Fort –

Step Out

This is an imposing colt, who looks powerful, correct and speedy. He is a full brother to a promising winner, and the mare, whose racing career was cut short by injury, has 2 winners from 2 runners. From the family of Solid Speed, Talahtchie and Lady in Black

Lot 142: Unnamed c Canford Cliffs –

White Rose

This is a big strong colt by Canford Cliffs out of a Dynasty mare that has produced three winners from three runners. He stands over ground and is a very athletic walker.

Lot 212: Unnamed c One World –

Elusive Heart

The Elusive Fort /Captain Al cross has been incredibly successful, and this colt is bred on the reverse cross. By the sire of One Stripe, top miler in SA and runner up in the Gr 1 Pegasus World Cup Turf, out of Elusive Fort sired Gr 3 Prix du Cap winner Elusive Heart. The dam won or was placed in five graded stakes races and her first foal is a two-time winner. An outstandingly stunning looking colt, he has size and scope and walks well. A very exciting prospect.

Lot 228: Unnamed c Elusive Fort –Field Flower

By the proven sire of Gr 1 winners, including Met and July winner and sire, Kommetdieding. With nothing to prove, this Gr 1 Cape Fillies Guineas mare by Silvano, from the family of legendary racehorse and sire, Bold Ruler, has

again produced a stunning half-brother to the talented Last Winter. Beautifully put together, he walks well and looks classy.

Lot 245: Unnamed f Erupt – Goldandsilver

A full sister to the stakes placed Golden Tatjana, this filly has a good walk and is exceptionally pretty. Nothing not to like about her. She is clean limbed, correct and looks a speedy type. The mare has 100% winners from her five runners.

Lot 115: Unnamed f Kommetdieding –Sylvie

This filly has plenty of paddock value. From the family of champion fillies Mother Russia and Nother Russia, by the exciting new sire Kommetdieding. She is a half-sister to three stakes winning fillies, including Gr 2 winner Celtic Rumours, and the very fast Sarah and Almond Sea. She covers ground and she walks like a dream. She has size and scope and very clean limbs.

Lot 151: Unnamed c KommetdiedingAfrican Honey

Another very handsome strong looking colt from the new kid on the block, Kommetdieding, who stands over ground and is a half-brother to consistent multiple winners. He really fills the eye and walks very well. I like him a lot.

For more information on this draft, please contact Fran Cowe on (079) 444 4713 or Peter de Beyer on (082)4525572.

SEE THE QUALITY AGAIN!

One of South Africa’s top stud farms, Drakenstein Stud continues to produce top-class thoroughbreds. The farm bred this year’s World Sports Betting Gr1 Cape Town Met winner See It Again, with other recent headliners for the Drakenstein including reigning South African Horse Of The Year Eight On Eighteen and globetrotting star One Stripe.

Drakenstein will be bringing an exceptional draft to this year’s Premier Yearling Sale, with their consignment containing an international flavour. Among the sires represented in this consignment are international stars Cracksman and Kingman, as well as outstanding local

stallions Master Of My Fate, One World, Vercingetorix and What A Winter. highlights in Drakenstein Stud’s Premier Sale draft has a number of eye-catching lots who hail from the first crop of the farm’s home bred champion Jet Dark. Drakenstein’s Kevin Sommerville highlighted the following lots as being particularly eye catching:

Lot 12: Dark Storm c Jet Dark – Lady In Black

By exciting first season sire, Jet Dark, this strong, flashy colt has a lovely shoulder and great hind leg. He is out of Gr 1 winner Lady In Black and a half-brother to GSW Mid Winter

Drakenstein Stud – known for quality | Credit: RCS

Wind. This cross of Trippi on a Dynasty mare has produced 35% SW to foals including Charles Dickens.

Lot 16: Winter Sensation c What A Winter –Lilac Sensation

An attractive, strongly made colt by outstanding sire What A Winter. He stands out in a crowd. Out of a half-sister to dual Gr 1 winner Snowdance (dam of Snow Pilot), this colt has a great temperament, deep girth and easy walk. He is bred on the same cross as GSW Mid Winter Wind.

Lot 29: Masai Mara c Master Of My Fate –Mara

A good-looking son of leading sire Master Of My Fate with a wonderful temperament and an athletic walk. He is a half-brother to GSW Great Plains and from the family of GSW Green Diamond. This colt is bred on the same cross as Gr 1 winners Tempting Fate and Golden Palm.

Lot 120: Third Ruler c Vercingetorix – Third Runway

By Champion sire Vercingetorix, he is a big, strong, well-balanced colt with lots of presence and a great walk. This flashy individual is out of the Gr 2 winner Third Runway and is similarly bred to Gr1 winners Vernichey, Pomp and Power, Chansonette and Alesian Chief.

Lot 158: Uvongo c Vercingetorix –Amanzimtoti

An attractive son of Champion sire Vercingetorix with a lovely racy shape, with excellent depth, he moves with purpose and uses himself well. He has an exceptional pedigree, being out of the Gr 2 winning Trippi mare, Amanzimtoti,

a daughter of Equus Champion Broodmare, Beach Beauty.

Lot 161: Tolstoy c One World – Anna Karenina

This strong colt is very much in the mould of record-breaking sire, One World. He has strong quarters and covers the ground well. His dam is a half-sister to Gr.1 winning sprinter, Chimichuri Run.

Lot 189: Dark Pearl c Jet Dark – Chestnuts N Pearls

Out of Gr 1 winner Chestnuts N Pearls, this big strong colt has a lovely shape, a great walk and is in the mould of his dam. He is by multiple Equus Champion and 5 x Gr 1 winner Jet Dark and is bred on the same Trippi/Fort Wood cross as Gr 1 winner Real Princess.

Lot 191: Le Bourget c What A Winter – Cio

Cio San

A good-walking son of What A Winter, he has a great temperament with a nice shoulder and is well-balanced. He is a full brother to recent juvenile winner Marseilles and his dam is a half-sister to GSW One Fine Winter (What A Winter). He has cruised through this sales prep.

Lot 195: Tsunami Cloud c Jet Dark – Clouds Unfold

This elegant son of Jet Dark, very much in the mould of his dam, is out of dual Gr 1 winner Clouds Unfold. This racy colt has an athletic walk with good quarters and a nice sloping shoulder.

For more information on this draft please contact Kevin Sommerville on 072 167 9971.

NO SHOT IN THE DARK!

As they did with Kommetdieding earlier in these pages, Raceform now reflect on what was written about Jet Dark in the Sires 2023 book when the sires with first crops now, went to stud.

A stallion’s best progeny often splits into two: continuing the affinities of either of the parents, going their separate ways.

Here’s a summary of what could be suitable lines for Jet Dark in general, with a link to yearlings on offer at sale at the end.

It’s less complicated than it looks!

In the crosshairs are Family 9 descendants, tracing (remotely) to close kin-relatives The Apple (Trippi’s bottom female line) and Avoca (Jet Dark’s bottom female line).

One of The Apple’s daughters Thankful Blossom leads to Bull Lea, in this context especially through Alydar, Nijinsky and Roberto. Alydar notably in Byword, Oratorio (treble Bull Lea), Duke of Marmalade. Nijinsky in Dancing Champ, Peacetime, and linking to his close kin-relative Storm Bird. Roberto in Al Mufti (with Lassie Dear) and Roberto’s full sister as dam of Rollins (in Jet Master).

Another of The Apple’s daughters One I Love, leads to the mare Escutcheon (Coastal) and especially Sun Again, male line of Damascus. There’s Storm Bird, whose dam is from Bull Lea male line, with second dam by Sun Again. Storm Bird lines are widespread (notably Storm Cat, Tiger Ridge, Var (double Sun Again),

Mogok, Black Minnaloushe). Storm Bird is sire of Trippi’s Storm.

The female line of The Apple extends to champion 2yo filly Nellie Flag, who mated to Sun Again got Sunshine Nell, dam of Dewan. This also is female line of Trippi, whose third dam is close kin to Sweetest Chant (Distorted Humor).and Fairy Bridge (dam of Sadler’s Wells). Dewan sired Complete Warrior, dam by Damascus out of a half sister to Buckpasser (out of Busanda, the La Troienne female line). Complete Warrior is in Captain Al (with Al Mufti), Counter Action, and in local female lines.

Damascus sired Damascus Gate and Rollins (damsire of Jet Master). Damascus’ dam Kerala is close kin to Never Bend (Riverman (Rainbow Dream – adds Bull Lea), Rainbow Quest). Kerala is by My Babu, leading to Lassie Dear, and Joy (Dynasty, Jet Master). Damascus is second damsire of Rich Man’s Gold, who is by Trippi’s sire Forty Niner.

Sleat, third dam of Trippi’s G2 winner Trippi’s Storm (by Storm Bird), is also third dam of Kahal. Sleat is 90% kin to Nalatale, grandam of Horse Chestnut (by Dynasty’s sire Fort Wood, son of Sadler’s Wells.

You can find all about Jet Dark’s ancestors Trippi, Jet Master (and other stallions) on the Raceform Sires page.

Jet Dark has 24 yearlings on the RCS Premier Yearling Sale.

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Graduates of Soetendal Estate enjoyed a big day at Turffontein recently when their alumni Splittheeights and Grand Empire finish first and second in the 2026 TAB Gr2 Gauteng Guineas with another graduate, Charge It, finishing second in the same day’s Wilgerbosdrift Gr2 Gauteng Fillies Guineas.

Soetendal will be offering an eight strong draft at this year’s Premier Yearling Sale. Their string is made up of yearlings sired by exciting and popular stallions Digital Age, Fire Away, Master Of My Fate, Querari, Royal Mo and What A Winter. While this string is quality from beginning to end, the following five lots could be the standouts!

Lot 28: Motion Light c Digital Age -Making A Scene

From the first crop of a Gr 1 winning son of Invincible Spirit, this colt is out of a twice winning daughter of Gimmethegreenlight. He hails from one of the best families in the Australian stud book, with Motion Light’s numerous high-class relatives including such top-class sires as Not A Single Doubt and Snippets as well as Gr 1 Investec Cape Derby winner Ertijaal.

Lot 112: Mystic Flame c Fire Away – Sweet Ohanna

This colt shares his sire Fire Away with the likes of Fire Attack, Confederate, My Best Shot and Warm Reception. He is out of a half-sister to Gr 1 Hollywood Gold Cup winner Rail Trip and this is the family of US classic winner Palace Malice among others.

