Klawervlei Newsletter

Captain Al's juveniles put the former in the limelight during the month of April. The Dean Kannemeyer trained Cool Zone gave his sire yet another feature race success when capturing the Listed BettingWorld Somerset Plate. It takes a talented individual to break their maiden in a stakes race and that is exactly what Cool Zone did. After a hatrick of second place finishers, the colt went one better when he captured a race which has been won by top-class horses over the years.



Cool Zone is out of the two time winning Argosy mare, Spumate, and has a very speed orientated pedigree. Spumate is a full sister to former Nursery winner Ghostly Galleon.







Cool Zone





Another two-year-old son of Captain Al to catch the eye was Exhilaration. He powered clear of his field to win first time out by over three lengths. Trained by Dominic Zaki, Exhilaration will take some beating in the juvenile feature races. His dam, Entice The Wind, is a unraced half-sister to top racemare and broodmare Grecian Gale.



Flower's Angel made a winning debut in the style of a very smart filly.

The Basil Marcus trained juvenile was too speedy for opposition when winning over 1000 meters and is likely to contest the fillies feature races. The form of Flower's Angel's maiden win was franked when fifth placed Stenistia came out to win well next time out. Flower's Angel is out of National Assembly matron Dragon Flower.



Fighting Chance made a very pleasing debut for the Mike Bass yard when winning well at Durbanville. The two-year-old colt was convincing in victory, despite being considerably green. Clearly highly-rated by the stable, Fighting Chance is a colt with a bright future, particularly when he learns what racing is all about. Out of the stakes placed mare Star Of Broadway, Fighting Chance is a half-brother to the Group placed Broadway Dude.



Captain Al is known as a sire more than capable of producing a top filly. Juvenile Sleek 'N Sassy showed plenty of promise when winning second time out for Joey Ramsden. Going off as an outsider, the filly kept going well over the final stages of the race to hold on and win a good race.



Seminole was yet another juvenile to win for Captain Al during April.

Showing the benefit of experience, the colt won by an impressive three lengths, after having previously been rated good enough to compete at feature level. His dam is Lupine Lady, a brilliantly fast daughter of South African legend Wolf Power.



Captain Al is not just a sire of fast, classy juveniles, however. His older horses train on well, one of them being the high-class performer Therealslimshady. Trained by Alec Laird, Therealslimshady won his eighth race recently. The five year old proved too strong for former Champions Cup winner Buy And Sell, and defeated Sean Tarry's star performer by three parts of a length. The stakes winning Therealslimshady has now won over R500,000 in stake money. He is out Personable, a daughter of National Assembly.







Therealslimshady





Galahad maintained his unbeaten record on the sand when winning the rich Highveld Sand Challenge. The Charles Laird trained gelding simply outclassed his field to win by more than eight lengths. Amongst the vanquished was Emerald Cup winner Alimony, Kimberley champion Lawful Leader and stakes winners Announce Speed and Scrutinize. Galahad must now be regarded as the best sand performer currently racing in South Africa . Out of Natal Oaks winner Danseuse Classique, Galahad has now won six times and just under R400,000.



Other winners for Captain Al last month include Capitella, Lord Of the Sea, One For Al and Summer Recess.



National Emblem is the sire of Rebel King. Long established as one of the best sprinters in the country, Rebel King won his fourth graded race when capturing the Gr2 Senor Santa Handicap at Turffontein. The handsome chestnut was sent off favourite to win, despite giving weight to most of the runners. He proved too strong for Zimbabwean champion Earl Of Surrey, with the likes of Something Else, Mentor , Lady Bequick and Lightning Lecture further back in the field. Rebel King has now won over

R1.8 million for his connections. His dam, Cousin Linda, is also responsible for Uncle Tommy, the sales topper at the recent Emperors Palace National Yearling Sale.



Secret Symbol made it a hatrick of wins when downing Fields Of Omagh over 2000 meters at Clairwood Park . The gelding was favorite despite carrying top weight, and he duly obliged, coming with a late run to win going away. Secret Symbol is out of a Secret Prospector mare, Secret Fancy. The latter is out of top racemare Fanciful. Lightly raced, Secret Symbol should have more wins in the tank.







Secret Symbol





Bismarck won twice during the month of April for his sire. The speedster, now a three time winner, won at the minimum trip on both occasions. In his first win, Bismarck narrowly got the better of Cult Status, but next time out he drew clear of Tarachello to win comfortably. His dam, Nepture's Girl, is by flying machine Harry Hotspur.



Requiem was represented by his fair share of winners during April. The son of Danehill was responsible for an impressive juvenile winner in Martini Required. Trained by Doug Campbell, Martini Required drew clear to win by a length and a half from subsequent winner National Emperor .

Highly rated by connections, Martini Required looks a likely sort for some of the juvenile feature races. His dam, Cap Martin, is by the emerging broodmare sire National Emblem.







Martini Required





Santa Cristina showed her appreciation of a step up in distance when winning easily at the third time of asking. After running behind the well regarded Candy Singer, Santa Cristina, partnered by Anton Marcus, ran out a fluent winner over 1800 meters at the Vaal.

The three-year-old is out of the Archway mare Dancing The Blues.



Other winners for Requiem last month include Monsieur Dane and Gup's Girl.



Casey Tibbs was, as usual, well represented by winners this month. His Cyber Case proved his versatility when he won well on the sand track.

The useful galloper simply outclassed his opposition to win by four and a half lengths.



Jay Peg's little brother has now four races on both turf and sand, and should have more wins in the tank. Trained by the very much in form Charles Laird, Cyber Case is a full brother to the stakes placed Cabinet Minister. Cyber Case has now won over R300 000 in prize money.



Another son of Casey Tibbs to win during April was Casey's Light. The gelding, under a fine ride from Andrew Fortune, the durable Casey's Light powered clear of his field at the Vaal to pick up his third career win. His dam the winning Light My Way, by leading broodmare sire Golden Thatch, is from the family of champion sire Bold Ruckus.



Other winners for Casey Tibbs last month include Maroochy and Bangor Bay .







Bangor Bay





Martinelli is the sire of Woodyew. The Charles Laird trained three-year-old won his second race in just five starts, when coming late over the Vaal's 1200 meters to defeat Argonaut's half-brother Harbour Gold by a length.

Woodyew has an interesting pedigree, as his dam, Yew Wood, is by Martinelli's half-brother, champion sire Fort Wood .