Ridgemont’s Gr1 Computaform Sprint winning sire Rafeef has started the new season with a flyer and enjoyed three winners on the trot at Hollywoodbets Durbanville on Saturday.
South Africa’s Leading First Season Sire of 2020-2021, Rafeef, a son of champion Redpute’s Choice, enjoyed a cracker of a season in 2023-2024, ending the term on a high when his son Cats Pajamas won the Gr2 @Worldpool Twitter Stakes at Hollywoodbets Greyville on the World Pool Gold Cup day season climax on 28 July.
Aldo Domeyer drives Empire State (Rafeef – Elusive Spirit) to a smooth win (over Let It Be Said (JP van der Merwe) at Hollywoodbets Durbanville on Saturday (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
In the process, Cats Pajamas became Rafeef’s 20th black type winner.
On a bright sunny day at Hollywoodbets Durbanville on Saturday, the Rafeef progeny reeled off a hat-trick of wins in just over an hour!
The treble started with an eyecatching victory for the Clifton Stud-bred Mai Sensation. Out of the two-time winning Vercingetorix mare Mai Tai, she shed her maiden at her second start for Lucinda Woodruff and owners. The R500 000 National Yearling Sale purchase gave JP van der Merwe a tough time, and her victory was eyecatching!
Gareth Wright drives Mon Petit Cherie to a facile victory (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
Brett Crawford saddled the next Rafeef winner when Gareth Wright rode a comfortable race from the front in the 1250m contest on the twice placed Mon Petit Cherie, who races for Craig Kieswetter and Devin Heffer, and was bred by Ridgemont.
Interestingly, her dam Exotic is by Galileo and won over 2400m in Ireland. It was a good win from the wide draw and this looks like one for the notebook.
A runner-up on debut, Empire State was one leg of a boat race with the marginally more fancied Snaith charge Let It Be Said in the fourth race, another Maiden Plate over 1250m.
Empire State, a R750 000 Cape Premier Yearling Sale graduate, caught the eye on his course and distance debut, and produced a smart effort under Aldo Domeyer to win well on Saturday. He was bred by Beaumont Stud from the five-time winning Caesour mare, Elusive Spirit and is trained by Candice Bass-Robinson.
Rafeef’s flagbearers last season include the graded stakes winners Beating Wings, Cats Pajamas, Frances Ethel, Mover And Shaker, Mrs Browning and Thunderstruck – the latter will stand alongside his Dad in the Ridgemont stallion barn this breeding season.
