What A Winter enjoyed a red-letter day at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Saturday as his progeny captured two of the afternoon’s feature events, headed by Hollywood Racing’s courageous mare Asiye Phambili, who secured a deserved first Grade 1 victory in the SA Fillies Sprint brought to you by The Witness.
The feature programme also produced Grade 1 glory for unbeaten juvenile colt Haute Couture, while the tough Taxi To The Moon displayed trademark determination to land the Grade 2 Golden Horse Sprint and Get Up announced herself as one of the season’s most exciting young fillies in the Allan Robertson Championship.
The cream rose to the top on a memorable day of feature racing at Hollywoodbets Scottsville, where a pair of Grade 1 contests and two prestigious Grade 2 events showcased the depth of sprinting talent currently racing in South Africa.
From a deserved breakthrough Grade 1 success for the courageous Asiye Phambili to the unbeaten juvenile colt Haute Couture maintaining his perfect record, the feature programme produced standout performances.
The day’s action was particularly memorable for Drakenstein Stud stallion What A Winter, who sired a feature-race double through juvenile filly Get Up and the tough-as-teak sprinting mare Asiye Phambili.
What A Winter at Drakenstein Stud. Image: Candiese Lenferna
The latter delivered the headline act when the bold and flying mare stormed to victory in the Grade 1 SA Fillies Sprint, getting up on the line to secure victory from Double Grand Slam. Bred by Hemel ‘n Aarde Stud and racing in the colours of Hollywood Racing, Asiye Phambili collected her second Graded Stakes success in succession and, in the process, secured a richly deserved first Grade 1 victory. Interestingly, What A Winter has produced two Gr 1 winners for Hollywood Racing.
The win provided Hollywood Racing with yet another Grade 1 winner by What A Winter and their first Grade 1 success of the current season. It also added another top-level triumph to the impressive record of trainer Duncan Howells, a horseman long renowned for his ability to prepare elite fillies and mares and his 5th Gr1 winner. In the saddle, an emotional Sean Veale produced a polished ride to guide the powerful mare to the biggest victory of her career.
Earlier on the card, What A Winter’s influence had already been felt when the promising juvenile filly Get Up captured the Grade 2 Allan Robertson Championship. Trained by Sean Tarry and ridden by Gavin Lerena, the talented filly carried the colours of her breeders and owners, Drakenstein Stud.
Out of the Grade 1-winning mare Gabor, a daughter of Kingsbarns, Get Up is bred on a pedigree packed with quality and is a half-sister to Malmesbury Missile. Her victory completed a feature-race double on the day for her sire and further highlighted What A Winter’s continued impact as one of South Africa’s premier stallions who has enjoyed international success with the likes of Isivunguvungu.
The Grade 2 Golden Horse Sprint produced another thrilling contest, with Taxi To The Moon displaying tremendous courage to prevail under Tristan Godden. Trained by Tony Peter for owners Kestorm Investments, the handsome son of Vercingetorix once again demonstrated the determination that has made him one of the country’s leading sprinters.
Bred by Oldlands Stud and merit rated 123, Taxi To The Moon’s victory marked the eighth success of his career. The win also continued a remarkable month for the Sanne family and Oldlands Stud, providing them with their tenth winner during May and a second feature-race winner within the month.
Juvenile star Haute Couture maintained his unbeaten record when landing the Grade 1 Gold Medallion, giving owner Jason Murugasa a memorable first Grade 1 victory. Bred by Wilgerbosdrift & Mauritzfontein, the exciting colt is the product of the highly successful Rafeef – Var cross and descends from the distinguished family of Ilha Da Vitoria.
Trained by father-and-son partnership Mike and Mathew de Kock and expertly partnered by Callan Murray, Haute Couture entered the race on the back of a breathtaking debut victory by ten lengths. The talented colt duly confirmed the promise of that performance, remaining unbeaten after two starts while adding South Africa’s premier juvenile sprint prize to his growing résumé.
With established stars enhancing their reputations, emerging juveniles announcing themselves on the biggest stage and breeders enjoying richly deserved success, Hollywoodbets Scottsville once again delivered a feature race spectacle worthy of its reputation as one of South Africa’s premier sprint racing showcases.
Images: Candiese Lenferna / Julia Marnewick