SPECIAL STUFF, SOETENDAL!

Lot 116: Mozart’s Anthem c Querari – Symphony

Querari is enjoying another fine season and is currently the Leading Sire of 2YOs in South Africa for 2025-2026. This colt is out of a twice winning halfsister to three black type horses including Kenilworth Cup, Listed, winner Gothic and Mauritian champion Tandragee.

Lot 137: Master Of Shots c Master Of My Fate –Vodka Lime

This colt shares his sire with champions Golden Palm, Tempting Fate and Jan Van Goyen, with the latter victorious in this season’s Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas. A half-brother to promising two-yearold Gimme A Vodka, an impressive winner at the second time of asking, and out of a three time winning daughter of Captain Al, this colt hails from the family of numerous graded stakes winners including this season’s Gr 3 Betway Lebelo Sprint winner Taxi To The Moon.

Lot 173: Winter Kisses c What A Winter – Calandra

By the same sire as champion sprinters Isivunguvungu and Russet Air, Winter Kisses is out of a stakes placed, five-time winning half-sister to Gr 3 Champion Juvenile Cup winner O Tamara (who, like Winter Kisses, was sired by a son of Western Winter).

For more information on these yearlings, please speak to Julia Pilbeam on (082) 317 9474.

The Viljoen sales horses are always turned out to perfection

Credit: Race Coast Sales

THE DREAM MERCHANTS

Hopes And Dreams Stud is home to one of the best-bred stallions in South Africa. Their resident sire Frantastic, who shares his legendary sire Frankel with 40 Gr1 winners, is a full brother to four-time Gr1 winner Cracksman, the sire of unbeaten Gr1 Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner Ace Impact. Bred by the potent Frankel/ Pivotal cross, Frantastic hails from the same female line as such breed shaping stallions as Kalamoun, Nasrullah and Royal Charger.

While Frantastic has yet to have yearlings, Hopes And Dreams will be offering a classy draft of yearlings at this year’s Premier Yearling Sale. From proven topclass sires Master Of My Fate, One World and The United States to exciting young stallions Eden Roc and Jet Dark, this draft looks to have something for everyone!

Five lots bound to attract attention are:

Lot 34: UNNAMED c The United States – Maryah

By the sire of this season’s graded stakes winners Kingdundee, Rodeo Drive and Tin Pan Alley, this colt is out of Gr2 Prosport International Debutante winner Maryah. This colt is bred on the same The United States/Querari cross as this season’s Gr2 Betway Joburg Spring Challenge/Gr3 Betway Graham Beck Stakes winner Tin Pan Alley.

Lot 61: Unammed f Buffalo Bill Cody – Rattle Mouse

This filly is out of a four-time winning, stakes placed half-sister to Gr2 Umkhomazi Stakes winner Harry Lime. Bred to be speedy, her granddam is a winning half-sister to Champion Sprinter Will Pays.

Lot

72:

Unnamed c Jet Dark – Ruby And Roses

This colt hails from the first crop of five-time Gr1 winner and multiple Equus Champion Jet Dark. His dam won four times and she hails from the same female line as such standout performers as Seize The Grey, Polish Precedent and Zilzal.

Lot 130: Unnamed f One World –Underthemistletoe

By one of South Africa’s most exciting stallions, this filly is out of a winning full sister to this season’s Listed Woolavington Stakes runner up Master Of Paris and this is the family of champions Kiss Of Peace and Proceed.

Lot 209: Unnamed f Master Of My Fate -Duchess Of State

By the sire of top-class fillies Golden Palm, Sentbydestiny and Zarina, this filly is out of a threetime winning full-sister to Zimbabwean champion Silver Coin and half-sister to graded stakes winners Halve The Deficit and Mombela. Her Fort Wood sired granddam is a Gr3 winning half-sister to multiple Gr1 winner Smart Banker.

For more information on this draft, please contact Suzette Viljoen on (082) 733 3811.

IT PAYS TO DO YOUR HOMEWORK!

The Raceform Buyers’ Guide is a detailed summary of the dam and siblings of the RCS Premier Yearling Sale yearlings.

It gives insight as to what to expect of the youngsters in terms of class, stamina, sale price.

It’s essential reading for the prospective buyer.

Please click here to read more

Proper pre-sales reading matter for the informed set! | Credit: Candiese Lenferna

Pendenra Stud’s Judy Davies is a woman with an impressive resume in the thoroughbred industry. After working for the Woodditton Stud, Judy became the assistant to Darley’s pedigree consultant, before going on to become the Pedigree Database Manager. Judy was associated with Darley for 29 years!

During her time at Darley, Judy got to know many of the numerous star performers and stallions on their impressive lineup, with her favorites including In The Wings, Polish Precedent and the legendary Dubawi. Pendenra Stud will be offering five quality yearlings at this year’s Premier Yearling Sale, and Judy is sure they will go well!

Here are Judy’s comments on her draft for the 2026 Premier Sale:

Lot 31: Black Amber c Jet Dark – Maria Theresa

From the first crop of multiple Equus Champion Jet Dark, this colt is a half-brother to five winners notably Listed Taboline.co.za Irridescence Stakes/ Listed World Sports Betting Stormsvlei Stakes winner Maria Querol and to recent Gr 3 World Sports Betting Summer Fling Stakes third Queen Regent. Youngest of the draft. Very attractive, athletic colt with a great attitude. It should grow into a big, very handsome boy.

Lot 81: Mistress Mine f Master Archie – Secret Plan

Mistress Mine hails from the first crop of Rafeef’s Gr 1 Computaform Sprint winning son, with this filly

JUDY – A TOP JUDGE!

out of a winning daughter of Gr 3 SA Fillies Nursery winner Secret To Success.

Tall, elegant filly and a very good advert for Master Archie. Classic type.

Lot 36: Unnamed f What A Winter

– Mile High

By the sire of such high-class fillies as Clouds Unfold and Humdinger, this filly is out of a daughter of Fastnet Rock from the family of outstanding siblings Barathea and Gossamer.

Attractive, tall and rangy filly with a wonderful walk.

Lot

164: Unnamed c Malmoos – Beautiful Shay

By Captain Al’s Triple Crown winning son, this colt is out of a four-time winning full-sister to Gr3 Cape Racing Victress Stakes runner up Heart Stwings. Imposing, solid colt. His 2yo half sister, Platinum Shay, ran a promising 3rd on debut at the Vaal.

Lot 226: Spiced Ginger f Real Gone Kid – Felina

By a promising son of Snitzel, this filly, who hails from the same family as the likes of Dubai Millennium and Fort Wood, is a half-sister to Romeo’s Magic, a nine time winner who has earned more than R730 000 in stakes. Filly who is powerful as well as pretty. Looks to come early and a sprinter type.

For more information on this draft, please contact Judy on (076) 814 7944.

Judy Davies – a great eye | Credit: Supplied

TRUE BLUE!

Double Superlative – new stallion on the Blue Sky Thoroughbreds block Credit: Supplied

Blue Sky Thoroughbreds recently enjoyed a notable feature race double when two of their products in Legal Counsel and Disting won the Gr 3 Cape Mile and Listed Laisserfaire Stakes on the same card. The farm also bred Spirit Of Gabz, the first winner for promising young sire and Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Sprint winner, Chimichuri Run.

The KZN outfit will be offering a six strong draft at the 2026 Premier Yearling Sale, with Blue Sky set to bring forward yearlings sired by all of Eden Roc, Erupt, Fire Away, One World and Twice Over.

Lot

4: Unnamed f One World – Kileigh

By the sire of globetrotting champion One Stripe and high-class fillies She’s My World and World Of Alice, this filly is a half-sister to three winners notably this season’s Gr 2 Mike De Kock Ipi Tombe Challenge runner up Minogue (the latter is now a five-time winner). Her dam is a four-time winning three-parts sister to Triple Crown winner Abashiri and this is also the family of champion Yard-Arm.

Lot 55: Unnamed c Fire Away – Private Dancer

Fire Away has sired a growing number of high-class performers including Confederate, Fire Attack, My Best Shot and Warm Reception. This colt is a halfbrother to Castle Tankard winner Action Zone, and his dam is out of Gr 2 Gold Bracelet winner Dance Along.

Lot 140: Unnamed f Twice Over –We’re Watching You

By a champion and four-time Gr 1 winner, whose progeny includes stars Do It Again and Double Superlative, this filly is bred on the same Twice

Over/Visionaire cross as multiple Gr 1 winner See It Again. Her dam won five times, and this filly hails from the immediate family of dual Gr 1 winner, and sire, Crimson Waves.

Lot 230: Hot Rox c Eden Roc – Flame Cat

From the first crop of Gr 1 Gold Medallion winner Eden Roc, Hot Rox is a three-parts brother to a winner and half-brother to Gr 2 Pospack SA Fillies Nursery third Rapid Fire. His Tale Of The Cat sired dam won five and finished second in the Gr 3 Pretty Polly Stakes.

Lot 252: Unnamed c Erupt – Guide You Home

By the sire of such stakes winners as Karangetang, Moonlight Trader and Buster Barnes, this colt is out of a Gimmethegreenlight three-parts sister to the Gr 2 Gold Bracelet third Catchafallingstar. His granddam, by Var, won six races including the Gr 2 Kuda Gold Circle Oaks and she is a half-sister to the Oaks winners Arcola and Ash Cloud.

Lot 206: Unnamed f Twice Over –Diva’s Daughter

This filly shares her sire with such top-class performers as Do It Again, Double Superlative and See It Again. She is a half-sister to four winners notably Gr 1 Allan Robertson Championship winner Miss Florida and hails from the family of international Gr 1 winners Atlantic Jewel, Embassy and King’s Apostle.

For more information on Blue Sky Thoroughbreds’ Premier Sale draft, please contact Bruce Le Roux or Tinus Gericke on info@blueskytb.co.za.

Champion Legislate is one of South Africa’s top stallions. In terms of percentages and statistics, the son of Dynasty is the country’s top sire, and is having another excellent season in 2025-2026. His black type winners this season are headed by Cartier Gr1 Paddock Stakes winner Wish List and also include graded stakes winners Good For You, Legal Counsel and Regulation.

Normandy Stud will be offering two of just three on sale, yearlings by this wonderful sire at the Premier Yearling Sale, and Oscar Foulkes is understandably very high on both horses.

