The SAF Connection

What do Afleet Alex, an Australian Gr1 race, and a Dubai Sheikh have in common? A SAF connection, of course!

 

Last weekend, the $1m Gr1 Stradbroke was run in Australia over a mile, open to all horses. A South African filly, Perfect Promise, ran second in this prestigious event having won a Gr2 over there recently. In filling the runner up spot, she beat no less than six previous Gr1 winners, including colts. She is a full sister to Team Valors Irridescence (Caesour x Dancing Champ) who has been hitting the headlines back home recently. Perfect Promise became the first SAF bred to win a Gr2 in Australia and is a product of Varsfontein Stud who also raised Spook Express, the ill-fated mare that went on to become the first SAF-bred to compete in the Breeders’ Cup, finishing 2nd in the Filly & Mare Turf in 2000.

 

Today, Wednesday 15 June, Modraj made her South African debut in the colours of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum. This daughter of Machiavellian, out of a Nuryev mare, hadn’t run since her two starts in the UK last year and needed the run, showing pace before fading to run unplaced in a maiden plate. This is not the first runner here for the Sheikh, and I’m sure it won’t be the last.

 

Now, what about Afleet Alex? Well, his SAF connection is the great Hawaii. Hawaii was a SAF bred who ended his career with 21 wins, 2 places, 3 shows from 28 starts. In 1968 he was South African Horse of the Year. In 1969 he was USA Champion Grass Horse. A true South African bred, both his dam and grandam were also SAF-bred. In 1981, he had a daughter called Qualique, out of a Sensitivo mare. In 1994, Qualique had a daughter by Hawkster called Maggy Hawk. In 2002, Maggy Hawk had a son by Northern Afleet called Afleet Alex.

 

 

The final field has been announced for the July which takes place in just over two weeks. The current betting is as follows:

 

18/10 Rabiya

6/1 Winter Solstice

8/1 Irridescence

10/1 Reveille Boy

12/1 Dunsinane

14/1 Tyson, Grey Arrow, Zebra Crossing

16/1 Ilha Da Vitoria (Brz), Gang Related

20/1 Eventuail (Arg), Silverpoint (Aus), Joshua’s Princess

25/1 Alastor, Western Prospect, Night Watch

33/1 Dunford, Arabian Glow, Pavlovich

50/1 The Decagon

 

An interesting factor here is that no less than four of the 20 runners are by Western Winter who is currently second to Jallad on the Stallions Log by stakes earned with less than two months to go. Considering only the top 25 stallions, he is also second by win% and top5%, this time to Fort Wood.