ISIVUNGUVUNGU (SAF)
by WHAT A WINTER (SAF) ex Miss Tweedy (SAF) by Tiger Ridge (USA)
| Purchased privately as a yearling during the 2020 Covid19 pandemic, South Africa's Champion Sprinter of 2022-23 arrived in the States a dual GR1 winner of the Computaform and Mercury Sprints. Showed he was on target for a tilt at the Gr1 Breeders Cup Sprint with a game victory in the Da Hoss Stakes at Colonial Downs and was not disgraced when beaten less than two lengths at Del Mar, having suffered interference in the closing stages. Will surely live to fight another day! |
BEACH BOMB (SAF)
by Lancaster Bomber (USA) ex Beach Beauty (SAF) by Dynasty (SAF)
| A Drakenstein homebred, she blossomed at three by completing the GR1 Cape Fillies Guineas/Cartier Paddock Stakes double and in her final start on home soil, finished second in the GR1 Cape Derby.
Now based in the States, she was runner-up in her American debut, the GR3 Violet Stakes at Monmouth (giving the winner 3kg) and followed up with a third in Santa Anita's GR2 Rodeo Drive Stakes.
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SURCHARGE (SAF)
by GIMMETHEGREENLIGHT (SAF) ex Congestion Charge (GB) by Diktat (GB)
| Following seconds in all three legs of the Triple Crown, the GR1 SA Classic, GR1 SA Derby and GR2 Gauteng Guineas, Surcharge finally cracked a GR1 win in the Daily News 2000 at Greyville.
Sold and renamed Yulong Prince, he became the first and only SAF-bred male to date win at GR1 level in Australia when victorious in the 1600m Kennedy Cantala at Flemington, where he had also won the Listed Furphy Plate. |
SINGAPORE SLING (SAF)
by PHILANTHROPIST (USA) ex Sing Dixie Sing (SAF) by Western Winter (USA)
| This R225,000 graduate of the 2015 Cape Premier Yearling Sale won the GR2 Dingaans before his export to Hong Kong. The Drakenstein bred broke through with his first Hong Kong stakes success when he landed Sha Tin’s GR3 Hong Kong Classic over 1800m. Subsequently runner-up in the Hong Kong Derby and the GR1 Champions Mile. |
VERCINGETORIX (SAF)
by SILVANO (GER) ex National Vixen (SAF) by National Assembly (CAN)
| A R1-4 million yearling, the handsome Vercingetorix went unbeaten in four local starts, the last of which a hard-fought victory in the GR1 Daily News 2000 at Greyville. The champion 3YO of his generation, he proved his mettle in Dubai, winning the GR1 Jebel Hatta and GR2 Al Rashidiya. Runner-up in the GR1 Dubai Duty Free, he also finished third in the GR1 Audemars Piquet Queen Elizabeth II Cup in Hong Kong.
Retired to stand alongside his sire at Maine Chance Farms, he has become an elite sire and looks poised to clinch a first General Sires title this season. |
SOFT FALLING RAIN (SAF)
by NATIONAL ASSEMBLY (CAN) ex Gardener's Delight (USA) by Giant's Causeway (USA)
| Purchased by Shadwell as a yearling, was voted Champion Juvenile following an undefeated season capped by victory in the GR1 SA Nursery at Turffontein.
Exported to Dubai, the colt stretched his perfect record to seven with impressive scores in the Gr2 Godolphin Mile, Gr3 UAE 2000 Guineas and Guineas Trial. Sent to Britain, he was beaten for the first time when second in the GR2 Hungerford Stakes, but promptly bounced back in the GR2 Nayef Joel Stakes at Newmarket, where he ran his rivals off their feet.
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VARIETY CLUB (SAF)
by VAR (USA) ex La Massine (SAF) by Secret Prospector (USA)
| Sold for R425,000 at the 2010 Equimark Vintage Sale. Twice Horse of the Year, this brilliant miler won the GR1 L'Ormarins Queen's Plate, GR1 Gold Challenge and GR1 Cape Guineas. In three Dubai starts, he captured the GR2 Godolphin Mile, GR3 Firebreak Stakes and ran second in the GR3 Burj Nahaar. Reached the ultimate pinnacle when he won the GR1 Champions Mile at Sha Tin from a shocking draw while disposing of Hong Kong’s best to score by no less than four lengths. That performance earned him a rating of 126 on the Longines World Rankings. |
LIZARD'S DESIRE (AUS)
by LIZARD ISLAND (AUS) ex Annsfield (SAF) by Northfields (USA)
| Victorious in the Gr3 East Derby, Lizard’s Desire was purchased by Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa al Maktoum following a runner-up effort in the GR2 Gold Circle Derby.