Oscar had the following comments to make about his Premier Sale draft:

Lot 47: Unnamed f Legislate – Pelaya

She’s a late foal, so there’s plenty of development still to come. I love her athleticism, great walk and presence. Bred on the same cross as Gr 1 winner Wish List, this half-sister to three winners is out of a half-sister to Ardmore Jamaica Handicap, Listed, winner Principessa.

Lot 41: Unnamed c Legislate – Nordic Light

He’s a neat, close-coupled horse (like the rest of the Nordic family). I’d expect him to be a sprintertype Legislate. Walks well. From the same female line as the sire’s Gr 1 winner Good For You, this colt is out of a half-sister to two graded stakes winners and to the dam of the Normandy bred champion Rio Querari.

Lot 8: Unnamed c Erupt – La Mas Bella

Solidly built, athletic colt. He’s caught the eye since he was a foal. His dam La Mas Bella is a three-parts sister to the stakes winners Pinnacle Peak and Principessa and this is the family of champions Paita and Potemkin.

Lot 84: Unnamed f The United States – Shalkot

Lovely filly, well-grown and scopey with the most lovely shoulder and depth of girth. From the family of the Normandy Stud bred champions Mother Russia and Winter Solstice, this filly’s dam is a half-sister to this season’s Gr 3 1Voucher Victress Stakes winner Sukhumvit.

For more information on this draft, please contact Oscar on (083) 297 3402.

Normandy’s Oscar Foulkes - expecting a great sale | Credit: Supplied

HOME OF THE MASTER

Between them, Winterbach Stud’s Hendrik Winterbach Snr and Hendrik Winterbach Jr offer more than 50 years of expertise in the breeding industry. Winterbach is home to the exciting young sire, and Gr 1 Computaform Sprint winner, Master Archie, whose first crop are yearlings this year.

A son of the increasingly successful Rafeef, Master Archie has a number of well-bred yearlings on offer at this year’s Premier Sale, and they look sure to be well received.

Winterbach Stud will be offering an exceptional draft at the 2026 Premier Yearling Sale, with their Premier consignment including lots sired by Fire Away, Gimmethegreenlight, Jet Dark, One

Team Winterbach will he open for viewing from 08h00 on Tuesday 10 March | Credit: RCS

World, Querari, Rafeef and Vercingetorix. While it is difficult to single any particular lots, the following five yearlings look sure to prove popular when they enter the sales ring at March’s auction!

Lot 10: Tempting Fortune c Hawwaam –La Volta

By five-time Gr 1 winner and hugely promising young sire Hawwaam, Tempting Fortune is a half-brother to seven winners. His three black type half-brothers include Winterbach Stud’s Gr 1 winning sire Master Archie, with this colt’s stakes winning dam a full sister to Gr 1 Allan Robertson Championship third placegetter Valeta.

Lot 28: Unnamed f Declarationofpeace –Earth’s Orbit

By a stakes winning son of the mighty War Front, this filly is a yearling with plenty of paddock value. A full sister to impressive debut winner Spacebound, she is a halfsister to six other winners notably Gr 3 Lebelo Sprint winner Taikonaut and World Sports Betting Perfect Promise Sprint Listed winner Mercury Rising. Another half-sister, Veronica Mars, finished second in both the Lady’s Bracelet Listed and WSB Sign Up Now Ladies Mile Listed. This is the family of champions Foveros and Hinterland.

Lot 176: Abigail Fix f Gimmethegreenlight – Captain’s Darling

This filly shares her sire with such star fillies as Gimme Another, Bless My Stars,

She’s A Keeper and VJ’s Angel. Bred on the same potent cross as champions Proceed and Sandringham Summit, Abigail Fix is a half-sister to the classy East Cape Breeders Stakes winner Sweetie Darling from the family of champion fillies Cherry On The Top and Summer Pudding.

Lot

197: Caesar’svastghost c Vercingetorix – Come Fly With Me

By South Africa’s reigning champion sire, this regally bred colt is a half-brother to four winners including Gr 1 World Sports Betting Cape Town Met/Gr 1 HWB Cape Guineas winning sire Double Superlative and the promising Vroom Vroom. His Gr 3 placed dam is a full-sister to Gr 1 Mercury Sprint winner Fly By Night.

Lot 262: Unnamed f Rafeef – I Like It Hot

This filly is out of a twice-winning half-sister to Equus Champion, and triple Gr 1 winner, Via Africa. The latter has produced a pair of Gr 1 winners in Australia, namely Gr 1 ATC Golden Rose winning sire In The Congo and the unbeaten sensation Gr 1 ATC Epsom Handicap winner Autumn Glow. Both horses were sired by a son of Redoute’s Choice, whose son Rafeef is responsible for the filly on sale.

For more information on this draft, interested parties are asked to contact Hendrik on (082) 465 4433.

ARCHIE – A MASTER!

Gr1 Computaform Sprint winner Master Archie (Rafeef ex La Volta) has his first Premier Yearling Sale progeny going through the ring on 13 and 14 March!

The latest Redoute’s Choice descendant poised to make his mark at stud, Rafeef’s striking looking son, Master Archie emulated Rafeef, who won the 2017 renewal, when he scored in the 2022 Gr1 Computaform Sprint. In the process, the grey accounted for notable graded stakes winners such as Big Burn, True To Life, Alesian Chief, Bohica, and Val D’Orcia, as well as promising young sire Real Gone Kid.

Rafeef has certainly made his mark on the Computaform Sprint, as he is also responsible for Computaform Sprint winners Thunderstruck (2024) and William Robertson (2025).

Bred on the same Rafeef/Var cross as champion Thunderstruck, and on a similar cross to Australian Gr1 winners Autumn Glow and In The Congo, Master Archie is out of the smart La Volta.

A Var full-sister to the Gr1 placed dam of Gr3 Starling Stakes winner She’s A Giver, La Volta, who also ranks as the dam of the stakes placed pair of Churchillian and Purple Cloud, won eight times including the Listed Bauhinia Handicap.

The regally bred La Volta, who also numbers the graded stakes winners Chesalon (Fort Wood) and Mardi Gras (Oratorio) as

half-brothers, was produced by Fancourt Gr1 Majorca Stakes winner Sarabande (Goldmark).

Master Archie has a quintet on offer at the RCS Premier Yearling Sale:

Lot 81 -out of a winning half-sister to two stakes horses, this filly’s granddam is dual Gr3 winner Secret To Success, a half-sister to champion Special Key

Lot 146 -a half-sister to three smart winners including Gr3 Man O’ War Sprint runner up Laetitia’s Angel, this filly is out of Listed Queen Of The Sand Handicap winner Xilomante

Lot 187 -this filly’s granddam is a daughter of champion sprinters Orientate and Harry’s Charm from the family of champions Enchantress, Laverna and National Currency

Lot 229 -closely related to a three time winner, this colt is out of a So You Think half-sister to graded stakes winners Eight Street and Ottimo

Lot 258 -a 1/2 to 2 winners, this colt is out of a Jet Master half-sister to champion sprinter Al Nitak and dual Gr1 winning sire The Sheik

PROSPER’S POWER PLAYERS

She’s a star.” “Something special.” “She’s incredible”. These are just a few of tributes paid to unbeaten Australian star Autumn Glow. A winner of all ten of her starts, the top seller at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast National Weanling Sale sent her earnings soaring past A$7,5 million with her second Gr1 success this past weekend.

Prosper Stud will be offering a relative to this current superstar at the 2026 Premier Yearling Sale.

Lot 114: f The United States – Swift Dancer

By one of the hottest stallions in South Africa at the moment, this full sister to the smart filly The Charleston is out of a winning half-sister to Via Africa. Equus Champion Sprinter of 2013 -2014, Via Africa was a lightning-fast filly whose ten career wins included a pair of wins in the South African Fillies Sprint Gr 1, as well as the 2014 Cape Flying Championship Gr 1. She has proved a sensation at stud, and is not only the dam of the aforementioned Autumn Glow, but also the latter’s ATC Golden Rose Gr 1 winning three-parts brother, and sire, In The Congo.

Other attractive prospects to be found in this consignment include:

Lot 71: Rosabelle f Rafeef – Rosenwind

By the sire of such top-class fillies as Chasing Happiness, Mon Petit Cherie and Reet Petite, Rosabelle is out of a smart racemare who won three of just five starts. A half-sister to Gr 2 Debutante winner Rosier, the well related Rosenwind is bred on similar lines to dual Whitney Handicap Gr 1 winner Commentator.

Lot 150: Master Chime c Master Of My Fate –African Chime

This colt shares his top-class sire with this season’s Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas Gr 1 winner Jan Van Goyen among many other high-class performers. His dam African Chime is a twice winning half-sister to Allan Robertson Championship Gr 1 heroine On Her Toes, and this is also the family of fellow Gr 1 winners Follow The Falcon, Querari Falcon and Savannah Queen.

Lot 187: Lady Archie f Master Archie –Charmz Luck

From the first crop of Computaform Sprint Gr 1 winner Master Archie, Lady Archie is out of a winning half-sister to the useful galloper Grey Light. This filly’s granddam Charmz is a daughter of sprint champions Orientate and Harry’s Charm, and fourth dam is the influential Stuttafords Cup Gr 1 winner Enchanting.

Lot 207: Orbit’s Lad c Kommetdieding –Down To Earth

This colt hails from the first crop of Vodacom Durban July Gr 1 World Sports Betting Cape Town Met Gr 1 winner Kommetdieding. Closely inbred to champion sires Captain Al and Fort Wood, Orbit’s Lad is out of a twice winning half-sister to two stakes winners including Lebelo Sprint Gr 3 winner Taikonaut. A colt with a stallion’s pedigree, Orbit’s Lad hails from the same female line as champions Foveros and Hinterland, among others.

For more information on this draft, please contact Jikkie De Wet on (083) 288 8112. Gateway

MORE MAGIC FROM MILLSTREAM

Millstream Farm has a number of promising alumni representing them this season. From the exciting Grand Empire and Betway Gr3 Victory Moon Stakes winner The Ultimate King (both raised by Millstream on behalf of Al Adiyaat) to exciting sprinter All The Rage, Millstream Farm looks on course to enjoy plenty of success in the months ahead.

