ANOTHER MONTH OF SUCCESS FOR CRS!
From Dreamworld to Empire State. Graduates of Cape Racing Sales have enjoyed a wonderful run of success over the past month. Their ranks ranging from promising two-year-olds to exciting older horses, CRS thoroughbreds have shone over a range of trips and tracks this month.
Below are a few brief, recent CRS highlights:
DREAMWORLD SHINES IN EMOTIONAL WINTER NURSERY
Dreamworld
Classy two-year-old, and CRS graduate, Dreamworld (One World-Dream De Ra) stirred plenty of emotions when he won the recent Gr 3 Winter Nursery, becoming the second consecutive CRS purchased winner of the race for trainer Vaughan Marshall, jockey Gavin Lerena and his sire One World. Dreamworld has won twice from three starts, with Dreamworld’s sole defeat coming when finishing second in the Cape Racing Sales Slipper.
Dreamworld was a R650 000 buy from the 2024 Cape Premier Yearling Sale. The colt, whose granddam is Avontuur’s world champion Val De Ra, races for Reiner and Cheryl Gabler and Ken and Jane Truter. Soon after Dreamworld’s Nursery triumph, it was announced that Avontuur Thoroughbred Farm, breeders of Dreamworld, had closed its breeding business bringing a significant end of an era to the South African breeding industry.
SHE’S MY WORLD LOOKS SMART
She’s My World
Rising star sire One World looks to have come up with another good sort in the form of She’s My World – (One World ex Lana Belle). A R425 000 purchase from the 2024 Cape Premier Yearling Sale, the Justin Snaith trained She’s My World, another bright prospect for One World, made a big impression when romping home to score by three lengths at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth. Bred by Dr Marianne Thomson, She’s My World races for Etienne and Cameron Braun, Jonathan Bloch, Robert Bloomberg, Mr Cotterell, Mark & Beti Jones, and Dr Warner.
RAFEEF TWO-YEAR-OLDS SHINE FOR CRS
City Of Love
Prominent stallion Rafeef came up with two more impressive two-year-old winners when his CRS sold sons City Of Love and Churchillian won in good style recently.
The regally bred Churchillian (Rafeef –La Volta), an R800 000 buy from the 2024 Cape Premier Yearling Sale, got off the mark in convincing style when he won the first race at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth recently. The promising Churchillian, described in the post-race interview as a “horse with tons of ability” races for Alan Cooper, J F Desjardins, Monty Govender and Ryan Landy & Nick & Val McFall. Bred by Messrs V Harry, S A Hanna & Adam Azzie and raised at Winterbach Stud, Churchillian is a full brother to Gr 1 Computaform Sprint winning sire Master Archie.
City Of Love (Rafeef –Isle De France) made the perfect start to his career when he made a winning debut at Hollywoodbets Greyville. It was a smart effort to win in open company first time out, and City Of Love races for Messrs E C Abraham, Y Ebrahim, Mesdames F Ebrahim & Trinisha Pillay.
Bred by Wilgerbosdrift & Mauritzfontein, the gelding was a R280 000 purchase from the 2024 Winter Yearling Sale.
A CRS FOUR-TIMER AT HOLLYWOODBETS KENILWORTH
American Ultra
Cape Racing Sales graduates shone at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on 13 May.
All of Roland Garros, American Ultra, Rhydian and Empire State won for CRS at that Tuesday meeting, with both Roland Garros and Empire State, in particular, catching the eye.
The Justin Snaith trained Roland Garros (Vercingetorix –Amy Johnson) got off the mark when he won at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth, while Candice Bass-Robinson trained Empire State (Rafeef –Elusive Spirit) made it two wins from his last three starts when romping home over 1100 metres.
Roland Garros
Bred by Varsfontein Stud, Roland Garros, who races for Greg Bortz, J P Cuvelier and Gina Goldsmith, was a R1 300 000 buy from the 2024 Cape Premier Yearling Sale. The Beaumont Stud bred Empire State, who races for Westward Bloodstock, was a R750 000 purchase from the 2023 Cape Premier Yearling Sale.
A TURFFONTEIN TREBLE FOR CAPE PREMIER YEARLING SALE GRADUATES
Take No Prisoners
CRS sold horses enjoyed another good day at Turffontein on Saturday, where the promising Cape Premier Yearling graduates Alta Capitana, Pretty Persuasive and Take No Prisoners all won their respective races. The Sean Tarry trained Alta Capitana (a R200 000 purchase) made the perfect start to her career when she made a winning debut on Saturday.
A daughter of champion sprinter Captain Of all, the Klawervlei Stud bred Alta Capitana races for Jarryd, Laurence and Tessa Wernars.
Champion sire elect Vercingetorix is the sire of fellow promising Cape Premier Yearling Sale graduates Pretty Persuasive and Take No Prisoners, who won races four and five at Turffontein respectively. Bred by Maine Chance Farms, the Johan Janse Van Vuuren trained Pretty Persuasive was an R800 000 buy from the 2024 Cape Premier Yearling Sale. Pretty Persuasive, who was making just her second start on Saturday, races for Mukund Gujaghur, Rikesh Seewgoolam and Laurence Wernars.
Mathew and Mike De Kock sent out Take No Prisoners to make a winning debut on Saturday.
Racing for Ridgemont and Devin Heffer, the son of Vercingetorix and Gr 1 SA Fillies Classic heroine Takingthepeace, was knocked down for R1 800 000 at the 2024 Cape Premier Yearling Sale.
VERCINGETORIX FILLY WINS ON DEBUT
Cape Racing Sales had more reason to celebrate when Princess Arverni made a winning debut at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Sunday.
The Dean Kannemeyer trained filly, bred and owned by Greenacres Trust, was given a fine ride by Gavin Lerena, to land the SS Mendi Memorial Maiden Plate (F and M) by a long neck.
Princess Arverni, who was knocked down for R1 000 000 at the 2023 Cape Premier Yearling Sale, continued the great run of success enjoyed by her sire Vercingetorix. South Africa’s Leading Sire of 2024-2025, Vercingetorix was responsible for four winners over the past weekend, including the likes of Take No Prisoners, Pretty Persuasive and the aforementioned Princess Arverni.
The beautifully bred Princess Arverni, who looks to have the scope to build on her debut win, is out of the Jet Master sired Gr1 Mercury Sprint winner Fly By Night. The latter is a full sister to the dam of the now retired Gr1 World Sports Betting Cape Town Met / Gr 1 Cape Guineas winner Double Superlative.
By Sarah Whitelaw
