Run Fox Run fourth Group 1 winner for Foxwedge
Already a Group 2 winner and Group 1-placed, Foxwedge’s Run Fox Run became her sire’s fourth Group 1 winner with a victory in South Africa’s G1 Cape Flying Championship on Saturday.
Racing over 1000 metres, the Brett Crawford trainee set the pace soon out of the barriers and never gave up the lead. There was only one horse within 3l of her at the end with Rio Querari (SAF) (Querari {Ger}) finishing 0.75l back in second.
A $420,000 purchase at the 2017 Inglis Easter Sale, Run Fox Run is a half-sister to the stakes-winning Guard Of Honour (Northern Meteor) among the four winners from her dam.
There are two more stakes winners under Run Fox Run’s second dam with that mare a half-sister to Group 1 winner Serious Speed (Royal Academy {USA}) and the dam of Group 2 winner Majestic Music (Al Maher).
Dundeel Group 1 winner takes out Western Cape Stayers
Already a Group 1 winner for Dundeel (NZ), Atyaab added a Group 2 win to his resume in Saturday’s New Turf Carriers Western Cape Stayers over 2800 metres.
Racing second over 5l behind the leader as they entered the final 600 metres, it was time to get to work from there. When the leader started coming back to the field, Atyaab switched to his outside and easily galloped by. It looked like Silver Host (SAF) (Silvano {Ger}) may threaten his victory inside the final 100 metres but Atyaab started pulling away again to win by 2.25l.
Bred by Arrowfield Stud, Atyaab was a $260,000 purchase at the 2017 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale. The G1 Cape Derby winner is one of two stakes winners out of multiple Group 2 winner Sylvaner (NZ) (Danasinga), a half-sister to Group 1 winner Centisle (Centaine) with 10 stakes winners under Atyaab’s first two dams.
Express Train adds to family resume in San Pasqual
Second in a Grade 1 last out, Express Train (USA) (Union Rags {USA}) earned his first stakes victory in the G2 San Pasqual S. at Santa Anita on Saturday.
Racing just behind the leaders on the rail in the 1800 metre race, Express Train was asked to run with 400 metres left. Angling outside as they entered the straight, he flew to the lead to win by an easy 3l of Tizamagician (USA) (Tiznow {USA}).
“The boss, Mr Shirreffs, just told me to have a good trip,” said jockey Juan Hernandez. “There were three horses that tried to go to the lead and my horse relaxed pretty well behind them and I was just waiting to put him in the stretch to let him run, that’s what I did."
Express Train is a grandson of Grade 1 winner November Snow (USA) (Storm Cat {USA}). That mare is the grandam of Group 2 winner Kuroshio and Group 3 winner Believe’n’succeed, who is also the dam of New Zealand champion Bounding (Lonhro) and the late G1 Epsom Derby winner Anthony Van Dyck (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).
Rainbow Bridge recaptures Cape Town Met
The 2019 winner of the G1 Cape Town Met over 2000 metres, Rainbow Bridge (SAF) (Ideal World {USA}) added a second victory in the race to his record on Saturday in South Africa.
Racing over 2000 metres, the 6-year-old gelding had to pass the whole field in the closing stage if he was going to have a chance to win. Racing up the stands’ side rail, the gelding burst to the front with less than 50 metres to go for a 1.75l victory of Belgarion (SAF) (Dynasty {SAF}).
A four-time Group 1 winner, Rainbow Bridge is out of the Group 3-winning mare Halfway To Heaven (SAF) (Jet Master {SAF}). Proving to be a top broodmare, she is also the dam of South Africa’s 2018/19 Champion 3-Year-Old Colt Hawwaam (SAF) (SIlvano {Ger}) and dual Group 1 winner Golden Ducat (SAF) (Philanthropist {USA}).
Captain’s Ransom wins Majorca
On a big day of racing at Kenilworth in South Africa, Captain’s Ransom (SAF) (Captain Al {SAF}) added a second Group 1 to her record in the G1 Majorca S. over 1600 metres.
Racing nearly last as they turned into the straight, Captain’s Ransom had her work cut out for her with 400 metres to go but it was no worry for the 3-year-old filly. Rolling down the centre of the track, Captain’s Ransom stuck her head in front as they passed the 200 metre mark and just extended her lead from there for a 3.25l win over Clouds Unfold (SAF) (What A Winter {SAF}).
