Newsletter December 2008
Klawervlei launches new website
It's great to be able to welcome you to our new and much expanded website! Klawervlei.co.za has been completely revamped. The idea was to create a site that is simple and refreshing to the eye, easy to browse and full of useful information that will be kept up to date on a daily basis. Click here to read more...
Stallion news
Captain Al had seven individual winners in November, but it was a horse that was narrowly beaten that put up arguably the best performance. Captain’s Table was just touched off by the unbeaten Oracy when second in the Gr2 Unitrans Dingaans Stakes. Beating a number of top-class three-year-olds, Captain’s Table was beaten a neck by Oracy in a thrilling finish. Captain’s Table, who looks a leading contender for the classics, is out of Historian mare Mambo Princess.
Captain Al has done well for Snaith Racing and the combination teamed up to win three races during the month. Halfmoonrising, who looked promising early on in her career, won her third race when running out a comfortable winner over a mile. The three-year-old is out of the Elliodor broodmare Tuxedo Princess.
Another sired by Captain Al to win for the in form Snaith Racing team was Show A Profit. Always well regarded by the stable, Show A Profit benefitted from a fine ride from Aldo Domeyer to make the running and hold off the useful pair of Fortunates and Captain’s Knock.
He has now won two of his last three starts. Like Halfmoonrising, Show A Profit is out of a daughter of Elliodor, in his case the mare is Ellibi.
Show A Profit’s full brother, Combat Leader, is also a talented sort. The gelding made most of the running to win well under Kevin Shea at Scottsville last month. In that race he defeated subsequent Merchants Stakes winner Something Else into third place. Now a six time winner, Combat Leader should continue to pay his way.
Space Captain made an eye catching debut when second to the unbeaten Private Jet. Stepped up in distance for his next start, the colt broke his maiden in the rich maiden race on Summer Cup day. A full brother to the useful filly Solar Voyageur, Space Captain fought out a duel with Pleasant Variety over the final stages of the race to win gamely. Backed down to favouritism for the race, Space Captain should go on to bigger and better things.
Other winners for the prolific Captain Al this month included Hip Hop Queen, Summer Recess, and Luna Rossa.
Casey Tibbs is another Klawervlei stallion responsible for a top-class three-year-old. His son, Big City Life, already a multiple stakes winner, ran dual Horse of the Year Pocket Power to two and a quarter lengths when second in the Gr2 Greenpoint Stakes. In that race, Big City Life beat a host of proven high quality older runners to show his class.
Big City Life, who defeated classic winner Sparkling Gem in a feature race, is widely tipped by many pundits as a leading Bloodstock SA Cape Guineas candidate. The Glen Kotzen trained colt is out of the Goldmark mare Dollar Crisis.
Needless to say, Casey was also represented by a host of winners in November. His smart filly, Lady Zille, ran second first time out to the useful Jolie Angelina, and was well fancied to go one better next time out. She duly ran on strongly over the 1200 meters at Kenilworth to win comfortably by a length and a half. From the red-hot stable of Justin Snaith, Lady Zille has clearly plenty of ability. She is out of the winning Politician mare Political Caper.
Another daughter of Casey Tibbs to win second time out in November was the nicely named Grand Duchess. After running seventh first time out, the filly showed good improvement to win next time out. The Alec Laird trained filly ran on strongly to deny the favourite Another Schlepp by a head. Grand Duchess is a full sister to the useful Imperial Grace, their dam being the Gr1 placed Imperial Order.
Other winners for Casey during November included Royal Terrace, Love Warrior and Madam Casey.
Requiem was represented by a pair of winners during November on the same day. His son Mass Destruction confirmed his recent improvement by winning well over a mile. Trained by Charles Laird, Mass Destruction came with a late burst to win going away. His dam is winning daughter of Fine Edge.
Requiem’s daughter Eternal Glory showed the expected improvement when stepped up in trip. After making her debut over 1200 meters, the filly won most impressively over 1450 meters at Turffontein. She made most of the running during the race and held of the challenge of runner Barbarika comfortably. Interestingly, Eternal Glory is a half-sister to the Eastern Cape champion Hear The Drums. The pair are out of the stakes winning mare Winning Glory.
National Emblem was represented by six individual winners during November.
His son, Langley, won his fifth race this month. The gelding, who began his career so promisingly, drew clear over a mile, to defeat Kazakhistan by nearly two lengths. It was an impressive display from Langley who came from nearly last place to fly up late.
Beautifully bred, Langley’s dam Highlyconfidential is a half-sister to champion Promisefrommyheart.
Lune de Miel improved on a second place finish on debut to win well over 1400 meters. Trained by Michael Miller, the colt was handy throughout and kicked on to win well. Clearly possessing plenty of talent, Lune de Miel is the best horse produced by his dam, She’s A Luck, to date.
Greg Ennion trains the diminutive Grecian Banner. The filly, who has running against colts, again took on the boys and broke her maiden in gutsy fashion. Her dam, Life Begins, is a daughter of Shalford. Grecian Banner’s second dam, Josey Wood, produced the top-class performer Ingleside.
Other winners for National Emblem in November included Usimelika, Ice Pageant and August Eight.
Martinelli’s Thunder Creek has always been well thought of. He recently changed stables and is now with the Glen Puller yard. He made all the running to win over a mile at Scottsville and looks more than capable of adding to his winning tally. Thunder Creek, who was regarded as good enough to take on the best of his generation at two, is out of the unraced Alami matron Crystal Clear.
