In another international boost for South African bloodstock, Gr1 Woolavington 2000 winner Do You Remember had her first foal win in America last week.
At Indiana on Monday Burning Ambition won her second start in a maiden race contested for $31 000 – R503 000 at current rates.
The win was full of merit as she is considered to be superior on the grass and was entered in a mile race over the turf after going second on her debut. But the weather changed everything and with just 30 minutes to the start, with heavy rain falling, the race was switched to the dirt track.
Trainer Brad Cox conferred with owner Michael de Broglio and astutely kept in her the race, in muddy conditions.
Despite the commentators on American racing channel, TVG talking her grass pedigree down – she is out of our recently retired champion Silvano – Burning Ambition prevailed narrowly at odds of 3/5.
The third horse was beaten more than 10 lengths so its unlikely to be her only win.
Small in stature, like the mare, the daughter of Uncle Mo (currently 2nd on the stallions log at a service fee of $175 000 for 2021) clearly showed lots of fight in what turned into a two horse race down the straight.
Watch the race here
https://twitter.com/i/status/1320849091497127936
Trainer Brad Cox, currently 2nd on the national trainers log in America, said of the run,:
“We were very pleased with her effort at Indiana on a switched racetrack she showed a lot of determination and grit down the lane in order to get the job done. I look forward to getting her back on the turf.”
Cox is in tremendous form at the moment and has 9 entered for the Breeders Cup this weekend, including Monomoy Girl and Aunt Pearl.
He won the Kentucky Oaks earlier this season with Shedaresthedevil.
SA owner Michael de Broglio advised that Do You Remember’s second foal was by American Pharoah, a colt with tremendous looks but not in training yet.
Do you Remember is currently in foal to the come from the back of the field Dubai World Cup winner, Arrogate, who sadly passed away this year.
She is booked for Constitution next year. He stands at $85 000 in 2021 after a very hot year for him as a sire including Breeders Cup runner, Tiz the Law, considered by many the best horse in America, despite his loss in the Kentucky Derby.
A half-sister to 2018 Vodacom Durban July runner-up Made To Conquer (Dynasty), Do You Remember ran second in all three legs of the Triple Tiara behind Cherry On The Top, before winning the Woolavington – and turning the tables on her Tiara conqueror.
She subsequently ran third in the 2013 Vodacom Durban July behind Heavy Metal and Run For It before placing in a graded race in Australia and then being exported to the USA.
She was bred by Michael De Broglio and is out of the Gr2 SA Oaks winner Festive Occasion, a daughter of Casey Tibbs. Do You Remember was trained throughout her racing career in South Africa by Geoff Woodruff.
Michael believes in investing in fillies and plans to breed with more South African mares in Kentucky where his mare and foal are located at the Oak Tree farm of Lane’s End.
His hopes in our local season hinge on Dazzling Sun, a Camelot filly based with Justin Snaith in the Cape. She was suffering from a virus when drawn 12 out of 12 at Kenilworth in the Gr2 Wetsern Cape Fillies Championship recently.
Michael adds that without seeing whatever field she is coming up against in her next start, that he can only imagine she will start at short odds.
She also currently stars in some episodes of his law firm’s YouTube video series.