Back with a DOUBLE Bang at Our Home Turf
We had a fantastic double this past weekend at Turffontein Racecourse, our home turf, with impressive performances from two of our 4 carded runners.
HEMISPHERE Claims Maiden Victory
We are absolutely thrilled to share that HEMISPHERE, after 147 days away from the track, powered home to clinch his first career win under Gavin Lerena in race 3 PLAY SOCCER 6, 10 AND 13 MAIDEN PLATE. His progress hasn’t been straightforward, as he battled a persistent foot problem that required a long rest and plenty of patience on our part. Thanks to our dedicated Farrier’s hard work and the team’s careful planning, HEMISPHERE returned in top form without the need for overly demanding gallops.
It was a joy to see him bounce back so strongly and confirm the natural ability he had shown us months ago. Sensing he was in a good place, we decided to trust his earlier work rather than push him to peak fitness too soon, and he repaid that faith in style. Bred by a dear friend Pippa Mickleburgh at Avontuur Thoroughbred Farm and bought for R1,000,000 (CPYS23), HEMISPHERE has always been a standout, so it’s incredibly satisfying to see him deliver on his promise. All credit goes to everyone behind the scenes for their tireless efforts, Gavin for his confident ride, and our many supporters who’ve believed in this horse from day one.
HEMISPHERE under Gavin Lerena – JC Photos
OBSIDIAN Completes the Double
Hot on HEMISPHERE’s heels came OBSIDIAN in race 4 RACING240 FOR RACING. FOR YOU MAIDEN PLATE, providing a fantastic double for our stable by also storming to his first win after 105 days off. Ridden with calm assurance by S’manga Khumalo, OBSIDIAN dropped back in trip from 1800m to 1400m—a decision that initially had us curious but clearly paid off big time. He’s a son of ERUPT, bred by Wilgerbosdrift & Mauritzfontein, and we were delighted to see him flourish despite the shorter distance, drawing on his freshness to surge ahead in the sticky going.
Often, a few last-minute changes and flexible race planning can make all the difference, and we’re grateful it worked out perfectly here as we preferred to run on Tuesday at the Vaal Classic. We want to extend a big thank you to everyone who contributes to our team’s success—our grooms, work-riders, stable staff, the owners, and everyone else who makes these victories possible. It hasn’t always been smooth sailing in the past months, but these back-to-back wins remind us that patience, teamwork, and trust in the horses’ abilities can lead to outstanding results. We’re beyond excited for the winter season still to come and look forward to sharing more success stories from our yard!
OBSIDIAN under S’manga Khumalo – JC Photos
Well done team!