Bloodstock South Africa graduates have made a sensational start to 2022, with BSA sold thoroughbreds dominating the recent G1 L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate Festival, and another Bloodstock South Africa buy, Aragosta, made a big impression when victorious in Saturday’s G3 Sea Cottage Stakes.

A well backed favourite, having finished third in the G2 World Sports Betting Dingaans last time out, the Wilgerbosdrift & Mauritzfontein bred Aragosta was given a great ride by visiting jockey Richard Fourie in Saturday’s Turffontein feature.

Fourie dropped his mount to the back of the field, before bringing Aragosta with a sustained late run which saw Aragosta storm home to score by a neck -going away.

The 2022 Sea Cottage Stakes was yet another triumph for former champion trainer Mike de Kock, with De Kock not only saddling Aragosta but also Sea Cottage runner up Clafoutis.

Saturday’s race was also a great result for Bloodstock South Africa -with BSA buys finishing first, third (Platinum Sky) and fourth (Castletown).

Aragosta, who races for his trainer in partnership with Murray Makepeace, J J Van Der Linden and Noelene Malherbe, has now won three of just five starts and looks a gelding of classic potential.

The three-year-old, consigned to the sale by Mauritzfontein, was knocked down to Form Bloodstock for R220 000 at the 2020 National Yearling Sale.

He is the second graded stakes winner for Ridgemont Highlands’ sensational young stallion Rafeef, with Aragosta’s dam, Miss Galidora, a Galileo half-sister to G1 French 2000 Guineas winner, and successful sire Clodovil.