South African breeders enjoyed a rewarding afternoon at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday, 7 November, with Al Adiyaat, Blue Sky Thoroughbreds, Boland Stud and La Plaisance Stud represented among the four feature race winners.

Champion sire Vercingetorix, Legislate, Querari and Gimmethegreenlight each produced a Stakes winner, while Justin Snaith celebrated a quartet of winners that included two feature race victories.

AL ADIYAAT’S PALACE OF ARVERNIA ADDS ANOTHER GRADED SUCCESS

Al Adiyaat’s outstanding three-year-old filly PALACE OF ARVERNIA made a winning seasonal return in the R750,000 Gr2 Western Cape Fillies Championship over 1400m.

The daughter of champion sire Vercingetorix, trained by Dean Kannemeyer and ridden by Craig Zackey, defeated Georgie Girl and Fog In Finland to record her fourth victory from just five starts.

Bred by Al Adiyaat, Palace Of Arvernia is out of the Gr3 winning Potala Palace mare Palace Of Dreams, whose achievements at stud have been exceptional.

The mare has also produced Gr1 SA Classic winner Grand Empire, another son of Vercingetorix, making Palace Of Arvernia a full sister to the Classic winner.

Palace Of Dreams was named South Africa’s Champion Broodmare at the 2026 Equus Awards.

Palace Of Arvernia herself was crowned Champion Two-Year-Old Filly following a juvenile campaign that included victories in the Gr2 Golden Slipper and Gr2 Debutante Stakes.

Saturday’s performance added further distinction to an already outstanding female family.

BLUE SKY THOROUGHBREDS CELEBRATE LEGAL COUNSEL’S CAPE MILE DOUBLE

Blue Sky Thoroughbreds enjoyed another notable breeding success when their homebred LEGAL COUNSEL successfully defended his R350,000 Gr3 Cape Mile title.

The 5yo son of Legislate, out of the Silvano mare Imperial Wish, produced an authoritative performance under Richard Fourie to defeat Hollywoodbets Durban July winner Note To Self by 3.5 lengths.

Multiple Gr1 winner See It Again completed the trifecta, giving trainer Justin Snaith all three placings.

Legal Counsel’s victory was another significant result for his sire Legislate, the former South African Horse of the Year whose progeny continue to make their mark in stakes company and enjoyed a tremendous season last with the likes of Wish List.

For Blue Sky Thoroughbreds, the repeat Gr3 success provided further recognition of their breeding operation in KZN and the quality Bruce Le Roux and Tinus Gericke are producing.

BOLAND STUD’S PINK PIGEON DELIVERS FOR QUERARI

Eugene Freeman’s Boland Stud added another stakes winner to its record when the Justin Snaith-trained PINK PIGEON captured the R300,000 Listed Laisserfaire Stakes over 1100m.

The 5yo daughter of Querari, out of the Black Minnaloushe mare Polychromatic, was partnered by Keagan de Melo and held off Babelicious, with October Fest finishing third.

Pink Pigeon has been a model of consistency throughout her career, and Saturday’s victory was a deserved first stakes success following a series of narrow defeats.

LA PLAISANCE STUD’S GENTLEMAN JOE ADDS TO GIMMETHEGREENLIGHT’S STAKES RECORD

La Plaisance Stud was represented by the determined GENTLEMAN JOE, who captured the R300,000 Listed Woolavington Stakes over 2400m.

The 8yo son of Gimmethegreenlight, out of the four-time winning Fort Wood mare Dumani, was bred by La Plaisance Stud and races in the colours of Sabine Plattner.

Trained by Andre Nel and ridden by Athandiwe Mgudlwa, Gentleman Joe made all the running before holding off Fort Liam in a closely contested finish. Miami Summer took third.

The result was another stakes success for Varsfontein Stud’s champion sire Gimmethegreenlight.

Susan Rowett and John Kalmanson-owned Varsfontein Stud recently enjoyed a privileged visit from Princess Anne, who viewed the stallions on the farm in Paarl, amongst them Gimmethegreenlight, who recently enjoyed a 2nd in the Gr1 Breeders Cup Turf for Fillies and Mares with Gimme A Nother.

Gimmethegreenlight has sons standing at stud including Proceed, Green With Envy, Lucky Lad, Sandringham Summit and Got The Greenlight, as well as Gr1 winner Yulong Prince in Australia.

During her visit, Princess Anne was briefed on the importance of trade protocols in facilitating the movement of horses between South Africa and the United Kingdom.

Gentleman Joe’s victory extends beyond his own achievement, with his younger half-sister, the Querari filly Cutie Patootie, recording her fourth victory from seven starts at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth the previous Sunday.

The afternoon also belonged to champion trainer Justin Snaith, who saddled Sierra Nevada, Legal Counsel, Pink Pigeon and Wreath Of Snow to complete a successful days racing.

Well done to all concerned.

Images: Chase Liebenberg