Ridgemont Highlands’ Redoute’s Choice son Rafeef has been a national sire table-topper since commencing his career in the stallion barn in Robertson two seasons ago and celebrated his ninth stakes winner with the eyecatching victory by the Al Adiyaat SA-raced Union Square in a powerhouse renewal of the Jonsson Workwear Gr2 Dingaans at Turffontein on Saturday.
The top-class Rafeef (Pic – Supplied)
An eighth Gr2 Dingaans winner for master conditioner Mike de Kock, Rafeef’s handsome son Union Square spearheaded a stable 1-2-3 in a 3yo race that is of Gr1 quality year in and year out.
Having scored against winners over 1160m on debut, last season’s SA Nursery runner-up Union Square was having only his sixth start and turned the tables after his Graham Beck Stakes fourth last time, as he relished the step up to the mile and won like a horse with a very bright future.
Union Square was bred by Wilgerbosdrift & Mauritzfontein from the outstanding versatile Rafeef (AUS) out of the twice winning Oasis Dream mare, Square Dance (GB).
Union Square’s Dingaans win was the cherry on top of a memorable day after his Gr1 SA Derby winning paternal half-brother Aragosta ran a creditable third in Saturday’s Gr1 Betway Summer Cup. Coincidentally, Aragosta ran third in the 2021 Gr2 Dingaans.
Our leading First Season Sire of 2020-2021, and Leading Second Season Sire the following season, the Rafeef offspring have won at Gr1 level from 1000m to 2450m and display a classically eclectic mix of speed and stamina.
But it’s hardly a surprise as on the track, Rafeef, who like Union Square was also trained by Mike de Kock, took after his dam, the champion sprinter National Colour, a daughter of speed influence National Assembly, while his own brother Mustaaqeem was SA’s champion juvenile.
Rafeef’s sire Redoute’s Choice sired seven Oaks winners and five Derby winners during his illustrious innings at Arrowfield Stud.
As they say, blood rules the land!
