Bloodstock South Africa sold thoroughbreds enjoyed a wonderful season in 2021-2022, and BSA stars ended the season in style as they dominated feature race action at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday.
Not only did BSA buys Jet Dark, Captain’s Ransom, Canadian Summer and Cousin Casey each win a G1 race on Saturday, but Bloodstock South Africa also sold Saturday’s G3 Marshalls World Of Sports Gold Cup winner Shangani.
The Drakenstein Stud bred Jet Dark made it back to back Champions Cup wins when that Justin Snaith trained colt ran out a courageous winner of Saturday’s G1 HKJC World Pool Champion Cup, after fighting out a pulsating finish with another equine star, Kommetdieding. However, under Richard Fourie, four-year-old Jet Dark just pulled out a bit extra to land Saturday’s R1 000 000 feature by a neck.
The 2022 Champions Cup was a total triumph for Bloodstock South Africa, with BSA having sold the victorious Jet Dark as well as the third place finisher Astrix -winner of the G1 TAB The Premier’s Champions Challenge earlier in the season.
Owned by Tommy Crowe and Nick Jonsson, Jet Dark was a R200 000 buy from the 2019 National Yearling Sale.
An extremely attractive stud prospect, Jet Dark was Equus Champion 3YO Colt and Champion Miler of 2020-2021, and the colt has now won seven of 16 starts for earnings of R4 171 600. Runner up in both the G1 World Sports Betting Cape Town Met and G1 Hollywoodbets Durban July this season, Jet Dark is a son of Drakenstein Stud’s champion sire Trippi and the winning Jet Master mare Night Jet.
Superstar Captain’s Ransom, one of the best fillies to have graced the South African turf in recent years, showed her class when downing some top-class male rivals to win Saturday’s G1 Mercury Sprint in devastating style. Under Richard Fourie, the Justin Snaith trained bay took her wins to 12, from just 15 starts, when producing a fine turn of foot to get up close home and claim Saturday’s R1 000 000 sprint by nearly half a length -going away! Remarkably, BSA sold thoroughbreds dominated the Mercury Sprint, with Captain’s Ransom, William Robertson and Big Burn running first, second and third respectively.
Bred by Moutonshoek, Captain’s Ransom (who has now won six G1 races) was a R225 000 buy from the 2019 National Yearling Sale.
Owned by Suzette Viljoen, Captain’s Ransom is a daughter of Captain Al and the unraced Red Ransom mare Cinna’s Ransom.
Bloodstock South Africa also dominated Saturday’s two G1 races for two-year-olds, with Canadian Summer landing the G1 Thekwini Stakes and Cousin Casey running out a brilliant winner of Saturday’s G1 Premiers Champion Stakes.
The Oldlands Stud bred Canadian Summer provided both Darryl Moore and Jason Gates with their first G1 success when she ran out a courageous winner of the 2022 Thekwini Stakes. Powering home in the closing stages, the Preggie Somasundram owned filly stayed on gamely to win by a short head. It was wonderful to see Preggie, such a steadfast supporter of Bloodstock South Africa sales, enjoy his first G1 success, and BSA wishes him many more in the future!
The soul of consistency, Canadian Summer has now finished first or second in each of her five starts, with the filly having won the Listed Hollywoodbets Super League Devon Air Stakes and finished second in the Bloodstock SA Sales Cup (Fillies) in her two previous outings.
A ninth G1 winner for Avontuur Thoroughbred Farm’s veteran sire Oratorio, Canadian Summer was an R80 000 purchase from the 2021 August Two Year Old Sale. The filly, a leading contender for Equus award honours, is out of the twice winning Silvano mare Autumn Splendour, who ran third in the Listed Syringa Handicap.
The Riyo Stud bred Cousin Casey stamped himself as one of the most exciting prospects currently in training in South Africa when he romped to a decisive win in Saturday’s G1 Premiers Champion Stakes. Given a confident ride from Grant Van Niekerk, the Glen Kotzen trained colt powered away to win going away by more than two lengths.
Situated just outside Bathurst, Riyo Stud is owned by Gill Thomson, who also bred Equus Champion, and G1 Vodacom Durban July winner Bold Silvano. Cousin Casey is a real tribute to his breeder, who has bred a real star of the turf -despite only having a handful of mares.
In the process, Cousin Casey made it four wins on the bounce, and four wins from just six starts, with the colt having won the G2 Durban Golden Horseshoe.
Likely to be named Equus Champion 2YO Colt for 2021-2022, Cousin Casey races for Ravi Naidoo. Bloodstock South Africa would like to congratulate Ravi on his first G1 success, and Cousin Casey looks sure to provide him with plenty more thrills in the coming months!
A son of outstanding sire, and former National Sale buy, Vercingetorix, Cousin Casey was a R375 000 purchase from the 2021 National Yearling Sale. The well bred colt, a half-brother to the stakes placed Klever Kathy, is out of the Casey Tibbs mare Bretton Woods -a full-sister to ill-fated, July winning champion Big City Life.
Bloodstock South Africa graduates also stole the show in Saturday’s R750 000 G3 Marshalls World Of Sports Gold Cup, where BSA alumni Shangani and Imperial Ruby finished first and second.
Trained by Paul Peter, South Africa’s newly crowned champion trainer, Shangani was given a finely timed ride by Warren Kennedy, South Africa’s Champion Jockey of 2021-2022. Kennedy produced his mount with a strong late challenge, which saw Shangani fly up late to pip game front runner, and fellow BSA buy, Imperial Ruby and win by just over half a length.
Bred by Wilgerbosdrift & Mauritzfontein (as was Imperial Ruby), gelded four-year-old Shangani races for Jarryd & Laurence Wernars in partnership with Harry Wilson. The four-year-old, a son of short-lived champion Soft Falling Rain and G2 Gold Bowl victress Gorongosa, was a R250 000 buy from the 2019 National Yearling Sale.
