Klawervlei sires were again to the fore in January. The remarkable Captain Al was represented by two feature race winners on one day, whilst Casey Tibbs was represented by another stakes winner.
Captain Al had an outstanding 2009, and it looks like his progeny are again going to dominate in 2010. His talented filly Captain's Gal thrashed her opposition in the Gr3 Flamboyant Stakes, winning by over three lengths. A very useful filly, Captain's Gal was coming off a third place finish behind Met runner up Mother Russia. Trained by Sean Tarry, Captain's Gal has now won over half a million in prize money. She is by far the best horse produced by her dam, the Centenary mare Isle of Capri.
Captain’s Gal
Mainbrace gave his sire another feature race success when he took out the Southeaster Sprint. It was a first stakes win for the Basil Marcus trained gelding. Mainbrace, under a clever ride from Kelvin Jupp, was covered up in the running and fought off the late challenge of Casey Cool to win well. Mainbrace is a full brother to the smart filly Girl In Every Port, both being out of Play Hard.
Justin Snaith has some very talented juveniles this season. Arctic Captain looks to be one of his better ones, and he duly broke his maiden in convincing style at Kenilworth recently. His dam, Merry Mistral, is a granddaughter of the great broodmare Soho Secret.
Another offspring of Captain Al to win for Snaith Racing was Ribbons for Thee. Making amends for a second place last time out, the nicely bred filly ran out a game winner over 1000 meters at Kenilworth on Cape Flying Championship day. Her dam, Main Emblem, was a high-class race filly who ran second in the Gr1 Allan Robertson Fillies Championship.
Waitangi was a top juvenile of last year. The Geoff Woodruff trained colt scored another win when scoring over 1000 meters at the Vaal at the end of January. Now a three time winner, all of Waitangi's scores have come over 1000 meters.
Casey Tibbs is himself a prolific stakes sire. His daughter Tassie Belle gave Basil Marcus a great farewell feature race win, prior to Marcus departing for Singapore, when scoring in the Cape Breeders Jamaica Handicap. The 3yo filly appreciated the step up to 1700 meters and held off the smart fillies Summerly and Katici Princess to win by a length. Tassie Belle is out of the Gr3 winning mare Symphony of Joy, herself a half-sister to another Gr3 winner in I Do.
Tassie Belle
Irish Darling is another smart daughter of Casey Tibbs. The Craig Eudey trained filly scored her fifth career win recently when outclassing her field over 2400 meters. Scoring back to back wins, Irish Darling beat runner up Ginger Hill by nearly three lengths. Irish Darling, who is out of the fine race mare Firestar, should make a valuable broodmare when she retires to stud.
Texas Jack scored his second career win when providing something of an upset. Racing over 1800 meters at Kenilworth, Texas Jack was given a good ride by Grant van Niekerk to win by a length and a quarter. He is out of the classy race filly Royal Tune.
Other winners for Casey Tibbs last month included Lunatic Fringe, Casey's Gift and Slinga Malinga.
National Emblem was represented by no fewer than eight individual winners. His National Appeal recently scored his fifth win for trainer Pat Lunn recently. Despite carrying top-weight in the 16 horse field, National Appeal carried too many guns and drew off to win by three parts of a length. Now a seven-year-old, National Appeal has scored all his wins up to 1300 meters. His dam, Leopard Charm, is by the top sprinter Springing Leopard.
National Appeal
Mahubo was a classy juvenile, who was placed in the Gr3 Godolphin Barb Stakes on debut. Trained by Herman Brown Jnr, Mahubo recently scored his second career win when just holding off the attentions of the four-year-old Royal Union to win by a head. Connections will be hoping that Mahubo does as well as his half-brother, Imbongi. The pair are out of the extremely successful broodmare Garden Verse.
National Play gave the inform Dean Kannemeyer another winner when scoring at Kenilworth recently. The 3yo was sent off favourite in a graduation plate over 1600 meters and duly arrived. He beat some useful performers and should have more wins to come, given his trainer's superb record with 3yos. National Play's dam, Medusa, is by former champion sire Jallad.
Sierra Lily looked a filly going places when she won first time out as a juvenile. She was subsequently rather disappointing, but has of late recaptured her good earlier form. Placed in her last two starts, Sierra Lily scored her third career win when holding off What A Beaut and Ravishing's half-sister Coral Tree over 2000 meters. She has now won from 1000 – 2000 meters. Her dam, Dreaming Lily, is a half-sister to Gr3 winner Painted
Glory.
Other winners for National Emblem last month include Beyond Measure, Empowerment and Springbok Summer.
Requiem was also among the winners in January. His daughter Tialata was rewarded for consistency when she broke her maiden over 1900 meters. She had previously been placed in her prior starts. She is out of the useful Tristram's Frolic, and is a half-sister to the smart filly Alejate.
Tialata
Requiem's son, Tower of Strength, broke his maiden over 1000 meters, confirming Requiem's versatility as a sire. Tower of Strength's dam, Tsunami is by the Epsom Derby winner Shaamit.
