When multiple Equus champion and former SA Horse Of The Year Dynasty passed away over three years ago , Wayne Kieswetter labelled the sad event as ‘not the end – only the beginning’, and suggested that the greatest tribute that could be paid to the sire that elevated the Robertson nursery to new heights, was to continue the great tradition of producing the winners.
That wish has certainly been honoured over the ensuing years.
The sire-of-sires, a broodmare sire of some standing, and an industry icon labelled the ‘gift that keeps on giving’, was in the news at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth again on Saturday with a glorious feature double that included Dynasty’s third Gr1 Cape Fillies Guineas winner in seven renewals of the time-honoured classic.
Dynasty daughter Make It Snappy at the pull up after her Gr1 success (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
Ridgemont Highlands’ Craig Carey expressed the sentiment of the whole team when he said that Dynasty was a champion that they all missed terribly.
“The great son of Fort Wood has left his enormous legacy in the lovely fillies and mares that the farm still owns. The Dynasty influence is a thread of pure gold that will endure for generations to come. What an honour it is to be a part of history in the making,” added the veteran breeder.
One of three daughters of Dynasty in the illustrious 2022 renewal of the WSB Gr1 Cape Fillies Guineas, Make It Snappy became the second Ridgemont Highlands homebred to win the fairer sex classic in four years when she led from pillar to post to score an emphatic victory, her third in a row, at only her fourth racetrack appearance. She is out of the Western Winter mare Icy Winter Air.
To add to the Dynasty achievement, Saturday’s Cape Fillies Guineas runner-up, and recent Gr2 winner Ciao Bella is out of Dynasty’s multiple Equus champion daughter, Bela-Bela!
In 2018 the Ridgemont Highlands team celebrated the victory of yet another of their top achieving homebreds when Dynasty’s undefeated daughter Front And Centre won the Cape Fillies Guineas. The half- sister to Ridgemont Highlands Gr1 winner sire Potala Palace (Singspiel), is out of the UK Gr3 placed Alzao mare, Alignment.
Dynasty’s feature double started earlier on Saturday when his son Navy Strength scored his maiden graded stakes success with an eyecatching victory in the Drakenstein Stud Gr3 Cape Summer Stayers Handicap.
Dynasty son Navy Strength is led in by Nancy Hossack and Greg Bortz and their supporters (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
Trying ground for the first time, the 4yo, who is out of the well-related Joshua Dancer mare Spring Lilac, relished the 2500m trip and looks likely to give owners Greg Bortz and Nancy Hossack plenty of pleasure in the season that lies ahead.
