September 2009
Every month sees the Klawervlei sires feature prominently and September was no different.
Outstanding sire, Captain Al, was represented by a number of promising young prospects last month.
His son, Captain’s Secret, won the first feature race of the Cape’s season, the Sophomore Sprint, in grand fashion. Coming off a seven length romp last time out, the Mike Bass trained colt confirmed his class by winning the feature race convincingly, despite drifting out in the closing stage. Now a winner of three of his last four outings, Captain’s Secret looks likely a leading Guineas contender.
A half-brother to top sprinter Narc, Captain’s Secret’s dam, She’s No Secret, is a daughter of Our Casey’s Boy.
Captain’s Secret – Sophomore Sprint (Listed)
(Breeder: Anthony Maroun's Stud / Owners: Messrs Bryn Ressell & N M Shirtliff)
Mike Bass also trains Fighting Chance, another smart 3yo son of Captain Al. A winner on debut, Fighting Chance improved on a second place last time out, to win nicely over 1000 meters. He drew clear to defeat the smart Junk Yard Kid, with subsequent winner Captain Kidd back in third. Well regarded by connections, Fighting Chance looks likely to line up in feature race company. His dam, Star of Broadway, was a stakes placed winner of three.
Another promising 3yo son of Captain Al is Echohawk. Highly regarded by trainer Dominic Zaki, Echohawk made an eye catching debut at Turffontein when winning by nearly four lengths. He too looks like a leading contender for some of the rich three-year-old races later in the season.
Echohawk is out of Early Fun, by the outstanding broodmare sire Elliodor. Echohawk is a half-brother to the stakes winner Maker’s Mark. (Breeder: Gary Player Stud (Pty) Ltd / Owners: Mr & Mrs A L Raffa)
Other winners for Captain Al last month include El Kapitaine and Play Nice.
National Emblem has also got some smart 3yos running for him this year. One such horse is Mahubo. The well bred colt, who had previously run third to Villandry in a Gp3 race, broke his maiden in game fashion when winning by three parts of a race over 1450 meters at Clairwood. A half-brother to top international campaigner Imbongi, Mahubo is out of the Foveros mare Garden Verse.
Mahubo
Breeder: Summerhill Stud (Pty) Ltd / Owner: Mrs F Hay / Trainer: Mr H J Brown (Jnr)
Another smart son of National Emblem to win well last month was Sarastro.
The Mike de Kock trained chestnut drew off to beat the high-class Ray Sauce by three parts off a length.
Now a gelding, Sarastro made it two wins in his last three starts. His dam, Bay of Rainbows, is a winning daughter of Lost Chord. (Breeders & Owners: Mr. M & Mrs. L Christmas)
Other winners for National Emblem recently include Western Emblem and Mabhalane.
Casey Tibbs is a prolific winner producing sire. He was again among the winners in September, being represented by five individual winners.
His son Cyber Case, a half-brother to new Klawervlei sire Jay Peg, notched up his second consecutive feature race win when scoring in the Listed Hampton Handicap.
Despite giving weight around to all but one in the race, Cyber Case drew clear to win by three quarters of a length. There were five lengths between second and third. Now a six time winner, Cyber Case has earned over R500,000 in prize money. Trained by Charles Laird, Cyber Case should continue to add to his winning tally. (Breeder: High Season Stud / Owner: Mrs. I Jooste & Mr. M J Jooste)
His dam, Laptop Lady, has now produced three stakes horses.
The useful Ultra Tune earned his third career victory when romping home over 2000 meters at Clairwood Park recently. Highly regarded as a 3yo, Ultra Tune simply sauntered away from his opposition to win by 3.75 lengths. He is out of the Northern Guest matron, Northern Melody, and is from the family of Derby winner The Monk.
Ultra Tune
Breeder: The Alchemy / Owners: Messrs Deon Smith, S F G Habib & G D E Kahan & Mr. K P & Mrs. N M Backos / Trainer: Mr. Tyrone Zackey
The grey, Kenny Tee, also looked very talented at the beginning of his career. It has taken the Vaughan Marshall trained gelding to get back to winning ways, but he scored his second win at Kenilworth recently winning well over 2000 meters. Judging on the fluency of his victory, Kenny Tee should win again. His dam, Da-Lady, is by champion New Zealand sire, Volksraad.
Another son of Casey to win last month was the 3yo Talent Scout. The colt showed his appreciation for a step up in trip by winning convincingly over a mile at Durbanville. Ridden well by Richard Fourie, Talent Scout won convincingly, despite having a poor draw. His, Time To Flirt, is a stakes placed daughter of All Fired Up.
Casey also sired the winner Saddler’s Blaze (Breeder: Dieu Farm (Pty) Ltd T/A Riverworld Stud / Owner: Mr. J H Van Heerden / Trainer: Mr. J S Snaith).
Danehill’s son, Requiem, had a successful September. His stakes winning daughter, Scripture, bounced back to her best form by winning over 1300 meters at Arlington. The Alan Greef trained filly showed plenty of guts to defeat Paprika a short head. A top-class juvenile, Scripture, is out of the Russian Revival mare, Magic Memoirs. (Breeder: JRH Connellan Primary Trust / Owners: Mrs. L F Greeff & Messrs C G & L F Scribante)
A 3yo son of Requiem, His Grace won a good race over Kenilworth’s 1200 meters. Under a good ride from Craig du Plooy, His Grace narrowly held off Rebel Knight to win convincingly. Lightly raced, His Grace has the scope to improve. His dam, Gallic Grace, is a half-sister to ill fated champion Son Of A Champ.
His Grace
Breeder: Somerset Stud / Owners: Mrs. I Jooste & Mr. M J Jooste / Trainer: Mr. V H Marshall
Requiem also sired the winner Colour Chart (Breeder: Connington Stud / Owner: Paddock Racing CC (Nom: Mr. W A Paddock) / Trainer: Mr. W A Paddock).
