Wherever you are on earth right now, it’s Saturday in South Africa and it’s time to count down to shouting home two of our stars at Del Mar!
In February, the race was on. Nine months to get star South African turf sprinter Isivunguvungu (SAF) ready for not just an appearance at the Breeders’ Cup, but a competitive one.
When the 6-year-old gelding takes on the stars in the Prevagen Gr1 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at 21h41 this evening, all eyes in his home nation will be on him as one of two South African horses to represent the country at the 2024 World Championships.
Peter Muscutt, Odwa Ndungane, who named the star, and trainer Graham Motion pose for a photo opportunity on Friday (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
Both prospects, Isivunguvungu and Maker’s Mark Gr1 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf contender Beach Bomb (SAF), are trained by four-time Breeders’ Cup-winning conditioner Graham Motion.
The veteran trainer reflected on the past nine months, and said it is almost surreal that their master plan came to fruition.
“It’s very cool, and it’s pretty remarkable,” Motion said. “They both came here with the idea of running in these races, but the idea it’s actually happening is pretty crazy. It’s been a long road from the day they left South Africa to be here today.”
The Hollywood Syndicate’s Isivunguvungu is helping his ownership realize their lifelong dream of competing in a Breeders’ Cup. With two Grade 1 wins in South Africa last year, the son of What a Winter (SAF) proved he was finally the one to take them there.
Trained in his native land by Peter Muscutt, Isivunguvungu has gained a massive following in South Africa, where he has made 15 of his 16 lifetime outings.
Last year, his six-start campaign was highlighted by Grade 1 victories in the Computaform Sprint at Turffontein and the Mercury Sprint at Hollywoodbets Greyville. A runner-up effort in the January 6 Sprint Cup at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth was enough to cement his trip to the States to begin a campaign with Motion.
Two days before Isivunguvungu is slated to take on the biggest test of his career, Muscutt and former rugby player Odwa Ndungane – who named the gelding – paid a visit to their old friend at his barn on the Del Mar backstretch.
“I haven’t seen him since February,” Muscutt said after feeding Isivunguvungu two green apples.
“We’ve missed him a huge amount, and it’s obviously very good for South African racing for him to be here at the Breeders’ Cup. It’s a huge privilege for everyone and a great attribute to the South African breeding industry.”
Isivunguvungu has raced just once in the States by design. He enters the Breeders’ Cup off a determined neck victory in the Da Hoss on Sept. 7 at Colonial Downs where he made an inside rush under returning rider Manny Franco.
“I only wanted to run him once, but he had to win to get into this race,” Motion said. “He’s a cool horse.”
Drakenstein bred and raced Beach Bomb reunites with trainer Candice Bass-Robinson and breeder’s representative Kevin Sommerville (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
While Motion and the stateside crew were thrilled with the win, Muscutt and his friends and family may have been heard from across the globe when Isivunguvungu won in Virginia.
“We were all a little bit apprehensive after not having raced for an extended period, but when he found that gap on the rail and slipped through and quickened as well as he did, the roof nearly came off my house,” Muscutt said, with a smile.
“We were very emotional and screaming. It’s great to see him come back to the Isivunguvungu we know.”
Muscutt and the team from South Africa have made the long journey to Southern California, but there isn’t anywhere else they’d rather watch their star runner take on the world.
“It’s huge, for myself and for South Africa,” Muscutt said. “If he were to be competitive or win,it will give South African racing a huge shot in the arm. He’s been huge in South Africa, he’s a very tough horse, and he always does his absolute best. He’s a war horse.”