Sent to Dubai, he proved a revelation. Following two decent wins, he made heads turn when beaten a nostril in the GR1 Dubai World Cup and finished just a neck behind Viva Pataca in the GR1 Audemars Piguet Queen Elizabeth II Cup at Sha Tin. His subsequent victory in the GR1 Singapore Airlines International Cup at Kranji squarely placed him amongst the world’s leading middle-distance performers.
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IMBONGI (SAF)
by RUSSIAN REVIVAL (USA) ex Garden Verse (SAF) by Foveros (GB)
| Unraced at two, Imbongi reeled off three GR2 victories at three, the Gauteng Guineas at Turffontein and the KZN Guineas and Drill Hall Stakes, both at Greyville, before finishing second in the GR1 Gold Challenge.
He became a stakes winner on three continents. In Britain he won the GR3 Criterion Stakes at Newmarket on debut and checked in third in the GR2 Summer Mile Stakes. Successful in the GR2 Zabeel Mile at Meydan, he also ran third in the GR1 Dubai Duty Free.
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WAR ARTIST (AUS)
by ORPEN (USA) ex Royal Solitaire (AUS) by Brocco (USA)
| This Australian-bred started his racing career in South Africa, winning four of six starts including the GR1 Mercury Sprint. A globetrotter of note, he accounted for the GR2 Goldene Peitsche in Germany and Dubai's GR3 Al Shindagha Sprint. In France he landed both the GR3 Prix de Ris-Orangis and GR3 Prix Petit Couvert and also ran third in the GR1 Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp.
His placed efforts on British soil include seconds in the GR1 Golden Jubilee and GR2 Duke Of York Stakes, and a third in the GR1 Darley July Cup.
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FLAX (SAF)
by SILVANO (GER) ex Bejewelled Spring (SAF) by Elliodor (FR)
| Newbury Racing’s diminutive Flax started his racing career in Singapore, where he scored 9 times and deservedly earned his GR1 spurs in the 2012 Raffles Cup, having earlier reached the frame in both the GR1 Singapore Airline International Cup and GR2 Queen Elizabeth II Cup. He made up for what he lacked in constitution with the heart of a lion and continued to add to his impressive resumé when successful in the GR2 Chairman’s Trophy. |
LIZARRE (SAF)
by JET MASTER (SAF) ex Leading Dame (SAF) by Jallad (USA)
| A GR1-placed SW in South Africa at three, this son of champion Jet Master found fame in Singapore, where he was voted the Champion Older Horse. He added to the proud record of South African-breds with victories in both the GR3 New Year Cup and GR3 Admiralty Classic Stakes, whilst running second in the GR1 Longines Singapore Gold Cup. |
SWEET SANETTE (SAF)
by JALLAD (USA) ex Scented Samantha (SAF) by National Assembly
| Won the GR3 Sycamore Sprint in South Africa before her export to Hong Kong where she established herself amongst the top echelon of sprinters, claiming the GR3 Bauhinia Sprint Trophy and running third in the GR1 Centenary Sprint Cup. Sent to Royal Ascot, she came within a length of pulling off an epic GR1 victory when third in the King's Stand Stakes, after making most of the running.
Sent to Australia, where she sold for $875,000 in foal to Fastnet Rock.
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NOCTURNAL AFFAIR (SAF)
by VICTORY MOON (SAF) - Aretha (SAF) by Centenary (USA)
| A dual GR3 winner in South Africa at 2 and 3, he made a winning debut on English soil with an impressive performance in the historic Portland Handicap at the St Leger meeting. He subsequently added a Listed feature to his name when victorious in the Mercury Stakes at Dundalk. |
THE APACHE (SAF)
by MOGOK (USA) ex Apache Rose (SAF) by Dolpour (IRE)
| Champion The Apache won both the GR1 Daily News 2000 and GR1 Champion Cup at three.
Sent to Dubai, he showed his class when making a triumphant debut in the GR2 Al Rashidiya, almost a year to the day of his final South African racetrack appearance.
Denied a third GR1 victory when runner-up in the Dubai Duty Free on World Cup night, he crossed the Atlantic and bounced back in spectacular style when he prevailed by a head in a pulsating finish to the fabled GR1 Arlington Million, only to be disqualified on the grounds of shifting out and bumping the runner-up. Notwithstanding this gut-wrenching outcome, The Apache showed himself a worthy GR1 contender.