Jan Mantel will be bringing an exciting draft to this year’s Premier Yearling Sale. Not only does Millstream’s draft including yearlings sired by the likes of Eden Roc, Fire Away, Gimmethegreenlight, Jet Dark, Legislate and Vercingetorix, it also contains lots hailing from some of the best families in the South African stud book. Below are five potential standout lots:

Lot 59: c Gimmethegreenlight – Quetta:

By a multiple champion sire, whose progeny include recent Gr 1 L’Ormarins King’s Plate winner The Real Prince, this colt is a half-brother to this season’s Gr 3 1Voucher Victress Stakes winner Sukhumvit and Gr 1 ARF Commemorative Cape Derby runner up Sachdev. Tellingly, this is also the family of Gimmethegreenlight’s globetrotting champion Gimme A Nother.

Lot 76: Windswept f The United States – Savannah Leigh:

By the same sire as recent Gr 1 World Pool Cape Flying Championship winner Kingdundee as well as the top-class filly Rodeo Drive, Windswept is a halfsister to four winners notably multiple graded stakes winning filly Green Plains. This is the family of 2025 Gr 1 Wilgerbosdrift HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes winner Cosmic Speed.

Lot 110: c Legislate – Strawberry Light:

This colt shares his inform sire Legislate with this season’s graded stakes winners Wish List, Legal Counsel and Regulation. His dam is a winning Gimmethegreenlight half-sister to Gr 2 Gold Bracelet winner Flying Ice, and this is the family of such Gr 1 winners as Good Traveller, Redberry Lane, Silvano’s Pride and Solo Traveller.

Lot 139: Hello Darkness f Jet Dark – Warm Welcome:

From the first crop of five-time Gr 1 winner Jet Dark, Hello Darkness is out of a twice winning Gimmethegreenlight half-sister to the stakes placed Silverlinks. Her granddam, Gr 3 Fillies Mile winner Close The Gap, is very closely related to champions Horse Chestnut and Monyela to name but two.

Lot 242: c Vercingetorix – Gimme Dat:

By South Africa’s reigning champion sire, this colt is out of the regally bred Gr 2 Cartier Sceptre Stakes/ Gr 3 Kenilworth Fillies Nursery winner Gimme Dat. By multiple champion sire Gimmethegreenlight, Gimme Dat, whose dam is a three-parts sister to champion Yard-Arm, is a full-sister to Drum Star Handicap, Listed, winner Green Haze. This is also the family of Triple Crown winner Abashiri.

For more information on this draft, interested parties are asked to speak to Jan on (082) 8012499.

SANDOWN – SIMPLY SENSATIONAL

Sandown Stud has been enjoying a fine run of success this season. Feature successes include the farm’s talented graduate Rodeo Drive capturing the Gr 2 Mike De Kock Ipi Tombe Challenge, while the Sandown Studbred Royal Invitation scored in the Racing240 Sun Chariot Handicap.

Yet another classy individual bred by Sandown is Outlaw King, winner of this season’s Gr 2 SplashOut Cape Merchants. A son of Rafeef and the Greys Inn mare Way Of Escape, Outlaw King went on to finish a close third in the recent Gr 1 World Pool Cape Flying Championship and he has now earned more than R1.624 million in prize money.

The farm’s great season can be clearly seen in the NHRA statistics. Sandown is seventh on the Leading Breeders’ premiership for 20252026, despite the farm being represented by fewer runners than any other farm in the top ten. Sandown’s AEPR (Average Earnings Per Runner) of R72 531 is the highest of any stud farm in the top ten list for the current season.

Sandown’s James Armitage will be bringing three wellbred yearlings to the 2026 Premier Yearling Sale, and he had the following comments on the trio:

Lot 113: f Jet Dark – Sweet Repeat

From the first crop of five-time Gr1 winning champion Jet Dark, this filly is out of a winning full-sister to 2018-2019 South African Horse Of The Year Do It Again and 3/4 sister to leading 2026 Gr 1 World Sports Betting Cape Town Met contender See It Again. The latter ran a close third in the recent Gr 1 L’Ormarins King’s Plate. This is a scopey, quality filly who is athletic.

Lot 181: c Twice Over – Cavivar

By the sire of such stars as Do It Again, Double Superlative and See It Again, this colt is out of Gr 1 Allan Robertson Championship runner up Cavivar, a daughter of boom broodmare sire Var. This is the family of champions Bless My Stars and Model Man among others. This is a good looking and well-balanced colt with depth, substance and quality.

Lot 265: c Twice Over -In Your Time

By a four-time Gr 1 winning champion, this colt hails from one of the best families in the stud book. His dam is a full-sister to Lady’s Bracelet Listed winner Sovereign Secret and also a three-parts sister to the Dynasty sired champion Bela-Bela.

For more information on these three yearlings, please contact James on (072) 680 3549.

Sandown – a long history of champions | Credit: Supplied

DEAN’S PRINCESS SPLASH MAKES A

Dean Kannemeyer and staunch international owner Fred Crabbia have enjoyed plenty of feature success over the years and they did it again on Saturday at the Lucky Fish Cape Derby Seafood & Jazz Festival when the very talented Princess Of Gaul won the R250 000 SplashOut Gr3 Prix Du Cap.

The fitment of a drop nose-band and a cucumber cool ride by Craig Zackey, who never used his crop, produced the goods as Princess Of Gaul (5-2) stormed up the outside to nab the free-striding Stormwatch (7-2) in the shadow of the post to win by 0,10 lengths in a time of 89,27 secs for the 1400m.

There were some traffic issues behind them, but the top two were well clear.

Bred by Clive Murphy, Princess Of Gaul is by Vercingetorix (Silvano) out of the onetime winning Miss Marmalade (Duke Of Marmalade) and thus a half-sister to recent Gr1 Cape Flying Championship winner, Kingdundee (The United States).

A R600 000 National Yearling Sale purchase, Princess Of Gaul has won 4 (twice at Gr2 level) of her 8 starts and took her stakes bank to R893 595.

Princess Of Gaul is likely to be seen in action next on the East Coast for the SA Champions Season.

Craig Zackey steers Princess Of Gaul up the outside to beat Stormwatch (Gavin Lerena) in a thriller

Credit: Chase Liebenberg

GRANT’S GOT THE JET FORCE

Grant van Niekerk put his bad luck in the Lucky Fish Cape Derby squarely behind him, when he rode a cracker from off the gallop to win the final feature of the Lucky Fish Cape Derby Seafood & Jazz Festival raceday, the R275 000 Play ‘n Go Listed Jet Master Stakes at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday.

It takes a strong mind to get up off the mat of Gr1 disappointment and Van Niekerk showed his talent as the rain came down, when he timed his outside rails run on the progressive Jet Force (7-2) to perfection to nab I Salute You (8-1) On the line.

Clocking 99,60 secs for the mile, Jet Force won going away by 0,30 lengths, with the tote favourite Zeitz (6-1) back in third.

Racing for a partnership of Mauritiusbased Denis Le Breton and Allan Taylor, Mr K & Miss K Geemooi & Mrs G C

Grant van Niekerk enjoys the rain as he returns on Jet Force Credit:

Hutchinson, the winner was registering his maiden stakes strike.

The 4yo gelding was bred by Beaumont Stud and is a son of Master Of My Fate (Jet Master) out of the Var mare, Ooh La Var a half sister to champion, Legal Eagle.

A R350 000 BSA November 2yo Sale graduate, Jet Force has won 5 races with 2 places from 9 starts and stakes of R455 456.

Grant van Niekerk went on to win the last race for the same owner and trainer combination with a superb tactical ride on Money Extractor.

Chase Liebenberg

BEAUTY AND THE BEACH

While the 1800m contest turned into a dawdle-and-dash, the R250 000 Ott Listed Cape Fillies Classic provided a deserved maiden stakes success at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday for the well-related Drakenstein homebred Beach Verse.

Hailing from a family of big names, Beach Verse (9-4) enjoyed the step up to the 1800m and gave trainer Candice Bass and jockey Aldo Domeyer their first winner of the 2026 Lucky Fish Cape Derby Seafood & Jazz Festival.

She swept forward from off the gallop to beat Queen Regent (9-4) by 1,25 lengths in a time of 114,33 secs.

Kubu (25-2) was in the mix for a long way, but was well beaten a further 1,25 lengths

back in third. Beach Verse is a daughter of Silvano’s champion son Vercingetorix and the seventh foal of Drakenstein Stud’s Equus Champion Broodmare of the 2023/2024 season, the five-time Gr1-winning champion Beach Beauty (Dynasty)

She is now a winner of 3 races with 5 places from 9 starts for stakes of R351 738.

“She needs to time to strengthen up. She’s a lovely filly,” added Aldo Domeyer.

Beach Verse (Aldo Domeyer) puts real estate between herself and the opposition | Credit: Chase Liebenberg

– THAT’S RACING FOR YOU HIGHS AND LOWS

That racing is a game of highs and lows cannot be disputed. Champion breeders Drakenstein Stud can surely attest to that.

The stud recently had the misfortune of losing their UK-based triple Gr1 winner Ebony Flyer which they owned in partnership with Team Valor. The daughter of Jet Master was euthanized after complications from a difficult delivery on February 4. Fortunately, her filly foal by champion sprinter Bradsell survived and has been placed on a nurse mare.

A strapping individual, Ebony Flyer stood at least 17hh at maturity, yet she was speedy enough to win over 1000m on debut as a juvenile for Justin Snaith, in the process taking a notable scalp, that of subsequent Gr1 winner Covenant.

After she made the Gr2 Odessa Stud Championship her third win in as many starts, Drakenstein acquired a one-third interest in Ebony Flyer and immediately reaped a handsome reward when she captured the Gr1 Cape Fillies Guineas in her next start.

Unfortunately Ebony Flyer developed breathing issues which required no less than three surgeries. Nevertheless, she came back to capture both the Gr1 SA Fillies Sprint and the Gr1 Majorca Stakes.

Co-owner Barry Irwin paid her a huge compliment when he remarked: “We have raced Champion females around the globe including in England and Ireland, but the only other filly we had in her league was Ipi Tombe. Had she been able to breathe, there is no telling how good she would have become or how far she would have raced.”

Although she initially retired to Drakenstein Stud, Ebony Flyer spent the majority of her broodmare career at the Ruperts’ Cayton Park Stud in the UK and has foaled seven winners from nine runners to date, headed by two blacktype runners in South Africa: Gr3-placed Cot Campbell and stakes-placed Black Silver. She is the dam of a trio of winners in England for Andrew Balding, who also trains her placed three-year-old daughter Blackisthenewblack.

Ebony Flyer (Bernard Fayd’herbe)

Fillies Sprint

(Anthony Delpech)

On a happier note, Cayton Park looks destined to be the future home of yet another Drakenstein blue blood when Beach Bomb arrives from the States.

