The inaugural BSA Million double feature at Scottsville on Sunday proved a resounding success and confirmed the arrival of the fastest rising star in the SA sire ranks.
Australian-bred Gimmethegreenlight produced both the sprint and mile winner on the day and showed that he could well be the next big boy on the local block.
Anthony Delpech clenches his fist to show his delight as Legend powers home
It was only a fortnight earlier that Gimmethegreenlight had crowned a terrific first season, producing his maiden stakes winner in the form of Gr2 Umzimkhulu Stakes winner Hack Green and then following up a few hours later with the Gr1 Premiers Champion Stakes winner, Gunner.
He has started the brand new term flying and after the undefeated Hack Green had won the BSA Million Sprint from another Gimmethegreenlight in Green Pepper, it was left to Duncan Howell’s good looking Legend to come home powerfully in an impressive post-maiden performance to win the BSA Million Mile going away.
With top jockey Anthony Delpech baling from his regular partnership with Dean Kannemeyer to ride Legend, he was backed from 6-1 to 28-10 favourite, and the money was on target.
Legend produced a strong finishing effort to beat another recent maiden winner in Last Outlaw, by 1,50 lengths in a time of 97,90 secs.
The Listed Gatecrasher Stakes winner Palladium looked dangerous late in an improved performance with waiting tactics, and stayed on for third under Anton Marcus in a blanket finish.
Only a quarter length covered the third to seventh finishers, with Joey Soma trained Orapa running a cracker from his awful draw to come on well for fourth.
The Legends at the lead-in
A R160 000 National Yearling Sale purchase, Legend had the champagne corks popping down in the beautiful Perdeberg as he capped the BSA Million Sprint success – he was bred by longstanding Varsfontein Stud Manager Carl De Vos and his wife, Amanda.
Gimmethegreenlight beats champion Variety Club to win the Gr1 L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate
The highest rated 3yo in SA in 2012 and the only 3yo to win the Gr1 Queens Plate in 40 years, his sire Gimmethegreenlight was the only horse to beat dual Horse of the Year Variety Club – and he achieved that feat twice!
He has always been in demand in the sales ring and he holds the freshman record of R1,7 million.
He is a son of Champion Sire in the USA and Australia, More Than Ready, who has produced 21 Gr1 winners, 68 Graded Stakes winners, 295 black type horses from 120 countries, 3 Breeder’s Cup winners
Legend is the second foal of the lightly raced twice winning Spectrum mare, Colour Fast, a half-sister to the well-performed 2008 Gr1 Golden Slipper winner, Consensual (by Camden Park).
He followed up on his course and distance maiden win and has now won 2 races with 2 places from his 5 starts for stakes of R691 00 – a handsome early return on investment.
There are eight Gimmethegreenlight progeny on this week’s BSA National 2yo Sale – and if you believe in omens, four of them hail from Varsfontein!
