A striking factor in Saturday’s local racing was the success enjoyed by daughters of Captain Al.
Captain Al filly Capitana became her sire’s 105th stakes winner when she won the Listed Computaform Online Olympic Duel Stakes, while Listed www.caperacing.co.za Ladies Mile winner Pretty Betty is out of the Captain Al mare Betty Burke.
Another Captain Al mare, Gr2 Sceptre Stakes winner Princess Royal, is the dam of Saturday’s Hollywood Syndicate eyecatching maiden winner Platinum Sky (by Silvano), while impressive debut winner Vertigo Again (Vercingetorix) is out of the Captain Al daughter Heliane.
Platinum Sky – an impressive winner on Saturday (Pic – JC Photos)
Yet another Captain Al mare, Seminole, is the dam of not only this season’s Gr2 Senor Santa Stakes winner Vars Vicky but also recent debut winner Winter Renegade (What A Winter).
Captain Al mares have built up a fine record when sent to Var, with that cross having produced the likes of Gr1 winner Eden Roc and fellow graded stakes winners Ghaalla, Vars Vicky, and William The Silent.
Both Betty Burke and Princess Royal are proven high-class producers, with Betty Burke having previously produced Gr3 Poinsettia Stakes/G3 Champagne Stakes winner Freedom Charter and Sophomore Sprint winner Ernie (both by Elusive Fort), while Princess Royal is the dam of this season’s Gr2 Western Cape Fillies Championship/Gr3 Umzimkhulu Stakes winner Princess Calla (Flower Alley).
Captain Al mares have already produced Gr1 winners such as Eden Roc, Gunner, Potent Power, Same Jurisdiction and Vercingetorix, as well as the likes of the aforementioned Princess Calla, and fellow graded stakes winners Love Bomb, Head Honcho, Bunker Hunt, Kommetdieding, and Basadi Faith.
Capitana wins the Olympic Duel Stakes on Saturday (Pic -Chase Liebenberg)
The superbly bred Capitana will hold plenty of appeal when she retires to stud.
Not only is she a daughter of a multiple champion sire, but her dam Exotic is a Galileo daughter of Irish Oaks runner up Ice Queen. Capitana traces back directly in female line to Mill Princess (Mill Reef) – the dam of Breeders’ Cup Mile winner and champion sire Last Tycoon and fourth dam of promising young South African sire, and Gr1 Ranvet Stakes winner, The United States.
Captain Al daughters look set to continue their success on Vodacom Durban July day at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday.
His daughter Captain’s Ransom looks a leading contender for Saturday’s Gr1 Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes. Captain Al is also broodmare sire of two other runners in this year’s Garden Province Stakes, while he is broodmare sire of Gr1 Vodacom Durban July contender Kommetdieding.
