Prominent Cape sire Gimmethegreenlight enjoyed his umpteenth mid-week double when represented by a pair of winners at Greyville on Wednesday. It was a 100% strike of winners to runners for the sire, with Gunner and O’Keeffe being Gimmethegreenlight’s only two runners on the day.
Gunner, who became his sire’s very first G1 winner when victorious in the 2016 G1 Premiers Champion Stakes, made it win number four when downing the progressive 3yo Marchingontogether in an MR 85 handicap over 1600m on Wednesday. In the process, Gunner made it back to back wins, with the gelding having also won his last start over the same course and distance.
Trained by Paul Gadsby, the five-year-old, who is out of the Captain Al mare Play Nice, has now banked R681 300 in stakes.
Gunner was one of 12 stakes horses produced in Gimmethegreenlight’s impressive first crop –a crop which also included the graded stakes winners Green Pepper, Gimme Six and Hack Green.
The sire is also responsible for the Wilgerbosdrift/Mauritzfontein bred O’Keeffe who made it win number three, from her last four outings, when scoring a courageous victory in Wednesday’s sixth race. Trained by Andre Nel, the five-year-old has now won or finished second in each of her last four outings and has now won four times.
Gimmethegreenlight, who was South Africa’s Champion First Crop Sire in 2015-2016, looks to have a very strong crop of 3yos this season. His sophomores include Barahin, Sulka and Crown Guardian-the 1-3-4 finishers in last season’s G2 Durban Golden Horseshoe, as well as unbeaten filly Gimme Crystals, and the smart National Park. The latter was first past the post (later demoted to second) in last season’s Listed Champion Juvenile Cup –a race won previously by, among others, the July winning champion Bold Silvano.
Gimmethegreenlight is a son of outstanding shuttle stallion More Than Ready –the sire of more winners than any other sire in history, and the sire of current US standout performers Catholic Boy and Rushing Fall.
More Than Ready, whose other notable progeny include Breeders’ Cup winners Roy H, Pluck, More Than Real and Regally Ready, is also responsible for G1 producing sires Sebring, Perfectly Ready and Custom For Carlos.
The Varsfontein Stud based G1 winner has two lots on offer at the 2018 Ready To Run Sale in Germiston.