Ticking the boxes on pedigree, looks and track performance, Blue Sky Thoroughbreds’ New Approach stallion New Predator has made a flying start to his career at stud with his only two runners to race finishing first and third in the opener at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Wednesday.
Taking on a mixed sex field in the 1000m Juvenile Plate, the Yadev Singh-trained Predator’s Feast skipped to an impressive win under Smanga Khumalo after placing at her first two starts.
Clifton Stud bred both the winner and third placed Teerex, a son of New Predator, who had run second on an eyecatching Hollywoodbets Scottsville debut three weeks ago.
Predator’s Feast sets the benchmark as she storms home under Smanga Khumalo (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
The duo are New Predator’s first runners and the auspicious start augurs well for the well-bred sprinter-miler.
Predator’s Feast is out of the Western Winter mare Winter Feast and cost just R30 000 at the KZN Yearling Sale in June this year. She has nearly doubled her purchase ticket in two starts and owner Vinolin Patchappen won’t have anything to complain about.
The handsome multiple Gr1-placed first son of sire-of-sires New Approach (Galileo) at stud in South Africa put in some cracking performances in the famous red, white and black of the Wernars family silks during a track career which saw him win five races from 1200m to 1600m.
He is out of a winning Fastnet Rock mare, Head Over Heels, a half-sister to Australian 10-time winner (including three Listed races) Presently, as well as Gr3 horse Another Time.
New Predator seen winning the 2016 Drill Hall Stakes
A dual Gr2 winner, New Predator’s Gr1 form was exceptional having defeated the Vodacom Durban July winners The Conglomerate and Legislate in graded stakes races. A classic sprinter-miler, New Predator also dominated Gr1 sprinters Rafeef, Will Pays, Attenborough, Talktothestars and the likes of multiple Gr1 winners Abashiri, Rabada and Deo Juvente.
A delighted Laurence Wernars told the Sporting Post that New Predator has enjoyed good support in his first three seasons and that he has seen some quality mares, covering 192 in his first three seasons.
He adds that based on the strength of quality of the solid-boned foals produced and exceptional conception rate of well above 90%, he is satisfied with the return rate of mares, even in this notoriously testing third season.
New Predator stood this season at a live foal fee of R10 000. Great value in these testing times.
In next week’s L’Ormarins King’s Plate issue of the SPRINT, we chat to Laurence Wernars.
Catch the latest issue here:
