Bush Hill Stud’s Australian-bred stallion Willow Magic, the fastest son of Dubawi, joined Ridgemont Highlands kingpin Rafeef when producing his first Gr1 winner at Turffontein on Saturday.
The charismatic Koos Nkale’s MK’s Pride powered home under Muzi Yeni to take the R1 million Gr1 Wilgerbosdrift HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes.
Trained by Paul Peter, MK’s Pride scored his first victory at a mile, winning by three quarters and beating Argentine bred Peurto Manzano and Durban July – Cape Town Met winner Kommetdieding into the places respectively.
Muzi Yeni salutes as Jessica Motaung and Koos Nkale lead MK’s Pride in(Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
KZN Breeders report that originally named Alaunus, MK’s Pride was unsold at the 2019 Ready To Run Sale, bred and consigned by Mick Goss of Summerhill Stud.
The spitting image of his Sean Tarry-trained Gr1 winning sire by Dubawi, MK’s Pride looks to have a stud career with his race record capped by his Gr1 success.
This was MK’s Pride’s 9th career win to date, with Gr2 wins in the Hawaii Stakes and Joburg Spring Challenge, as well as the Ready To Run Sales Cup.
He is out of an Admire Main mare Ikimasu from the family of Gondolier and San Carlos.
Willow Magic is a magnificent chestnut with powerful hindquarters. An A$ 40 000 purchase as a yearling, he was bred by Rothwell Park of New South Wales and is a son of world champion Dubawi out of the thrice winning Tierce mare, La Willow.
MK’s Pride has a Hat Puntano half-brother on offer at the BSA National Yearling Sale (28 & 29 April) named Stealth Strike, consigned by Bush Hill Stud as Lot 424.
Willow Magic has three yearlings on the same sale.
