Russian Sage (Jallad-Sage Blue)
An inspired hat-trick of winners for veteran Cape jockey Karl Neisius at Kenilworth on Sunday included icebreaking wins for two well-bred local sires. The outstanding racer Russian Sage was the first to benefit from Neisius’ finely honed skills when the David Southey-bred Russian Speed scored an impressive debut win in the first race.
The Eric Sands-trained colt won the Maiden Juvenile Plate over 1000m.
He is a son of the promising Gary Player Stud Farm resident Russian Sage, who was trained in this country by current SA champion Justin Snaith during an illustrious track career.
Russian Speed was only a second runner for his sire. He is out of the Bold Speed mare, Test Of Speed.
A R450 000 purchase from the 2006 Emperors Palace National Yearling Sale. Russian Sage, was bred by Highlands Farms and is one of 16 Gr1 winners produced by former champion sire Jallad.
Russian Sage wins the Selangor
He was bought out of the estate of the late Fieldspring Racing supremo John Newsome by leading global owner Barry Irwin, whose Team Valor International raced him in partnership with former National Horse Racing Authority of SA Chairman Larry Nestadt, and Gary Barber, the South African-born, Los Angeles-based movie producer.
Russian Sage registered dual Gr1 wins at three, including the Investec Cape Derby and Daily News 2000. He also finished second in both the Cape Guineas and the KRA /KZN Guineas.
A versatile sort, he scored his 6 wins from 1000 to 2000m, and was rated 107 (at 3 in SA) and Timeform 122 (at 4 in Dubai).
He is out of the five time winning Badger Land mare Sage Blue, a half- sister to former Gr1 SA Derby winner Silver Sliver, and hails from the family of champion fillies Cerulean Blue and Grey Swift.
Remarkably, Russian Sage is a total outcross for most of the stallions standing at stud in South Africa, with his pedigree including not a single strain of either Northern Dancer or Mr Prospector.
Russian Sage stands at the Gary Player Stud in Colesberg – his fee is available on application.
