Leading local and international breeders Ridgemont will sponsor the R1,5 million Ridgemont Gr1 Garden Province Stakes for the second consecutive year on the Hollywoodbets Durban July card on Saturday.
The Ridgemont bred Happy Chance (Louis Mxothwa) seen winning the 2023 WSB Listed Sweet Chestnut Stakes beating Kwinta’s Light. She runs in Saturday’s Ridgemont Gr1 Garden Province Stakes (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
In the 2024 renewal, Ridgemont are breeders of both Happy Chance (Dynasty) and Humdinger (What A Winter), while Mrs Browning (Rafeef) and Red Palace (Potala Palace) carry the flag for their stallions.
Justin Snaith’s Double Grand Slam is the current favourite for Saturday’s contest, ahead of Mike de Kock’s recent Gr1 Woolavington 2000 winner, Silver Sanctuary.
While she has already tasted dual feature success on the East Coast this season, Double Grand Slam was beaten in the WSB Fillies Guineas and is yet to win over a mile.
The mile contest ranks amongst the most important weight-for-age races for fillies and mares in South Africa. The 2019 winner Celtic Sea carried the colours of the Beck family, who purchased Highlands Stud in 1985. Under their care and stewardship, Highlands Stud became synonymous with breeding quality thoroughbreds and was for many years the home of multiple champion sire Dynasty.
In 2017 Highlands Stud was purchased by Wayne Kieswetter and the Ridgemont era was born. Since the purchase of the farm, the Kieswetter family has endeavoured to assemble a broodmare band of the highest order. Resident stallions include the exciting Rafeef, his Gr1 winning son Thunderstruck, the multiple Grade 1 winner and successful sire Canford Cliffs, Malmoos, Real Gone Kid, Potala Palace and imported More Than Ready Grade 1 winner, Hit The Road.
Prize money for the 2024 renewal of the Ridgemont Garden Province Stakes has been increased to R1,5 million.
The race is off at 17h00 on Saturday.
