The new racing season has started with a bang for the leading freshman sire of 2020/21, Rafeef.
Ridgemont Highlands’ newly-crowned champion was out of the blocks in a flash, siring four winners in the space of just three days.
His first, the Stuart Pettigrew-trained Whafeef, opened his account barely three days into the season when justifying cramped odds second time out at the Vaal.
He was ridden to victory by Lyle Hewitson, who also swung a leg across the Rafeef filly Bella Chica two races later. Successful three times last season and fourth in the Ruffian Stakes, Ashley Fortune’s charge confirmed she’s a talented sprinter with a comprehensive two-and-a half- length victory up the straight. In the process, she completed a fine hat-trick of wins and looks set to make her presence felt this season.
Three days later and yet another double for Rafeef, this time at Turffontein.
Rafeef daughter Moonshiningthrough hacks up on debut on Saturday (Pic – JC Photos)
Johan Janse van Vuuren took the wraps off the Wernars debutante Moonshiningthrough in a 1160m maiden and she duly impressed with a three-and-a-half-length drubbing of even-money favourite Meteoric. Definitely one to keep an eye on.
Highly-regarded William Robertson completed his sire’s double on the day in the lucrative Bloodstock SA Sales Cup for colts and geldings.
William Robertson wins the BSA Sales Cup (C&G) from Bard Of Avon and Team Gold – the top trio all Ridgemont products! (Pic – JC Photos)
He outduelled favourite and Gr1 Gold Medallion runner-up Bard Of Avon in a finish dominated by Ridgemont Highlands, breeders of the first three across the line. A remarkable effort from the winner, who is obviously a tough customer, considering he had just stepped off the float from Durban after finishing third behind Good Traveller in the Gr1 Premiers Champion Stakes a week earlier.
Hats off also to Corné Spies on a fine training feat.
A great admirer of Rafeef, he remarked: “I think he is going to be one of the serious boom stallions going forward. He’s obviously getting good books of mares and judging from that first crop, they are running all over and doing really well.”
Spies rues the fact that the R500 000 purchase is currently the only representative of his sire in the stable.
“Unfortunately I didn’t get more of them. In general the ones that I really liked went for too much money. When I saw William Robertson at the 2YO sale, he was just such an exquisite specimen that we really stretched to get him. Normally I don’t buy horses in that type of price class but he was such an outstanding individual, I really just had to dig down deep to secure him. It has proven to have been right, so I am very relieved from that point of view. It’s tough when you buy horses that are expensive, the pressure is massive.
“I have seen some really nice Rafeefs at the sales and I think he really has the credentials to make it as a top stallion in the years to come. He’s pretty much up there with the best.”
No doubt Corné will be amongst the first to inspect William Robertson’s own brother, who will be offered by Boland Stud as agent at next week’s 2YO sale and is described by Eugene Freeman as “a colt no serious buyer should overlook.”
He is #79 and is pictured below – named Marquez
He is one of a sizeable second crop – 12 are offered on next week’s sale – and which also includes siblings to Gold Cup winner Dynasty’s Blossom, Golden Horseshoe winner Waterberry Lane, Bard Of Avon, the stakes winners Benjan, Maybe Yes, O Tamara, as well as youngsters out of a host of stakes winning dams, amongst which champion Laverna, Queens Bay, Beataboutthebush, Fish River, Konkola, Louisiana, Persian Rug, Peggy Jay and Rei Rei.
Considering that his third crop also lacks nothing in quality and quantity, Rafeef should have plenty of ammunition to go to war with.
On the strength of his fine start, it comes as no surprise that Ridgemont Highlands will strongly support their new champion with a choice selection of their own mares this season.
Those pencilled in to visit Rafeef include Broodmare of the Year Our Table Mountain (dam of Gr1 winners Silver Mountain and Cloth Of Cloud).
Stakes winning mares who are also stakes producers include Arcetri Pink (dam of Iris), Crimson Blossom (dam of Gold Cup winner Dynasty’s Blossom), Nona In Command (dam of Pretty Young Thing and Warrior), Raise The Bar (dam of Rose In Bloom) and Gr3-placed Kelly’s Olympics (dam of Olympic Owen and Speedy Suzy). Completing that power-packed list are Gr1 winner Miss Florida, the stakes winners Cuvee Brut, Francia, Peggy Jay, Super Elegant, Tiger’s Touch, Whose That Girl, Gr1-placed Kelpie, as well as Galileo’s daughter Exotic, the dam of recent stakes winner Capitana.
Guaranteed other high class mares from the country’s leading studs, the future indeed looks rosy for Rafeef.
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