One of three winners for her Red Ransom (USA) dam, Captain’s Ransom hails from the family of Australian stakes winners Havana (Starcraft {NZ}) and Diplomatico (Snitzel) and US Grade 1 winners Weber City Miss (USA) (Berkley Prince {USA}) and Slew City Slew (USA) (Seattle Slew {USA}).
Greatest Honour takes out Holy Bull
A Tapit (USA) son of the regally-bred Tiffany’s Honour (USA) (Street Cry {Ire}), Greatest Honour (USA) took his first step on the G1 Kentucky Derby trail Saturday at Gulfstream Park in the G3 Holy Bull S. over 1700 metres.
Racing near last early on, Greatest Honour crept closer down the backstretch then proved he was full of run when flying by the leaders around the turn. There was no challenge to be had by the others as Greatest Honour romped to a 5.75l victory over Tarantino (USA) (Pioneerof The Nile {USA}).
“I thought we were in a good position when we turned down the backside,” said trainer Shug McGaughey. “When he was in that kind of position, I knew they were going to have a hard time with him, because he’s going to finish better than he starts."
One of two runners out of his dam, Greatest Honour’s grandam is Grade 2 winner and top broodmare Better Than Honour (USA) (Deputy Minister {Can}). That mare produced champion and G1 Belmont S. winner Rags To Riches (USA) (A.P. Indy {USA}) and her fellow Belmont S.-winning half-brother Jazil (USA) (Seeking The Gold {USA}) among four stakes winners.
Also in the prolific international family is New Zealand Group 3 winner Ticket To Ride (NZ) (Shocking), and stakes-placed Asama Blue (Fastnet Rock).
Medina Spirit gives Baffert ninth Robert B. Lewis winner
It was a third straight G3 Robert B. Lewis S. winner and ninth overall for trainer Bob Baffert on Saturday with Medina Spirit (USA) (Protonico {USA}) digging deep for a head victory.
Racing over 1700 metres, Medina Spirit was the pace setter with Wipe The Slate (USA) (Nyquist {USA}) pushing him along. That rival finally tired around the turn but Medina Spirit didn’t get much time for a breather with two horses quickly joining him as they entered the stretch. Medina Spirit was put into a three-way battle but refused to give in, always keeping his head in front to win by a head over Roman Centurian (USA) (Empire Maker {USA}) with Hot Rod Charlie (USA) (Oxbow {USA}) racing between the pair and finishing third.
Medina Spirit is the first stakes winner in his family for three generations with his stakes-winning grandam the dam of Grade 1 winner High Yield (USA) (Storm Cat {USA}) and Irish 1000 Guineas winner Forest Flower (USA) (Green Forest {USA}) under his fifth dam.
Juddmonte-bred Derevo takes King's Cup in Saudi debut
The silks of the late Prince Khalid Abdullah's Juddmonte Farms were already set to be carried aboard US raider Tacitus (USA) (Tapit {USA}) in the US$20 million (AU$26,171,000) Saudi Cup (1800 metres, dirt) on February 20, and the breeding operation will also be represented by Derevo (GB) (Dansili {GB}), after the former Sir Michael Stoute galloper arrived in the nick of time to take out the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Cup (2000 metres, dirt) at King Abdulaziz Racetrack in Riyadh.
He just touched off the commonly owned multiple Chilean Group 1 winner Cariblanco (Chi) (Awesome Patriot {USA}) with fellow TATAUT purchase Making Miracles (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) third.
Drawn in the auxiliary gate in 15, Derevo travelled well off the inside and better than midfield on the long backstretch run. Into a clear fifth for the run around the bend, he was switched out in the straight and required every bit of the final 400 metres to be along in time.
Derevo won his maiden at his second asking at Chelmsford in 2019 and added victories on the turf at Pontefract and a Newcastle handicap over 2400 metres on that all-weather surface later that summer. On behalf of Najd Stud, Voute Sales signed for Derevo at Tattersalls last October. The winner's dam produced a Kodiac (GB) filly for Juddmonte in 2020.
