The 2023 G1 Betway Summer Cup, run at Turffontein on Saturday, proved a resounding triumph for Bloodstock South Africa. Not only was the Summer Cup won by BSA graduate Royal Victory, but BSA graduates Safe Passage, Bless My Stars and Zeus ran second, third and fourth respectively.
Trained by Nathan Kotzen, four-year-old Royal Victory made a mockery of his 33-1 starting price when he ran out a clear-cut winner of Saturday’s R5 000 000 Summer Cup. Under a strong ride from Muzi Yeni, the Pathfork gelding, trying the 2000m trip for a first time on Saturday, became the first KZN trained runner this century to win the Summer Cup when he landed the R2 875 000 first prize by two and a quarter lengths.
Bred by Ambiance Stud, Royal Victory rates as one of the best value for money buys of recent years, with the R90 000 graduate of the 2021 National Yearling Sale having now banked R3 636 250 in prize money.
The gelding, who races for Peter Victor, Brandon Wiese and Natasha Sturdy, has now won four of 15 starts, with Royal Victory having won the Listed PinkDrive Michaelmas Handicap prior to landing the 2023 Summer Cup.
Royal Victory is out of the Kahal mare Kailani -a four time winning three-parts sister to G2 Joburg Spring Challenge winner No Worries.
Bloodstock South Africa graduates Purple Pitcher and Mrs Browning added further gloss to a great day for BSA when they captured the G2 Jonsson Workwear Dingaans and G3 Joburg Tourism Carry On Alice Stakes respectively on Saturday afternoon.
The Robyn Klaasen trained Purple Pitcher became the first graded stakes winner for his late sire New Predator when he stormed home to win the Dingaans at Turffontein on Saturday. Under a superbly timed ride from Kabelo Matsunyane, the colt came with a late run to score by a neck to make it five wins on the bounce.
The 2023 Dingaans was yet another success story with Bloodstock South Africa, with BSA sold thoroughbreds finishing first (Purple Pitcher), second (Gimmeanotherchance), third (Sandringham Summit) and fourth (The Africa House).
Bred by Bush Hill Stud, Purple Pitcher has now won five of nine starts, with the New Predator colt having captured the Bloodstock SA Sales Cup (C and G) back in October.
Owned by Mr Pooe, Purple Pitcher was a R170 000 buy from the 2022 KZN Yearling Sale.
The 2023 Dingaans winner is out of the winning Count Dubois mare Heliantha, with the latter having also produced G3 HSH Princess Charlene Starling Stakes heroine Miss Daisy.
Blue blooded filly Mrs Browning provided BSA with yet more graded stakes glory when she won Saturday’s G3 Joburg Tourism Carry On Alice Stakes (1160m) for the powerful Sean Tarry/Richard Fourie combination. Always up with the pace in Saturday’s sprint, the Wilgerbosdrift & Mauritzfontein bred four-year-old made it win number four from 11 starts when victorious by a length and a quarter in the Carry On Alice Stakes.
Owned by Jarry and Lawrence Wernars, Harry Willson and the Hyperpaint Syndicate, Mrs Browning was a R120 000 purchase from the 2021 August Two Year Old Sale.
A daughter of Rafeef and the Galileo mare Miss Galidora, Mrs Browning is a full-sister to 2022 G1 World Sports Betting SA Derby winner Aragosta, a runner in the 2023 Betway Summer Cup.
Bloodstock South Africa enjoyed yet more feature race success at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth the following day, when the BSA sold rising star Hluhluwe captured the G2 Cape Punters Cup. Trained by Justin Snaith, and owned by Nick Jonsson, the three-year-old showed plenty of courage when besting a smart field of three-year-olds to claim the R500 000 feature, and traditional Guineas trial, by just under half a length. Bred by Drakenstein Stud, Hluhluwe, runner up in last season’s G3 World Sports Betting Langerman, was knocked down to John Freeman for R500 000 at the 2022 National Yearling Sale.
A son of former champion sire Trippi, Hluhluwe, who is out of the winning Giant’s Causeway mare Lebombo Breeze, is a half-brother to Saturday’
