The Bloodstock South Africa sold Oriental Charm was the toast of the South African horse-racing industry when he won the G1 Hollywoodbets Durban July at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday.
Oriental Charm, who provided his trainer Brett Crawford with a second consecutive win in the July, came into the July having finished second in the G2 World Sports Betting 1900 before winning the G3 Hollywoodbets Dolphins Cup Trial next time out. The progressive three-year-old was allowed to dictate for much of the journey, which kept him free of the ugly stuff behind him and Oriental Charm stayed on strongly to beat the flying Cousin Casey by 0,30 lengths in a time of 133,66 secs. It was a first G1 win for the Cheveley Stud-bred Oriental Charm, who races for Greg Bortz, Leon Ellman and Gina Goldsmith. The Vercingetorix colt, a R375 000 purchase from the 2022 National Yearling Sale, has now won four of ten starts for earnings of R3 484 376. Oriental Charm is out of the three-time winning Greys Inn mare Souk, who ran second in the Listed Sweet Chestnut Stakes, and who is out of a full-sister to G1 South African Derby winner Bouquet-Garni.
BSA graduates dominated the finish to the 2024 G1 Hollywoodbets Durban July, with Oriental Charm beating fellow BSA alumni, and fellow son of Vercingetorix, Cousin Casey into second spot, with Bloodstock South Africa purchases Royal Victory and Flag Man finishing third and fourth respectively.
Another Bloodstock South Africa graduate to enjoy G1 success on Saturday was courageous five-year-old mare Humdinger. That Mike De Kock trained daughter of What A Winter was given a superb ride by Piere Strydom to land the G1 Ridgemont Garden Province Stakes by a short-neck. Owned by her trainer in partnership with the International Racing Club, the classy Humdinger, a R180 000 buy from the 2020 National 2YO Sale, has now won eight of 33 starts for earnings of R2 384 375. The Garden Province Stakes was a triumph for sponsor Ridgemont, who not only bred Humdinger but also bred runner-up Happy Chance.
Bloodstock South Africa offered for sale rising star two-year-olds Cosmic Speed and Quid Pro Quo, the impressive winners of Saturday’s G2 Durban Golden Horseshoe and G2 Zulu Kingdom Explorer Golden Slipper respectively.
Runner up in the recent G1 Gold Medallion, the Sean Tarry trained Cosmic Speed reversed that form when he beat his Gold Medallion winning stable mate Proceed by over two lengths. Bred by Maine Chance Farms (Pty) Ltd, Cosmic Speed, who has now won twice from just four starts, was a R725 000 purchase from the 2023 National Yearling Sale. The Querari full-brother to G2 winner Cosmic Light races for Mrs Heinrich Kuhn, Mr Krishen Naidoo & The Hon Mr Justice G N Kruger.
Recent G1 Allan Robertson Championship winner Quid Pro Quo, who went through the ring at the 2023 KZN Yearling Sale, stamped her Equus Award claims when she romped home to a devastating win in Saturday’s G2 Zulu Kingdom Explorer Golden Slipper. Under S’Manga Khumalo, the Barend Botes trained filly showed a smart turn of foot when powering home to win, for a fourth time in just six starts, by two and a half lengths. Bred and owned by Gerald Kalil, Quid Pro Quo is a daughter of Lance and The Sheik mare Delightfull Diva.
Clifton Stud, breeders of Flag Man among others, had a wonderful sale at the recent KZN Yearling Sale, and the farm’s good run continued when the Clifton bred Madison Valley won the G3 DStv Gold Vase on Saturday. A R220 000 purchase from the 2022 November Two Year Old Sale, Madison Valley beat stablemate, and fellow BSA graduate, Shoot The Rapids into second by just under half a length. The Gold Vase was a triumph for trainer Frank Robinson and owner Sid Moodley with that combination training and owning both Madison Valley and Shoot The Rapids. A Mambo In Seattle half-brother to Hong Kong G3 winner Chefano, Madison Valley has now won three of 11 starts and the gelding has earned R361 000 in stakes.
Bloodstock South Africa’s great run of feature race success continued on Sunday when May Online Auction purchase La Moohal won the G3 TAB Sea Cottage Stakes at Turffontein. The Tyrone Zackey trained La Moohal made a mockery of his 20-1 starting price when he powered home from off the pace to get up and win by a length. Ridden by Philasande Mxoli, the Al Adiyaat-bred three-year-old has now won three of 11 starts, and he races for Kevin and Nadine Backos. A son of Oriental Charm’s sensational sire Vercingetorix, La Moohal is out of the twice winning Trippi mare Hafla.
