While Caya Coco (Querari), the winner of Saturday’s Gr2 East Coast Radio Tibouchina Stakes, and several of her rivals have plenty to recommend them, this year’s field has a long way to go to reach the heights achieved by a number of runners in the 2013 renewal.
The winner of the 2013 Tibouchina, Louvre (Doowaley) who was saddled by Duncan Howells, hit the headlines last week when her two-year-old son Trip Of Fortune (Trippi) made it two wins from three starts by landing the Listed World Sports Betting Somerset 1200.
The late Alec Forbes guides Louvre to victory in the 2013 Tibouchina Stakes (Pic – Gold Circle)
Prior to Trip Of Fortune, Louvre, who made much of the running when causing a 28-1 upset in the Tibouchina Stakes, had produced the smart filly Marmalisa (Duke Of Marmalade).
Runner up to Louvre in the Tibouchina Stakes was Gr2 Betting World 1900/Gr2 Ipi Tombe Challenge winner Espumanti (Dansili), and the latter has also gone on to enjoy success at stud, with her runners headed by Gr2 Joburg Spring F&M Challenge runner up Gin Fizz (Soft Falling Rain) and this season’s Gr2 Wilgerbosdrift SA Oaks runner up Sparkling Water (Silvano).
Remarkably, the third place finisher in the Tibouchina of 2013, Earth’s Orbit (Captain Al), also enjoyed success as a broodmare last week, with her two-year-old daughter Mercury Rising (Gimmethegreenlight) landing the Listed World Sports Betting Perfect Promise Sprint.
A half-sister to Winter Oaks/ Settlers Trophy winner Francia (Dynasty), Earth’s Orbit sells at Wednesday’s Cheveley Sale and has a Twice Over colt on offer at this year’s KZN Yearling Sale.
Further back in the running of the 2013 Tibouchina Stakes came dual Equus Champion Princess Victoria (Victory Moon), G2 SA Fillies Nursery winner King’s Temptress (King Of Kings), and G1 Thekwini Stakes/G1 Garden Province Stakes winner Happy Archer (Dubawi) -who ran sixth, seventh and eighth respectively.
However, it was the fourth place finisher Halfway To Heaven (Jet Master) who has really made her mark on the South African turf.
Champion broodmare Halfway To Heaven
Not only did Halfway To Heaven win seven times, including both the Gr3 Prix du Cap and Listed Off To Stud Handicap, she has become one of the best broodmares in South Africa in recent years. Halfway To Heaven, already twice named Broodmare Of The Year, produced a staggering three Gr1 winners from her first three foals.
Her Gr1 winners are Saturday’s Gr1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge hero Rainbow Bridge (Ideal World), five time Gr1 winner and Equus Champion Hawwaam (Silvano) and dual Gr1 winner Golden Ducat.
Remarkably, both Rainbow Bridge and Hawwaam have won five G1 races apiece!
