Boxing amongst the long established big guns in stallion barnmate Var and Maine Chance flagbearer Silvano in the top three of the SA Sires log, Avontuur’s internationally proven sire Oratorio ended the weekend in style when his sons Ultra Magnus and Graduate won the last two races at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday.
His progressive son Ultra Magnus defied a merit rating hike when he ran out a convincing winner of a pinnacle stakes over 1200m on the turf on Sunday, where he accounted for G2 Post Merchants winners La Bella Mia and Sniper Shot, as well as G1 Tsogo Gold Medallion victor Sand And Sea.
Donovan Dillon (white cap) rides a cracker to keep Ultra Magnus going to beat Wynkelder (Sean Veale) in a thriller (Pic – Candiese Marnewick)
The Brett Crawford trained four-year-old has now won four of only six starts, and the Haras Del Carmo bred gelding may now be aimed at the G2 Merchants in Gauteng.
Sent off tote favourite for Sunday’s race, Ultra Magnus, now a winner of three in a row, stayed on well under an inspired crop-free ride by Donovan Dillon to hold off the talented Wynkelder and score by a head.
Out of the Lecture mare Field Star, Ultra Magnus was a R150 000 buy from the 2017 National 2YO Sale.
His paternal half-brother Graduate provided Oratorio with a double when the Dennis Bosch trained gelding romped home to a 2,1 length win, downing the highly regarded and promising Zoffany sired 3yo Share Holder over 1200 metres.
The Pippa Mickleburgh bred gelding has now won three, with the consistent classy galloper having won or placed in ten of only 15 starts.
His triple Gr1 winning sire Oratorio, whose progeny have banked in excess of $64 000 000, has three two-year-olds on the 2019 Emperors Palace Ready To Run Sale, and a further six lots on this year’s CTS Ready To Run Sale.