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ATO (SAF)
by ROYAL ACADEMY ex Another Legend (USA) by Lyphard's Wish (USA)
| This Maine Chance-bred entire plied his trade in Singapore with distinction, winning nine races, the highlight of which an impressive score in the GR1 KrisFlyer Sprint and a month later, stepped up to a mile to win the GR1 Patron's Bowl at Kranji. It came as no surprise that he was voted Singapore's Champion 4YO of 2012. |
SHEA SHEA (SAF)
by NATIONAL EMBLEM (SAF) ex Yankee Clipper (SAF) by Jallad (USA)
| A dual GR1 winner in South Africa of the Computaform and Golden Horse Sprint, Shea Shea excelled in Dubai, where he claimed the GR1 Al Quoz Sprint. Subsequently denied an international GR1 sprint double when nosed out of an historic Royal Ascot victory in the King’s Stand Stakes, he cemented his position amongst the top British-raced sprinters of 2013 when he ran Jwala to a half-length second in the GR1 Nunthorpe Stakes at York. |
CERISE CHERRY (SAF)
by Goldkeeper (USA) ex Cherry Girl (SAF) by Pochard (ARG)
| Runner-up in the GR1 Gold Medallion at two and winner of the GR3 Graham Beck Stakes at three, before his export to Hong Kong where he plied his trade with distinction, scoring six times over five seasons. Winner of the GR2 Premier Bowl and 2nd in the GR1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint at Sha Tin, he was still winning at age eight and earned in excess of HK$13-million. |
GYPSY’S WARNING (SAF)
by MOGOK (USA) ex Gypsy Queen (SAF) by Royal Chalice (SAF) | She won 5 races in South Africa, notably the GR1 Thekwini Fillies Stakes and GR1 SA Fillies Classic. Exported to the USA in 2009, she did not return to action for nearly a year, but made a winning American debut in the GR3 Eatontown Stakes at Monmouth Park. Third in both the GR1 Beverly D. Stakes and GR1 Yellow Ribbon Stakes, she finally lived up to her international credentials with an epic victory in the 2010 GR1 Matriarch Stakes at Hollywood Park.
Offered for sale at the 2011 Keeneland November Sales, she was purchased for $1,005,000 by the Niarchos family's Flaxman Holdings Limited.
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KINGS GAMBIT (SAF)
by SILVANO (GER) ex Lady Brompton (SAF) by Al Mufti (USA)
| Successful in both the GR1 SA Classic and GR1 SA Derby, this champion flew the South African flag high in the UK, winning the Gr3 Gordon Richards Stakes at Sandown. He also finished second in the Listed Wolferton Handicap at Royal Ascot, the Doonside Cup at Ayr and third in the GR2 York Stakes and Gr3 Strensall Stakes at York. |
J J THE JET PLANE (SAF)
by JET MASTER ex Majestic Guest SAF) by Northern Guest (USA)
| Twice Champion Sprinter (2007 and 2009) and the Champion Older Horse in 2009, his ten victories in South Africa include GR1 doubles in both the Golden Horse Casino Sprint and Mercury Sprint, a win in the GR1 Computaform Sprint and victories at GR2 and GR3 level. Also successful in the GR3 Al Quoz Sprint in Dubai, a British campaign yielded victory in the Listed Leisure Stakes and a third in the GR1 Darley July Cup. Having stunned an accomplished field of sprinters in the 2010 GR1 Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Sprint at Sha Tin, the fairy story continued at the 2011 Dubai World Cup meeting. Seemingly a beaten horse a furlong from home, the bay turned on the afterburners to score a second victory in the now GR2 Al Quoz Sprint on the Meydan turf. |
RIVER JETEZ (SAF)
by JET MASTER (SAF) ex Stormsvlei (SAF) by Prince Florimund (SAF)
| This talented mare notched up a dozen victories in a career spanning five seasons, seven of which at stakes level. Victorious in the GR2 Gold Circle Oaks and GR2 Astrapak 1900, her greatest triumph was a win in the 2010 GR1 J&B Met, where she denied full brother Pocket Power a record fourth straight win.
Sent to Dubai, she duly captured the 2011 GR2 Balanchine in record time, ran second in the GR1 Dubai Duty Free on World Cup night and found only Gitano Hernando superior in the GR1 Singapore Airlines International Cup. The globetrotting mare ended her racing career with a creditable third in Arlington Park’s GR1 Beverly D Stakes.
