Eight-times SA Champion Trainer Mike de Kock has never been a man whose feathers are ever ruffled by big-ticket pressure.
But even he will be feeling a sense of relief after record-breaking yearling Ghaalla showed some classy fight and ability to win on her 2yo debut at Turffontein on Saturday.
Gavin Lerena keeps Ghaalla (8) focussed as Lyle Hewitson does his best on runner-up Celtic Sea (Pic – JC Photographics)
The R5 million daughter of super-sire Var carries the label of the most expensive yearling ever to be purchased off South Africa’s longest established sale, and she took the first step to showing she could go on and provide plenty of thrills for us in the years ahead.
Ridden by Gavin Lerena, Ghaalla, who eased to 5-4 at the off, was always in touch in the 1160m Juvenile Plate and quickened like a sensible horse at the 300m.
Captain Al daughter, and fellow first-timer, Celtic Sea challenged Ghaalla all the way to the line. But one just had the sense that Lerena always had things under control.
The top two were five lengths ahead of the rest. It was a commendable performance given that the Var progeny generally aren’t mad about any give in the going.
Winning jockey Gavin Lerena paid tribute to Diane de Kock for the fine job that she does in prepping the youngsters.
Bought for R5 million by Form Bloodstock for Shadwell SA at the 2017 BSA National Yearling Sale, the price tag of the Varsfontein Stud bred Ghaalla surpassed the previous high-water mark of R4,75 million paid for Savannah Cat in 2015.
By Avontuur flagbearer Var (Forest Wildcat), Ghaalla is out of the winning Captain Al mare Fidelity, a three parts sister to Gr3 East Cape Derby winner Captain Splendid and a half-sister to Gr2 winning sire Master Of My Fate, and the four time stakes winner Justthewayyouare.
Her second dam is Equus Champion Promisefrommyheart, whose six career wins included successes in the Gr1 Triple Tiara 1600 and Gr1 SA Fillies Guineas.
She could bump recent Listed Ruffian Stakes winning stablemate Dagmar in the SA Fillies Nursery next month.
