Drakenstein Stud enjoyed another winning weekend, producing three feature winners in two days over three racecourses, and two of them sired by Gold Standard, whilst Susan Rowett’s Varsfontein Stud can be very excited about their Silvano mare Star Express.
The dam of Gr1 winner Bless My Stars, saw the full sister by Gimmethegreenlight, Let’s Go Now, add more Black Type to the family after winning the Gr3 Mother Russia Stakes, and also accounting for the Jagessar Limited bred Main Defender, born and raised at Varsfontein for his overseas breeders.
The current leading breeders on the log, Drakenstein Stud opened their weekend account with Gold Poker Game winning the Lady’s Bracelet Listed at Fairview on Friday afternoon. By Gold Standard, this makes Gold Poker Game more than a half-sister to Liquid Mercury (Trippi), who raced in South Africa and the United Arab Emirates, winning a Gr3 and placed in the Gr1 Cape Derby.
The mare has also produced Trip Poker and Captain Gambler. It is the filly’s fourth career win, trained by Candice Bass Robinson.
Hold My Hand. Image: Chase Liebenberg
Glen Kotzen followed up on Saturday for the famous blue and white silks with Hold My Hand (Gold Standard) winning the Gr3 Summer Fling Stakes, out of Fly To The Moon by Holy Roman Emperor. The consistent four year old filly has collected plenty of Black Type places in her career, and won over 2000m. Her One World half brother sold to John Freeman at the 2023 National Yearling Sale for R700 000.
Gold Standard (Trippi) has relocated to Birch Bros in the Eastern Cape.
The next to follow came from Turffontein, as the beautiful Silvano filly Silver Hills, out of Ash Cloud (Black Minnaloushe) won the Betway Wolf Power Listed, trained by Sean Tarry who enjoyed great success with Rain In Holland for Drakenstein previously. It’s the third career victory for the half sister to Gr2 winner, Pacaya.
Varsfontein Stud have produced 43 wins for the current season and Let’s Go Now looks to be flying the flag with her Gr1 winning sister this year.
Both Gimmethegreenlight fillies are owned by Kestorm Investments and trained by Sean Tarry. The dam Star Express, who raced for the Whitelaw family and now owned by Varsfontein Stud, has hurtled into her career successfully as a broodmare, producing a Gr1 winner from her first foal Bless My Stars, and her second foal – the latter’s full sister Let’s Go Now, winning the Gr3 Mother Russia Stakes on Saturday at Turffontein.
Star Express pictured in 2018, the dam of Bless My Stars and Let’s Go Now. Image: Candiese Lenferna
Main Defender. Image: JC Photos
