SA-based owner Willem Ackerman could not have timed it better.
His four purchases at last week’s Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training sale includes the Galileo colt The Equator, whose fortunes received a hefty boost at last weekend’s Breeders’ Cup meeting at Del Mar in California.
Lake Victoria stays unbeaten when winning the Gr1 Breeders Cup Fillies Juvenile Turf on Friday – Willem Ackerman bought her three part brother days before (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
The three-year-old just happens to be a three-part brother to the sensational Irish juvenile Lake Victoria, who stretched her unbeaten record to five from five with a splendid victory in the Gr1 Breeders Cup Fillies Juvenile Turf.
Raced by the Coolmore outfit, this daughter of Frankel overcame a troubled passage, yet burst clear of her rivals in the final furlong to score by a length and a half.
The victory no doubt cemented her claims to championship honours and capped a Gr1 treble which started in September’s Moyglare Stud Stakes at the Curragh, followed by the Cheveley Park Stud Stakes at Newmarket barely three weeks later.
Likewise raced by the Coolmore partners, The Equator ran six times, winning over 2000m and placing twice. Fourth in the Gr3 Gallinule Stakes, his most recent start saw him finish second at York in late August.
Also a full brother to Gr2 Dante Stakes third Bluegrass, the colt is out of Showcasing’s champion daughter Quiet Reflection, a dual Gr1 winner of the Commonwealth Cup and Haydock Park Sprint Cup.
Paul Peter with Deal Maker, one of the Ackerman purchases (Pic – Supplied)
Probably the last son of the former Coolmore colossus set to race in South Africa, The Equator will go into training with Tony Peter, whose father Paul accompanied Willem to cast an expert eye on his purchases.
We caught up with Willem just before he was due to return to South Africa and he remarked: “He is lightly-raced and I liked the fact that he is out of a Gr1 winning sprinter.”
All four will hopefully leave for South Africa by late November, early December.
While The Equator possibly boasts the more attractive pedigree, there is no doubt that, from a racing perspective, the best-performed amongst Willem’s purchases is the colt’s former stable companion and stakes winner His Majesty.
The Equator – good looker! (Pic – Supplied)
A three-year-old son of No Nay Never, he was a very smart juvenile last year when he landed the Listed First Flier Stakes at the Curragh, ran second in the Gr2 Prix Robert Papin, third in both the Gr2 Railways Stakes and Gr3 Marble Stakes, and fourth in the Gr2 Norfolk Stakes. In his sole start this season, he finished off the board in the Gr3 Renaissance Stakes.
His Majesty is one of three winners from as many runners out of Galileo’s grandaughter Czabo, who won the Gr3 Park Express Stakes and Listed Prix des Lilas and finished fourth in the Gr1 Irish 1000 Guineas.
Yet to race is the Sea The Stars three-year-old Mission To Mars, purchased from the Freemason Lodge Stables of soon-to-retire master trainer Sir Michael Stoute. A 500,000 guineas yearling, this colt is a half-brother to Kingman’s Gr2/3-placed son Kingmax and is out of the very smart Jeremy mare Baino Hope, a winner of six races including the Gr2 Prix Pomone.
By Sea The Stars out of a Jeremy mare, the pedigree screams ‘late bloomer’, a point underlined by Willem: “He is a big, backward baby from a trainer who does not really race two-year-olds or push horses.”
Willem Ackerman is seen with Philasande Mxoli. and trainer Tryrone Zackey on this post-race file image (Pic – JC Photos)
In contrast, and rounding out the quartet, is the speedy juvenile filly Deal Maker, sired by Gr1 King’s Stand Stakes winner Profitable, a son of Invincible Spirit.
Very much her sire’s daughter, she won over 1000m as early as March and boosted her catalogue page when scoring for the second time at the end of September, also over the minimum trip.
Willem picked her up for 5000 guineas, a trifling considering that her seven winning siblings include the Gr1 Al Maktoum Challenge winner Salute The Soldier.
Although he is first and foremost a racing man, Willem also dabbles in the breeding side and keeps a couple of mares, the most successful of which is Flower Alley’s daughter Bold Fortune, winner of the Gr2 Ipi Tombe Challenge and Gr3 Yellowwood Handicap.
She is in foal to Paardeberg newcomer Expert Eye, as is Tulip Tree, a four-time winner by What A Winter. Mystic Cloud, a Querari half-sister to stakes-placed Frederico’s Dream, is in foal to Buffalo Bill Cody.
Whether Willem’s purchases go on to South African success only time will tell. But all kudos to him for investing in foreign stock at a time when South African buyers at British/Irish sales have become as rare as hens’ teeth. More power to him!
Here’s a look at the new additions:
