Charles Dickens dominated the mile of the L’Ormarins Kings Plate to give owner and breeder Mrs Gaynor Rupert of Drakenstein, her first win of a race she has sponsored for many years. What made it all the more sweeter was a 1-2 result with Drakenstein-bred See It Again finishing second, and to add to the days excellence for the blue and white colours, not only capturing both Gr1’s but four Graded Stakes wins on the day.

Having achieved a superb record of 20 Black Type winners for the previous season with 35 Black Type wins overall for 2022, the 2023 season looks to be following in the same footsteps – with another six months to go until the end of the racing season, Drakenstein are sitting on 10 individual Black Type wins for 14 Black Type wins overall so far.

Drakenstein’s now retired champion sire Trippi enjoyed a tremendous day – capturing two wins including the main feature, and another two as a broodmare sire. The much missed Dynasty achieved the outstanding feat of producing two Gr1 wins as a broodmare sire on the day, of both Charles Dickens and Beach Bomb whilst Avontuur’s deceased sire, Var, produced two wins as a broodmare sire.

Mucho Dinero. Image: Candiese Lenferna

It was the third Gr1 win for Charles Dickens, and a memorable day for trainer Candice Bass-Robinson, winning with Charles Dickens, October Morn and Beach Bomb.

Avontuur Thoroughbred Farm enjoyed a double on the day with Thunderstruck, owned by Mrs Mary Slack of Wilgerbosdrift and trained by Sean Tarry, warming up ahead of the Gr1 Cape Flying Championship with a facile win in the Franschhoek Motor Museum Winchester Sprint Cup. The beautifully bred October Morn (Trippi) won the Gr2 Cartier Sceptre Stakes for her owner and part breeder, Mr Abery. Out of Miss October, October Morn is a half sister to Gr1 winner, Tempting Fate and a full sister to Spring Break. Her third dam is the mighty racemare, Devon Air.

Mucho Dinero won the Anthonij Rupert Wine Premier Trophy (Grade 2) for Mr Nick Jonsson, who has enjoyed tremendous success with Klawervlei based sire, Twice Over. Mucho Dinero, gave Drakenstein Stud one of Graded Stakes winners on a red letter day for the farm. He is out of one of Drakenstein Studs fantastic mares Cash Register – the dam of Snapscan, Point Of Sale, Chat Ching and Speed Point. It is also the family of Cousin Casey and Mucho Dinero gave Justin Snaith one of four winners on the day.

Beach Bomb. Image: Candiese Lenferna

Beach Bomb (Lancaster Bomber) defeated Equus Horse Of The Year, Princess Calla, on the line of the Gr1 Cartier Paddock Stakes, a back to back Gr1 win for the filly owned and bred by Drakenstein. Trained by Candice Bass-Robinson, she is out of star race filly Beach Beauty, who has produced five high class performers to date including Wild Coast.

Charles Dickens captured his 10th career win and his third career Gr1 win over the mile. The son of Trippi has had Aldo Domeyer in the irons for all of his starts. Charles Dickens is out of Demanding Lady by Dynasty, the dam of Charles and Somerset Maugham.

Drakenstein’s day ended on a high as Future Swing (Futura) won the Gr3 Glorious Goodwood Chairman’s Cup owned by Drakenstein Stud (Nom: Mrs G A Rupert), Kalinga and Mrs P A Isdell. A R600 000 yearling off the 2021 Nationals, he won over 2500m and is from the immediate family of Champion Stayer, Jeppe’s Reef.

Drakenstein currently lead the national breeders log with R14,492,294 in stakes earned, and 35.5% winners to runners achieved so far for the season.

Congratulations to the Drakenstein team on a stellar day.

Charles Dickens. Image: Candiese Lenferna