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CAPTAIN'S LOVER (SAF)
by CAPTAIN AL (SAF) ex Sunshine Lover (SAF) by Badger Land (USA)
| Bought by Team Valor as a yearling in 2006. Voted champion 3YO filly after winning five of seven South African starts including the GR1 Cape Fillies Guineas. Sent to France after finishing third to Dancer's Daughter in the GR1 Paddock Stakes, Captain’s Lover opened her international campaign with a fine victory in the GR3 Prix du Pin at Longchamp, her very first start on foreign soil. Stateside, she added the GR3 Matchmaker Stakes at Monmouth Park and ran fourth in the GR1 Beldame Stakes at Belmont Park. |
JAY PEG (SAF)
by CAMDEN PARK (USA) ex Laptop Lady (SAF) by Al Mufti (USA)
| The country's Champion Classic colt, Jay Peg counted the GR1 Cape Guineas and GR1 Cape Derby amongst eight local wins. Sent to Dubai, he scored a dramatic upset in the Dubai Duty Free, winning in a new course record time, notwithstanding a slipped saddle. That form was franked by a flawless performance in the S$3-million Singapore Airlines International Cup. The first South African-bred GR1 winner in Singapore, he retired in 2009 with career earnings of over R40-million, then an all-time-time record, and was also rated the highest-rated SA-bred, boasting an official International Timeform rating of 126. |
NATIONAL COLOUR (SAF)
by NATIONAL ASSEMBLY (CAN) ex Rainbow Cake (SAF) by Mr Eats (IRE)
| The 'grey bomber' won seven of her 10 starts and rates as one of the finest sprinters of the modern era. Blessed with exceptional speed, she reeled off a unique GR1 treble as a three-year-old in the Computaform Sprint, SA Fillies Sprint and the Mercury Sprint. Voted Champion 3YO Female Sprinter, she also had the honour of sharing the Horse Of The Year award.
Injured during the 2007 Dubai Carnival, she was sent to Britain, where she almost pulled off an historical victory in the Gr1 Nunthorpe Stakes at Newmarket, only Borderlescott proving her superior, and that in record time. As a broodmare, she is the dam of two GR1 winners including the successful stallion Rafeef. |
ALEXANDRA ROSE (SAF)
by CAESOUR (USA) ex Alexandra Bi (IRE) by Darshaan (GB)
| A R30,000 bargain buy as a yearling, she won the GR2 Golden Slipper at two before running second in the GR1 Cape Fillies Guineas and third in the GR1 Majorca Stakes. Campaigned Stateside in the Team Valor silks, she won the GR3 Monrovia Handicap at Santa Anita. Produced American GR1 winner Oleksandra. |
TIZA (SAF)
by GOLDKEEPER (USA) ex Mamushka (SAF) by Elliodor (FR)
| Won the GR2 SA Nursery as a juvenile and GR2 Post Merchants as a three-year-old. Sold privately and exported to Dubai where he placed in the Listed Al Quoz Sprint, before joining the stable of top French trainer Alain de Royer-Dupre.
A talented sprinter, his seven French wins include two renewals of the GR3 Prix de Ris Orangis and GR3 Prix de Meautry GR3. Wonderfully durable, he won his second Prix de Meautry at age eight.
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ORACLE WEST (SAF)
by WESTERN WINTER (USA) ex Noble Prophet (SAF) by Noble Ambition (USA)
| Oracle West placed in both the Cape and Gauteng Derby as a three-year-old. Exported to Dubai, he showed his class by winning his first three starts, including the GR3 Dubai City of Gold. Impressed with a fast-finishing second to Hong Kong champion and Horse of the Year, Vengeance Of Rain in the 2007 GR1 Dubai Sheema Classic. |
IRRIDESCENCE (SAF)
by CAESOUR (USA) ex Meretricious (SAF) by Dancing Champ (USA)
| Irridescence won the GR1 SA Fillies Classic prior to being sold privately to Team Valor for whom she captured the GR1 Woolavington Stakes and GR2 Gerald Rosenberg Stakes. Voted the Champion 3YO Classic Female of the 2004/05 season. Exported to Dubai, she easily won the Balanchine (Listed), defeating high-class French filly Satwa Queen.
Went on to score a phenomenal start-to-finish victory over champion and multiple GR1 winner Ouija Board in the GR1 Audemars Piguet Queen Elizabeth II Cup at Sha Tin. Stateside, she was beaten a shorthead in the 2007 GR1 Beverly D Stakes, whereafter she was sold to Green Lantern Stables. Irridescence is an own sister to the outstanding filly, Perfect Promise (see above.)
