A New Zealand bred import and a local had the grandstand on their feet in a rousing finish to the R150 000 Listed Storm Bird Stakes at Turffontein on Saturday.
The day’s opening feature produced a thrilling dead heat with the Paul Matchett once raced maiden Twilight Moon rallying strongly under Denis Schwarz to take the favourite Frosted Gold under Gavin Lerena all the way to the wire – and the judge couldn’t split them as they clocked a time of 58.8 secs for the 1000m.
This was the bang in-form Lerena’s 100th winner of the season and he was to go on and ride a further two on the afternoon.
The Hollywood Syndicate recent Vaal debut winner Look To The Sky showed enthusiastic pace but had to be content with third a further 1,75 lengths back, with the filly Cavivar not disgraced in fourth.
Gavin Lerena and Denis Schwarz go head to head as Frosted Gold and Twilight Moon can’t be seperated by the judge. Hollywood’s Look To The Sky (Kabelo Matsunyane) is in third (Pic – JC Photos)
The Daytona Stud bred Twilight Moon’s win was a first stakes success for Cheveley Stud’s well performed young Redoute’s Choice stallion Wylie Hall.
One of 34 G1 winners sired by triple Australian champion sire Redoute’s Choice, Wylie Hall was an outstanding performer who banked more than R3.6 million. First past the post in the 2014 G1 Vodacom Durban July, Wylie Hall won or placed in 15 of 21 outings, with his victories including the Gr1 SA Derby and the Gr1 President’s Champions Challenge.
Wylie Hall wins the Colorado King Stakes
Trained by Paul Matchett, Twilight Moon is out of the thrice winning Qui Danzig mare, Twilight. He was well bought for R20 000 off the KZN Yearling Sale.
He has run twice for a win and a place and took his stakes to R83 875.
A handsome grey colt, his co winner Frosted Gold is unbeaten in two starts for stakes of R133 750.
Frosted Gold was acquired by Form Bloodstock off the Blandford Lodge draft at the 2018 Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale for A$180 000.
He is by Vinery Stud’s All Too Hard, the Champion Three-Year-Old Colt in Australia in 2012/13 and a half-brother to Australia’s famous galloper Black Caviar. He is out of the Verglas mare Mary Dór – a winner in France and a full sister to Gr1 performer, Stormy River.