The daughter of Lancaster Bomber left her birth country for America a dual Gr1 winner of the Cape Fillies Guineas and Cartier Paddock Stakes. Trained Stateside by Graham Motion, she went on to score at Gr3 level and also ran second in the Gr1 New York Stakes. She has started her broodmare career by visiting Twirling Candy, a Gr1 winning son of Candy Stripes.

While Beach Bomb’s racing career is over, there will always be other Drakenstein homebreds ready to light up the tracks.

That was underlined last weekend when the farm celebrated its newest stakes winner, none other than Beach Bomb’s three-year-old half-sister Beach Verse. She earned full black type with a facile victory in the Listed OTT Cape Classic and thus became the sixth stakes performer

from seven foals produced by champion and Broodmare of the Year Beach Beauty.

Always on the cusp of stakes class, Beach Verse flashed her ability in no uncertain terms and as she reaches maturity both physically and mentally, rates a fine prospect for the upcoming KZN winter season.

Beach Verse was not the only blue-blooded Drakenstein filly to shine on the day.

The first race proved a triumph for juvenile Grapes Of Wrath, who opened her career with a sparkling victory up the straight, despite losing ground at the start.

A tall, immature daughter of Gimmethegreenlight, she just happens to be a half-sister to the champion miler Charles Dickens and stamped herself as yet another exciting prospect in the powerful arsenal Drakenstein has at its disposal.

Beach Bomb – covered by Twirling Candy | Credit: Chase Liebenberg

PAYS HIS WAY TENPENNY

An innovative ride by Grant van Niekerk threw the cat amongst the pigeons just past halfway in a slow-run R225 000 Masks Of Fire Listed Kenilworth Cup at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth in the opening feature of the 2026 Lucky Fish Cape Derby Seafood & Jazz Festival on Saturday.

The final day of the Cape Summer Festival dawned cloudy with a nice-sized crowd enjoying the festivities.

In a field reduced to just a quartet of runners after scratchings, the pace was always going to be an issue and they dawdled in Indian file early, with Tenpenny leading Eric Liddell and stablemate Landoftherisingsun, as Gentleman Joe brought up the rear.

At around the 1200m, Grant van Niekerk grabbed the reins and the opportunity to speed things up as he took Landoftherisingsun out to up the fractions.

It was probably the only move Van Niekerk could have made in the circumstances, and

he almost pulled it off, with Tenpenny (18-10) proving superior over the trip and gaining the lead inside the final 200m to register 170,26 secs for the 2500m and shatter the plan, beating Landoftherisingsun (4-1) by a length.

Gentleman Joe (28-10) was a further 3 lengths away in third.Eric Liddell (3-1) may as well have stayed at home.

Milnerton veteran Paddy Kruyer saddled the winner and his season continues to fire, his 11 winners coming at a win strike-rate of 24,44%.

Raced by Greg and Gina Bortz, the Camargue Stud-bred Tenpenny is a son of champion sprinter What A Winter (Western Winter) out of the fivetime winning Silvano mare, Magic Penny.

A R600 000 BSA National Yearling Sale purchase, Tenpenny is now a winner of 6 races with 5 places from his 14 starts, and has earned R681 288.

The Bipot reached a nett R294 403,06, with 238 501 live tickets giving a minimum dividend of R1,20 after the opening leg.

JP van der Merwe guides Tenpenny home Credit: Chase Liebenberg

– BUT LET’S SORT ROOT CAUSES SIZE COUNTS

The National Horseracing Authority have raised the point again that no rational observer can conclude with certainty that merit rating increases alone are responsible for diminished fields

They record that Tenpenny, who was rated to win, had his official merit rating increased from 103 to 105 after winning the Masks of Fire Kenilworth Cup (Listed) over 2500m.

In assessing the race, the Handicappers identified LANDOFTHERISINGSUN, the runner-up, as the line horse. His rating remained unchanged at 99.

The specific race conditions did not permit merit rating increases for placed runners. As a result, no further adjustments were made.

This condition has been adopted because of the belief that the fear of merit rating adjustments is the primary reason for small field sizes. However, available data suggests otherwise.

For example, the Hollywoodbets Gr1 Cape Guineas and L’Ormarins Gr1 King’s Plate, which had no ratings protection, attracted fields of 15 and 14 runners respectively, while the Lucky Fish Gr1 Cape Derby drew 8 runners.

By contrast, the Masks Of Fire Kenilworth Cup, which protected runners from upward adjustments, attracted only 4 runners. Similarly, the recent Pinnacle event on the Highveld, also run under rating protection, drew just 3 runners.

This raises an important question: are rating protections genuinely effective in resolving the issue of small field sizes, or are they instead rooted in the misguided belief that merit rating adjustments are the primary cause of reduced participation?

The evidence points in another direction.

From the examples above, no rational observer can conclude with certainty that merit rating increases alone are responsible for diminished fields.

Apportioning blame to the Handicappers solely, has simply become the convenient, yet unfounded, narrative.

A deeper delve into the issue needs to be done urgently.

TURNS ON THE JETS CRABBIA STAR

There were a number of false paced races at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Lucky Fish Cape Derby day on Saturday and one of a number to fall foul of the ‘Cape Crawl’ was the SplashOut Gr3 Prix Du Cap run over 1400m.

Babelicious set a sedate pace, whilst the eventual winner PRINCESS OF GAUL sat just three lengths away in fourth.

Far from disgraced in the Cape Fillies Guineas earlier in the season, Stormwatch was the first to make a move when the race developed into a sprint 400m out, and ran on strongly all the way to the wire.

Less than two lengths covered the first five approaching the 100m marker though and in what proved to be a real thriller, the daughter of Vercingetorix got up in the dying strides.

The 22,37 seconds recorded by Princess Of Gaul over the final 400m was the fastest of the afternoon for that segment.

History was made in the bill topping Lucky Fish Gr1 Cape Derby run over 2000m when WISH LIST (troublesome loading) became the first filly to win the race since the Mike De Kock trained Dog Wood way back in 1999.

The pace wasn’t a fast one, but it was at least reasonable after Viva’s Liberte took up the running 1600m out.

A daughter of Legislate, who himself won this race in 2014, Wish List raced sixth and was always travelling well.

She quickened effortlessly early in the straight and was already at the front going through the 300m.

The recent Cartier Gr1 Paddock Stakes winner soon went clear after striking the front and went on to beat her running on stable companion Note To Self, much more easily than the official winning margin of three quarters of a length would suggest.

Besides Saturday’s victress and her sire Legislate in 2014, the combination of trainer Justin Snaith and jockey Richard Fourie also won this race in 2025 with Eight On Eighteen, in 2022 with Pomp And Power, and for the first time in 2008 with Russian Sage.

The Gr2 Khaya Stables Diadem Stakes was not surprisingly much the quicker of the afternoon’s two 1200m races and here we saw a smart performance from the 5yo Querari gelding QUESTIONING.

On leaving the stalls O’Tenikwa set a good pace whilst the well-supported favourite (5/1 into 33/10), raced just three lengths away in fourth. He put his head in front going through the 400m, and although the pacemaker kept on strongly, and did have the rest comfortably beaten, he went on to score with authority by two and a half.

Five of the nine runners in the Ridgemont Gr3 Cape Of Good Hope Nursery over 1200m had contested the Summer Juvenile Stakes last time out and the form held up when the Piet & Elbert Steyn trained RED SPICE completed a smart double.

The field was always very tightly bunched. Indeed, passing the halfway mark less than four lengths covered all, and with just two lengths to find the son of Erik The Red raced fifth.

He ran on strongly when given rein 300m out and in a race where less than a length covered the first four home, he struck the front under a determined ride from Keagan De Melo 30m out.

The OTT Listed Cape Fillies Classic (3yo’s) was the quicker of the two 1800m events on the card, and in what proved to be a very false paced affair, the 9/4 joint favourite BEACH VERSE ran out a very easy winner.

Run in a time just 14/100th of a second faster than the maiden event, Cutie Patootie initially set off at a reasonable pace, but then slowed it right up before they reached the bend.

Candice Bass’ charge was always very nicely positioned just two lengths away in third and took up the running with ease shortly after passing the 400m marker. She quickly went clear and although the other 9/4 joint favourite Queen Regent (abrasion left shoulder) did appear to be gaining in the closing stages of the race, she was being eased down to win by a length and a quarter.

Track Condition

Going: Good

Penetrometer: 22 (both tracks)

Rain: Last 7 days Nil

Irrigation: Last 24 hours Nil – Last 7 days 55mm

False Rail: 2m from 1700m with a 3,5m spur at 600m

Wind: 14-22km/h North Westerly tail wind

Course Variant: 1,24s fast (straight) –0,86s slow (bend)

The first of the afternoon’s seven feature events to be run had been the false paced Masks Of Fire Listed Kenilworth Cup over 2500m .

Just four went to post and as might easily have been predicted, there was no real pace early on.

Indeed, in a race that was run some 17 seconds outside the course record, the pace was only stepped up when Landoftherisingsun circled runners from the back to take up the running at the crossover.

The favourite TENPENNY had made the early running and doing it easily throughout, he then sat ready to pounce in second. He did so as they approached the 200m marker and although Justin Snaith’s charge found extra when headed, he went on win well by a length.

GRAPES OF WRATH (lost one length at start), the facile winner of the opening Lucky Fish Maiden Juvenile Plate over 1000m , is a halfsister to Charles Dickens.

Her half-brother won five Gr1 races in his career and, as well as being the highest rated horse in South Africa when he retired, he was also ranked seventh in the world. Aldo Domeyer spoke very highly of Grapes Of Wrath after the race and interestingly, her 400m to finish time was only 11/100th of a second slower than that of the fastest for that segment of the afternoon!

Fastest Times: 1200m (2) Questioning 70,25 1600m (2) Jet Force 99,60 1800m (2) Beach Verse 114,33 400-finish Princess Of Gaul 22,37

TOPS CHARTS VERCINGETORIX COLT

The Bloodstock South Africa 2026 Cape Yearling Sale kicked off the physical sales programme for the year on Sunday and hosted a outstanding turnout from both vendors and buyers - and the numbers tell the story!

The 2026 book was up to 140 catalogued from 2025’s 109 lots, of which 129 were offered and 120 were sold through the ring with an outstanding clearance rate of 93% for a regional sale of this nature.

