Klawervlei’s resident stallion, Casey Tibbs, enjoyed a magnificent June. His son, Big City Life, confirmed his status as the best three-year-old colt in South Africa with a second Gr1 win in the Daily News 2000. Under a strong ride from Bernard Fayd’Herbe, Big City Life held off the attentions of subsequent classic winner Dan de Lago to win the prestigious race by half a length.
Trained by Glen Kotzen, Big City Life, now a five time stakes winner, has wrapped the Equus Award as best three-year-old colt. His dam, Goldmark matron Dollar Crisis, was a two time winner from the family of South African sire and Gr1 winner Hard Up. Casey is also the sire of Cree Lodge, one of the most promising juveniles in South Africa. The Dean Kannemeyer colt ran out a most eye catching winner of the Gr3 Betting World Langerman recently. Despite racing green, the colt produced a smashing turn of foot to win the prestigious race over some smart juveniles. The second Langerman winner for his sire, Cree Lodge has all the tools to make a top three-year-old. Now a winner of two of his four starts, Cree Lodge, like Big City Life, is out of a Goldmark mare. His dam, Fiery Spirit, is a four time winning granddaughter of top broodmare Strange Behaviour.
Big City Life - Breeder: Mrs JA Wintle / Owners: HJ Basson, RW Deacon, GA Hauptfleisch, GS Kotzen, GW Mitchell
Casey had plenty of other winners last month. They included Tana, who captured her third race when gamely holding off Ash For Cash. Tana, conceding the runner up four pounds, was backed into favouritism. The Diane Stenger trained filly showed plenty of courage to win 1160 meter race. Her dam, the Priceless Asset mare Tresor, is a descendant of the outstanding broodmare Julie Andrews.
Casey Tibbs’ juvenile son, Feet of Fire, broke his maiden at the third time of asking recently. The colt, who had run behind some classy sorts in his first two outings, was sent off as an outsider but won most impressively, defeating runner up Lancelin by two and a quarter lengths. Feet of Fire may now be aimed at some of the juvenile feature races. He is a son of Elliodor mare Feet O’Flames.
Other winners for Casey during the last month include Texas Jack and Loving Cup.
Outstanding young sire, Captain Al, was yet again represented by a juvenile stakes winner last month. Well clear on the leading sires of juveniles, Captain Al’s daughter, Me N’ You became her sire’s fourth individual juvenile stakes winner this year when landing the Listed Irridescence Stakes for Justin Snaith, one of Captain Al’s biggest fans. Under a good ride from Felix Coetzee, Me N’ You showed plenty of resolution to hold off last out winner Factor One. Me ‘N You is out of Snooze U Lose, and from the famous family of Lords and Bush Telegraph.
Me 'N You
Another juvenile daughter of Captain Al to win during June was Super Freak. Having competed in a stakes race previously, Super Freak was sent off favourite to beat a big field of promising juvenile fillies. The Mike Bass trained filly drew clear in the final furlong and went on to win by two. Her dam is the Gp1 placed filly Honour Dancer.
The superbly bred Mana Mou made an execeptional debut when scooting clear to win with great ease. The form of her maiden win has worked out very well, with both the second and third placed fillies having won subsequently and it is surely only a matter of time before Mana Mou competes in a feature race. A half-sister to the great sprinter Mythical Flight, Mana Mou is trained by the very much in form Sean Tarry.
The magnificent dirt campaigner Galahad showed his class again, yet this time when winning well on the grass. The Charles Laird trained gelding has no peers on the dirt surfaces, but is no slouch on grass either and he won well over some tough performers. Now a seven time winner, Galahad can add to his winning tally on either surface. He is by some way the best horse produced by his dam, former Natal Oaks winner Danseuse Classique.
Another trainer who is a big supporter of Captain Al is Dominic Zaki. He currently trains the unbeaten juvenile filly Kissing Cousin. The latter impressed all and sundry when she outclassed her opposition over 1160 meters at the Vaal. Kissing Cousin just continued to draw clear in the stretch and won her second start by five and a quarter lengths. Her dam, the three time winner Royal Ruler, is by National Assembly, and the Captain Al/National Assembly cross is working very well.
Other winners for the remarkable Captain AL last month include Naval Attack, Liutenant Al, Music On My Mind and Townsend.
National Emblem was represented by no fewer than 10 individual winners during June.His juvenile daughter, Rosette, broke her maiden at the second time of asking in convincing fashion. Third first time out, Rosette showed the benefit of having a run under the belt when coming with a late run to hold off the attentions of runner up Riyal.Beautifully bred, Rosette is a daughter of high-class racemare Rosey Rapids, and is thus a half-sister to classy three-year-old Rudi Rocks.
Rosette
Another juvenile to win well for National Emblem was Lt Samson. A winner first time out by 10 lengths, the colt had raced previously in feature race company. The Alan Greeff trained youngster drew clear to win comfortably by two lengths. His dam is the winning Al Mufti mare Samson’s Queen. Lt Samson has been nominated for the Gp3 Champions Juvenile Cup.
Protea Parade made it back to back wins when crushing her opposition. She couldn’t have been more impressive as she drew clear to by win by more than six lengths. The chestnut mare, trained by Geoff Woodruff, has now won four races. She is out of the Complete Warrior mare Militaire and from the family of Mount Hood.
Bismarck has turned the corner of late. The Lucky Houdelakis trained gelding, backed down to favoritism, made it three wins out of his last four starts, when winning decisively over 1000 meters at Turffontein. Now a four time winner, Bismarck is out of the Harry Hotspur mare Neptunes Girl.
National Emblem has always been known as a source of speed and precocity in the South African stud book. His juvenile daughter, Novelty, confirmed this when she made a winning debut at Durbanville recently. Well fancied at 7-2, Novelty came with a sweeping late run to win going away .
Out of the useful stakes winning Kilconnel mare Nik Nak, Novelty looks to have a bright future.
Novelty
The lightly raced Stornoway has run creditably behind the likes of Meet At Malamala and Sharks Bay. The three-year-old gelding made it two wins from just six starts, when holding on gamely over 1000 meters at Scottsville. Trained by Doug Campbell, Stornoway’s dam, Surtsey Island, was five time winner.
Other winners for National Emblem last month include Usimelika, Clare’s Emblem, Sierra Lily, and Springbok Summer.
Martinelli was represented by the winner Mighty Marti in June. The filly showed plenty of heart to break her maiden over 1400 meters, defeating the well bred Tirza by a head. Mighty Marti is out of three time winning mare Mighty Mum, a daughter of the ill fated Father Rooney.
