Leon Lotz and his Heuningsfontein team out at Middelburg in the Karoo were just a section of the multitude of happy supporters of the Lance filly Quid Pro Quo who cracked her maiden at short odds to open the Hollywoodbets Scottsville racemeeting on Sunday.
Quid Quo Pro wins smartly under Winning Form-sponsored Richard Fourie (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
Leon stands the winning sire, a son of Jet Master, at Heuningsfontein where he runs a cattle farm and breeds horses in the mountains.
“We do not have stables there and the foals are born outside and stay outside up to three months before the sale.We are also horsesickness free because of high altitude, 1700m to 2300m above sea-level with lots of snow. We are thrilled to congratulate the breeder and trainer of the smart winner, Quid Pro Quo,” added Leon, who brings a draft of four to the BSA Cape Yearling Sale at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Sunday 25 February.
He reminds us to have a look at lot 76, a daughter of Lance and ‘typical of her sire’.
It was a big race for World Sports Betting-sponsored winning trainer Barend Botes, who was breaking the ice after his relocation from the Vaal to Summerveld recently.
After the bang in-form Richard Fourie had labelled Quid Pro Quo ‘very impressive and a filly with everything in the right place and a good heart’, Barend confirmed that she was ‘still soft’ and that’s the way he wants to keep her for now.
“Her breeding doesn’t suggest so, but I think she will go 1400m to a mile. So that’s exciting and I am happy to hear what Richard had to say. For now we will banker her and the BSA R100 000 incentive cheque and give her time,” smiled the charismatic conditioner, who said he was now a Durbanite, but not quite a Shark supporter, yet!
Quid Pro Quo was every man and his dog’s banker and best bet of the day and won easily, beating the improved again Million Voices (16-1) by 2,80 lengths in a time of 70,29 secs for the 1200m straight.
Winning combination – Richard Fourie and Barend Botes (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
A daughter of the Heuningsfontein-based Jet Master stallion Lance, Quid Pro Quo is raced and was bred by Gerald Kalil out of the five-time winning daughter of The Sheik, Delightful Diva.
She was offered at the 2023 KZN Yearling Sale by Summerhill Equestrian and bought back for just R60 000 by her breeder. A good move in hindsight!
Now a winner of her first race with 2 places from 3 starts, Quid Pro Quo took her earnings to R119 000.
In case you missed the In The Box Seat interview – worth a watch!
