The final field for Saturday’s Tabgold Gr1 Woolavington 2000 was declared earlier today and the 2024 renewal hosts another vintage renewal of a race with an impressive honour roll.
Brett Crawford’s Gr2 SA Oaks winner Frances Ethel heads an eleven horse line-up, for the first Grade 1 contest of the 2024 SA Champions Season.
Frances Ethel scores an emphatic SA Oaks win under Kabelo Matsunyane (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
1st R937500, 2nd R300000, 3rd R150000, 4th R75000, 5th R37500
TABGOLD WOOLAVINGTON 2000 (Grade 1)
For Fillies & Mares at Weight-For-Age
WFA: 2yrs-12.5kgs 3yrs-2.5kgs
No Apprentice / Female Sex Allowance
| 1 | 1 | Silver Sanctuary | 57.5 | 116 | A | Richard Fourie | Mike de Kock | |
| 2 | 2 | Frances Ethel | 57.5 | 118 | A | Kabelo Matsunyane | Brett Crawford | |
| 3 | 3 | Red Maple | 60 | 94 | TBA | S’manga Khumalo | Sean Tarry | |
| 4 | 4 | Perfect Witness | 60 | 105 | A | Diego De Gouveia | Candice Dawson | |
| 5 | 5 | Future Girl | 60 | 97 | Ae | *Malesela Katjedi | Brett Crawford | |
| 6 | 6 | Saartjie | 60 | 110 | A | Corne Orffer | Andre Nel | |
| 7 | 7 | Gilded Butterfly | 60 | 108 | CA | Gavin Lerena | Stuart Pettigrew | |
| 8 | 8 | My Soul Mate | 57.5 | 115 | CA | Muzi Yeni | Candice Dawson | |
| 9 | 9 | Beating Wings | 57.5 | 114 | A | Calvin Habib | Stuart Pettigrew | |
| 10 | 10 | Hold My Hand | 60 | 108 | A | Craig Zackey | Glen Kotzen | |
| 11 | 11 | Bellevarde | 60 | 110 | A | Serino Moodley | Joe Soma | |
| Same Trainer | ||||||||
| (2,5) (4,8) (7,9) | ||||||||
Among past champions to have won this race are Oh Susanna, Igugu, Sun Classique, Summer Pudding, Smart Call, War Of Athena, Icy Air, In The Fast Lane and Rain In Holland, to name but a few.
But how have Woolavington 2000 winners fared at stud?
Icy Air, who won the race in 2003 when it was run as a Gr2 contest, enjoyed plenty of success in the paddock and is without doubt one of the most successful broodmares to have emerged from the Woolavington 2000.
The daughter of Jallad produced nine winners, including Russet Air, the Equus Champion Sprinter of 2019-2020. Winner of both the 2019 Gr2 Cape Merchants and 2020 Gr1 Cape Flying Championship, Russet Air was one of two graded stakes winners for his dam, with Icy Air also dam of Gr2 Premier Trophy winner Icy Trail.
Icy Air’s daughters have also made their mark at stud, with her Gr2 SA Fillies Nursery placed daughter Icy Winter Air dam of Gr1 World Sports Betting Cape Fillies Guineas/Gr1 Cartier Paddock Stakes winner Make It Snappy (Dynasty).
Daughter of Jallad, Icy Air has produced nine winners (Pic – Supllied)
Another hugely successful broodmare to win the Woolavington was Promisefromyheart (Elliodor).
Victorious in 2004, champion Promisefrommyheart not only produced dual Gr2 winner and successful sire Master Of My Fate (Jet Master), but is also the dam of the stakes winning dam of South African Triple Crown winner and sire Malmoos (Captain Al).
Fidelity, Promisefrommyheart’s winning daughter, produced a pair of graded stakes winners in the form of Due Diligence (Gr3 Starling Stakes) and Ghaalla (Gr3 Fillies Mile), respectively.
Few fillies retired to stud in South Africa recently with stronger credentials than did 2016 Woolavington winner Bela-Bela. A champion daughter of Dynasty and Mystic Spring, Bela-Bela was quick to make her mark with her very first foal being Gr2 Western Cape Fillies Championship queen Ciao Bella (Gimmethegreenlight).
In The Fast Lane (Jet Master), a half-sister to five stakes winners, produced three winners, headed by speedy Ridgemont sire Real Gone Kid (Snitzel) and the latter’s full-sister Stiptelik, who finished second, behind Horse Of The Year Princess Calla, in the 2023 Gr2 Cartier Sceptre Stakes. In The Fast Lane also had success overseas, with her daughter Girl Racer (No Nay Never) winning at Wolverhampton in 2023.
Two other Woolavington winners to have thrown winners overseas were Do You Remember (Silvano) and Irridescence (Caesour).
Woolavington 2000 winner Do You Remember has produced winners overseas (Pic – Gold Circle)
Do You Remember is the dam of US stakes winner and Gr1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup third Burning Ambition (Uncle Mo), and Irridescence threw Gr3 Affirmed Stakes/Gr3 Oaklawn Mile Stakes winner Rock Hopper (Declaration Of War).
The 2012 Woolavington winner Viva Maria, sired like In The Fast Lane, by Jet Master, has come up with four winners including 2020 Gr3 Campanajo 2200 winner Sovereign Spirit (third in the 2021 Gr1 Cape Town Met), and Silver Maria. The latter finished third in the Gr2 Track And Ball Oaks and Listed KRA East Coast Cup.
Igugu, one of the best fillies ever to win the Woolavington 2000, had just two registered foals before her untimely death, headed by Listed Fred Archer Stakes runner up El Misk (Dansili).
While Cherry On The Cake (Strike Smartly) ran last behind Igugu in the 2011 Woolavington 2000, she made her mark at stud as the dam of Gr1 Woolavington 2000 winner and Horse Of The Year Summer Pudding.
Summer Pudding (Pic- Candiese Lenferna)
Cherry On The Cake was not the only runner beaten in the Woolavington to make her mark at stud, with the likes of Mother Russia, River Jetez, Festive Occasion, Shadow Dancing, and Sabina Park all producing a Grade One winner at stud.
Sally Bowles, last in the 2007 Gr1 Woolavington 2000, is the dam of a pair of US graded stakes winners in the form of Consumer Credit and Lady Radler, respectively.
With the likes of Summer Pudding (Silvano), War Of Athena (Act Of War) and Rain In Holland (Duke Of Marmalade) yet to be represented by offspring on the racecourse, the list of high-class broodmares to have won the Woolavington 2000 is likely to expand in years to come.
