Two #SAFbreds, Celtic Voyager and Garrulous will start at Chantilly on 24 September at 17:29 in Race 8 Prix Tilbury, over 1200m. Both horses were trained by Glen Kotzen in South Africa.
A handsome chestnut, Maine Chance-bred Celtic Voyager ran in the colours of Justin Vermaak’s Greenstreet Bloodstock in South Africa, and will be aimed at the Dubai World Cup for Vermaak’s newly established Gulf Racing Club. The son of Vercingetorix with five wins in South Africa won the Durban Dash (NBT) and the Umgeni Handicap Listed, including defeating Gr2 winner Ultra Magnus. In France, Celtic Voyager starts for trainer S Cerulis.
To be trained by Mike De Kock in Dubai, vermaakequine.co.za website states that “He is currently in France being readied for export to the UAE, export scheduled for September. He has already qualified for the carnival with an international rating of 94 and unlike most SAF horses, he will have the benefit of an early start and a very good preparation. Many sprinters come into their own later in their career and this lightly raced 4yo has furnished into a smashing looking horse and should have a good few seasons of racing abroad for us.”
Celtic Voyager was sold on Session 2 of the National Yearling Sale in 2018 for R150 000 to Greenstreet Bloodstock.
Garrulous. Image: Candiese Lenferna
The second to start is Garrulous, a handsome bay son of Byword bred by Seymour Harley of Tertia Properties out of his mare who has produced multiple winners – Ritualistic by Jallad – owned by the Schwegmann’s placed second in the Gr2 Epol Umkhomazi Stakes, finishing closely to Varsfontein sire Erik The Red.
The Schwegmann’s recently enjoyed their first Gr1 winner with Good Traveller.
Garrulous will be trained by FH Graffard.
Wishing the connections all the best!
