Maine Chance Farms’ leading sire Vercingetorix’s has enjoyed a fantastic season in 2021-2022 thus far, and the champion son of Silvano enjoyed yet more feature race success when his son Ikigai won the Listed Christmas Stakes at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Boxing Day.

The first of two feature race winners on the day for Sean Tarry and Gavin Lerena, five-year-old Ikigai raced just off the pace early on in Sunday’s Listed feature.

When Lerena asked him the question halfway the down the straight, Ikigai responded gallantly and stayed on gamely to post a near half length win.

Now a five time winner (he has earned nearly R1 000 000 in prize money), Ikigai had finished fourth in the G3 WSB Merchants last time out, with the entire’s earlier form including triumphs in both the G2 Gauteng Guineas and G3 Tony Ruffel Stakes of 2020.

Bred by Klawervlei Stud, Ikigai is out of the Al Mufti mare Al Shiba.

Currently South Africa’s Leading Sire for the season, Vercingetorix went close to having a feature race double on Sunday with daughter Lyrical Dance finishing a close up third in the same day’s G3 Flamboyant Stakes.

South Africa’s Leading Second Season Sire and Leading Sire of 3YOs for 2019-2020, Vercingetorix’s other flagbearers this season include G1 WSB Cape Fillies Guineas winner Chansonette and graded stakes winners Alesian Chief, Pomp And Power and Seeking The Stars.