Maine Chance Farms’ multiple champion sire Silvano, once again leading the South African General Sires List, had a day to remember at Greyville on Saturday with his progeny landing both the G1 Daily News 2000 and G1 Woolavington 2000.
Remarkably, Silvano colts Hawwaam and Zillzaal ran 1-4 in the Daily News 2000, while Silvano’s 3yo daughters Silvano’s Pride and Blossom finished first and third in the Woolavington 2000 on Saturday.
Bred by Wilgerbosdrift & Mauritzfontein, three-year-old Hawwaam stamped himself as arguably the leading contender for the Vodacom Durban July when romping home to a convincing 1.6 length win for trainer Mike de Kock and jockey Anton Marcus in Saturday’s R2 000 000 Daily News 2000.
The brilliant colt, the leading contender for the Equus Award for Champion 3YO Colt, has now won six of only seven outings, with Hawwaam’s previous G1 victories coming in the SA Classic and The Premier’s Champions Challenge.
Hawwaam, whose last 3 runs include wins in as many G1 features, is the second Daily News 2000 winner sired by Silvano –following subsequent Equus Champion, and red-hot young sire, Vercingetorix.
Should Hawwaam win the 2019 Vodacom Durban July, he would become the fifth son of Silvano to win the July, following Bold Silvano, Heavy Metal, Power King and Marinaresco.
His paternal half-sister Silvano’s Pride picked up her first G1 win when making all to win Saturday’s G1 Woolavington 2000 for trainer Justin Snaith and jockey Richard Fourie. The talented Anthony Peter bred and owned 3yo had previously finished second in the G1 WSB Cape Fillies Guineas, third in the G3 Umzimkhulu Stakes and fourth in the G2 KRA Fillies Guineas.
Saturday’s win took Silvano’s Pride tally to three and her earnings to R992 375.
Both Hawwaam and Silvano’s Pride were produced by daughters of Jet Master, who also ranks as the damsire of Silvano sired stakes winners Silvano’s Jet, Omaticaya and Platinum Class.
Silvano, whose son Silver Rose ran a close up third in Saturday’s G3 Lonsdale Stirrup Cup for trainer Andre Nel, has now been responsible for 88 stakes winners –including 22 individual G1 winners.
The triple G1 winning son of Lomitas has enjoyed another big season in 2018-2019 with his star performers including not only Hawwaam and Silvano’s Pride, but also the likes of Sylvan On Fire, Miyabi Gold, and multiple graded stakes winner Sunshine Silk.