Ridgemont Highlands’ inform and outstanding sire Dynasty had another memorable weekend when the former Horse Of The Year and four times Equus Outstanding Stallion was represented by three individual winners.
Dynasty, whose unbeaten daughter Front And Centre is a leading contender for Saturday’s G1 WSB Cape Fillies Guineas, kick started his weekend treble when enjoying a double at Saturday, with his progeny Basilica Santo and Chakri, both of whom were bred by Wilgerbosdrift & Mauritzfontein, winning their races at the Vaal and Kenilworth respectively.
Gelded 3yo Basilica Santo got off the mark at just the second time of asking when scoring a cosy, 0.7 of a length success over 1200m for trainer Fabian Habib and jockey Gavin Lerena. A R90 000 buy from the 2017 National 2YO Sale, Basilica Santo beat some well related sorts in Saturday’s race and could well have scope for further improvement.
His paternal half-sister Chakri (backed from 15-2 down into 22-10 favouritism) showed her appreciation of a step up to 1400m by shedding her maiden at Kenilworth on Saturday. The regally bred 3yo filly was making just her third outing on Saturday and she too can improve from this first success.
Dynasty’s third winner of the weekend came at Greyville on Sunday, when Raes’ Dyna Jet won a pinnacle stakes over 1800m for trainer Gavin Van Zyl and jockey Warren Kennedy. The Mike Sharkey bred mare, who contested the G1 Thekwini Stakes as a two-year-old, has now won five times and has earned nearly R400 000 in stakes.
The champion, whose numerous high class performers include eight individual Equus Champions, could be on course for another big day at Kenilworth this Saturday. Dynasty has two runners in the G1 Cape Fillies Guineas, including Front And Centre, while his very talented son Majestic Mozart is a contender for the same day’s G1 Cape Guineas.
Dynasty sons Eyes Wide Open (G1 Investec Cape Derby) and Made To Conquer (2nd Vodacom Durban July) both take part in Saturday’s G2 Premier Trophy, while Ontenderhooks, Dynasty’s Blossom and Hashtagyolo all represent Dynasty in the same day’s G3 Victress Stakes.