A pair of Bloodstock South Africa graduates made headlines on Sunday, with BSA buy Battle Force landing the G1 Golden Horse Sprint (1200m) at Scottsville and fellow BSA purchase Johnny Hero capturing the G3 Jubilee Handicap (1800m) at Turffontein on the same day.
The Golden Horse Sprint also provided a timeous boost for the upcoming KZN Yearling Sale, from where Battle Force was purchased in 2019.
The Summerhill Stud bred Battle Force provided trainer Paul Matchett and owners Roy Wentzel and Dr Rose Waterman-Wentzel with yet more success at the top level when he won Sunday’s Golden Horse Sprint at Scottsville.
Under a beautifully balanced ride from Craig Zackey, Battle Force, who raced without shoes on his back feet, stayed on to beat fellow BSA graduate, and former G1 Tsogo Sun Gold Medallion winner, Eden Roc by a neck, with top-class three-year-old MK’s Pride a further long neck away in third spot.
The Golden Horse Sprint was a triumph for Bloodstock South Africa, with the first three home all sold off BSA auctions.
A second G1 winner for Cape Guineas winner Act Of War (his Bloodstock South Africa sold daughter War Of Athena having captured the recent G1 Woolavington 2000 just days earlier), Battle Force was a R130 000 buy from the 2019 KZN Yearling Sale.
The gelding, who has won six of just 12 starts for earnings of R617 750, is out of the unraced Elusive City mare Mataaib, a half-sister to the stakes winning dam of Prix Coronation winner Enlighted.
Excitingly, Rathmor Stud, As Agent, will be offering a Noble Tune half-brother (Lot 67) to Battle Force at this year’s KZN Yearling Sale.
Tough as teak gelding Johnny Hero was the second Bloodstock South Africa graduate to land on Sunday, with that Tyrone Zackey trained gelding landing the G3 Jubilee Handicap for owners Mr K P & Mrs N M Backos & Messrs J A Maroun & G H Normand.
Under a well timed ride from Kabelo Matsunyane, the Varsfontein Stud bred four-year-old powered home to account for Dingaans winner Shango by three-parts of a length.
A son of Varsfontein’s leading sire Gimmethegreenlight, Johnny Hero was a R130 000 buy from the 2018 National Yearling Sale.
The gelding has now won six of his 21 starts for prize money of R433 225.
