A sales-topping SA-bred 3yo will make his debut at Doncaster today.
The second race at Doncaster is the Summer Saturday Series Novice Stakes (GBB Race) (Class 5), carded for 17h25.
The 1200m contest will host the debut of the Maine Chance Farms bred Valley Ofthe Kings who is trained by Dylan Cunha and will be ridden by former SA Champion apprentice, Kyle Strydom.
Valley Ofthe Kings on a morning walk (Pic – Cunha Racing)
Sold for R3,8 million at the 2023 CRS Cape Premier Yearling Sale, Valley Ofthe Kings is a son of champion sire Gimmethegreenlight (More Than Ready) out of Captain Al’s stakes winning daughter, Victoria Lavelle.
Maine Chance Farms supremo Andreas Jacobs pointed out prior to the January 2023 sale that beyond the potency of Captain Al as his broodmare sire, Valley OftheKings had Western Winter as sire of his grandam, his fourth dam is by Surumo, who is to Germany what Northern Dancer was to the United States, and his seventh dam, Crape Band, was bought by Jacobs’ grandfather. She produced Caracol the first Gr1 winner for the internationally famous racing dynasty in 1972. “He was a very tough horse who won two G1s in one week and later became a stallion,” commented Dr Jacobs at the time.
Valley Ofthe Kings was signed for by Justin Vermaak, who was bidding on the line with the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s International Sale Manager Danny Rolston and was exported to the UK for preparation in advance of the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s International Sale.
Valley Ofthe Kings as a yearling at Maine Chance (Pic -Supplied)
He reportedly had one or two little issues and the HKJC weren’t comfortable with placing him on their big sale.
Danny Rolston subsequently offered him to Justin Vermaak, who kept a small share and placed him with former SA Gr1 trainer, Dylan Cunha. He races for The Kings Men today.
Valley Ofthe King’s work has been described as ‘exceptional’ and he is expected to run a good race today.
A Gr1 Summer Cup winning trainer, Dylan Cunha also brings stable star Prague back to action after an eight month break at York today in the £100,000 Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai Criterion Stakes.
It is the first time the Knavesmire has ever staged this Group 3 race (previously held at Newmarket) so, as part of a wider strengthening of its seven-furlong programme, it will give the winner a free entry into the Gr1 Sky Bet City of York Stakes on Saturday 23 August.
The Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai Criterion Stakes will also be the first time Prague has been tested at this distance.
