Great Britain
Highlands’ beautifully bred Green Desert stallion Great Britain sired his first winner from his first South African crop when the fast and very smart-looking Roy’s Goddess slammed her field to win the second race on a day of favourite results at Scottsville on Tuesday.
The 5 to 10 favourite was always in contention in the Maiden Juvenile Plate run over 1200m and finely prepped by Kum Naidoo, she opened her account at her third outing after a promising third and second placing at her first two starts.
Roy’s Goddess was purchased by well-known KZN owner Roy Moodley for R200 000 at the Emperors Palace National Yearling Sale and is out of the American-bred daughter of Pulpit, Temple Goddess, who was a winner over a mile at 3.
Four of her five foals to race are winners and she notably produced the Duncan Howells trained My Sanctuary (Antonius Pius) who won 4, including the Gr2 The Debutante.
Roy’s Goddess looks a filly much in the same mould – plenty of natural speed and precocity.
Roy’s Goddess as a yearling
Her sire Great Britain had a TFR of 118 and won the Al Quoz Sprint (now a Gr1 contest which has been won by such stars as J J The Jet Plane, Ortensia and Shea Shea), and as a son of July Cup winner Green Desert (by Danzig), is one of the best bred stallions in this country.
Green Desert is the sire of over 80 stakes winners and a tremendous influence on the modern day stud book.
He has established himself as an outstanding sire of sires, and his sons include such world class sires as Invincible Spirit, Volksraad, Oasis Dream and Great Britain’s full brother, Cape Cross.
Great Britain, who originally stood in New Zealand and produced winners in Australian, boasts a female line which is equally illustrious.
His dam Park Appeal was a Champion at 2 when her wins included the G1 Moyglare Stud Stakes and G1 Chevely Park Stakes.
Like Park Express (dam of hot sire New Approach) and Princess Athena (dam of leading sire Acclamation), Park Appeal is a daughter of top sprinter Ahonoora.
Park Appeal’s offspring include the G1 Lockinge Stakes winner Cape Cross, sire of 85 stakes winners – and sire of world champions Sea The Stars (a promising young sire) and Ouija Board (dam of leading classic hopeful of 2014, Australia).
Great Britain is a direct descendant of one history’s greatest ever mares – Pretty Polly. A winner of 22 of her 24 outings, Pretty Polly’s victories included the 1000 Guineas, Oaks, St Leger, Champion Stakes and Coronation Cup. Her descendants include leading sires Nearctic, Great Nephew, Preamble II and Sybil’s Nephew.
His two lots on last week’s Cape Premier Yearling Sale sold for R225 000 and R200 000.
He stands for a fee of R15000.