The median thit a new high at R245,000 and is up a massive 36% year-on year, with a cumulative growth of 75% over the past 3 years.

The average of R254,500 was also up 12% on 2025 , following on from the 12% on 2024.

The aggregate totalled a new record for the BSA Cape Yearling Sale at R30 540 000.

On the stallion front, Erik The Red topped the charts with 25 lots sold for a total of R7,030,000 with an average of R281,200.

Vercingetorix was represented by one entry from the Hemel n Aarde Stud, that passed through as the highest lot sold at R900 000 to James Crawford.

James Crawford – signed the chit for the topseller | Credit: Romi Bettison

BSA CEO Michael Holmes – very pleased with the stats | Credit: Romi Bettison

Named Luca’s Limelight, #22 is an athletic half-brother to 2 winners, one of whom has won five. His Australian-bred dam Intothelimelight is a three-time winner, whose own dam is an Anabaa half-sister to two group winners in Australia

The top-priced filly was Chicketyboo (#119) offered by Syrilla Stud. Summerveld trainer Nathan Kotzen went to R600 000 for the well-related daughter of multiple champion, Gimmethegreenlight.

The Buyers log was led by Peter Racing who purchased 8 lots for R2,1m, followed by Form Bloodstock and Jonathan Snaith.

Top vendor was Varsfontein Stud who sold 27 lots for R8,3m followed by Wilgerbosdrift and Hemel ‘n Aarde Stud.

For a regional sale, it was encouraging to have 52 individual buyers sign for the 120 lots sold by the 19 vendors.

“It was great to host the 2026 BSA Cape Yearling at SARDA for the second year in a row. This sale had something for everyone and provided an early outlet for Breeders, Vendors and Buyers to get on the scoreboard. The attendance from trainers, owners and bloodstock agents from around the country was strong, with representation from Gauteng, Kwa-Zulu Natal, Eastern Cape, Western Cape, Mauritius and via the online platform. A big thank you to all the vendors and buyers that made this sale a success. We look forward to welcoming you all at the BSA National Yearling Sale 2026.” said Michael Holmes, CEO of BSA.

The BSA National Yearling Sale will be held at the TBA Complex in Germiston, Johannesburg, on 16 and 17 April 2026.

FIREBALL MARCHES ON

The Klawervlei Stud-bred Vercingetorix gelding I’m A Fireball found his best form at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Sunday when going gun-to-tape to win the R200 000 non black-type March Stakes.

The headliner on the eight-race programme was run over 1400m and reduced to six runners after the late withdrawal of Prince Of Troy.

Allowed to bowl along under SpashOutsponsored Callan Murray from his 1 gate, I’m A Fireball (2-1) kept at his task, and had

just enough in hand to beat Justin Snaith’s 13-10 favourite Roland Garros (also a son of Vercingetorix), who was given plenty to do on his seasonal debut, by 0,40 lengths in a time of 84,84 secs.

The winner’s stablemate Gotta Go Eddie (71), who also races in the Hollywood Racing silks, came through to stay on for third, a further 1,30 lengths.

The Vaal Classic 1450m course record-holder, I’m A Fireball was a R1 million BSA National Yearling Sale purchase and is now a winner

Callan Murray keeps I’m A Fireball going to hold the flying Roland Garros (JP van der Merwe) in a thrilling finish to the feature | Credit: Julia Marnewick

of 3 races with 2 places from 9 starts and stakes of R308 869.

A son of Vercingetorix (Silvano), he is out of the multiple Gr2-stakes winning Rock Of Gibraltar Blue.

Interestingly, John Koster of Klawervlei Stud chose Gibraltar Blue, with the help of Mike de Kock, Jehan Malherbe and ‘Fozzy’ Stack at the Goffs Million Sale in Ireland in 2008.

The Lucky Fish-sponsored De Kock Racing team saddled a second winner on the day when apprentice Bongani Makhubo, who is the son of their late stable employee and top work rider Abram Makhubo, celebrated his first winner when Queen Braganza won the

last.

The delighted young man was having just his sixth ride and it was appropriate that he marked the occasion for a yard that has played a big part in his development.

Sporting Post-sponsored Tristan Godden was the leading jockey on the day, winning the first three races on the card.

The next KZN racemeeting is on the Hollywoodbets Greyville polytrack on Sunday 8 March. The racemeeting was moved from Friday 6 March after the Hollywoodbets Durbanville programme originally scheduled for 8 March was cancelled.

RACING REGULATOR’S REPORT ON THE WEEK

The Sporting Post presents this week’s National Horseracing Authority Calendar.

The calendar is a summary of the past week’s penalties and registrations and is an easy-read snapshot of information.

Please click on the image below:

MILLER TIME AGAIN ON SUNDAY!

Not for the first time in recent years trainer Mike Miller has been dominating the early juvenile races in Kwa-Zulu Natal this season, and he was again on the mark in the two 2yo events which opened proceedings at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Sunday.

The Bet With Tote Juvenile Plate was comfortably the quicker of the two and here we saw another smart performance from the Red Ray filly GLOBAL TREND.

A facile winner of her only previous outing when sent off at 40/1, the 14/10 favourite broke well here and was soon in command of a length and a half advantage.

She only had to be shaken up in order to extend her advantage 300m out, and drew clear in good style late on to score by three and three quarters. The victory was the middle leg of a well-taken treble for Sporting Post-sponsored Tristan Godden.

Global Trend’s time of 22,35 seconds over the final 400m was the fastest for that segment of the afternoon.

Trainer Mike Miller saddled the first three in this race, and the runner up was 125/1!

The Non-Black Type March Stakes (3yo’s) over 1400m topped the bill in Pietermaritzburg and in what surprisingly was the slower of the two races over the distance, the Mike & Matt De Kock trained I’M A FIREBALL registered his third career victory from just nine starts.

Sent off second in the betting market at 9/4,

the Vercingetorix gelding broke well, and taken straight to the front by Callan Murray, he led at a pace which was over two seconds slower than the class 5 event at the 600m mark.

He was always travelling well and kept on strongly in the closing stages of the race to beat the favourite Roland Garros (allowed to flirt with 6/10 at one stage) by just under a half. The runner up had raced fifth of the six and had a good five lengths to find at the top of the straight. He only really got going over the final 200m and flying at the finish he would surely have gotten up with another 10m or so to travel.

Run in a time a 1/10th of a second faster than the March Stakes was the Lucky Fish Turf Luck Class 5 (f&m) which was won in eye catching fashion by the 3yo LILAC IN WINTER. Detached at the back, easily ten lengths off the pace for most of the journey, the daughter of What A Winter quickened well once in the straight. She struck the front going through the 100m and won going away by a length and a half.

Much the quicker of the two 1200m races was not surprisingly the Join www.socialsquad. co.za Class 3 event won by the 4yo son of Vercingetorix, VIHAAN’S WEB.

Soon up with the speed along with Future Flo, the pair set a brisk pace. Gareth Van Zyl’s charge began to assert his authority from the 400m mark, and 200m out it looked as though he would go on to score easily. The hat-trick seeking favourite Fortress Of Fire ran on stoutly at the business end of the race

though, and gaining quickly at the wire he only failed to get up by a neck.

Going: Good to Soft (both tracks)

Penetrometer: 25 (both tracks)

Rain: Last 24 hours Nil – Last 7 days 22mm

Irrigation: Last 7 days Nil

False Rail: 5m

Wind: 10-15km/h Northerly head wind

Course Variant: 0,62sfast (straight) –0,39s fast (bend)

The first of the afternoon’s seven feature events to be run had been the false paced Masks Of Fire Listed Kenilworth Cup over 2500m .

Just four went to post and as might easily have been predicted, there was no real pace early on.

Indeed, in a race that was run some 17 seconds outside the course record, the pace was only stepped up when Landoftherisingsun circled runners from the back to take up the running at the crossover.

GRAPES OF WRATH (lost one length at start), the facile winner of the opening Lucky Fish Maiden Juvenile Plate over 1000m , is a half-sister to Charles Dickens.

Her half-brother won five Gr1 races in his career and, as well as being the highest rated horse in South Africa when he retired, he was also ranked seventh in the world.

Aldo Domeyer spoke very highly of Grapes Of Wrath after the race and interestingly, her 400m to finish time was only 11/100th of a second slower than that of the fastest for that segment of the afternoon!

Fastest Times:

1000m (2) Global Trend 57,00

1200m (2) Vihaan’s Web 68,29

1400m (2) Lilac In Winter 84,74

FOR DANCING! SHE’S IN THE MOOD

Peter Moor’s star filly – he has a number of good ones – Anotherdanceforme bounced right back to her best after a forgettable trip down South in November last year, when she cruised in under a confident ride to win the R200 000 Listed Breeders Guineas at Fairview on Friday.

A second winner up to that point on the day for the Alan Greeff-Richard Fourie combination, Anotherdanceforme came home lonely at 1-5 after stablemate Augusta Rosso (50-1) had set the gallop.

Clocking an unextended 97,53 secs for the mile, it was nothing more than an exercise gallop for the Varsfontein-bred filly, who was accompanied to the start by a pony as a precaution.

“She lacked her sparkle in Cape Town. She clearly didn’t travel well and that wasn’t her run at all,” said Ridgemont-retained Richard Fourie of Anotherdanceforme’s nine length defeat by Princess Of Gaul in the Gr2 Western Cape Fillies Championship.

Back at home, the 2025 SplashOut Gr2 Golden Slipper winner showed that she could be a key Eastern Cape flagbearer in the forthcoming SA Champions Season.

Bred by Varsfontein, Master Of My Fate’s daughter Anotherdanceforme is a full-sister to Listed Sweet Chestnut Stakes winner Princess Izzy, and was a R650 000 buy from the 2024 National Yearling Sale.

She is out of the What A Winter mare Destiny Dancer and has now won 7 from 8 starts for stakes of R771 011.

Richard Fourie steers Anotherdanceforme to a smooth win | Credit: Pauline Herman

GOES TO A 117 WISH LIST

Justin Snaith’s Wish List has been assigned a revised merit rating of 117 (up from 115) following her commanding victory in the Lucky Fish Gr1 Cape Derby for three-year-olds run over 2000m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth this past Saturday.

In assessing the event, the Handicappers noted that WISH LIST entered the feature as the best-weighted runner based on her prerace merit rating.

Despite the official winning margin of 0,75 lengths, the panel determined that she won with significantly greater ease than the numerical distance suggests, justifying the two-point increase.

