The new season is off to a flying start, and before we know it, newly-turned three-year-olds will be coming out of the woodwork, especially the later maturing types, those with classic aspirations.
Based on exposed juvenile form, it is always interesting to speculate as to who will make their mark in what is arguably the most important season in a racehorse’s career, so let’s delve right in.
Glen Kotzen’s Cousin Casey – smashing 3yo (Pic-Candiese Lenferna)
As far as the males go, Glen Kotzen’s Cousin Casey must be top of the heap. A hot favourite to clinch the Juvenile Championship, the son of Vercingetorix had no equal as a juvenile and closed out his two-year-old season with a formidable quartet of wins, prime amongst which a dominant two-length victory in the Gr1 Premiers Champion Stakes. Bred on classic lines, his dam Bretton Woods is an own sister to Glen’s ill-fated Durban July winner Big City Life.
Pathfork’s son Royal Victory, trained by brother Natie, chased home Cousin Casey in both the Premiers and Gr2 Golden Horseshoe and looks a fine three-year-old in the making.
He won his maiden over a mile and is out of the Kahal mare Kailani, who is closely related to that one’s splendid son No Worries. Successful up to 2400m, he ran third in the Premiers Champion Stakes, besides splitting Vercingetorix and Capetown Noir in a thrilling three-way finish to the Gr1 Daily News 2000.
Former champion sire Gimmethegreenlight may have relinquished his title last season, but if his three-year-old crop is anything to go by, he could well reclaim his spot as the country’s top sire.
Justin Snaith’s Light Speed (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
Justin Snaith trains two exciting sons in Light Speed, a fluent winner of the Gr3 Langerman, and the well-related Prevalence, who caught the eye with a creditable debut third last weekend. That was over the minimum trip and as a half-brother to dual Summer Cup winner Master Sabina and East Cape Derby winner American Landing, he is sure to excel over the classic distances.
Trainer Dean Kannemeyer is not one to push his youngsters and those set to make their mark at three include a brace of highly-regarded Gimmethegreenlight colts.
Bright Green lined up in the Gr2 Golden Horse following his impressive debut win and despite a wide draw, still managed to finish fifth, beaten just over two lengths. This half-brother to Zimbabwe Oaks winner Raven Girl out of a half-sister to Hoedspruit, hails from a fine international family which is currently firing on all cylinders, that of the French Oaks victress Bright Sky.
Cheeky Laddie (grey) impressed on debut (Pic-Candiese Lenferna)
On Sunday, Kannemeyer took the wraps off R2.8 million yearling purchase Cheeky Laddie at Hollywoodbets Scottsville and although unfancied, this colt lived up to his fine pedigree to score on debut. Out of champion juvenile All Is Secret, the colt has yet to furnish into the finished article and is returning to Cape Town home base where he will no doubt be targeted at the rich Cape season.
Gimmethegreenlight is also sire of Brett Crawford-trained Port Louis, who followed up his second in the Langerman with a first stakes success in Fairview’s Listed Champion Juvenile Stakes.
Crawford’s arsenal also includes two potentially smart colts in Red Impact and Le Morne. The former, a Birch-bred son of Red Ray, ran his rivals ragged to claim last weekend’s Kenilworth opener in fine style, while Futura newcomer Le Morne flashed up for a stylish debut victory in the third race.
Interestingly, both are out of mares sired by former Summerhill standouts. Le Morne is out of a Kahal full sister to the stakes-performed trio of Kwinta, Eastern Greeting and Kalaam, while Red Impact’s dam is a Muhtafal half-sister to the Gr1-placed Strelitzia winner Inverroche.
Hithemhardsunshine – could be anything! (Pic-Chase Liebenberg)
Eric Sands may no longer have the services of his beloved grand champion, but there may be life after Rainbow Bridge after all.
Although it’s early days, the veteran trainer hopes to have a classic prospect in Hithemhardsunshine. This son of What A Winter and the dual stakes winner Agra chased Charles Dickens home in the Somerset 1200.
The latter, a Drakenstein homebred resident in the Bass stable, could also have classic aspirations, considering he is a Trippi own-brother to Gr1 Cape Derby third Charles and Somerset Maugham, who finished third in two legs of the Winter Series.
The Bass stable could have another classic Drakenstein-bred prospect in the blue-blooded colt Narina Trogon. A fluent winner first time out at the end of June, the colt boasts a classic pedigree through and through, being by Silvano out of champion racemare Beach Beauty.
Waiting in the wings on the other side of the country, is Mike de Kock-trained Shoemaker. Yet another fine prospect amongst Gimmethegreenlight’s embarrassment of riches, this half-brother to Gr2 World Sports Betting Guineas hero Zapatillas was put away after winning both starts in facile manner. De Kock holds the colt in high regard and we await his return to action with great interest.
Newly-crowned champion trainer Paul Peter landed the Gr2 Umkhomazi Stakes with the Elusive Fort colt Swing Upon A Star, a close relative of both aforementioned Prevalence and Sean Tarry-trained filly Sweet Pepper.
Yet another Drakenstein-bred ace, the daughter of Trippi won the Gr1 Allan Robertson Championship for trainer Sean Tarry, who on the day claimed the juvenile double when Rafeef colt Thunderstruck recorded a scintillating three-length victory in the Gr1 Gold Medallion.
Sean Tarry’s Thunderstruck (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
Based on pedigree, the Wilgerbosdrift-owned colt looks a fine sprinter in the making, not surprising considering his fleet-footed dam Varikate beat the boys in the Gr2 Post Merchants. Knowing Tarry, he could just work his magic and get the colt to excel over further!
The above are just a few of an exciting crop of newly-turned three-year-olds. No doubt other fine prospects will emerge as the season progresses. Who knows, could there be a future Hollywoodbets Durban July winner lurking amongst them?
Next week, we’ll take a look at the fairer sex.
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