It’s been a terrific season in their individual disciplines for Drakenstein’s freshman champion sire elect One World, and Winning Form jockey Richard Fourie.
Richard Fourie stands up in the stirrups as Lion Rampart cruises in for his maiden stakes victory (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
Both had reason to celebrate as the Vaughan Marshall-trained 2yo Lion Rampart raised the bar again, the Ridgemont-bred galloper destroying his opposition with an impressive display of speed to win the R250 000 Listed Somerset 1200 at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Sunday.
A well-bought R150 000 purchase – one of his astute trainer’s personal picks – at the 2023 National Yearling Sale, the Hollywood Syndicate-raced Lion Rampart has proven to be a quirky and enigmatic personality.
But he’s loaded with talent, and the decision to fit the blinkers seems to have made the difference, with his maiden stakes success on Sunday auguring well for an exciting future.
Carrying 6kgs more than the year older Meu Capitano a half hour earlier, Lion Rampart (15-10) produced the goods in a faster time to put 3,75 lengths between himself and runner-up Miss World (10-1).
The speedball clocked 70,73 secs, winning unextended, to give the Hollywood Syndicate their 549th lifetime winner, and reduced Richard Fourie’s SA record chase to single digits – he needs just 9 to smash the 25 year Anthony Delpech mark!
High Five Fourie! Richie poses for the photographer as trainer Vaughan Marshall looks on (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
The winner’s stablemate Talk To The Master (7-2) was beaten 7 lengths into third, with the highly regarded Kai Boy (11-2) beaten out of the money, in a disappointing showing.
South Africa’s Leading First Season Sire and Leading Sire of 2yo’s for 2023-2024, Lion Rampart’s sire One World is on track to set a new record for individual two-year-old winners for a first-season sire in a single South African season.
The champion son of Captain Al was celebrating his second stakes winner, after the promising One Stripe – also trained by the Milnerton veteran.
Ridgemont bred the winner from the Var mare, Saltire, a three-time winning speed queen.
Lion Rampart has now won 3 races with 3 places from 7 starts and stakes of R514 189.
Winning Form wizard Richard Fourie rode 5 winners on the chilly Sunday afternoon. Our superlatives library has been depleted!