To establish the level of the race, the Handicappers identified fourth-placed STAR MAJOR and fifth-placed HAPPY VERSE as the appropriate line horses, leaving their ratings unchanged at 114 and 113, respectively.

This decision was supported by the fact that both runners confirmed their relativity, as established in the Grade 3 Politician Stakes.

In that event, STAR MAJOR defeated HAPPY VERSE by the same margin that separated them on Saturday, providing a highly consistent and solid benchmark for the Grade 1 Lucky Fish Derby.

Additional Adjustments:

• NOTE TO SELF (Runner-up): Elevated from 96 to 118 after beating the 114 and 113-rated line horses by 2.45 and 2.65 lengths respectively at level weight terms.

• VIVA’S LIBERTE (3rd Place): Increased from 95 to 114 for finishing 0.2 lengths ahead of the 114-rated STAR MAJOR at level weight terms.

Merit Rating Reductions:

• PAY THE PALACE: Adjusted downwards from 105 to 104.

• BETTER MAN: Adjusted downwards from 105 to 104.

These changes will ensure that the runners of the Grade 1 Lucky Fish Derby meet on correct handicap terms in the future, while ensuring that the hierarchical pecking order is accurate and the race remains truly representative of a Grade 1 event.

Khaya Stables Diadem Stakes (Grade 2)

QUESTIONING has retained his official merit rating of 127 following his victory in the Grade 2 Khaya Stables Diadem Stakes run over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth.

In assessing the event, the Handicappers were of the view that QUESTIONING - who entered the race as the best-weighted runner - firmly confirmed the 127 level he established in the Grade 1 L’Ormarins King’s Plate (WFA). Consequently, he was utilised as the benchmark to assess the field, resulting in his rating remaining unchanged.

Merit Rating Increases:

• O’TENIKWA (Runner-up): Adjusted from 118 to 121 after finishing 2.5 lengths behind the 127-rated winner at level weights.

• ALL THE RAGE: Lifted from 112 to 114.

• TEFLON MAN: Adjusted from 102 to 106 to ensure he is rated at least equal to King Regent, whom he defeated at level weights.

Merit Rating Reductions:

• CAFE CULTURE: Dropped from 120 to 118.

• LUCKY LAD: Reduced from 121 to 118.

• MEU CAPITANO: Decreased slightly from 112 to 111.

Splashout Prix Du Cap (Grade 3)

Following her victory in the Grade 3 SplashOut Prix du Cap over 1400m, PRINCESS OF GAUL has had her merit rating adjusted from 113 to 114.

In assessing the event, the Handicappers utilised the winner as the benchmark, aligning her performance with the 114 she achieved in her penultimate start (the Listed Windhoek Olympic Duel Stakes), but could not be

adjusted to 114 on that occasion due to the race conditions that limited the increase for placed runners to a maximum of three points.

Merit Rating Increases:

• STORMWATCH (Runner-up): Elevated from 102 to 109.

• SWIATEK: Lifted from 100 to 104.

Merit Rating Reductions:

• ROCCAPINA: Dropped from 111 to 109

• CALL ME SECRET: Reassessed from 105 to 102.

OTT Cape Fillies Classic (Listed)

BEACH VERSE has earned a revised merit rating of 97, up from 85, after capturing the OTT Cape Fillies Classic (Listed) over 1800m.

In assessing the race, the Handicappers used QUEEN REGENT, the runner up, as the key horse and as such, her rating remained unchanged at 94.

The third place finisher, KUBU, also received a merit rating increase, rising from 81 to 92 after finishing 1,25 lengths behind the 94 rated line horse at level weights.

The only reduction in this race was applied to UKUDUMA, who dropped from 93 to 91.

Play ‘N Go Jet Master Stakes (Listed)

JET FORCE, who had previously been adjusted 27 points for finishing 6th in the Grade 2 Green Point Stakes, had his merit rating increased to 117 from 115 following his victory in the Listed Play ’N Go Jet Master Stakes over 1600m.

In assessing the race, the Handicappers identified CAPTAIN WEST, the fifth-place finisher, as the most appropriate line horse. His rating remained unchanged at 102.

The following runners also received merit rating increases after this race:

• I SALUTE YOU increased from 107 to 112 for finishing 1.25 lengths in front of the 102-rated line horse while conceding 8 points or 4kg in weight, making his performance 10 points superior.

• ZEITZ was raised from 101 to 104.

• GALLIC DREAM was adjusted from 100 to 102.

GEM KING was the only runner to receive a reduction, dropping from 112 to 110.

Masks Of Fire Kenilworth Cup (Listed)

TENPENNY, who was rated to win, had his official merit rating increased from 103 to 105 after winning the Masks of Fire Kenilworth Cup (Listed) over 2500m.

In assessing the race, the Handicappers identified LANDOFTHERISINGSUN, the runner-up, as the line horse. His rating remained unchanged at 99.

The specific race conditions did not permit merit rating increases for placed runners. As a result, no further adjustments were made.

This condition has been adopted because of the belief that the fear of merit rating adjustments is the primary reason for small field sizes. However, available data suggests otherwise.

By contrast, the Masks Of Fire Kenilworth Cup, which protected runners from upward adjustments, attracted only 4 runners. Similarly, the recent Pinnacle event on the

Highveld, also run under rating protection, drew just 3 runners.

The evidence points in another direction.

From the examples above, no rational observer can conclude with certainty that merit rating increases alone are responsible for diminished fields. Apportioning blame to the Handicappers solely, has simply become the convenient, yet unfounded, narrative. A deeper delve into the issue needs to be done urgently.

Breeders Guineas (Listed)

ANOTHERDANCEFORME, yet another bestweighted runner to find the winner’s enclosure this weekend, has retained her official merit rating of 110 following her emphatic victory in the Listed Breeders Guineas for three-yearold fillies over 1600m at Fairview Racecourse on Friday.

In assessing the performance, the Handicappers unanimously agreed to utilise the third-place finisher, ROYAL CITY GIRL, as the line horse. Consequently, her rating remains unchanged at 93.

Despite several runners performing above their official merit ratings, no further adjustments could be made due to race conditions that preclude increases for placed runners.

• Media release by NHA on Tuesday 3 March 2026.

BONGANI MAKES DAD PROUD!

Sunday 1 March 2026 will go down as a very special and emotional day for young SAJA Apprentice Bongani Makhubo.

The young man rode his first winner on his sixth attempt when he partnered Queen Braganza (10-1) to victory in a sprint handicap over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville.

His happiness was heart-lifting, a joy to behold.

Bongani’s win delighted Mike, Mathew and Diane de Kock, and everyone else in the stable that had worked closely with his father, Abram Makhubo, who passed away in 2012 at just 36.

The late Abram learnt most of his riding skills from former jockey and trainer Eugene Cox, who gave him his first job as a groom, and then refined his trade under James Maree at the Work Riders Academy.

A five-time champion Work Rider, ‘AB’ joined Mike de Kock’s stable in the mid 2000’s and travelled with the team to Dubai, Hong Kong and Australia, where he looked after Greys Inn during the now promising stallion’s Australian campaign in 2005.

He also worked with the likes of Asiatic Boy and Irridescence.

Makhubo helped in the yard and rode freelance for top stables, including Sean Tarry, Paul Matchett, Diane Stenger and Robbie Sage.

At the time of his passing, Diane de Kock said that Abram was a big campaigner for their HIV initiative.

“He influenced and saved many lives but in the end he couldn’t save himself. He will be missed at our stable in the mornings with his happy, professional disposition. He left big shoes to fill and we miss him very much.”

Bongani Makhubo was all smiles on Sunday

Credit:Julia Marnewick

Bongani was just a small boy back then, but he recalled watching his Dad in work riders’ races and often visiting the stables at Randjesfontein, where he grew up watching and listening to Mike de Kock.

He left school in 2023 because he wanted to be a jockey, and Mike sent him to James Maree’s work riders’ academy.

He was too light to ride in races then – only 45kg – but now weighs 50kg.

He completed his matric at the South African Jockeys Academy last year and is back in action now following a foot injury.

Bongani said in an interview last year: “Mr De Kock has been a mentor. It was tough at first, learning their training methods and the pace they want horses to run at, but things are coming together now. I can’t wait to ride my first winner, because trainers take you more seriously once they see you can get the job done.”

His big moment finally arrived and Bongani literally lit up the atmosphere at

Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Sunday with a smile that said it all.

He was accompanied to the winner’s box by friends from the Academy, including Mxolisi Mbuto, Dezahn Louw and Shelton Sesingi.

“This is a special day I will never forget, and even better because I could do it for Mike and Mathew de Kock” Bongani told interviewer, Deez Dayanand. “It’s very special, I am so happy!”

Of a filly he will never forget, Bongai said: “Queen Braganza travelled very well, I chased her a bit at the 400m mark and she gave me more. Thanks to the De Kock team, the Academy, the owners who gave me this chance, and my mother and sisters watching back home.”

Queen Braganza is a Riethuiskraal-bred by Potala Palace out of Catherineofaragon. She races in the silks of Jayson and Preshalin Murugasa.

Congratulations, Bongani – may this be the start of a wonderful career!

Queen Braganza charges clear under a delighted Bongani Makhubo | Credit:Julia Marnewick

Sent out the red hot favourite after a strong first up win in the Group Two Apollo Stakes a fortnight ago, Autumn Glow finished too strong for her classy stablemate Aeliana for another top line win.

The top seller at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast National Weanling Sale sent her earnings soaring past A$7,5 million with her second Group One success.

“She does everything right, simple as that,” jubilant trainer Chris Waller said. “Doesn’t matter where she

draws, what the track conditions are, or distances, she puts herself in the race.” “A different type of horse to some of those good horses I’ve trained when they get back and they have your heart in your mouth, but I still have my heart in my mouth. But, yeah, she’s up on the speed. She puts herself there, so that’s the difference.”

Where next for Autumn Glow?

“George Ryder,” Waller stated. “I’d love to try her at 2000m, but she’s got to be dominant in her next win to give us that ultimate satisfaction that she can run

AUTUMN GLOW MAKES IT 10 FROM 10

Superstar mare Autumn Glow extended her unbeaten run to ten with a stirring victory in the A$1 million Gr1 Verry Elleegant Stakes run over a mile at Randwick last Saturday.

the 2000m, otherwise it’s probably the Doncaster.”

“She’s got a lot of weight (for the Doncaster), but she’s a good horse.”

