A pair of Cape Premier Yearling Sale graduates put up impressive performances at Kenilworth on Wednesday.
Exciting two-year-old Safe Return provided his sire, and fellow Premier Sale graduate, William Longsword with his first winner when he bolted up to get off the mark at just the second time of asking.
Safe Return wins under Anton Marcus at Kenilworth- 17 Feb 2021 (Pic- Chase Liebenberg)
Trained, like both his sire and grandsire Captain Al, by Vaughan Marshall, the Klawervlei Stud bred Safe Return followed up a second on debut with a four and a quarter length win, while making all, over 1000m.
Under Anton Marcus, Safe Return was eased down towards the finish line, and he can hardly have been more impressive.
A R300 000 buy from the 2020 Cape Premier Yearling Sale, Safe Return races for Messrs D G Abery, J J Habib & R M Sewgoolam, Ralphs Racing (Pty) Ltd (Nom: Miss K Ralphs) & Westward Bloodstock Ltd (Nom: Mrs F Carmichael)
His dam Splashdown, a winning half-sister to three black type horses including G2 Post Merchants winner Splash Gold, has a William Longsword full-brother (Lot 168) to Safe Return on offer at this year’s Cape Premier Yearling Sale.
The second Cape Premier Yearling Sale graduate to impress on Wednesday was the Futura colt Warrior, who looked a potentially exciting prospect when romping home to win the eighth and final race in decisive fashion.
Warrior winning under Richard Fourie at Kenilworth- 17 Feb 2021 (Pic- Chase Liebenberg)
Under Richard Fourie, the Ridgemont Highlands bred three-year-old made it back to back wins with a facile two and a half length score over 1600m, while conceding runner up, and older rival, The Cambo no less than 6.5kgs.
Trained, like his four time Gr1 winning sire, by Justin Snaith, Warrior has now won two of just five starts for owners Messrs C Bernick & M J Flanagan, Mesdames A M Doyle, B Kieswetter, John Magnier, D Nagle & Paul Shanahan , and he won’t stop here!
The promising colt was a R1 200 000 buy from the 2019 Cape Premier Yearling Sale, and Warrior has the pedigree to back up his promise shown on the racetrack.
Not only is he by one of South Africa’s most exciting young sires, but Warrior is out of a Swallow Stakes winning daughter of top Australian sire Commands, and he hails from the same family as multiple champion, and five time Gr1 winner Laisserfaire, Oaks winner Personal and champion sire Centaine.
