There are a number of really exciting horses and sire prospects worth following over the next 12 months. The horses selected are a mixture of local and international, excluding such obvious superstars as Igugu, Frankel, What A Winter, etc.
SILVER FLYER 3 c Silvano – Fiery Flier
Showed his class when causing a 15-1 upset in the G2 The Dingaans over one mile. He ran a great race next time out when finding only Variety Club too good in the Cape Premier Yearling Sale Guineas. Silver Flyer defeated a host of highly rated 3yos on that occasion and is clearly only starting to come into his own now.
As a son of stamina influence Silvano and out of a mare who won over 2000 metres, Silver Flyer is bred to be a better horse over one mile plus, and looks an outstanding prospect for some of the longer classics later in the season. He can give his sire yet another winner at the highest level. He is the latest high-class performer produced by a Flaming Rock, also broodmare sire of the likes of Jet Danza, Talahatchie, Jamaican Dream and former Horse of the Year, Irish Flame.
SAGE THRONE 4 g Dyasnty – Sage Blue
A well-bred horse, Sage Throne is a half-brother to the young stallion, Russian Sage. Like most of his sire’s stock, Sage Throne has taken time to come to himself. Winner of last season’s G2 Gold Circle Derby (before being disqualified), Sage Throne has made up for a couple of disappointing runs with two impressive back to back victories recently. While he has not beaten anything of really substance, Sage Throne can’t have won any more impressively, and he looks a horse with a bright future.
NOCTURNAL AFFAIR 6 g Victory Moon – Arethusa
The South African bred has really turned the corner since moving to trainer David Marnane. After two poor runs in Dubai, Nocturnal Affair run a creditable second in a handicap at Cork. He then made amends for that defeat with a brave win in the historic Portlands Handicap on St Leger weekend. Not disgraced next time out, when lumping 68 kgs in a handicap over 1200 metres at York, Nocturnal Affair ended his 2011 campaign with a win in the Listed Mercury Stakes at Dundalk. A versatile sort, Noctunal Affair has won on both turf and all weather. Nocturnal Affair (whose official rating is 105) should prove capable of adding to his already impressive winning tally.
MASTER OF HOUNDS 4 c Kingmambo – Silk and Scarlet
A recent addition to the powerful Mike de Kock yard, Master of Hounds is bred on similar lines to de Kock’s former stable star, Archipenko. Both sons of KIngmambo, Archipenko was from the family of Sadler’s Wells, while Master of Hounds is out of a daughter of Sadler’s Wells. Just touched off in last year’s G2 UAE Derby, Master of Hounds ran a creditable fifth in the Kentucky Derby last year. He then was tailed off in the Belmont Stakes. A high-class juvenile, Master of Hounds was sent off as favourite for the 2010 Breeders Cup Juvenile, where he ran sixth. Extremely versatile, Master of Hounds has run well on synthetic, dirt and grass.
FLAX 5 g Silvano – Bejewelled Spring
Winner of four of his five starts, the South African bred Flax looks a horse worth following in Singapore. His only poor run came in the Singapore Derby, where he was found to have been dehydrated. Named Ballistic in SA, Flax has won from 1200-2000 metres. He is trained by David Hill.
TAIPAN 3 c Dynasty – Fairy Footprints
One of a plethora of promising sorts by champion Dynasty, Taipan completed a hatrick of wins last time out. After putting up two fair runs over the inadequate 1200 metre trip, Taipan went onto break his maiden over 1800 metres, defeating a field which included a number of other winners. He then beat the smart 4yo Lake Arthur over 1600 metres. Sent out a prohibitive favourite last time, Taipan did just enough to hold off the late finish of Caymen Island.
Trainer Dean Kannemeyer feels Taipan will be a better horse in six months, and ultimately will make a top-class 4yo.
THUNDER DANCE 3 f Jet Master – Shadow Dancing
One of the best bred fillies in training, Thunder Dance’s dam won the Cape fillies Guineas, and is also a half-sister to leading sire Captain Al. After running third to Princess Victoria in both the Fillies Championship and Fillies Guineas, Thunder Dance won a graduation plate in workmanlike style. She looks like she is crying out for more ground, and could prove very competitive in feature races (not featuring Princess Victoria) later in the season.
SEA MOON 4 c Beat Hollow – Eva Luna
An early favourite for the 2011 Investec Derby, Sea Moon never made that race, but showed enough to suggest that he will be a leading player in some of the world’s best races for 2012. Three parts brother to former Leger winner Brian Boru, Sea Moon ran out a 8 length victor of the G2 Great Voltigeur Stakes, which saw him installed as a hot favourite for the Leger. Slightly unlucky in running, Sea Moon seemed to lack the stamina for the 3000 metre race, but was not disgraced back in third. He ended his 3yo campaign with a runner up finish in the Breeders Cup Turf – despite having a slightly interrupted prep. His trainer, Sir Michael Stoute, has a superb record with older horses, and Sea Moon could add further glory to that record.
TANTINA
A smart race filly in her own right, Juddmonte Farms’ Tantina would been a leading contender for broodmare of the year, had her sons Bated Breath and Cityscape enjoyed a little more racing luck. Bated Breath, a son of Dansili, was second in three G1 races (and was less than one length away from being a triple G1 winner). Cityscape, a very smart miler, was placed in three G1 races, finishing a close second in both the Hong Kong Mile (after a very wide trip) and Premio Vittorio di Capua.
Both Cityscape and Bated Breath stay in training, and connections will, no doubt, be hoping for a change of luck!
TRIPPI
A proven sire success in the United States, Trippi’s very first local runner, Agra, was a most impressive winner on debut. Well supported by many of the country’s top breeders, Trippi has an exceptionally well bred crop of 2yos representing him this season, and he should have an excellent year. Himself a superb 3yo, Trippi’s offspring should continue to improve with age, and he is a really exciting addition to the South African sire ranks. Trippi’s son, Zero Rate Policy, was beaten just a nose recently in the G3 Mr Prospector Stakes at Gulfstream Park. The latter is a very smart sprinter, having won or placed in eight of his ten starts, and should pick up his first graded win sooner rather than later.
GP DEPUTY
A top-class racehorse, Go Deputy has made a promising start to his stud career. His first crop, now 3, include the highly rated pair of Changingoftheguard and Alula Borealis. Both look likely to line up in the Investec Cape Derby on Met day. Go Deputy himself reached his peak only at six, and it is encouraging to see that his progeny are showing greater precocity. A G1 winner himself, Go Deputy is by the North American champion Deputy Minister.
