Just hours after the Springboks beat the All Blacks in Cape Town to lift the 2024 Freedom Cup, an equine speed merchant that first saw the light of day just 130km away from the DHL Stadium at Narrow Creek Stud, nestled between the orchards and vineyards of the Wolseley Valley, was announcing his arrival on the US racing scene to cap a memorable day for South African sport.
The champagne corks were popping in many homes across South Africa on Saturday evening as the Hollywood Syndicate celebrated a dream come true after their speed champion Isivunguvungu planted the Bok flag, overcoming an arduous 14000km journey across the world and two months of counting the long days in quarantine, to win the 17th renewal of the $150 000 Da Hoss Stakes at Colonial Downs in Virginia.
Given our rollercoaster history of export protocols and the ups and downs that have gone with it, the achievement of Saturday’s victory was made more sweet by the bold move and passionate belief that rode on the back of the quantum fiscal and emotional leap of taking on the world.
It’s a fact that Isivunguvungu was the only gelding on that valuable cargo of eleven equine athletes that touched down on Thursday 7 March 2024 at JFK Airport in New York following the long flight from Johannesburg.
With well-performed fillies and mares, there is always the insurance of a second chance in the breeding paddocks. Sending geldings is a whole different risk game.
Isivunguvungu in his stable at (Pic – Herringswell Stables)
For the champion’s breeders John and Renee Everett, the Colonial Downs victory is a dream come true as Isivunguvungu became Narrow Creek Stud’s first international winner since they opened their beautiful farm for business in May 2013.
“What a race. What a racehorse! Congratulations to the Hollywood Syndicate. This is a great advert for our racing and breeding and we are very chuffed and so proud,” said John Everett as he told the Sporting Post on Sunday that he’d be exaggerating if he suggested that he knew the moment Isivunguvungu was born that he was destined to be a champion.
“We love all of our horses and we see them all as champions. But I recall that he, along with Big Eyed Girl and Moonshiningthrough, was purchased off the farm during the time of covid. And what Isivunguvungu did have – and it’s a good sign with the What A Winter progeny – is that ‘spare’ rib. An extra rib. His Dad was a dual Equus Champion Sprinter and he is the third foal of a mare that hasn’t produced for four seasons after reabsorbing – possibly as a result of a bout of biliary earlier on.”
John Everett (Pic -hamishNIVENPhotography)
A Narrow Creek homebred, Isivunguvungu’s Mom Miss Tweedy is a daughter of Tiger Ridge out of Danehill’s Australian-bred granddaughter Dancing Penny.
“Vet Dr Ian Heyns and I bought Dancing Penny off one of the Equimark Sales,” John recalled previously.
“We bred Miss Tweedy in partnership but when we couldn’t get a bid for her at the KZN yearling sale, I bought out Ian’s half-share and kept her for myself. I raced her with Dorrie Sham and she won us four races.”
John added that Miss Tweedy is currently in foal to Malmoos.
And the good news is that the immediately family is securely represented at Narrow Creek by three young mares, in the shape of Miss Tweedy’s Rafeef half-sister, Chicks For Free, as well as two half-sisters to Isivunguvungu, the winner Bat Out Of Hell (Querari), and placed Damned If I Do (Rafeef).
Isivunguvungu as a yearling (Pic – Supplied)
“Bat Out Of Hell is in foal to What A Winter – that’s really exciting with Isivunguvungu doing so very well! She’s due towards the end of September!” he smiles broadly.
Although he was bumped at the start, Isivunguvungu always appeared full of running on Saturday, racing tactically in third place along the rail while under restraint from Franco.
The www.bloodhorse.com website reports that tracking fractions of :21.91 and :44.27, Isivunguvungu sat about two lengths back until a large opening appeared turning for home.
Surging through on the inside, he opened a two-length stretch lead then had to hang on late to win by a neck over a rallying Nothing Better . Final time for 5 1/2 furlongs on firm turf was 1:02.58.
“I can’t say enough about what a good effort this was today,” trainer Graham Motion said.
“He spent two months in quarantine at the beginning of the year. He is a very special horse. He has a big following in South Africa, and I am so happy for those guys, super happy for the Hollywood Syndicate. Manny Franco gave him a great ride.”
Isivunguvungu is being aimed at the Gr1 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint on the turf at Del Mar.
“November is not that far off, and he ran a big race today,” Motion said.
“We have to decide if we are going to run him again; we have to decide if he is going to be able to get in the Breeders’ Cup, which is what we’d really like to do. There’s a fine line now with this guy. I think he’s done enough fitness-wise to get there without another race, so we’ll just decide.”
