The 2022 Hollywoodbets Gr1 Durban July winner Sparkling Water’s name will not be amongst the first entries for the 2023 renewal of Africa’s greatest horserace to be announced shortly after midday today.
The star galloper has been retired to stud and will join the broodmare band at her owner/breeder Mary Slack’s Wilgerbosdrift Stud near Piketberg, Western-Cape.
Smanga Khumalo steers Sparkling Water to victory in the 2022 Hollywoodbets Gr1 Durban July (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
Sparkling Water, a five-year-old mare by Silvano out of Espumanti by Dansili, goes to stud with a superb race record.
She won seven of 21 starts, including the Hollywoodbets Durban July and the Gr2 Western Cape Stayers, and finished fourth in the Gr1 Paddock Stakes. She was versatile, winning from 1450m to 2800m.
Mike de Kock commented: “It’s never easy to say goodbye to star performers like Sparkling Water. She did us so proud with her incredible July win, which was a career highlight for Mary Slack. She was sound, a pleasure to train, and after last year’s July we were looking forward to another big season with her. But as things happen in racing, she had a few niggles during the Cape summer season and lost her form.”
Mike added: “Sparkling Water goes to stud with an even better record than her own dam, Espumanti, and she’ll make a fine broodmare. Thanks to Mary for entrusting her to us, we wish the mare well and will be following her progress.”
