Ridgemont’s big-hitting established sires Canford Cliffs and Rafeef enjoyed a 1-2 in Saturday’s Betway Listed Swallow Stakes at Turffontein when the blisteringly fast Almond Sea stormed home to beat Poblano, with another Canford Cliffs filly, Pointer, running fourth to her paternal half-sister.
Ridgemont sires 1-2 as Canford Cliffs flyer Almond Sea beats Rafeef daughter Poblano (Pic – JC Photos)
The feature capped another winning weekend for the five time Gr1 winning stallion with the five-time Gr1 winning Canford Cliffs enjoying success internationally both as a sire and broodmare sire.
On Friday, classy three-year-old Bosustow , who is out of the Canford Cliffs mare Bumbasina, won the A$3 million Gold Coast Magic Millions 3yo Guineas.
The speedy Almond Sea has won five of eight starts, including the 2024 Listed Wilgerbosdrift Ruffian Stakes.
Her sire, champion miler, Canford Cliffs also ranks as the broodmare sire of classy Australian galloper Bosustow. The latter, a half-brother to Gr1 winner Amelia’s Jewel, was stakes-placed on four occasions prior to Friday night, including when third to Broadsiding in last year’s Gr1 J.J. Atkins Stakes.
Canford Cliffs also looks to have a very promising two-year-old to his name in the form of Direct Hit. The latter made a winning debut when romping home by seven and a quarter lengths at Fairview on Friday.
That victory came hot on the heels of a victory for the Ridgemont-bred Canford Cliffs daughter Instaworthy to win the opening juvenile event of the season in the Eastern Cape a few days before Christmas.
She lines up this Saturday in the Listed Summer Juvenile Stakes at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on WSB Cape Town Met day.
Ridgemont barn-mate Rafeef (Redoute’s Choice) maintains a top 5 AEPR position on the SA national sires log and is enjoying another good season.
The top producer also has a runner in the opening feature on Met day when his son Churchillian steps out on debut.
Other Rafeef flagbearers this term include graded stakes winners Chasing Happiness, Mon Petit Cherie and Outlaw King.