“I’ll talk to Mr. Messara and the Hermitage team in Hong Kong. I respect what they’ve got to say more than anything. It’s still in play, yes, definitely still in play.”

“The only thing with the Doncaster, there’s a few unknowns. You can get barrier draws, like barrier 20 and things like that. She’s had some tricky draws in

her previous races, but I guess when you’ve got a smaller weight-for-age field where you draw isn’t as important, it makes the job a bit easier.”

The mare is quickly becoming one of the favourites for champion jockey James McDonald.

“Her demeanor, her presence, she knows she’s so good,” McDonald said when asked why Autumn Glow was so good. “You can just see her strut around, even cantering to the start looking around like ‘you guys

Autumn Glow (James McDonald) wins Gr1 Verry Elleegant Stakes at Randwick

Credit: Magic Millions

– NEW RECORDS! THE WARRIOR

An imperious Romantic Warrior made light work of five rivals at Sha Tin on Sunday afternoon by winning a second HK$13 million Citi Gr1 Hong Kong Gold Cup for trainer Danny Shum and jockey James McDonald, following on from his success in 2024.

Sauntering to a four-length victory in the Triple Crown’s second leg, which follows his win in the HK$13 million Gr1 Stewards’ Cup (1600m) and will climax with the HK$13 million Gr1 Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup (2400m) on 24 May, Romantic Warrior won a recordextending 13th Group 1 – the most for a Hong Kong-trained horse.

McDonald said: “He’s just beautifully prepared. Danny’s just done a marvellous job, and each and every time I hop on him, I just cherish the moment. I feel so special every time and you look between his ears and he’s just so alert.”

The Acclamation gelding broke smoothly from barrier four to settle third as Beauty Joy made the running. Turning into the home straight, McDonald peeled out aboard Romantic Warrior and the bay exploded to the front with ease. John Size’s Ensued held on for second, while Francis Lui’s Winning Wing was a closing third. All runners carried 126lb .

Shum said: “It’s a small field, and he’s very fit, actually. His condition is getting better and better. The 2000 metres is his best trip. I think he can handle it (2400m), but I don’t know if any overseas horses will come (in May), but I think they have a lot of potential.”

Boasting world-record earnings of HK$254,66 million (Approximately ZAR 516 million at current rates), 2021 Hong Kong International Sale graduate, Romantic Warrior, clocked 1m 59.77s as he covered the final 400m in 22.52s.

The eight-year-old was purchased for HK$4.8 million by owner Peter Lau, and has also won Group 1 races in Australia, Japan and the United Arab Emirates.

Shum, 65, indicated Romantic Warrior will chase a fourth HK$30 million G1 FWD QEII Cup (2000m) after wins from 2022-2024 on FWD Champions Day (26 April) before the Triple Crown’s last leg, the Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup. Beyond this season, Shum didn’t rule out

James McDonald

returning to Saudi Arabia, the site of his famous close-up defeat to Forever Young in the 2025 G1 Saudi Cup (1800m, dirt).

“I think he will now go to the QEII Cup and then to the Champions & Chater before he finishes the season,” Shum said. “Maybe next season we will go to the Saudi Cup – we will keep everything open for now.”

Victory sees Romantic Warrior join Viva Pataca (2008 & 2009), Military Attack (2013 & 2014), Designs On Rome (2015 & 2016), Time Warp (2018 & 2020) and Golden Sixty (2021 & 2023) as dual Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup winners since the turn of the century.

Romantic Warrior was foaled on 18 March, 2018 at Corduff Stud in County Kildare, Ireland. The only Triple Crown winners in Hong Kong racing history are the trailblazing River Verdon (1993/94) and Voyage Bubble last season.

Romantic Warrior will secure a HK$10 million bonus if he is successful in the Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup. The horse was second in the 2023 edition of that race behind Russian Emperor.

Dylan Mo, the rider of Winning Wing, said: “It was a good run for this race because it’s a Group 1.”

Hugh Bowman, who partnered My Wish into fourth place, said: “I thought he was courageous. I thought it was a proper test of stamina and speed. The stamina found him out, but the speed was there.”

Regarding Ensued’s runner-up finish, jockey Dylan Browne McMonagle, said: “Super run. A good strong gallop suited him good. He stays very well and he was good and tough, so second is a great result.”

Thrilled Romantic Warrior connections pose for the photographer | Credit: HKJC

SCORES THE UPSET STORMY GROVE

Stormy Grove delivered a sensational run at long odds to score an upset and claim the second leg of the Four-Year-Old Classic series, the HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Cup run over 1800m at Sha Tin on Sunday.

Ridden by Harry Bentley, the son of Toronado made it two wins in a row and landed the Hong Kong Classic Cup with a performance reminiscent of his explosive 1600m showing at Sha Tin two weeks ago, when, after being drawn 14, he surged from last to first to claim his first Hong Kong win.

Having jumped from barrier 12 at odds of 21/1 for Sunday’s race, the chestnut broke well and settled at the rear of the field.

After enjoying a problem-free passage, he was called upon for an effort as they turned for home with 500 metres to go.

Bentley drew Stormy Grove wide and urged the Frankie Lor-trained gelding to challenge, and once again he swooped home in a race-fastest final 400m sectional of 23.04s, finishing a length clear of the fast-closing Invincible Ibis, who led home Patch Of Cosmo and Numbers.

“This feels extremely special,” said Bentley, who has been in the saddle for each of Stormy Grove’s seven Hong Kong runs. “I’ve liked this horse throughout, and I’ve struck up a good partnership with him. I was extremely impressed with the way he won last time. I had to come into this race with a certain level

Stormy Grove surges past rivals under Harry Bentley

of expectation and hope. But to do it the way he did was pretty breathtaking.”

It was Stormy Grove’s first run over 1800m, and he’ll need to break new ground again when he goes for BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) glory on 22 March.

“This ranks very highly on my wins in Hong Kong, and it’s very special,” said the Englishman. “He’s stepped up again, and he can do it. Same again, now, to the Derby.”

Frankie Lor felt a suitable pace aided his charge, and said a similarly run race on BMW Hong Kong Derby day might lead to further glory for the Australian-bred Stormy Grove: “I thought if the pace was suitable for him, he could do the same thing as last time at 1600 (metres).

“Next is 2000 (metres), and I think if the pace is suitable for him, then he can do the same thing. I think if he can settle, like today – he settled real good, and also the jockey – he knows the horse, he can have a very strong finish.”

It was a standout day for Jerry Chau, who continued his fine form this year as he registered his 10th, 11th and 12th winners since the beginning of February, and surpassed 200 Hong Kong winners. His treble began with victory aboard threeyear-old Chill Partners (126lb) after a thrilling finish to the Class 4 Citi Private Bank Handicap (1400m), which provided Francis Lui with his 31st winner of the season.

“All I was thinking in that race was getting a smooth run,” Chau said. “Whether he was a little bit back or in the lead, as long as he has a comfortable race, I trusted he would finish well.”

Chau, 25, partnered with Lui to good effect again when Galactic Voyage (128lb) prevailed in the Class 3 Citi Wealth Advisory Services Handicap (1200m).

“He is a very good horse and in trackwork, he’s just very settled and relaxed,” said the 25-year-old. “He just does his own work and on race day, he wants to win.”

He sealed his treble with a surging win aboard the Cody Mo-trained Emblazon (119lb) in the card-closing Class 2 Citi Credit Card Handicap (1400m). It was the talented four-year-old’s fifth win from six outings this term and his fourth win in a row.

“He’s a very, very good horse,” said Chau, who is currently fourth in the jockeys’ championship standings.

“In the beginning, he didn’t show his heart yet, but when he was ready, he’s improved with every race. After every race, and when I ride him at trackwork, I feel him improving, and I’m grateful every time he shows me his best.”

Of reaching the 200-win landmark, Chau, a product of The Hong Kong Jockey Club’s Apprentice Jockeys’ School, said: “After I graduated in 2021, everything was more of a challenge, and I had to fight for it … I’m really happy with 200 winners. I need to thank the trainers who have supported me and the owners as well. If not for their support, I can’t reach that milestone.”

Three-year-old Conrad Patch (129lb) built on two good runs and several promising barrier trials to register his first win for Mo, who completed a brace, in the first section of the Class 4 Citi Ultima Handicap (1200m), with Hugh Bowman, who also claimed a double, grabbing his 36th winner of the campaign.

Bowman’s second winner came courtesy of Tony Cruz’s Gentlemen Legacy (135lb) in the Class 3 Citi Investment Services Handicap (2000m).

Andrea Atzeni and Pierre Ng struck in the Class 4 Citi Wealth Handicap (1800m) with Storm Runner (120lb), who has now won twice in succession after blanking in his first 16 starts in Hong Kong.

Short-priced favourite Circuit Fiery (123lb) continued a strong run of form with a oneand-three-quarter-length victory in the

Class 4 Citigold Private Client Handicap (1400m) for Chris So and champion jockey Zac Purton.

So made it a pair when Pakistan Legacy (132lb) made all ridden by James Orman in the second section of the Class 3 Citi Insurance Services Handicap (1200m).

Brett Crawford’s impressive debut season continued when Warriors Dream (124lb), ridden by Lyle Hewitson, broke through in the Class 4 Citigold Handicap (1200m), claiming a first win in 11 outings.

Happy Stormy Grove connections | Credit: HKJC

WITH A CAUSE REBEL

He may be eight years old, but Rebel’s Romance showed few signs of age when charging to career win 21 in the Gr2 Dubai City of Gold [sponsored by emirates. com] – one of the highlights of Emirates Super Saturday at Meydan Racecourse.

William Buick steers the gallant Rebel’s Romance to victory | Credit: DRC

The nine-time Group 1 winner had seven rivals in the 2410 m turf contest but travelled ominously well throughout, going into the lead off the home turn under William Buick and holding off Fort George by a length and a half.

“It takes a lot for me to get emotional, but I love him,” said trainer Charlie Appleby. “I had my heart in my mouth just wanting him to get round safely.

“He’s just been a rockstar and we wanted to bring him here to show everyone what a great racehorse he is and he’s shown it again tonight.”

The City Of Gold offers qualification to the Gr1 Longines Dubai Sheema Classic – which Rebel’s Romance won in 2024 – for the winner, but Appleby was cautious about committing the gelding to the race.

“It’s a nice conversation to have, but we will take it race by race,” he said.

“He’s an old boy and we’re going to look after him.”

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