Varsfontein Stud’s leading sire Gimmethegreenlight, set to be crowned South Africa’s Champion Sire at the end of the season, has had a superb season with his two-year-olds and the outstanding son of More Than Ready came up with yet another impressive-looking two-year-old winner when his son Sandringham Summit won the G2 Durban Golden Horseshoe run at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday.
Trained by David Nieuwenhuizen, Sandringham Summit was given a superb ride by Calvin Habib, who bought his mount with a flying finish which saw Sandringham Summit get up in the shadow of the post to beat runner up, and tote favourite, Gimmeanotherchance by nearly half a length.
Sandringham Summit has now won twice from just four starts, with the colt finishing second, to outstanding paternal half-brother Lucky Lad on debut, and runner-up to G2 WSB SA Nursery runner-up Jerusalema Rain on his last start before his Golden Horseshoe triumph.
The 2023 Durban Golden Horseshoe was a total triumph for Gimmethegreenlight, with his sons Sandringham Summit and Gimmeanotherchance finishing first and second respectively.
Bred by Varsfontein Stud, Sandringham Summit was an R1 700 000 buy from the 2022 National Yearling Sale,
Sandringham Summit, who is out of the Captain Al mare Townsend, is bred on the same Gimmethegreenlight/Captain Al cross as G1 winner Gunner.
He is the 56th stakes winner for Gimmethegreenlight, who is also responsible for fellow Golden Horseshoe winner Barahin.
Gimmethegreenlight, whose G1 Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic winning daughter Bless My Stars ran third in Saturday’s G1 Hollywoodbets Durban July, has some exceptional two-year-olds this season headed by unbeaten G1 Gold Medallion winner and leading Equus Award contender Lucky Lad.
Champion Sire in South Africa in 2020-2021, Gimmethegreenlight is currently top of the South African General Sires List, Leading Sires of 2YOs premiership and the Leading Sire of 3YOs list.