Classic Upsets
Golden Chateau shock win of Gr2 Gauteng Guineas at 100/1
When Golden Chateau (Chateau Istana – Accent on Gold) won Saturday’s G2 Gauteng Guineas it was at the ungodly price of 100-1. While it is rare to see such a high-class race captured by such a complete outsider, it is by no means unheard of. While few are surprised when longshots win National Hunt races, or capture feature races at Cheltenham, outsiders have also made their presence felt previously in some of the world’s biggest and best flat races.
In the 2005 English 2000 Guineas, 100-1 shots, Rebel Raider and Kandidate, finished second and third to the unbeaten Footstepsinthesand. South African champion jockey, Muis Roberts, rode Terimon (Bustino – Nicholas Grey) to finish second in the 1989 Epsom Derby – where he started as an 500-1 outsider! He was the longest priced horse ever to be placed in the great Epsom classic.
One of the biggest upsets to occur in a recent classic race came in the 1999 Kentucky Derby, where the eventual winner, Mine That Bird (Birdstone – Mining My Own) was sent off at the rewarding odds of 50-1.
In 1991, the Epsom Oaks was won by a 50-1 outsider, when Jet Ski Lady (Vaguely Noble – Bemissed) beat Shamshir by ten lengths.
Three horses won the Epsom Derby at odds of 100-1 in the form of Jeddah, Signorinetta, and Aboyeur respectively.
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End of a Sizzling Summer
With the end of another scintillating Cape season, it is a good time to hand out awards for what was a superb spell of high-class racing. There were some truly exceptional performances this season by humans and horses alike. As has become the global trend, fillies dominated both the pre season hype and the season itself
Horse of the season: Igugu (Galileo – Zarinia) for landing the season’s biggest race, the J&B Met, despite an interrupted preparation. Only a champion could do what she did, and Igugu deserves all the accolades.
Farce of the season: Paddock Stakes. A shockingly poor turn out for the country’s top female race, and the race was further marred by no pace. Hopefully, this scenario won’t repeat itself, but that seems unlikely.
Race of the season: Without question, the Cape Flying Championship. This was racing at it’s best, when three bona fide superstars lined up, and the race lived up to its billing, with Val de Ra (Var – Minelli) and What A Winter (Western Winter – Waseela) fighting out a thrilling finish. A race for the ages!
Season’s find: Jackson (Dynasty – Moonlit Prairie) stamped himself as a horse for the future, with his season ending in an authorative win in the G1 Investec Cape Derby, where he beat the gallant Guineas winner Variety Club (Var – La Massine).
Sire of the season: It has to be Var, whose son, Variety Club, and daughter, Val de Ra, put up some of the performances of the season.
Disappointment of the season: Poor on course continued to mar the Cape Summer Season. If there is minimum interest from the public for some of the country’s finest athletes, something must really be going wrong.
Broodmare of the season: Niyabah (Nashwan – Gharam) is the dam of G3 Prix du Cap winner Croc Valley (Western Winter) as well as her own brother, Komatipoort – who was second in the G3 Cape Summer Stayers Handicap . Niyabah has now produced three stakes performers from her past four foals, which is an impressive achievement!
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Royal Academy – Nijinsky’s son a huge influence in SA
The recent death of Royal Academy (Nijinsky II) truly marked the end of an era. The 1990 Breeders Cup Mile winner was not only one of the few sons of his great sire (and last British Triple Crown winner) still standing at stud at the time of his death, he was the final G1 winner for the legendary partnership of Vincent O’Brien and Lester Piggott.
While Royal Academy, 25 when he died, never quite reached the heights of his sire Nijinsky II, or his fellow Ballydoyle inmates Sadler’s Wells and Caerleon, at stud, he certainly left a very real mark on the modern thoroughbred.
Not only is Royal Academy the paternal grandsire of unbeaten superstar Black Caviar (Bel Esprit – Helsinge), he is also broodmare sire of Fastnet Rock (Danehill – Piccadilly Circus). The latter, one of Australia’s hottest sires, but has been successful in South Africa through the deeds of his offspring, Liancourt Rock and Curved Ball.
While he sired G1 winners all around the world, Royal Academy really made his presence felt in South Africa, in particular. Despite having a relatively sparse representation here, Royal Academy left behind no fewer than 13 stakes horses! These include the ill-fated champion Eyeofthetiger, and brilliant former Cape Guineas winner Express Way. The latter has his first runners on the track this season. Other stakes winners by Royal Academy to race in this country include Royal Chalon, Millennium Diamond and Marine Academy.
Royal Academy is also the sire of the top priced lot at the 2011 Emperors Palace Ready To Run Sale. A bay like his sire, the colt was knocked down at R1,5 million to trainer Dean Kannemeyer, who has excelled with progeny of the stallion.
Royal Academy is also the sire of the outstanding South African broodmare, Mystic Spring. Not only is the latter dam of ill-fated champion Rabiya (Jallad), she is dam of two further stakes winners, and is also dam of the very promising, unbeaten 2yo, All is Secret (Captain Al).
Royal Academy, is, like his sire, an exceptional broodmare sire, whose daughters have already produced over 90 stakes winners. Already, he is dam sire of such champions and classic winners as Finsceal Beo (1000 Guineas), Rule of Law (St Leger, 2nd Epsom Derby), Heart of Dreams (Australian Guineas) and Rabiya.
Royal Academy is also broodmare sire of last season’s champion 2yo colt, Dabirsim.
What was also striking about the success Royal Academy enjoyed at stud, was that he was capable of siring top-class horses all round the globe. He had G1 winners in South Africa, Australia, Hong Kong, Britain, USA, Brazil and France – with his stock showing no sign of bias, unlike a number of other top-class, shuttle sires.
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Derby trial for Waldoboro’s relation
El Padrino wins prep run for Kentucky Derby - Lou Hodges Photo
El Padrino, a close relative of former South African sire, Waldoboro, won Saturday’s G2 Risen Star Stakes at the Fair Grounds racetrack. A son of leading sire Pulpit, El Padrino is superbly bred. His dam, Enchanted Rock, is by the emerging broodmare sire Giant’s Causeway (already damsire of G1W’s Planteur and Evening Jewel). She is a half-sister to Waldoboro, and her dam, Chic Shirine, won the G1 Ashland Stakes and is the granddam of G1 winner, Serra Lake (Seattle Slew).
El Padrino is inbred to both Mr Prospector and Secretariat – two of the most dominant names in North American pedigrees.