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YARD-ARM (SAF)
by WESTERN WINTER (USA) ex Fashing (SAF) by Dancing Champ (USA)
| South Africa's Horse of the Year and Champion Older Male in 2003, won 10 of 16 starts including the GR1 SA Derby, GR1 Queen's Plate, GR1 Skeaping Champion Stakes Trophy and GR1 Gold Challenge. Outclassed a classy field in the 2004 GR1 J&B Met, winning by over five lengths. Exported to Dubai in 2004, where he won the GR3 Al Fahidi Fort. |
TARA’S TOUCH (SAF)
by TARA’S HALLS (SNL) ex Stolen Gem (SAF) by Best By Test (USA)
| A champion filly at three, Tara’s Touch proved an extremely versatile filly. Fast enough to beat good fillies over 5F in the GR3 Southern Cross Stakes, she was at her best over a mile. She won three graded races at three including the WFA GR1 Garden Province Stakes. Purchased by Team Valor, she became a stakes winner in the US and won the GR3 Royal North Handicap in Canada. |
TRADEMARK (SAF)
by GOLDMARK ex Popular (SAF) by Elliodor (FR)
| Bought at the 1998 Equimark Yearling Sale for R115,000, Trademark was no more than a useful horse at two and three. He made steady improvement and lost the 2001 J&B Met by a shorthead. Quietly fancied for the Durban July, he beat boom three-year-old Celtic Grove (later named Horse of the Year) by just over a length. Given time off, he captured the Queens Plate over the superb champion miler Free My Heart. He became one of the first South African horses to race in Dubai. Purchased by Sheik Mohammed, he was sent to the US where he won the GR2 Bernard Baruch Handicap and GR2 Fourstardave Handicap and the. |
GRAND EMPORIUM (SAF)
by NATIONAL ASSEMBLY (CAN) ex Whistling Dixie (SAF) by Raise A Man (USA)
| Grand Emporium won two GR1 races in South Africa, the Triple Crown 1600 and the Daily News 2000. Sent to Dubai following an unplaced effort in the Durban July, he made a winning debut over Turkish classic winner Kaneko and subsequently beat a high-class international field in the Godolphin Mile. Switched to Godolphin, he finished a good third in the Diomed Stakes. |
DANE JULIA (SAF)
by CAESOUR (USA ex Precious Julia (AUS) by Danehill (USA)
| Dane Julia counted the GR1 SA Fillies Classic amongst six local wins.
She became the first SA-bred GR1 winner in New Zealand when successful in the NZ Bloodstock Breeders Stakes at Te Aroha. In Australia, she won the Listed Wiggle Quality at Warwick Farm and placed in numerous GR2/3 events.
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PERFECT PROMISE (SAF)
by CAESOUR (USA) ex Meretricious (SAF)by Dancing Champ (USA)
| Won six times in South Africa, including the GR1 Cape Fillies Guineas and the following season’s GR3 Diana Stakes. Exported to Australia, she became the first South African-bred to win a GR1 race ‘down under’ when she claimed the CF Orr Stakes. Also a winner of the GR2 Emancipation Stakes, she ran second in the GR1 Stradbroke Handicap. Sold for AUS$ 750 000 in training, she earned the equivalent of $866,704. |
HORSE CHESTNUT (SAF)
by FORT WOOD (USA) ex London Wall (SAF) by Colonel Pickering (SAF)
| Undoubtedly one of the legends of the South African turf, Horse Chestnut made an immediate impression when winning over 1000m on debut. Thereafter, he dominated his generation, winning the GR1 Cape Guineas and completing the Triple Crown in emphatic fashion by routing the opposition in the GR1 SA Derby by 10 lengths. He also proved his superiority over the older generation when coming home alone in the prestigious GR1 J&B Met at Kenilworth. An international career beckoned and Horse Chestnut was exported to the USA where he overcame a 60-day quarantine and a new environment to win the GR3 Broward Handicap on debut. Unfortunately injured whilst being prepared for the Donn Stakes. Retired to the famous Claiborne Stud in Kentucky, Horse Chestnut sired a GR1 winner in his very first crop. |
NATIONAL CURRENCY (SAF)
by NATIONAL ASSEMBLY (CAN) ex Enchanted Dollar (USA) by Spend A Buck (USA)
| This handsome colt won nine of of his thirteen South African starts at 2 and 3. Voted Champion Juvenile after winning the GR1 Gold Medallion at two. Landed the GR1 Computaform Sprint at three and in his final South African start, routed his opposition in the GR1 Mercury Sprint before being exported to Hong Kong to contest the GR1 Hong Kong Sprint, where he finished a creditable second to Silent Witness, arguably the best sprinter ever seen in Hong Kong. Subsequently shipped to the UAE for the Dubai International Racing Carnival, National Currency earned himself new fans when he won his only start, the Al Shindagha Sprint in facile fashion.
