South Africa’s reigning champion sire Gimmethegreenlight has made his customary great start to the new season, and he struck again when his daughter Bakwena made a winning debut at Turffontein on Saturday.
The Johan Janse Van Vuuren trained three-year-old turned Saturday’s 4Racing Welcomes You Maiden Plate (1000m) into a one horse race.
Under Keagan De Melo, Bakwena raced up with the pace early on, before powering away to win as she liked by six lengths.
Her rider said of Bakwena, “She is a very nice filly, think she is very smart.”
Bred by part-owner Laurence Wernars, Bakwena is out of the Dynasty mare Divine Right.
Her sire Gimmethegreenlight was South Africa’s Champion Sire, Leading Sire of 2YOs and Leading Sire of 3YOs for the past two seasons running, and the Varsfontein Stud resident once again tops the General Sires premiership.
The son of More Than Ready has 11 lots on offer at the August Two Year Old Sale including a filly (Lot 85) out of G3 Fillies Mile winner Close The Gap, a full-sister (Lot 166) to dual Listed East Cape Sprint Cup winner Countdown, and a half-sister (Lot 312) to classy galloper Quasiforsure.