Drakenstein Stud resident Gold Standard marked his first winner when his two-year-old son Star Coin won the first race at the Vaal on Tuesday afternoon.
Trained by Alec Laird, the gelding had finished third to subsequent Gr2 4Racing SA Fillies Nursery winner Maharanee last time out and he built on that effort with a convincing win on Tuesday.
Gold Standard breaks the ice as his son Star Coin (JP van der Merwe) charges home at the Vaal on Tuesday to beat Kill Shot (Denis Schwarz) in the opener (Pic – JC Photos)
Under JP Van Der Merwe, Star Coin stayed on smartly to land the #ThisIsRacing Welcomes You Maiden Juvenile Plate over 1400m in good style by half a length in a time of 85,09 secs.
Star Coin, who races for Messrs G A Basel, W Volschenk & Canine Solutions CC (Nom: Mr D C O’Driscoll), clearly enjoyed the step up in trip and he should build on this win.
Bred by Varsfontein Stud, Star Coin was a R200 000 buy from the 2021 National Yearling Sale.
His sire Gold Standard has now had four runners from his first crop to either win or finish in the money.
Cape Breeders report that Gold Standard was one of the best horses of his generation, winning the Gr2 Selangor Cup and finishing second in the Gr1 Cape Guineas at three.
Among the notable scalps claimed by Gold Standard during his racing career were those of champion Edict Of Nantes, G1 Cape Guineas winner William Longsword, high-class Hong Kong performer Singapore Sling, and July winning champion Marinaresco.
The earner of nearly R1 000 000 in prize money, Gold Standard is a son of Drakenstein’s inform champion sire Trippi.
Sire of 85 stakes winners, and counting, Trippi’s current flagbearers include dual G1 L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate winner Jet Dark, and fellow graded stakes winners Amanzimtoti, Sound Of Warning and Trip Of Fortune. Trippi, whose progeny have earned in excess of $63 million in prize money, also ranks as the broodmare sire of two top-class US stallions in the form of Liam’s Map and Not This Time respectively.
The regally bred Gold Standard is out of Olympic Dam – a daughter of champions Model Man and Olympic Duel.