Global horseracing was robbed of a potential star in the making when the entire grandson of Danzig was lost to laminitis soon thereafter. |
VICTORY MOON (SAF)
by AL MUFTI (USA) ex Dancing Flower by Dancing Champ (USA)
| Bought at the 2001 Equimark Vintage Yearling Sales, he won his only start in South Africa.
Exported to Dubai in 2002, where he won all his starts during the 2002/2003 season, including the GR2 UAE Derby, then took on Europe’s best in the GR1 Coral Eclipse Stakes and ran a close fifth behind multiple GR1 winner, Falbrav.
On his return to Dubai for the 2003/2004 season, Victory Moon showed improved form and ran the race of his career when third to the American giants Medaglia d’Oro and Pleasantly Perfect in the GR1 Dubai World Cup, to take his career earnings to US$2,414,974. |
CRIMSON PALACE (SAF)
by ELLIODOR (FR) ex Perfect Guest by Northern Guest (USA) | A R37,500 purchase at the 2001 Equimark Vintage Yearling Sales (forerunner to the Cape Premier Yearling Sale), she won the GR1 Cape Paddock Stakes on home soil.
Acquired privately by Team Valor and exported to Dubai, she made heads turn when winning her first start in course record time and was sold to Godolphin, for which she finished fourth in the GR1 Dubai Duty Free. Relocated to Godolphin’s Newmarket base, she claimed the GR3 Middleton Stakes before winning the GR1 Beverly D Stakes in the USA to take her career earnings to $637,731.
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IPI TOMBE (ZIM)
by MANSHOOD (GB) ex Carnet De Danse by Dance In Time (IRE)
| Bought as a yearling in Zimbabwe for $1250 in 2000, she lost only once en route to a famous victory in the GR1 Vodacom Durban July Handicap at Greyville.
Sold privately to Team Valor & Winstar Farm and exported to Dubai, she won all three starts, including the GR1 $2 million Dubai Duty Free in track record time.
Won her first start in Kentucky before being retired with career earnings of $1,416,273 and sold for 800,000 Guineas while in foal to Sadler’s Wells. |
SUN CLASSIQUE (AUS)
by FUJI KISEKI (JPN) ex Elfenjer (AUS) by Last Tycoon (IRE) | Bred in Australia, she won the GR1 Cape Fillies Guineas from an impossible position and with subsequent victories in the Gr1 Fancourt Majorca Stakes and Woolavington 2200, was a deserved winner of the Equus Champion 3YO Filly award.
Sent to Dubai, Sun Classique promptly won all thee starts. Having claimed both the Balanchine and Cape Verdi, she became the very first female winner of the GR1 Dubai Sheema Classic, where she humbled Hong Kong champion Viva Pataca by three lengths. |
SPOOK EXPRESS (SAF)
by COMIC BLUSH (USA) ex Park Walk (IRE) by Green Dancer (USA)
| Spook Express was one of only a handful of South African runners to have been exported during the 1990s. She was an exceptional 3yo miler, winning six of her nine local starts, including two GR1 fillies events. Sold whilst in training for U$600,000, she added another five Stateside wins (including the Gr2 Galaxy Stakes) for career earnings of more than U$1 million. Her greatest moment came in defeat when she ran a gallant second in the GR1 Breeders Cup Fillies and Mares Turf to top European filly Banks Hill. |
LONDON NEWS (SAF)
by BUSH TELEGRAPH ex Soho Secret (SAF) by Regent Street (ARG)
| It wasn't until 1996 that the first "South African" received an invitation to compete in Hong Kong's Queen Elizabeth II Cup, and that took the shape of London News, who was asked to give weight and a length-and-a-half beating to GR1 competitors from Australia, New Zealand, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates. That he did, and in record time over the extended ten furlongs of the Sha Tin racecourse. A R140,000 yearling purchase, London News eventually won 11 races, including five GR1 races on home turf, to go along with the title of Horse of the Year. |
