The remarkable six-year-old Rainbow Bridge, a R300 000 buy from the 2016 National Yearling Sale, collected his second Met win when he landed the G1 Cape Town Met (2000m) at Kenilworth on Saturday.
Given a superb ride by Luke Ferraris, the Eric Sands trained gelding powered home, down the outside of the course, from the back of the field to get up and win going away by a length and three quarters over favourite, and last year’s G1 Vodacom Durban July winner, Belgarion.
Rainbow Bridge, who now races for Mike and Norma Rattray after the tragic death of previous owner Chris Gerber, was winning the Met for a second time, with the gelding (runner up in the 2020 Met) having also triumphed in the 2019 G1 Sun Met Celebrated With G.H. Mumm.
Bred by Wilgerbosdrift & Mauritzfontein, Rainbow Bridge, runner up in the G1 L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate on his previous outing, has now won nine of his 21 starts, for earnings of R7 593 125.
One of two runners in the Met this year for South Africa’s reigning Broodmare Of The Year Halfway To Heaven, Rainbow Bridge is a son of Mauritzfontein’s successful Kingmambo horse Ideal World -who has eight lots on offer at the upcoming Cape Yearling Sale.
Bloodstock South Africa sold thoroughbreds enjoyed a wonderful day at Kenilworth on Saturday, with Rainbow Bridge winning the G1 Cape Town Met, Captain’s Ransom lifting the G1 Majorca Stakes and Atyaab victorious in the G2 New Turf Carriers Western Cape Stayers on the day.
Star three-year-old filly Captain’s Ransom made it back to back G1 victories when romping home to a three and a quarter length win in the Majorca Stakes (1600m) on Saturday. Bred by Moutonshoek, the Suzette and Basie Viljoen owned filly powered home, under Richard Fourie, to thrash a top-class field of fillies and mares.
Trained by Justin Snaith, the Captain Al filly, a brilliant winner of the G1 World Sports Betting Cape Fillies Guineas on her previous outing and a winner of five of just six starts to date, was a R225 000 buy from the 2019 Emperors Palace National Yearling Sale.
The Viljoen’s enjoyed a feature race double at Kenilworth, with their Atyaab, a R150 000 buy from the 2020 September Online Auction, running out an impressive winner of the G2 New Turf Carriers Western Cape Stayers (2800m) for trainer Zietsman Oosthuizen.
Second in the G3 Okapi Chairman’s Cup on previous start, the Arrowfield Pastoral Pty Ltd & Planette Thoroughbred bred Atyaab claimed his fifth win when he powered home, under Warren Kennedy to land the 2021 Western Cape Stayers by two and a quarter lengths.
Winner of the 2019 G1Gbets Cape Derby, Atyaab is a son of six time G1 winner Dundeel and the well performed Danasinga mare Sylvaner.
On the same day, fellow BSA graduate, Whorly Whorly (a R60 000 buy from the 2016 Sibaya KZN Yearling Sale) picked up his 11th career win when romping away with the Listed World Sports Betting Wolf Power 1600 (1600m) at the Vaal for trainer Clinton Binda, jockey Piere Strydom, and owners Dr I A Katz & Messrs L Lewison & J M Mort & Dreamstar Racing (Nom: Mrs S M Binda).
Bred by Mike Sharkey, Whorly Whorly is a son of the deceased Great Britain and G3 Champion Juvenile Cup winner Swingtime.
