A SUPER SATURDAY
Saturday was an extraordinary day for our stable, marked by three thrilling winners that showcased the talents of our fantastic horses and team. Here’s a snapshot of the events that left us all beaming with pride.
MOUNT PINATUBO, sired by Erupt out of She’s A Giver, certainly lived up to our expectations in Race 2, the BETWAY GRADUATION PLATE. Prior to the race, we knew it was a nice starting point with promising young horses. Looking back at the Durban run, we opted to pull him back to a 1200m. We went easy on him, giving him a short break, and he appeared fit and well-weighted for the race. Guided by the young skilled jockey Kabelo Matsunyane, he hit the track with vigor and showcased his mettle. The commendable breeding efforts by Mr. L M F Wernars and Mayesh Chetty shone through as MOUNT PINATUBO demonstrated his potential, ensuring a memorable win for the team. Congrats to owners Messrs J F & L M F Wernars, D C Stonebridge, Mr & Mrs C R Stonebridge.
Mount Pinatubo – JC Photos
SALENIO PENINSULA delivered an exceptional performance in Race 5, the BETWAY FM 74 DIVIDED HANDICAP, exceeding our cautious optimism. This filly, sired by Vercingetorix out of Negroamaro, had shown remarkable improvement from her debut run and won impressively again despite her small stature. She was conditioned perfectly for this race, and Jockey S’manga Khumalo, still familiarizing himself with our stable horses, led SALENIO PENINSULA expertly, confirming her potential with a brilliant finish that left us eager for her future races.
Salenio Peninsula – JC Photos
SO SEDUCTIVE’s performance in Race 6 the BETWAY FM 91 DIVIDED HANDICAP was nothing short of phenomenal. Back in her own class after a brief rest and a nasal surgery, she had required a couple of runs to get back into form. Despite the tough handicap, we believed this third run after the rest, combined with her being in the right class, would yield a strong performance. Congrats to the Wernars family. Jockey S’manga Khumalo demonstrated outstanding skill and strategy, guiding her to a well-deserved victory, marking a successful return to form. Bred by Klawervlei Stud & Mr D G Abery, and rooted from Vercingetorix and Myfunnyvalentine.
So Seductive – JC Photos
To cap off this exhilarating day, the Boks’ 18-12 victory over the All Blacks in front of a packed crowd of 57,733 at the DHL Stadium Cape Town meant they are still unbeaten in the Castle Lager Rugby Championship, it was also the Boks’ fourth win in a row over the Kiwis, the first time they achieved this in this professional era, and as a result, they won back the Freedom Cup for the first time since 2009. It was the perfect end to a day filled with triumphs and excitement. We couldn’t have asked for more. Well done to our entire team behind the scenes for their hard work, dedication, and remarkable achievements!
