Shrewd money during the week saw the Nutfield Stud-bred Chestnuts N Pearls shorten on the betting boards from 25-1 to 7-1 and the confidence was to prove spot on as she reversed the Allan Robertson Championship form with Princess Royal
It was a big feature winning weekend for the Armitages of Sandown Stud. After French Navy’s crushing win in Saturday’s Gr1 at Greyville, Adam Marcus saddled another Sandown product when the talented Horse Chestnut filly Crystal Cavern made up many lengths to win the Stormsvlei Mile
South Africa has a double-handed interest in the 2015 Kentucky Derby with Ocho Ocho Ocho, a grandson of the late, great Horse Chestnut and Mike de Kock saddles Mubtaahij for Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum
The magnificent chestnut had no rivals on the race track and one can only wonder what he may have achieved
In Chicago the locals used to come to track work and time his astonishing gallops. They kept thinking there was some fault with their stop-watches!
Gaynor Rupert said, “It was a privilege to stand such a horse of tremendous importance in South African racing history. He was a gentleman and loved by all the staff at Drakenstein. As one of the first two stallions of the farm it was something special for all at the stud to watch the friendship and bond develop between him and Trippi over the years. He will be sorely to be missed.”
When Horse Chestnut’s sire Fort Wood passed away just a few short weeks ago, Jessica Slack posted on Facebook that she could imagine her grandparents feeding him carrots up in heaven. It seems their stable is expanding. RIP Horse Chestnut, a true South African legend.
Trainer Dennis Drier and jockey Sean Cormack got the J&B Met day show under way in flying style on Saturday
A champion sire, leading sire of sires and champion broodmare sire, Fort Wood’s influence should be felt in the South African stud book for generations to come.
Part owner of the Kenilworth first race winner Princess Royal and a past winning owner of 2009 Sceptre Stakes winner Lady Windermere, Peter De Beyer has enjoyed plenty of success in horseracing
Guineas winners include the legends Hawaii, Politician, Colorado King and Empress Club – to name a few. Sarah Whitelaw lists her personal selection of Guineas highlights over the past two decades
Charl Pretorius pokes a bit of fun as we brace ourselves for a rollercoaster ride through the absurd, the outrageous, and the downright unbelievable in South African horse racing
