14th Gr1 winner for Dynasty in the Gr1 Sansui Summer Cup with Liege. Image: Tracy Robertson
With several imported Thoroughbreds contesting the exclusive Turffontein Summer Cup day, it was pleasing to see our locally-bred horses fill the winners enclosure on Gauteng’s feature race day which had a few surprise results come through.
The grey Pathfork filly My Friend Lee opened the day for the feature races in the Gr3 Magnolia – the Highlands-bred for trainer Lucky Houdalakis collected her sixth victory in the process for owners Messrs Bryn Ressel and K A Waterston.
Monks Hood gave Alistair Gordon a Gr2 win in the Dingaans, the first KZN raider to do so in 30 years. Image: JC Photos
The next to impress was Folk Dance for Paul Peter, winning the Gr3 Fillies Mile by three lengths for breeders Wilgerbosdrift and Mauritzfontein who had a great day as owners and / or breeders of four horses. It was the first of a double for Tiger Ridge on the day (the other being Nother Russia) and the three year old filly sold for only R100 000 at the 2016 National Yearling Sale.
She is owned in partnership by Messrs Thalente Myeni and G L O’Brien and Hyperpaint Syndicate (Nom: Mr G T Peter) and earned R487 500 for her connections to date.
The Thinker brought home the Gr2 Merchants for Mayfair Speculators – the Summerhill-bred son of Visionaire gave Johan Janse Van Vuuren his first win in this race, and a good one at that by over a length clear. Unsold at the National Yearling Sale, The Thinker resold at the CTS Ready To Run Sale in Johannesburg for R180 000.
He has earned R590 050 in stakes for his connections with five wins from 11 starts.
Monks Hood, sold for R375 000 to Mary Slack of Wilgerbosdrift at the 2016 National Yearling Sale from Benmarne Stud for breeders Messrs Estate Late B H Botha and Arne J Botha and Mrs M E Botha, held on doggedly to take the Gr2 Dingaans for a jubilant KZN trainer, Alistair Gordon.
A superb day for the combination of Wilgerbosdrift and Mauritzfontein, among them Gr2 Ipi Tombe winner, Nother Russia. Image: JC Photos
It is the first time in 30 years that a KZN raider has won the race and Monks Hood, a handsome son of Querari out of a Camden Park mare, has earned over half a million to date – with two wins, two places from six starts.
Maine Chance-bred Liege, out of Lyrical Linda by Jallad took the honours of the main race on the day in the Gr1 Sansui Summer Cup. In the process he gave his outstanding sire Dynasty his 14th Gr1 winner.
Owned in partnership by Messrs Chris van Niekerk and Markus Jooste, the five year old gelding trained by Sean Tarry has won 1 885 000 in stakes – an excellent return on his price tag of R650 000 at the CTS Ready To Run Sale.
In the second of the day for Tiger Ridge and third the combination of Wilgerbosdrift (breeder) and Jessica Slack Jell of Mauritzfontein as owner, the beautiful chestnut mare Nother Russia added another Graded Stakes win to her record with the Gr2 Ipi Tombe Challenge.
Trained by Mike De Kock and ridden by her jockey Craig Zackey, she shouldered the top weight of the field of 60kgs to the finish line. The Gr1 winning daughter of Mother Russia was purchased by Form Bloodstock on behalf of Jessica Slack Jell for a price of R550 000 – the courageous mare has since won seven races with five places from 12 starts and stakes of R1 752 875.
Fortissima gave Anthony Delpech his third win on the day. Image: JC Photos
Fortissima made the Racing Association Handicap Listed hers once more after winning it last year. The marathon 3200m initially was dominated by Run Rhino Run, but the Silvano gelding faded and saw Joey Soma’s Fort Wood mare digging in to take the prize by almost three lengths under Anthony Delpech, who had a spectacular day with three winners.
Sold for R270 000 off the CTS Ready To Run Sale, she has won five times for owners Messrs M A Currie, J A Soma and L A Wainstein and Klawervlei Stud (Pty) Ltd (Nom: Mr J P Koster) and Mr D and Mrs F N V Paton. The Klawervlei-bred daughter of Al Mufti mare Synchronize, has earned R839 450 in stakes.
Congratulations to all concerned on a successful day.
