Captain Al confirmed his status as one of South Africa’s elite sires, yet again, with a pair of smart performances from two of his sons. The progeny of Captain Al should prove profitable to follow during the up coming feature race season in Gauteng and Cape Town alike.
Captain’s Secret, trained by Mike Bass, won his first feature race last month. The colt drew off to win the Sophomore Sprint easily, despite hanging badly in the latter stages of the race. By winning this race so easily, Captain’s Secret confirmed himself as one of the best 3yo colts in the Cape. A half-brother to top sprinter Narc, Captain’s Secret is out of She’s No Secret.
Captain’s Secret
Another top-class 3yo sired by Captain Al is the Dominic Zaki trained Echohawk. A winner on debut, Echohawk made up for a last out defeat by winning well over 1800 meters at Turffontein. Now a winner of 2 of his 3 starts, Echohawk looks to be a colt of some potential. His dam, Early Fun, has proven to be an excellent broodmare. Echohawk is a half-brother to the Gr3 winner Maker’s Mark.
Captain Al has long been known as a sire of good fillies. His daughter, Naughty Girl, showed her durability by winning twice during the month for Justin Snaith, one of Captain Al’s biggest fans. The 3yo Naughty Girl broke her maiden over subsequent winner Birthday Girl, and then followed up with a game win over 1400 meters at Kenilworth. She is out of the Sportsworld mare, Dolce Vita.
Captain Kidd showed promise at the start of his career. Whilst he failed to live up to his reputation, the gelding bounced back to good form when winning well over 1200 meters at Kenilworth. Behind Captain Kidd was the expensive and well regarded Fort Vogue, and on this sort of form, Captain Kidd could well follow up. He is out of Run To Daddy, a daughter of Damascus Gate.
Cape Trafalgar won his sixth race for Joey Ramsdan. The gelding, long used to carrying top weight in his races, won by over three lengths, whilst giving the runner up 16 pounds! This win ensured that the son of Captain Al take part in the Gp3 Algoa Cup next time out. A real money-spinner for his connections, Cape Trafalgar is out of the Elliodor mare Cry For The Lion, and is a three parts brother to sand star Galahad.
Cape Trafalgar
Other winners for Captain Al last month include Hip Hop Queen and Jenna The Pink.
National Emblem himself has a number of promising sorts in training at the moment. One such horse is the 3yo filly Rosette. Rated good enough to take her chance in Gr1 Thekwini Stakes at two, Rosette confirmed her ability with a gutsy win on her 3yo debut. Under a good ride from Anton Marcus, Rosette hung on gamely to defeat the previously unbeaten Silver Ending and the Gr1 placed Smanjemanje.
A half-sister to classy Rudi Rocks, Rosette is out of the top-class race mare Rosey Rapids.
Sean Tarry has enjoyed plenty of success with the progeny of National Emblem, and he has another smart sort sired by the stallion in Logically. Coming off a second place finish over 1600 meters, Logically duly justified favouritism to break his maiden in good style. He will be stepped up to feature race company. His dam, Miracle Maiden, is a daughter of Elliodor, from the family of National Emblem himself.
Logically
Other winners for National Emblem include National Play and Irresistible
Casey Tibbs has made a reputation as a prolific sire of winners. The son of Sadler’s Wells had another good month.
His daughter, Tassie Belle, won her second race in three starts, when successful at Durbanville last month. Running over a mile at Durbanville, she proved too strong for a field which included the stakes winning Captain Al filly, Me ‘N You. She will run next in the Odessa Fillies Championship. Her dam, Symphony of Joy, was a smart race filly, who won the Gp3 Champagne Stakes.
Tassie Belle
Another of Casey’s fillies to win last month was Maroochy. Winning her fifth race, Maroochy outclassed her opposition over 1800 meters, to win by nearly three lengths. She defeated some smart fillies and mares and has now won from 1400 to 1800 meters. Her dam, Queensland, is a winning daughter of Centenary.
Other winners for Casey last month included The Lost World and Hedge Your Bets.
